Abandoned/dis-used tracks

[MaxMotus]

Hi there,

Interesting all these kart tracks that seem to be going down the toilet...

Langbaugh seems to be going strong with its corparate stuff these days. Very weird though, built with council funding then closed down by the council for being too noisy even though its right next too a noisy dual carrigeway and factory!

Was a great place to race, even in winter you got 2 practice, 3 Heats and Final in Junior Britain.

I went past Felton 2 years ago, track still there, but all buildings removed and a little grassy, it was around foot and mouth time so could go into have a look as signs up on foot and mouth every where!

I used to go to chasewater to scrub in brake pads and run in engines, track was far to short! Only 4 corners and each end was a mirror image! If its still there even thought road is built, wounder why it ain't used?
Pits were tiny!

Nuthampstead, now theres a blast from the past! Only raced there once, that track was so rough and bumpy! It was all concreate, not to mention shorter than Chase!!

Arrgh the good old days!

[DaveStyles]

Originally posted by MaxMotus


Nuthampstead, now theres a blast from the past! Only raced there once, that track was so rough and bumpy! It was all concreate, not to mention shorter than Chase!!

Arrgh the good old days!

Yep... Nutty was concrete for quite a while !

It did get a new tarmac surface eventually though...

It also needed a 92 sprocket !! (a 91 if you weighed nowt)

Now that must have been the biggest size in the country !

[ghinzani]

95 or 96 at Matchams!! Bit nuts out of corners....

[DougK]

The track at Snetterton has definately gone....
The area has been reused for other functions (it was purely a tarmac area with tyres plonked about!)Many of the indoor circuits were much bigger anyway. Norwich Indoor Kart Circuit (who used to use the one at Snetterton sometimes) has also closed.

[kart_racer]

Nuthampstead was a funny old circuit. Surely the smallest in the country. I wonder if it is still there.

I only did my Novice races there and one full plate race as a kid, the competition wasn't up to much really. (It was only a small friendly club to be fair)

[classic Ed]

How do all. Chasewater is now part of the M6 toll road. Part of the original site is still there but its very hard to pick out on google earth. The club is still going though and are looking for a new site. if you know of one in the same area then they would love to hear about it.
Donington on the other hand is an interesting thing. I am lead to believe that there was a kart circuit there in the early 60's on what is now the Melbourne loop. The British Historic kart club are staging an event on the loop this spring at the historic festival and were planning on holding the first world championships for historic karts there.
This has been strained a bit by the FIA who are putting pressure on the event to change the name as they believe they own the words "world" and "championship". No matter what name it ends up as, the event will still go ahead.
Pop along if you can.

There used to be a circuit at Long Lawford years ago but I think it was in the days when you went round bales on an old airfield.

[ascarmarshal]

I remember marshalling at MSA meetings on the square of Stanley Barracks at Bovington Camp in Dorset. The circuit was marshalled by members of Junior Leaders Regiment Royal Armoured Corps and Army Junior School of Music (whose home the barracks was) and was made from stacks of tyres with the paddock being the drill shed. The startline was alongside the Education Block with the first turn just before the Gym.

[ghinzani]

Originally Posted by classic Ed

How do all. Chasewater is now part of the M6 toll road. Part of the original site is still there but its very hard to pick out on google earth. The club is still going though and are looking for a new site. if you know of one in the same area then they would love to hear about it.
Donington on the other hand is an interesting thing. I am lead to believe that there was a kart circuit there in the early 60's on what is now the Melbourne loop. The British Historic kart club are staging an event on the loop this spring at the historic festival and were planning on holding the first world championships for historic karts there.
This has been strained a bit by the FIA who are putting pressure on the event to change the name as they believe they own the words "world" and "championship". No matter what name it ends up as, the event will still go ahead.
Pop along if you can.

There used to be a circuit at Long Lawford years ago but I think it was in the days when you went round bales on an old airfield.

Thats if there is still a BHKC next year.. maybe a thread on abandoned clubs??

[The SpeCTator]

Originally Posted by Revracing

I used to love racing at Langaugh, had some excellent racing and wins there.... shame it was lost...

There's a track in Rochester (kent) that never really got going, was a good circuit too.

I also remember a track in Serberton, it was right in the middle of a housing estate.

Is the kart track at Snetterton still there? I seem to recall it shutting down..

I raced at the first meeting at the Rochester track, I think it only had a couple of meetings before a noise complaint was upheld and it closed down. You are right it was an excellent track and I recall figures of £100k being banded around to launch it.

As for Surbiton it was virtually in people's back gardens!

[ghinzani]

Surbiton is still there, in fact its virtually in my Nans backyard as she lives in Cromwell rd http://www.surbiton-raceway.co.uk/

[crossle51f]

Eelmore Plain near Aldershot springs to mind.

rkl

[classic Ed]

Originally Posted by ghinzani

Thats if there is still a BHKC next year.. maybe a thread on abandoned clubs??

The BHKC will still be going for many years yet.

[ghinzani]

Originally Posted by classic Ed

The BHKC will still be going for many years yet.

As long as it doesnt go past Dec 31st 1982 of course. I havent read up this week, hows all the shennanigans going over there?

[ghinzani]

Originally Posted by crossle51f

Eelmore Plain near Aldershot springs to mind.

rkl

Is that the military base where they run rallys nowadays? Just down by Liphook roundabout there?


ah no its not,nearer to M3, Ive seen it before think they do driving lessons etc there now

[Ayrton5enna]

Playscape raceway STREATHAM. First indoor kart circuit in UK if i can remember. It has now been demolished to be replaced by tesco.
This company was also the founders of club100 before they stupidly sold it.