Crystal Palace

[TimD]

Just in the interests of a little bit of equality, you understand. I have received a couple of little words in my ear about it from our guests - nothing major. And it is true that both male and female, there were some extraordinary trackside fashions to remember back at Crystal Palace.

I'm just glad that this ain't a Thruxton thread, because there are pictures of Carl "The Streaker" Jeanes that exist which I would never allow to stay....

[ss_collins]

I say more trackside fashions please! if motorsport does return here anytime soon I intend to bring a bevvie of 'trackside fashions'

[ss_collins]

I've found a photo I took of north tower last summer just after the council butchery. The Bush is clear to see and in flower! I would post it here but can't as I dont have a place to put it online, anyone who does give me a shout and I'll e-mail it to you. I've got pictures of the whole circuit as it is now if anyone is interested

[Andrew Kitson]

I'll put them up if you like - email them to info@andrewkitson.com

[ss_collins]

will do.

[Andrew Kitson]

Here are a few shots of the Palace today, from ss_collins as requested. So sad to see the circuit like this. hard to imagine what a great circuit it was from these pics.
This one is the Glade.

[Andrew Kitson]

North Tower Bend. The first corner after the start.

[Andrew Kitson]

From the end of the Terrace straight looking towards North Tower.

[Andrew Kitson]

A map of the north Tower / Glade end of the circuit used for the sprint in '97.

[Andrew Kitson]

The startline at the '97 sprint. At least there would appear to be the typical Palace 'garden party' look to the event.

[ss_collins]

If you look closely at th e pic of north tower you can see the tracks original width ie up by 'that' bush

[ss_collins]

also if you look at the oicture on the terrace straight you can see the surface coulur change - this where the track starts to be half width and it affects the whole sprint course section however from the new link down the bottom straight up through maxim rise the circuit is untouched (tthough now has a stadium on the infield South tower still exists too but is public road and the start of terrace straight is used as an car park access road. there is a gap of about 100m in the middle of terrace straight.

[Andrew Kitson]

Brian 'Yogi' Muir - Camaro Group 2, 1971.

[Andrew Kitson]

A big crowd at the Palace for the F2 meeting in 1971.

[Andrew Kitson]

The front row of the F2 race - Schenken ( nearest to the camera), Jassaud and Emerson Fittipaldi.

[ss_collins]

Hot rumour is that the palace may well echo once more to the sound of competition car this summer, possibly an early july date... watch this space

[COOPERMAN]

They did/do hold regular sprints meets there, is it near the transmitter sight? as i have been there a few times when going on the london to brighton mini run and i would like to possibly attend any events there!!

[ss_collins]

did. it was my club that ran them (Sevenoaks n DMC)up until 2001 when our event was cancelled as the council started the work there. the works finished - it won't be a sevenoaks event in the summer and it wont be a sprint per se. Its very near the transmitter

[Andrew Kitson]

Just putting this thread back in circulation as there has been talk of the 'Palace' on the Mallory thread. There are other Palace photo threads too if you just hit 'search' and type in 'Crystal Palace' as a thread title.

[Andrew Fellowes]

Alcoa Trophy Meeting. Crystal Palace 25th May 1970 Official Programme 2s 6d. -The following extracts that paint a great picture of that years meet.

Jackie Stewart 'World Champion in 1969 and winner of countless F2 Races. Stewart drives a Brabham entered by Guilford motor dealer John Coombs'
Graham Hill 'Probably Britain's greatest ever ambassador for motor racing having his first F2 race for the year in a new Lotus 69 entered by himself'
Derek Bell 'Unquestionably the F2 sensation of this season'
Robin Widdows 'All round sportsman and one of F2's toughest customers'
Peter Westbury 'Familiar bearded driver, as skilled behind the wheel as on the design board'
John Miles 'London driver and son of Sir Bernard Miles the well-known character actor'
Peter Gaydon 'A successful F3 graduate'
Alister Walker 'Wealthy private owner of his own 2 car F2 Team'
Malcom Guthrie 'Voluble son of Sir Giles Guthrie'
Alan Rollinson 'Highly experienced driver who has driven practically every kind of race car in the last 6 years'
Graham Birrell 'Leading Scottish driver and elder of 2 racing brothers'
David Cole 'Well established F3 driver, 1st F2 race today'
Rob Lamplough 'Quick witted comic of the F2 circus'
Paul Craven 'New to F2 from a quiet season in F3'
Henri Pescaolo 'Top French ace & drives Matra in F1'
Jean-Pierre Beltoise 'Doyen of French motor racing'
Francois Mazet 'One of France's top F3 drivers in 1969'
Francois Cevert 'Yet another one of the rapidly growing group of up-and-coming young French drivers'
Jean-Pierre Jabouille 'Drives 1 of the 4 car Pygmee Team'
Patrick Depailler 'Small quiet spoken French driver'
Patrick Dal Bo 'Son of the constructor of Pygmees, Marius Dal Bo'
Andrea de Adamich 'Studious-looking sports car driver'
Vittorio Brambilla 'Younger brother of Tino & again a Monza specialist'
Tino Brambilla 'Wiry little Italian who switched from motor cycles a few years back'
Ronnie Peterson 'Spent all of 1969 winning F3 races with a Tecno'
Reine Wisell 'One of the top trio of F3 boys'
John Watson 'probably one of the best drivers to have come out of the Emerald Isle'
Brian Cullen 'Comes from Limerick'
Carlos Reutemann 'One of 2 young Argentinians to have arrived in Europe this year'
Benedicto Caldarella '2nd Argentinian with a wealth of experience'
Jochen Rindt 'Recent Winner of the sensational Monaco GP'
Tim Schenken 'Unquestionably one of the top finds in motor racing'
Tetsu Ikuzawea 'Only Japanese driver ever to have raced professionally in Europe'
Emerson Fittipaldi 'Drove Formula Ford and F3 last year winning the Lombank F3 Championship'
Clay Regazzoni 'Fierce little Italian speaking Swiss driver'
Howden Ganley 'Late season sensation in 1969'
Warner Lindermann 'German driver who races the ex Kurt Ahrens Brabham, known as "Noddy"'
Adam Potocki 'French national of Polish birth... and always a controversial figure due to his hard driving tactics'

By reducing the descriptions I am guilty of taking them out of context and altering the emphasis. I am not trying to divert this thread, just trying add a little bit of background to what was a very photogenic circuit.

[Richard Young]

Wasn't The Palace used for filming parts of 'The Italian Job' ? I seem to remember recognising the start area as the place where Mr Caine and the other maniacs learned about their Minis.....

[Andrew Kitson]

The 'You're only supposed to blow the bloody doors off!' scene in the Italian job was shot on the inside of South Tower bend.
Andrew, great list of F2 drivers. How lucky we were back then to have such talent driving in non F1 races. Can't imagine Schumacher etc doing F3000, the equivalent, now!

[Vitesse]

Originally posted by Andrew Kitson
The 'You're only supposed to blow the bloody doors off!' scene in the Italian job was shot on the inside of South Tower bend.

And the Mini rolling scenes were on the start/finish straight

Andrew F: I was at that meeting. Still got the programme somewhere I think ...

[JEB]

Great Palace memories.

I have looked at the venue for a BRDC event in the past.

It is amazing what can happen ! Contact me if interested:
James.Beckett@brdc.co.uk

[Andrew Kitson]

James - tell us more!