November's Octane magazine has revealed that sprint racing may return to the old Crystal Palace circuit, near London, in 2009. The article got my attention because I saw my very first vintage races there, back in 1970, on a day that became a special occasion for me and 10-year-old son, Philip Jr. But it wasn't just the racing that made it unique… it was the way we traveled to and from the event. We took the train! If you've ever attended a motor race by car you're probably familiar with the traffic build-ups as you get closer, plus the long waits to get inside (over an hour at major events). Be a spectator at Indianapolis or Daytona or most F1 races and you'll wish you owned a helicopter. Fortunately our family lived within walking distance of Victoria Station and the track was an easy stroll from the Crystal Palace station. All it took to get there and return was a relaxing train ride.
Ten years later I was with a small group of visitors sharing a villa at Villefranche on the Riviera. The weekend destination was the Monaco Grand Prix, where we held waterfront grandstand seats thanks to our wealthy host, an Alberta oilman. The plan was to drive there in a small fleet of two Ferraris and a Mercedes 500 sedan (all owned by said host). "No way" said I… "we're taking the train." Car nuts all, they thought I was crazy but I persevered and even though the train was packed to standing room only capacity we arrived far ahead of those frustrated fans trapped on the Corniche Inferieure as they inched their way forward to a hoped-for parking space.
A half-dozen years later I was enjoying extended stays in London as producer of inflight commercials for a European client. With a weekend free of job responsibilities, I decided to attend the touring car races at Silverstone, where the British Grand Prix is held. There wasn't a railway station nearby but I took a chance and rode the rails to the nearest railway/bus interchange, hoping a rural bus might be scheduled to the circuit. No such luck. However UK bus drivers are a friendly lot and after explaining my predicament one helpful individual whose route passed by Silverstone offered to drop me off, then pick me up if I was by the side of the road at a specific time. Are there other race circuits that can easily be accessed by train? Please use the Comments box below and tell us the details. Race fans everywhere will thank you.
[Photo: Philip Powell at Crystal Palace, 1970]
Can you get to the Silverstone raceway by train?
April 16, 2009 @ 9:22 am