The oldest oval race track in the world...

[NixxxoN]

That still remains today as it was originally.


Autodrom de Terramar, near Barcelona.

Opened in 1923, it held the first ever spanish GP, of the "old formula one" prior to the official 1950 championship. Only three circuits, Brooklands, Monza,Indianapolis and Milwaukee are/were older. In the case of Monza it was opened just a few months earlier. But none of those remain in their original state. Only Terramar does.

Insane bankings, they're steep like the old monza oval but wider, probably up to 5 cars or so can go level.

Here's a video of a Red Bull event there. Enable subs for english.

 

[Northstar]

Very cool video, it's amazing a track sat idle that long without being turned into condo's.

Only three circuits, Brooklands, Monza and Indianapolis are/were older. In the case of Monza it was opened just a few months earlier.

Milwaukee would argue that.

 

[Grayfox]

I find it sad that they don't maintain these tracks.

They maintain old buildings, paintings because they are history.

Isn't an old race track historic?

 

[GTPorsche]

Very cool video, it's amazing a track sat idle that long without being turned into condo's.



Milwaukee would argue that.

Milwaukee is not in it's original state.

 

[Northstar]

Milwaukee is not in it's original state.

I don't think that stat was using that as a qualifier considering Indy used to be paved with bricks and Monza has had more changes than Michael Jackson's face.

 

[GTPorsche]

Then the OP screwed up by starting the post with that line.

 

[Tornado]

Is there even much left of the Monza oval at this point?

 

[GTPorsche]

Is there even much left of the Monza oval at this point?

It's all still there, and the banking has been resurfaced.

 

[mustafur]

Is there even much left of the Monza oval at this point?

all of it is left.

 

[NixxxoN]

Very cool video, it's amazing a track sat idle that long without being turned into condo's.

Milwaukee would argue that.

Then the OP screwed up by starting the post with that line.

Yep, my fault. I missed Milwaukee in being older, but not in original state. Terramar is no question the oldest untouched circuit, but not the oldest in general. Monza banking part is untouched but pretty much un-usable now because of several details, and the rest of monza has changed a lot (lol @ MJ face)

 

[Blitz24]

I really wish they'd run the Monza oval again.

 

[MrUnknown]

I really wish they'd run the Monza oval again.

They do.

It's called "Monza Rally Show".




And this is with a NASCAR race car:

 

[Dotini]

The Indianapolis Motor Speedway was constructed in 1909.

 

[JMoney]

With all the bumps and potholes, as well as the fact that there is no outside wall in the corners, the tracks must be very frightening to drive on at high speeds.

But it's definitely not the oldest oval in the world; Indy was built around 20 years prior.

 

[Ganon83]

I mean, if you really wanted to be technical, plenty of chariot racetracks are still around today....

 

[GTPorsche]

The Indianapolis Motor Speedway was constructed in 1909.

And Milwaukee Mile was 1903, as was already discussed.

 

[Dotini]

And Milwaukee Mile was 1903, as was already discussed.

Yet is was a dirt track until 1954.

 

[GTPorsche]

And Indianapolis was brick until the 30s.

 

[SagarisGTB]

Terramar is no question the oldest untouched circuit, but not the oldest in general. Monza banking part is untouched but pretty much un-usable now because of several details, and the rest of monza has changed a lot (lol @ MJ face)

The current Monza oval section was built in 1954-55. The original banking was less-steep and was demolished in 1939. None of Monza is pre-war.

 

[Liquid]

The current Monza oval section was built in 1954-55. The original banking was less-steep and was demolished in 1939. None of Monza is pre-war.

That's interesting to know. I imagined it wasn't original original, but didn't know the details. Does that mean that there was no banking at Monza between 1939-1954, and the Grand Prix circuit as we know it today was the only configuration? Minus the chicanes, of course.

So I imagine Monza's original banking was more like Indy rather than the Daytona it is now; this picture from 1925 does show that the banking wasn't as steep as it is today.

 

[NixxxoN]

The current Monza oval section was built in 1954-55. The original banking was less-steep and was demolished in 1939. None of Monza is pre-war.

Oh christ, well, that I didnt know. Monza has changed so much in details yet the layout shape is so similar to the original one, incredible.

 

[GTPorsche]

I believe that Monza is unchanged from the exit of Ascari to the pit exit, which isn't much...

 

[Liquid]

I believe that Monza is unchanged from the exit of Ascari to the pit exit, which isn't much...

The Parabolica has been reprofiled at least twice. This was 1939-1954, not just 1950 as the image indicates.

 

[GTPorsche]

Well, I was severely mistaken then.

 

[Liquid]

How horrible do you imagine it was, given the love everyone has for the Parabolica now?

Tilke used a time machine.

 

[NixxxoN]

How horrible do you imagine it was, given the love everyone has for the Parabolica now?

Tilke used a time machine.

The parabolica got modified aswell through the years. It used to be slightly banked IIRC.

 

[Convergent]

That's interesting to know. I imagined it wasn't original original, but didn't know the details. Does that mean that there was no banking at Monza between 1939-1954, and the Grand Prix circuit as we know it today was the only configuration? Minus the chicanes, of course.

So I imagine Monza's original banking was more like Indy rather than the Daytona it is now; this picture from 1925 does show that the banking wasn't as steep as it is today.

Great photo...