Silverstone

Other race track/test tracks that were former RAF/USAAF bases include:-
Goodwood (Westhamptnet)
Pembury (Pembury :rolleyes: )
Gaydon (Gaydon – V bomber base)
Croft (?)
Boreham – Ford test track and old rally team HQ (B-26 base)

Over the past 20 or so years, I’ve also competed in many motorsports events (mostly rallying and sprinting) at Debdon, North Weald, Thorney Island, Oakington, Watton, Bovingdon and Enstone to name a few…. 🙂

*Ahem* Thruxton 😉

edit: ******! n/m…

Did anyone see the new BBC science programme “Bang” 😮 ?

One of the presenters mentioned that the set was built in where they tested the Harrier. So that would be Dunsfold then?

Back on topic –

can shed a little light on a few points as i’m a race engineer and truckie so i visit a few tracks now and then!…

topgear is dunsfold although it was (but isnt due planning permission) going to Enstone.

MIRA as said definatly ex mod, the ‘sheds’ or workshops in the main ring that we used were ex war referbs.

Millbrook, it was built by GM specifically to test cars, no military use other than vehicle testing duties.

Thurleigh’s LALA is now the home of the FIA Formula 2 (also run by PalmerSport) so its stepped up in motorsport terms.

Brands Hatch (West Kingsdown), Oulton Park, Barkston Heath, Cadwell Park, Donnington, Manby, Mallory, Elvington, Woodbridge, Goodwood, Castle Combe etc … all have avation links too i think.

Stormin’ Just up the road from Siloth is Kirkbride (former ATA ferry pool etc) although not so public this airfield was used by Ford to test the world rally cars… does that count?

At the risk of being silly, the first Grand Prix I ever attended was the 1952 Kabrit GP held on Boxing Day.

East Kirkby is used for motorbike drag racing, as was Sandtoft runway.

When I was growing up in deepest Cumbria, we used to watch motorbike racing at Silloth, and I believe that was a wartime airfield.

http://www.controltowers.co.uk/S/Silloth.htm

A couple of pics from “bomber Airfields of WW2.

Staverton (Cheltenham & Gloucester Aiport now) and even Stoke Orchard were used for motorbike racing back in the day. Stoke Orchard also so some closed private car testing.

I was surprised to find out recently that RAF Odiham hosts track days.

I’ve just had a look at my car racing reference book for Pebsham and it appears that there was a proposal for a 3 mile Grand Prix (!) circuit and a 2 mile Club circuit. Apparently permission wasn’t granted and as you say the proposal just faded away.

Chaps, could I recommend you to “Motor Racing circuits in England, then and now” by Peter Swinger. Apparently post war racing all started at Gransden Lodge in 1946 at an event held by the Cambridge University Car Club. It was the former home of 405 Squadron and was a satellite of RAF Tempsford. Other airfield circuits (apologies if they’ve already been mentioned) were Boreham, Catterick, Davidstow Moor, Debden, Elvington, Full Sutton, Gamston, Ibsley, Linton-on Ouse, Lulsgate, Ouston, Pebsham, Rufforth, Thornaby and Whitchurch. Oh and BTW did anybody mention Silverstone?

After five years and at the risk of an accusation of pedantry, there was a proposal to use the old Hastings (Pebsham) airfield as a motor racing circuit but it never went beyond that. Pebsham simply faded away to become playing fields and a waste recycling operation. I’d like to say “how are the mighty fallen” but even I couldn’t justify the application of the description “mighty” to Pebsham!

Thanx all, that’s why i asked here as google was a little bland

Spot on. There’s loads of stuff on this forum that could be found using Google, but that would deny us some of the interesting threads that have been sparked off by questions like this.

And sometimes interesting things turn up on here that would never be turned up by google.

yeah, but if he asks on here then we all get to have a read and learn somrthing new rather than if he had kept it oo him self……

Spot on. There’s loads of stuff on this forum that could be found using Google, but that would deny us some of the interesting threads that have been sparked off by questions like this.

There is also a memorial inside the circuit behind Luffield Grandstand.

Scroll down this link –

http://www.roll-of-honour.com/Northamptonshire/Silverstone.html

11 OTU with Bristol Blenheims and 17 OTU with Wellingtons were based there during 1943 and 1944 respectively. I don’t know about later.

Most of the wartime buildings are of course now long-gone, although the Watch Tower remains, hidden just inside the track betwn Abbey and Bridge corners. It is still used as admin offices by the BRDC who runs the circuit.

Sounds like a few sub-divisions here. Probably too many but see what you think about these.
Test tracks.
Permanent race tracks, sole usage.
Part of the site used for motor racing.
Used in the past but not now.
It’s already too complicated, where does Goodwood fit in?

Ah. Brain failure.

So, any advance on 4 test tracks (Boreham, Hethel, Gaydon, Nuneaton) and 3 motor racing circuits, (Silverstone, Snetterton, Thruxton). Permanent rather than occasional.

Brooklands was the other way round, I believe. Built for cars and became an airfield.

Enstone has a permanent rally driving course set up using some of the old taxiways and loop hardstandings.

A Google for “Drive It All” should turn it up.

Moggy
Ex-employee there.

Chaps, could I recommend you to “Motor Racing circuits in England, then and now” by Peter Swinger. Apparently post war racing all started at Gransden Lodge in 1946 at an event held by the Cambridge University Car Club. It was the former home of 405 Squadron and was a satellite of RAF Tempsford. Other airfield circuits (apologies if they’ve already been mentioned) were Boreham, Catterick, Davidstow Moor, Debden, Elvington, Full Sutton, Gamston, Ibsley, Linton-on Ouse, Lulsgate, Ouston, Pebsham, Rufforth, Thornaby and Whitchurch. Oh and BTW did anybody mention Silverstone?

Surprised that no one has mentioned Bruntingthorpe (or have I missed it), although to aviation peeps I guess it’s still an airfield – I’ve done a track day there and a wheelie training day (now that was fun :D).

John C