The landed gentry don’t often get things right. But when they do…
Cadwell Park circuit nestles in the south of the Lincolnshire Wolds, climbing from a dip up the side of two of the many crests that create the surrounding rough, sea-like countryside – and is one of the UK’s best racing circuits.
The tree-lined circuit is like no other. Most UK racetracks are former airfields like Snetterton or Silverstone – flat, barren, but already a hard surface. Donington, Brands Hatch and Cadwell come from an era when lucky landowners could indulge, using more three-dimensional land, and that started during the days of unsealed roads.
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Cadwell’s land was part of the estate owned by a Mr Mansfield-Wilkinson, with an idea for shooting. But Mansfield-Wilkinson junior, Charles, loved his motorcycles and in 1934 the pair created a short, grasstrack circuit around the old hall – literally. Charles and friends raced each other and started a motorsport club to encourage more to race there, from 1934.
After the war, once weather proved to be an issue and machines were getting quicker, the largely paved circuit hosted huge crowds, leading to several changes to the track layout and resulting in the photo you see here, from 1961. The new 2.25-mile track was shown off, with good start money bringing in the big names and some say more than 25,000 spectators.
It hasn’t changed much since, other than trying to achieve the best safety possible in a confined space, while attempting to keep the ‘park’ feel.
Due to the narrow track, Cadwell has predominantly been a bike track, and with little time upright, a bike is the best way to experience the challenge. Corners like the flat-out, uphill Coppice, the blind exit of Charlies Two, or the infamous mountain leading into the flip-flop Hall Bends are intense. BSB always draw crowds each August… 240bhp over the mountain, anyone?
If you can, try riding it. If you don’t wish to, visit the CRMC, BHR or other classic race days there. It’s partly down to the park-like feel, partly the sound reverberating off the hillsides, and the skill needed for this unique track layout, but there is something magical about Cadwell Park. It’s the perfect antidote to modern racetracks where binoculars are essential. Thank you, Mr Mansfield-Wilkinson, for listening to your son.
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