Before all the venues disappear...

[Robmarriott]

I've been seeing a lot of stuff on Car Youtube recently, particularly in the states, where people are making noise about venues being threatened with closure from housing developments and it's made me think a bit closer to home.

In a relatively short period of time and entirely off the top of my head, I've seen the closure of Alwalton, Angmering, Arena Essex, Belle Vue, Birmingham Wheels, Wimbledon, Rockingham, Shakespeare County Raceway and York Raceway and the Donington Grand Prix collection.

Then there's all the places constantly given stricter and stricter noise regulations and the ever present threat of new housing developments close to existing venues, Santa Pod, for example (or Rockingham, or in the USA, Bradenton, Greenville-Pickens...).

So my aim for this year, rather than going on a holiday abroad, is to see as much of what's left in the UK as possible, before everything is closed forever.

I've been pretty fortunate that I've been to a lot of places already;

Alwalton (RIP)
Bedford Autodrome
Brafield
Brands Hatch
Cadwell Park
Castle Combe
Donington Park
Foxhall
Goodwood
Mallory Park
Mildenhall
Oulton Park
Rockingham (RIP)
Santa Pod
Silverstone
Skegness
Snetterton

But I've never been to a hillclimb, or a BRISCA F1 event, or Rallycross, or Speedway, never stood in a forest in the rain listening to a mk2 Escort in the distance. Then there's the one off events like the Brighton Speed Trials, VHRA on Pendine Sands, plus the museums I've not found time to visit. So much still to see and it would be a shame to miss them before they're gone.

Edited by Robmarriott on Tuesday 3rd January 12:30

[Truckosaurus]

Good plan RM.

I always enjoy a day out at the permanent hillclimb venues, as they are charmingly scenic compared to the bleak windswept former airfields used for circuit racing.

The MSA (or whatever their current name is) 'Blue Book' - available online - lists all registered venues if you need some inspiration.

There's also plenty of club level venues on private or military land that don't allow spectators.

[Oneball]

Another one to add; the ‘other’ form of hillclimbing

[Robmarriott]

Oneball said:

Another one to add; the ‘other’ form of hillclimbing

I wanted to go to the Arette 'Impossible' Hill Climb in France but it was the week before I was there! Where's the UK equivalent held?

[Oneball]

Robmarriott said:

Oneball said:

Another one to add; the ‘other’ form of hillclimbing

I wanted to go to the Arette 'Impossible' Hill Climb in France but it was the week before I was there! Where's the UK equivalent held?

Nowhere near as steep as Arette, the photo is from Red Marley in Worcestershire, it’s spitting distance from Shelsley Walsh. It’s more of a race to the top, 4 at a time.

https://redmarleyhillclimb.com/

[littleredrooster]

Robmarriott said:

I wanted to go to the Arette 'Impossible' Hill Climb in France but it was the week before I was there! Where's the UK equivalent held?

Red Marley Hillclimb

Every motorsport enthusiast should see this at least once. Stand halfway up the hill for best effect. Mental.

[Ken555]

Book time in May for the Scottish Six Day Trials in Fort William and Lochaber
https://ssdt.org/

[LukeBrown66]

I have been fortunate to be interested in all sorts of racing for most of my life, I learned early on that one thing was not enough, there are things I count as staples such as short ovals and bike racing of any kind, but rallying for me has fallen by the wayside a bit due to the restrictions on spectating at smaller venues, but that has been replaced by more hillclimbs, MX, bike enduro type stuff which is very chap and good fun.

I have been lucky enough to visit most venues in the UK at least once and a lot of other stuff inbetween.

The biggest regret is the fall of WEC in teh UK,, Silverstone are now obsessed with making money that we no longer get a round, fair enough, but a damn shame as that series looks to be rapidly becoming by far and away the best and more interesting motorsport in the world

[Robmarriott]

I’m no fan of Silverstone as a spectator and haven’t really bothered with endurance racing of any type over the years but this year with the HyperCar entries, WEC is something I probably would have gone to see.

[Chunkychucky]

Good thread and it is indeed a shame the way venues are heading due to NIMBY local residents/other external factors - great idea to do a tour of UK circuits, i've done similar previously in Europe with Rouen, Spa road circuit etc.

As an aside, can we get more venues in this country do you think?

The majority of our motor racing venues (circuit racing at least) spawned from disused airfields. Granted there are opportunities for the circuits to morph in to something hideous bearing little to no semblance of its origins (Silverstone anyone), but it would be nice to be able to drive more circuits like Goodwood where you have a nice, flowing circuit unencumbered by hairpins, 'sausage' kerbs or 40 acres of run-off - all crap stipulated by Formula One and their ilk.

Spotted a former-RAF airfield in North Yorkshire that looked nice, did a bit of reading in to the venue, found that post-2031 it's due to be sold off as they no longer have use for it. It would be awesome if someone ran the perimeter road as a track day/sprint circuit, possibly drag strips on the runway running through the centre of the perimeter? But no - the land will be sold off to whichever mass-producer of sub-standard housing bids highest, and 300 homes will spring up overnight - what a waste..

[Terminator X]

Fond memories of Rockingham eighth mile sprints. Up against a V10 R8, my RS3 got away first only for it to catch me and overtake before the 200m point. Bliss.

TX.

[Truckosaurus]

Goodwood has retained its 'classic' layout due to being shut for decades and then being re-opened as somewhat of a theme park rather than a working circuit.

I assume the Duke owns most of the land in the vicinity which will also help on the NIMBY front.

[Robmarriott]

I think the closest we’ll ever get to a new circuit has happened with Circuit of Wales. There won’t be another in my opinion.

I’m in two minds about airfields, I can see when they’re sold off. Big flat open spaces, roads leading up to them, often not anywhere near existing populations, they’re ideal for building a load of houses without upsetting many locals. But at the same time I feel a certain sense of loss that the heritage vanishes with the development. I don’t think anyone would be able to build a circuit on one these days, MSV struggle with noise regulation at Bedford and there’s no big settlements close to it really.

[RedAndy]

Chunkychucky said:

Spotted a former-RAF airfield in North Yorkshire that looked nice, did a bit of reading in to the venue, found that post-2031 it's due to be sold off as they no longer have use for it. It would be awesome if someone ran the perimeter road as a track day/sprint circuit, possibly drag strips on the runway running through the centre of the perimeter?

no market for it, cos just a bit further over there's Tockwith...

[Dynion Araf Uchaf]

RedAndy said:

no market for it, cos just a bit further over there's Tockwith...

assuming you mean Linton on Ouse? Rufforth far to close to housing and Elvington still does the odd track experience I think.

But Linton would be good - is there any time between the RAF leaving and the housing starting that it would be left dormant for a but of track action.

On another note - stately homes used to be used for rallying. Not many are these days. I had a walk around Harewood House on new years day, last time that held a stage rally was the 1990 Cartel Rally. All the perimeter roads are still there ( although some are now tarmac) so it could be ripe for use again, but.... it's so long ago since it was last used I have a feeling that the current Operations Managers wouldn't believe it was ever used for motorsport.

Same with Sutton Park, Trentham, etc.

Thank god for the AGBO stages though.

[Robmarriott]

If a reasonably busy drag strip is sold off for housing, there’s little hope of anyone throwing some tarmac down on an old airfield and making it work.

[Robmarriott]

(Or a manufacturer backed test facility, or a major research facility which also hosted huge car shows in the 90s/00s)





That’s my point in this thread, I don’t feel like any of them are safe.

[vaud]

Harewood Hillclimb is quite good - good view of most of the track given it's nature - and a very friendly paddock.

Can combine with any number of nice things in that part or Yorkshire.

[LukeBrown66]

It is a tough sell these days.

AS a short oval fan there is hope, Bradford re-opened in the last few years, and despite being half destroyed by the travelling community Coventry is still there as a venue, but would need serious investment to re-open. However it is very clear from numerous meetings that the locals and council do NOT want housing there, they would prefer it to be used again as what it was. We have had also had a new track open in Scotland in the last 10 years which seems to be doing fine. Plus some that were potential closures have managed to fend that off.

But this might be a tactic from the owners to get to local people and the dereliction might also be a tactic, it's happened at a lot of venues in the last 30 years, this is often used to make it easier to sell for redevelopment, the land becomes less and less valuable it goes through various owners before eventually the council and developers come to agreement. Regardless of locals.

Drag racing at a decent level is now pretty much Santa Pod only, there is other stuff at Elvington, Taunton, North Weald, but only very basic.

I have no idea why the Roger Albert rally does not do a Spectator Sunday type thing at stately homes, it could even be a separate thing from the proper event, have that there, then an invitation run, for newer stuff and Group B, it would get more fans, be easier to manage and the homes would get some revenue in off season for them too.

I think circuits wise, they are all fine, most now run to very strict noise days, notably Brands, Croft, Mallory, some of them are not really bothered about running race meetings as they don't make enough money, Mallory is pretty much now 80% track days which is a shame as it is a lovely little venue. Bedford was supposed to be being sold BY PALMER, to fund his efforts in France but that all seems to have died a death. He certainly put forward a plan a few years ago to develop it into an eco town. But his tracks are very secure I think.

[greeny12]

My very first live motorsport experience was going with my dad to the motorcycle scrambling at Herringfleet Hills in Norfolk, which is part of the Somerleyton Estate. That's where it all started, but sadly the bikes haven't been heard around there for many a decade...