Top 7 Abandoned Race Tracks you can visit Legally - Improved Edition
In this video we show you 7 abandoned race tracks you can visit legally. The information in this video is also available in a free ebook, which you can download on the website: www.circuitsofthepast.com/7-a... (English)
www.circuitsofthepast.nl/7-ci... (Nederlands)
Here the circuits shown in this video:
Opel-Rennbahn 0:00
Motodrom Gelsenkirchen 1:41
Old Hockenheimring 3:03
Nürburgring Südschleife 5:42
Circuit Reims-Gueux 7:18
Old Monza 9:03
Brooklands 11:21
Opel Test Track
We start at the old Opel Test Track (Opel-Rennbahn) near Rüsselsheim in Germany. It opened in 1920 as a test facility for the Opel car manufacturer. During the weekends it was also used for racing.
After WWII it was used by the American army to test military vehicles. However, in 1949 the track closed and was left abandoned. In 1987 it got the status of a monument of industry and technologie.
Today a part of the overgrown track has been cleared and equipen with an observation platform.
Motodrom Gelsenkirchen
An unknown abandoned circuit in Germany is the Motodrom Gelsenkirchen, also known as Almaring. It was a club circuit used for amateur stockcar racing. It was operational from 1969 to 1984.
Today it's part of a public park.
The old Hockenheimring
The old Hockenheimring was a circuit that opened in 1932 as a street circuit which was driven anti-clockwise. Because of its triangular shape it was named Dreieckskurs, which is German for Triangular Track.
In 1938 Hockenheim was modified for the first time and became it’s famous wing shape with the Ostkurve. It was modified again in 1964 when the section through the village of Hockenheim was replaced by the Motodrom. That was when Hockenheim became a permanent race track and the driving direction changed to clockwise.
When the Nürburgring was no longer found suitable for Formule One, the German Grand Prix moved to Hockenheim in the 1970’s.
For the 2002 Grand Prix there was a controversial reconstruction. The fast section through the woods, the most typical part of Hockenheim, was abandoned and replaced by a compact section designed by Hermann Tilke.
To compensate the felled trees for the reconstruction, the abandoned section was demolished to plant new trees. But in the woods you can still find some remains of the track.
Nürburgring Südschleife
The Südschleife is the abandoned part of the Nürburgring. Südschleife is German for Southern Loop. For the construction of the current Grand Prix Circuit the northern part of the Südschleife was demolished in the late 1970's.
Today the Eastern part of the old Südschleife is a public road. But most of the Western part is still there. A part is left abandoned, while another part is used as entrance road to the parking.
Circuit Reims-Gueux
The circuit of Reims-Gueux is probably the most famous circuit ruin in the World. It was operatioan from 1926 to 1972 and most famous for hosting the F1 French Grand Prix.
After the closure the buildings were left for nature for the next decades. Since 2002 the foundation 'Les Amis du Circuit de Gueux' restores the buildings. Today it's a memorial to a bygone motorsport era.
Old Monza
One of the most iconic race tracks is Autodrome Nazionale di Monza, home of the Italian Grand Prix since 1922. Most famous for it's old high banked oval. It's no longer in use, but it's still there and can be visited! I also show you the abandoned Pirelli Circuit on the infield of Monza.
Brooklands
Brooklands opened in 1907 and is seen as the First purpose built racing venue ever. However, the Aussies also claim to have the first purpose built race track, named Aspendale Racecourse.
Because racing on public roads was banned in Brittain they decide to built a permanent race track in Weybridge, near London.
When WWII broke out in 1939 the track closed and never opened again. Today there are a few places were you can legally visit the remains of the Brooklands Circuit.
You can visit the Brooklands Museum, which includes the remains of Members Banking, a part of the Finishing Straight and the Test Hill.
At Mercedess-Benz World you can visit the old Railway Straight and parts of the road circuit inside.
The old Byfleet Banking is private property and not open for public. But from the public road you can watch this section.
Do you want to visit one of these circuits? Than you can download a free ebook with information and Travel directions from all the circuits in this video: www.circuitsofthepast.com/7-a...
Special thanks to Simon Smith for the voiceover. Visit also his channel: / higherplaingames
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23 июл 2024
