SAM S.COLLINS
Features
* The History of one of Britains oldest race circuits.
* Many rare / unseen photographs.
* Coverage on the very early Meetings 1899 - 1902.
* Coverage of the final speed events 1997 - 2001.
* Information on events that took place after the circuits closure.
* The circuit seen as it is today.
* Potential future plans for the venue.
* A much needed update on the tracks history.
* Written by a local enthusiast.
* List of Events 1899 - 2001.
Description
Crystal Palace, London's own circuit, has recently been found to be one of the oldest Motor Racing venues in the world - this is its story
Synopsis
Crystal Palace, London's own circuit, has recently been found to be one of the oldest Motor Racing venues in the world - this is its story. Focusing on the devlopment of the venue over the years and its untimely demise. Many rare and even unseen photos are included.
Independent Reviews
From Classic Car Weekly
DID you know that London once had its own racing circuit? Of course you did, because as a discerning CCW reader and more likely than not, a motorsport lover, the chances are you know your motoring history, but a younger enthusiast, raised on a diet of exotic Formula 1 circuits could be forgiven if they had no idea such a venue ever existed. Of course were talking about the old Crystal Palace circuit that first opened its gates in 1899, some eight years before Brooklands and as the author suggests, could justifiably claim to be the birthplace of British motor racing and is arguably one of the oldest motorsport venues in the world.
Published by Veloce in the Those were the days... series, this book focuses on the history and development of the circuit over the years until its untimely demise in 1972 and again in 2000. From its earliest days right up to the end the track looked more like somewhere for mums to push prams than a venue to watch racing cars pushed to the limit and despite the best efforts of Bromley Council, there are still lots of visual reminders scattered around the confines of Crystal Palace Park.
There are plenty of fascinating pictures to look at, although the selection of hotpant wearing pit popsies photographed towards the end of Seventies is the one that really caught our eye. However, being a book concerned with motorsport theres also a wide variety of automobiles pictured on the track throughout the years, ranging from early motorised tricycles in 1899 to the race prepared Mustangs and the Formula 2 cars of Mike Haliwood and Emerson Fittipaldi.
Although the lions share of pictures are black and white, this is an fascinating read for someone interested in the grassroots of British motorsport. At £12.99 it wont break the bank to add it to your, but at the same time it would be great to take to Crystal Palace Park and try to retrace this now mostly forgotten slice of Londons history.
From Startline magazine
This book charts the history of the circuit, it's beginings, the various track layouts and incarnations, to it's untimley end in 1972. this book doesn't give a blow by blow account of each meeting but concentrates on the track itself. This is the story of a famous international motor racing venue, which played host to a number of great names and which had a competitive life spanning over a century.
There are many great archive photographs, which contrast the past with the present, allowing the reader to trace the hisotry of one of Britain's almost forgotten birth places of motor sport.
