Sunday 4 December 2011

Sunday wanderings.................................... a nosey around Oulton Park

I intended to walk around Little Budworth Country Park this morning and was going to park close to the entrance of Oulton Park motor racing circuit.
As I approached the entrance to the race track I decided to go in and have a look around as it wasn't a race day.

It covers a large area of parkland... the full circuit is 2.8 miles long.
A lot of improvements have been made in recent years and the building are all fairly new.
Cars and bikes have raced here since the 1950's.

The kiosks were empty so I just drove through.
The track is set in the grounds of Oulton Hall which were used as an army staging camp by General Patton prior to the Normandy landings and his PT instructor the Heavyweight Champion of the World Joe Louis gave exhibition bouts at Oulton Park in the vicinity of the Deer Leap section of the circuit.
I parked at the Chequers Restaurant and set off on foot towards the Pits.

This was what was going on today... members of the public can drive the circuit on special track days.

 Race Control Centre and pit garages.
This area of the circuit is roughly were Oulton Hall stood.... it was destroyed by fire in 1926.
I spotted a couple of garages were open so had a nosey around.
There was nobody around so I spent a few minutes taking images of a couple of single seaters.

For £150 ($235) you can drive one of these around the circuit after tuition.....
.....or one of the BMW's for £99 ($155).
Heading across to the other side of the park you can see it's in a beautiful setting.
Almost back at the car park I passed the Fogarty Moss Centre.
A conference and meeting centre... they have thought of everything to bring in revenue.
As I left I drove around the perimeter wall.
 I had to smile.....

.....all this to keep out non-payers... and I get in through the front door for nothing.

10 comments:

Carole M. said...

...that perimeter wall shot was lovely too; the colours in the wall - fancy, it was topped with broken bottles!

For a while there I was beginning to think you were going to get on that racetrack!

I'd have thought the security boys might've stepped in had I tried to snap photos around the place; in the garages ... amazing.

Certainly different photo shoot for you today Andrew.

Bob Bushell said...

I'll bet that was a very nice to do some driving, you have to be a wealthy sort of person to enjoy that. Never mind, somebody would like it on their day out.

Dianne said...

What a great day out at the race track! I'm amazed you could actually walk right into that garage and nobody knew!!
A beautiful setting!

John @ Beans and I on the Loose said...

Nice tour Andrew; more thorough than my recent stop at Infineon Raceway here in Sonoma. I'd love to ride my motorcycle around the circut.

Reena said...

Nice tour Andrew...a bit different type of photos! Nice!

TexWisGirl said...

i really love the shot of those 2 big trees (even w/ some damage, they're gorgeous!) and the green yards are gorgeous too!

eileeninmd said...

Thanks for the neat tour. My brother is really into the NAsCAR racing. But, I would have thought there would be some more security. Great photos, have a wonderful week!

The Glebe Blog said...

Great post Andrew.
Back in the 60's while based at Weeton Camp near Kirkham I was in the recce platoon.
We were meant to go to Oulton one particular day but a directive arrived from the CO that the battalion's marksmanship had received a negative report.Oulton was cancelled to be replaced with the ranges at Warcop.I know what I missed now.

Pantherka said...

Beautiful photos and great commentary.

Sallie (FullTime-Life) said...

Interesting post -- I forgot it was in England for a while in the part about Gen. Patton. (We've RVd near some of his training grounds over on this side of the pond). Funny that wall after you got in so easy!