Opel Rennbahn vs Motodrom Gelsenkirchen - Battle of the Race Circuits 15
In the 15th battle of the race circuits we have a German internal battle between two abandoned race tracks. Brooklands won the last 3 rounds, so here are two new competitors you voted for. The Opel-Rennbahn and Motodrom Gelsenkirchen.
0:00 Introduction
0:35 Opel-Rennbahn
2:05 Motodrom Gelsenkirchen
The old Opel-Rennbahn, opened in 1920 as a test facility of the Opel Factory in Rüsselsheim, Germany. It was an oval track, inspired by the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The length of the track was 1.5 kilometers - or 0.9 Mile - with two 32 degree banked corners.
Soon they saw the commercial potential of the test track and start to organize races during the weekends. For these occasions they built five grandstands around the track, which could accommodate 50.000 spectators.
But when in 1927 the Nürburgring opened, and in 1932 the Hockenheimring, the Opel-Rennbahn got tough competition of modern tracks. So, in the 1930s less races were organized. And when World War Two broke out in 1939, motor racing stopped at all.
After the war the Opel-Rennbahn was used by the American Army, to test military vehicles.
But since 1949 the test track was no longer used and was left abandoned and reclaimed by nature.
In 1987 the abandoned circuit got the status of a monument of industry and technologie. Today, a part ot the overgrown track is cleared and equipped with an observation platform. Where most abandoned circuits are illegal to visit, this one can be visit legally!
Motodrom Gelsenkirchen was a 750 meter - or 0.466 Miles - short club circuit in the west of Germany. It opened in 1969 as a gravel track, and became an asphalt layer in 1977.
The track was used for amateur stockcar racing. Actually it was a road circuit, but in a way it had some characteristics of a quarter Mile oval.
The official name of the race track was Motodrom Gelsenkirchen. But the locals called it mostly Almaring. Alma was the name of a cooking plant that was previously located on the site. And ring is German for circuit, so it was actually nicknamed the Alma Circuit.
However, in the early 80’s the Almaring became opposition from environmentalists and local residents who complained about the noise. That lead to the closure of the track after the 1984 season. Since then, the track was left abandoned.
Just like the Opel-Rennbahn, this abandoned circuit can also be visit legally! The site is now a park, and the overgrown track is now an asphalt path through the woods.
Special thanks to Nico Fonseca who edited this video. Visit also hit RU-vid channel / @fons_f1
Also special thanks to Simon Smith for the voiceover. Visit also his channel: / higherplaingames
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#OpelRennbahn #MotodromGelsenkirchen #Almaring
8 июл 2024
