Tracing old circuits

Sir,

The news of the demise of Nurburgring fills one with sadness. It joins the other true road circuits in becoming obsolete. At this rate future races will be contested on sections of motorway with fast moving cranes to lift the cars from the up lane to the down lane, cornering will be far too dangerous.

This question of defunct road circuits I find very interesting and I always try to find out at least one on holidays abroad, not the easiest thing as wives tend to find one piece of French road much the same as any other. I suppose one could say that we have a new subject for study — Motor Racing Circuit Archeology.

Personally I have found the following: Rheims (this looks as though it could be used next year with a bit of tidying up), Clermont Ferrand (what a place) I find it hard to believe that Stewart and Co. consented to use it). Going back in time, the 1924 Grand Prix circuit at Lyon can be followed though the bit through Givors is difficult to follow. Recently coming back through Perrone I made a point of driving round the road used for the Picardy Grand Prix, Chula’s Road Racing 1936 and Michelin map number 236 enabled me to find it easily. I found it remarkable that it is virtually the same as it was in 1936 apart from the road surface, and obviously more houses in the two villages. The memorial to Bouriat and Trintingant is still there; a few temporary grandstands on the N29 with some ERAs in front of them and the picture would be complete.

I would be interested to hear if any other readers have made similar discoveries. Perhaps DSJ could be prevailed upon to write an occasional series with circuits illustrated as they were in days gone by and as they are now together with information on how to find them!

JD. Charlton,  Woodford Green