Bedford Autodrome
Encyclopedia
Bedford Autodrome is based just north of Bedford
, England
, in the village of Thurleigh
. It is owned by former Formula One
driver Jonathan Palmer
.
airbase and took five years to convert to a track using the latest in track laying techniques to provide a quiet and smooth surface.
It was designed to be driven by high performance road cars and as such has larger than usual run off areas and does not have sections of Armco safety barriers which would potentially damage a car seriously if it left the track. Because the track has no Armco it is not eligible to hold races there or have an area for spectators because of the inability to ensure their safety.
located within the Bedford Autodrome complex. The museum itself is housed in one of the few remaining buildings on the original airfield
built during World War II
. The museum is primarily concerned with World War II and the history of the airfield rather than the village. A collection of artifacts has been assembled to re-create the activities and atmosphere of the airfield and surrounding area during the war years. The museum is supported and funded by the 306th Bombardment Group
.
2012 Olympics. The venue is hoping to attract road cycling teams training for the event, and will complement various other training sites in the Bedford area. In June 2009 it was reported that over 13 national teams have expressed an interest in using the Bedford area (including the autodrome) for their olympic preparations.
Bedford
Bedford is the county town of Bedfordshire, in the East of England. It is a large town and the administrative centre for the wider Borough of Bedford. According to the former Bedfordshire County Council's estimates, the town had a population of 79,190 in mid 2005, with 19,720 in the adjacent town...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, in the village of Thurleigh
Thurleigh
Thurleigh is a village and civil parish in north Bedfordshire, England, about 6 miles north of Bedford. It is home to the Bedford Autodrome which also houses Thurleigh Museum, the Monster Events site which serves the community with Monster Truck, Four-wheel drive & Quad Bike events, and the...
. It is owned by former Formula One
Formula One
Formula One, also known as Formula 1 or F1 and referred to officially as the FIA Formula One World Championship, is the highest class of single seater auto racing sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile . The "formula" designation in the name refers to a set of rules with which...
driver Jonathan Palmer
Jonathan Palmer
Dr. Jonathan Charles Palmer is an entrepreneur and former racing driver from England. Educated at Brighton College, he won the 1981 British Formula Three Championship and the 1983 European Formula Two Championship. He participated in 87 Formula One Grands Prix, debuting on September 25, 1983...
.
The autodrome
It is built on the northern section of the former site of the Royal Aerospace Establishment, BedfordRAE Bedford
RAE Bedford based near the village of Thurleigh, north of the town of Bedford in England, has been the site of major aircraft experimental development work....
airbase and took five years to convert to a track using the latest in track laying techniques to provide a quiet and smooth surface.
It was designed to be driven by high performance road cars and as such has larger than usual run off areas and does not have sections of Armco safety barriers which would potentially damage a car seriously if it left the track. Because the track has no Armco it is not eligible to hold races there or have an area for spectators because of the inability to ensure their safety.
Thurleigh Museum
Thurleigh Museum is a small museumMuseum
A museum is an institution that cares for a collection of artifacts and other objects of scientific, artistic, cultural, or historical importance and makes them available for public viewing through exhibits that may be permanent or temporary. Most large museums are located in major cities...
located within the Bedford Autodrome complex. The museum itself is housed in one of the few remaining buildings on the original airfield
RAF Thurleigh
RAF Thurleigh was a Royal Air Force station located five miles north of Bedford, England. Thurleigh was transferred to the U.S. Eighth Air Force on 9 December 1942, designated Station 111, and used for heavy bomber operations against Nazi Germany.-Origins:...
built during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. The museum is primarily concerned with World War II and the history of the airfield rather than the village. A collection of artifacts has been assembled to re-create the activities and atmosphere of the airfield and surrounding area during the war years. The museum is supported and funded by the 306th Bombardment Group
306th Flying Training Group
The 306th Flying Training Group is a unit of the United States Air Force, assigned to the Air Education and Training Command's Nineteenth Air Force...
.
2012 Olympics
The Bedford Autodrome has been selected as an official training site for the LondonLondon
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
2012 Olympics. The venue is hoping to attract road cycling teams training for the event, and will complement various other training sites in the Bedford area. In June 2009 it was reported that over 13 national teams have expressed an interest in using the Bedford area (including the autodrome) for their olympic preparations.
Appearances in video games
- In rFactorRFactorrFactor is a computer racing simulator, designed with the ability to run any type of four-wheeled vehicle from street cars to open wheel cars of any era. rFactor aimed to be the most accurate race simulator of its time...
, the track is one of the tracks available for download to be added into the game.
- The many configurations of the track are also available to be driven on in TOCA Race Driver 3TOCA Race Driver 3TOCA Race Driver 3 is the third title of TOCA racing video game series, developed and published by Codemasters. TOCA Race Driver 3 was released in Europe and North America on February 24, 2006...
.