WOWZER! Impressive credentials, Tom. Thanks for posting.
The first thing that came to mind in trying to absorb all of it was...
Posted 03 July 2023 - 11:06
WOWZER! Impressive credentials, Tom. Thanks for posting.
The first thing that came to mind in trying to absorb all of it was...
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Posted 03 July 2023 - 14:47
Gents-
as I mentioned I was a fortunate one who after 17 years working in public television was brought onboard a production company that had a major involvement with motorsports and had a built-in network connection. Manfred (and those in North America) may recall that company, Diamond P Sports, and its connection with NHRA and The Nashville Network; that was the foundation of my involvement in covering many of the sports that involve an engine. Over that period and the stages that followed, I worked with many racing organizations and their people creating shows for all the major networks...and I also spent many hours in lesser known locations covering monster trucks, tractor pulls, go-kart races and even the odd school bus demolition derby or two.
And John Aston...my visit to Snetterton was to visit Rushen-Green racing to purchase a Reynard FF2000 car. It was Martin Donnelly's Grandstand series-winning car that sadly never achieved that kind of success in my hands. So my visit there was during a cold winter's afternoon with a quick drive around the facility in my rental car, making almost any of the venues on my list a step up. I still would have liked to have seen a race there to fully embrace the rustic roots of racing on ex-RAF airfields in the UK. Baja was an enlightening event punctuated by brutal heat, perpetual sand and desolate desert as far as you can see...but also the best street tacos I have ever eaten at 3 in the morning (or any other time). And you are quite right...Honolulu/Pearl Harbor was incredible, but my finest memory was an all expense paid two week tour of Japan as part of an NHRA racing exhibition. First class airfare, meals and lodging and so many people...plus an embarrassing encounter with an electronic toilet and its myriad buttons and a surprise bidet function.
As I look back on it all from the comfort of my retirement recliner...I was one lucky bastard.
Posted 04 July 2023 - 19:27
...plus an embarrassing encounter with an electronic toilet and its myriad buttons and a surprise bidet function.
Could you please not tell us any more about that?
Posted 04 July 2023 - 21:50
Could you please not tell us any more about that?
Let's just say that afterwards I was flushed with embarrassment...
Posted 06 July 2023 - 17:27
Raced motorcycles at the following tracks (vintage/classics since 1982)
1963-67
Brands Hatch
Crystal Palace
Silverstone
Snetterton (original track)
Castle Combe
Thruxton
Mallory Park
Billown circuit (IoM)
1971-2023
Daytona
Pocono
AMP (Shubenacadie)
Bryar Motorsports Park
Watkins Glen
Roebling Roads
Mosport
Sanair (PQ)
St Eustace (PQ)
St Croix (PQ)
Shannonville
Calabogie
Grand Bend
Cayuga
St Jovite/Mt Tremblant (Jim Russell F2000 trial day)
Spectated at Pukekohe
Posted 15 July 2023 - 16:16
I delayed adding to this thread due to spending last weekend at a venue better known for rallies. Political ones.
RACED 1988-1997
Silverstone Club (racing school closed meetings)
Donington - short and GP circuits
Brands Hatch - Indy and GP
Snetterton
Castle Combe - pre and post chicanes
Oulton Park International - pre and post Knickerbrook chicane
Mallory Park
Cadwell Park
Pembrey
Thruxton
Le Mans Bugatti
Spa
SPECTATED
NZ 1964-1981, 2023
Levin ("LEVIN! NAAAAH! You're not old enough." Frank Gardner, Goodwood FOS 1996)
Cemetary Circuit (Wanganui) Motorcycles
Manfeild
Pukekohe (visited in February for first time since Jan 1981)
Bay Park
Speedway/Stockcars
Palmerston North Showgrounds
Oceanview Wanganui
Te Marua
Western Springs
Meeanee
Two cousins raced motocross in 60s to early 70s. I visited several circuits in lower half of North Island, all temporary and I'm sure unnamed.
UK (those raced at plus): From 1981
Silverstone GP
Goodwood
Birmingham
Lydden Hill
Farleigh Castle (MX GP)
Shelsley Walsh
Gurston Down
Prescott
Wimbledon Stadium (speedway)
MAINLAND EUROPE
Le Mans (1982-1991)
Pau (F2 - 1984)
Dijon (F1 - 1981)
Monaco (F1 1981-1984)
Monza (F1 1982, 1987)
Imola (F1 1984, 1988)
Mugello (F2 1984)
Zandvoort (F1 - 1982, 1985)
Spa (F1 - 1983, 1987, Group C - 1985, 1989, F3000 - 1989). Plus practice days for the abandoned 1985 GP.
Oesterreichring (F1 - 1984)
Zolder (F1 - 1981)
Magione (public testing 1998. In the area so called in)
Norisring (DTM July 2023)
DRIVEN/PASSENGERED
Manfeild Public free for all when first opened. Did about 3 laps until dad got the wind up about unlicenced son in Hillman Minx sharing track with a Ferrari Berlinetta Boxer. I made the mistake of telling him what had passed me doing 3 times my speed and even worse the UK price
Nordschleife - Tourist days in Escort 1100 and Fiat X1/9
Futa and Raticosa - Escort 1100
Spa - all that remained of old circuit in 1980s
Syracuse - passenger in a tour bus. Unexpected bonus on a week long tour of Sicily about 10 years ago
Kawa Kawa Road - will this one stump the TNF brains trust?
Many of these circuits are sadly gone. The one place I won't revisit is Zolder.
Posted 08 August 2023 - 17:59
Reading, PA-1952(?), SCCA event, probably time trials on an oval. Too young to remember being there, but I have photos.
Lockbourne AFB, Columbus,Ohio-SCCA National races, 1954. Thanks General LeMay!
Hillrise or Hillside Speedway, Las Cruces, New Mexico, dirt oval. Late '50s
Denny (or Denney) Hillclimb, Weed, New Mexico 1958/9
Ascarate Lake Park, El Paso, TX-1960, SCCA National races. SCARABS! And Alex Budurin put his Ferrari Testa Rossa in the lake!
Tucson, AZ-SCCA races
Deming Municipal Airport, Deming, New Mexico, 1963, SCCA regionals
Fort Sumner Airport, Ft. Sumner, NM, - SCCA 1964,'65
Phoenix International Raceway, Phoenix, AZ- Indy cars, 1964, '65, '70, and 2018.
Columbus Motor Speedway, Columbus, Ohio, Sprint cars
Rattlesnake Raceway, Midland, TX- 1963 SCCA races and a tour of the Chaparral shops.
Midland Airpark, Midland, TX - SCCA
Juarez, Mexico - 1965, street circuit, "El Camino Real for Formula cars and "Grand Prix Juarez" for Sports Cars and GT
Las Cruces Municipal Airport, Las Cruces, NM - 1965, SCCA regional races." One-and-done" event. Alex Budurin's Ferrari Testa Rossa returns.
Laguna Seca, Monterey, CA - SCCA USRRC, 1963.
Riverside International Raceway - 1967 Can-Am
Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, OH - SCCA Trans-Am, 1967 & 1982
Sunland Park, Sunland Park, NM - mid 1960s, drag strip and road course
Bottomless Lakes State Park, Roswell, NM - SCCA regional, 8.1 mile natural road course
San Fernando Raceway, San Fernando, CA - 1/4-mile drag strip
Texas World Speedway, College Station, TX - SCCA regional and national races, USAC stock cars, Indy cars, IMSA GTP
Houston Speedway, Houston, TX - oval
Houston Raceway Park - NHRA drags
Nikol Bay Speedway, Karratha, Western Australia - VERY RED dirt oval. ~ 1991. I saw the track from the air as my flight up from Perth was approaching Karratha Int'l Airport. I drove out to the track after I picked up my rental car; the gate was open and there was no-one around so I took a couple of laps.
York, Western Australia - a "round the houses" track. "York Flying 50". 1990 or'91.
Wannaroo Raceway, Nerrabup, W.A. north of Perth. 1991
Monte Carlo - Grand Prix Monaco, 1982
Brands Hatch - British Grand Prix, 1984
Silverstone - MG Car Club MG races, mid 1980s, a race won by Robb Gravett in a Midget 1500
Fair Park, Dallas, TX - USGP, 1984. Street circuit. HOT HOT HOT!
Miami, FL. - street circuit, mid-1980s, IMSA GTP
George R Brown Convention Center and Reliant Park, Houston, TX - street and parking lot circuits, Indy Cars, SCCA Trans-Am, and American LeMans.
Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Daytona International Speedway - NASCAR
Talledega Motor Speedway, Talledega, Alabama - NASCAR
Barber Motorsports Park, Birmingham, AL
Arroyo Seca Raceway, Akela Flats, NM - drag strip and road course
Tracks where I raced:
Mesilla Valley Raceway, Las Cruces, New Mexico - 1969, 1/4 mile clay oval,
Horizon Speedway, Horizon City, TX - 1969, 3/8 mile dirt oval
Texas World Speedway, College Station, TX - SCCA driver's school, regional and national sports car races, 2- and 3-mile road courses
Chenault Field, Lake Charles, LA - airport course
Cabaniss Field, Corpus Christi, TX - airport course
Easterwood Airport, College Station, TX - airport course
Road Atlanta, GA - 1984 SCCA Runoffs
Posted 08 August 2023 - 20:27
I think covering circuit racing, bikes, motocross, enduro, drag racing, hillclimbs, autograss, stock cars, and a few others I number well over 100, Some repeat venues with different layouts, but a heck of a lot!!
Posted 09 August 2023 - 06:25
Just a few. Some famous, some not-so famous and some infamous.
Ahvenisto, Finland as a spectator
Blackhawk Farms, IL for a track day
Helsinki Street Circuit, Finland as a spectator
Indianapolis Motor Speedway, IN track tour/museum
Keimola, Finland after it had been shut down and nature had taken over
Milwaukee Mile, WI as a spectator. Also my HS hockey team used to play & practise at the rink located right behind the main grandstand, and I'd always have a peek at track going to and from the arena.
Also Enduro World Championship events held in Riihimäki, Finland have used lands of my now late grandparents' farm for racing (with permission of course), but I doubt that counts as a race track.