In the mists of oblivion – UK's forgotten race tracks

17/01/23 11:43

In the mists of oblivion – UK's forgotten race tracks

Once they were bustling with activity, hosting some of UK's most exciting and prestigious race events. But now they are gone. Disappeared and withered into oblivion, having been totally reclaimed by the elements. But which were they, and where were they - these long-forgotten gems of British racing? Let's find out! Jump in and buckle up, as we go exploring for a couple of UK's most prominent, but forgotten racetracks…

Brooklands (Weybridge, Surry)

Going back as long as 1907, Brooklands was actually the first purpose built banked motor racing circuit in the world. The track, being over 3 miles long and towering more than 100 feet high on the banks, was both fast and dangerous. During WW1 Brooklands served as a military airplane factory, but after the war racing resumed and the track hosted the inaugural British Grand Prix in 1926. Recommissioned again for airplane production in 1939 and severely damaged during WW2 bombing raids, the track never recovered and had seen it's last race. Visiting the Brooklands Museum, you can still see sections of the surviving banked track today.

Copyright: Alan Hunt

Crystal Palace Circuit (London)

Imagine going 100 miles an hour through a park in central London! It sounds crazy, but back in the 50'ies and 60'ies Crystal Palace Circuit, smack in the middle of London, was the place to go to enjoy the motor racing including F1 and F2 racing. Build in 1927 running for only 1 mile, the straights on the track were just pre-existing hard-packed gravel roads, with only the bends tarmacked over. During WW2 the track was not used, but it all sprang to life again in early 50'ies and 60'ies. However, in the end, the impracticality of having a track in the middle of an increasingly densely populated area caught up with the track, which as closed in 1972.

DAVIDSTOW CIRCUIT (Launceston, Cornwall)

Based on a WW2 RAF coastal command base, the Davidstow Moor circuit saw the light of day in 1952. Using the 2 original runways as the long straits, the original track was 2,6 miles long but later modified to add more corners. For a very brief period between 1954 and 1955 the track did see some top notch action with three F1 races taking place on the Cornish venue, and even though Lotus scoring it's first ever F1 victory here, these races are generally considered to be the least-known Formula One races held in Britain. Davidstow could have followed in the footsteps of other former RAF airfields such as Silverstone and Thruxton, but alas, that was not to be. In 1955, After just three short years it was all over. To this day, the reasons why the circuit didn't survive are lost in the past. It could be down to the volatile Cornish weather, or it could be due to the fact that the only amenities provided was a latrine in form of a hole in the ground!

Copyright:  Royal Ordinance Survey

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