Save the East London Grand Prix Circuit

[Thug]

Yes, I know it's NCR, but.....

 

South Africa's first ever Grand Prix was held in East London in 1934. The circuit in its original format still hosts regular national events and it appears that the Buffalo City Development Agency would like nothing more than to demolish this circuit to make way for an enlarged Walter Sisulu University campus.

 

So if you are interested in trying to save one of the few remaining original Grand Prix circuits in the World, sign the petition.

 

http://www.petitiononline.com/ELGP2008/petition.html

 

[Canaris]

where are all  the Easty London Prostitutes going to go- to University?

[Thug]

How do you know about Leaches Bay ? 

[fandacious]

its not so much a circuit as it is a bunch of roads they close off...

 

I know they still hold races there, but i assume they want to build a new circuit?

[Thug]

 

its not so much a circuit as it is a bunch of roads they close off...

 

I know they still hold races there' date=' but i assume they want to build a new circuit?

[/quote']

 

Part of the circuit is open and used as a connecting road along the coast and part is only opened on race days.

 

Nope, they will not be building a new circuit.

 

[AuctionLamb]

i say take it away.....it is just gathering dust there!AuctionLamb2008-10-14 07:23:11

[Canaris]

i say take it away.....it is just gathering dust there!

you obviously don't know about Leaches Bay

[butafly]

MMMM.....revamp / redevelop , we need to create jobs etc. out with the old in with the new.

[Canaris]

http://www.cherryflava.com/cherryflava/images/victoriaorgasm_25.jpg

[Thug]

 

http://www.cherryflava.com/cherryflava/images/victoriaorgasm_25.jpg

 

Leaches Bay like I've never seen it before

 

 

 

[linnega]

Neither of the two options sound particulalry appealing.  East London can barely run a functioning wing of Fort Hare (ex-Rhodes) University.  I can't imagine where they would find administrators capable of running a fully blown campus.  Then again keeping a GP track really for old times sake is a bit silly.  Can't see how that benefits the greater South African, Eastern Cape or East London community.

[Kranswurm]

From what I have seen on tv why do you want to keep something like that.Some qaint reminder of a glorius past just growing dusty on the shelf.Gooi weg,koop nuwe

Reminds me of Killarney.Those pits are the pits.I dont think its seen many improvements since we used to get om and dom there at races in the 60's

[Auris]

As someone who used to race motorcycles there (as part of the national mcycle championship) in the 1980's I feel it would really be sad to see it go.

 

Whenever I'm down there I always take a nostalgic drive around the circuit - it's actually in better nick now than it was then - Potters Pass has been smoothed out & has extra run off area etc which helps when you're doing 200 & plenty on an old 1100 Honda that's doing its best to chuck you off.

 

Anyway it used to be the most exciting track to ride at in the '80's so it would definitely be a shame to see it go.

 

[idrive]

Part of it was used for the SA GP as far back as the 1930's then it was re-opened as a permannt track in JULY 1959 and hosted the SA Grand Prix until Kyalami got in in 1967.

It is an important piece of motorsport history and is perhaps the only track that the layout has not been altered in almost 40 years.  It certainly is the obly Grand Prix circuit from the '60s that is in its original form.

 

It also brings significant revenue to the impoverished Border region as it hosts two national championship events per season plus the historic Border 100 event in December.

 

It also happens to be the most challenging track I've raced on ..... even more so than Bulawayo's Everard Breedon Circuit out on the Falls road.

 

When not used for motorsport it becomes public roads, but think what a good cycling venue it is .... SA Champs were held there this year.

 

 http://www.petitiononline.com/ELGP2008/petition.html

idrive2008-10-16 11:07:55

[Pocketbikes]

We raced our pocketbikes there and we were really welcomed by the Border Karting people (We even got decent trophies). We raced on the shorter track and everyone really enjoyed themselves (we would, we had 17% extra power thanx to altitude). The weather was great, the people were freindly and the accomodation (The Castle) was more than pleasant. All in all, we have good momories of the track and East London and were looking forward to going again next year. Here are some of our memories:

 

The trophies

 

Just on 14 meters long.

 

Part of the pits with the sea in the background.

 

Some racing...

 

Some repairs...

 

More repairs...

 

[Auris]

That's right idrive - I remember my father taking me to a GP there in the early 60's (I was only a nipper then) where Jim Clark, Graham Hill et al were racing.

 

Here's a pic taken from the pit area in 1982 - they look a bit run down but they did the job & everything about racing in EL at the GP circuit was great!