Cadwell Park
Encyclopedia
Cadwell Park is a motor racing circuit in Lincolnshire
, England
, 5 miles (8 km) south of Louth
. It is owned and operated by Jonathan Palmer
's Motorsport Vision company.
It is sited across a steep-sided valley, giving rise to dips and crests. The circuit features sharp changes in gradient, including one section called The Mountain where bikes can become airborne by up to several feet. Its mix of challenging corners has led to its nickname
as the Mini-Nürburgring
.
Located in the Lincolnshire Wolds
, Cadwell Park was established in 1934 by Mr Mansfield Wilkinson of Louth. His sons originally used the land for racing their own motorbikes against each other and this evolved into the circuit which it is today.
In 1953 the track was lengthened to 1.3 miles (2.1 km), upon the invitation of the 500 cc motorcycle-engined Formula 3 to race in a traditional bike meeting. Around 30,000 spectators attended that particular race.
The original track grew to the current 2.25 miles (3.62 km) layout in 1962 and hosted the British F3 series the next May. Some of the bends are named after family members e.g. Mansfield, Charlie and Chris.
and 750MC
still hold meetings.
Competitively, it is primarily used for motorcycle racing, with the Bennetts
British Superbike Championship round being the most popular event on the circuit's calendar, taking place on August Bank Holiday weekend each year. In 2010, for the first time, it will host an additional BSB meeting on the weekend of 22/23 May.
have been filmed here. They frequently feature racing driver Tiff Needell
.
In April 2009, musician and Pink Floyd
drummer Nick Mason
flew into the circuit by helicopter to drive his £1.5million Ferrari 512.
During the 1960s and 1970s, stock car racing drew big crowds to Cadwell. The gradient changes added excitement to the racing, as stock car drivers were accustomed to racing on flat 400-yard oval tracks of shale-grit or concrete; and likewise their cars' suspensions and gearing were set up for short flat ovals.
The Superkart British Grand Prix is held at the circuit, with the popular Modified Live event also on the calendar.
During the week the circuit offers some general test days and driving experiences, and can also be hired out for private testing and track days.
Lincolnshire
Lincolnshire is a county in the east of England. It borders Norfolk to the south east, Cambridgeshire to the south, Rutland to the south west, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire to the west, South Yorkshire to the north west, and the East Riding of Yorkshire to the north. It also borders...
, 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...
, 5 miles (8 km) south of Louth
Louth, Lincolnshire
Louth is a market town and civil parish within the East Lindsey district of Lincolnshire, England.-Geography:Known as the "capital of the Lincolnshire Wolds", it is situated where the ancient trackway Barton Street crosses the River Lud, and has a total resident population of 15,930.The Greenwich...
. It is owned and operated by 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...
's Motorsport Vision company.
It is sited across a steep-sided valley, giving rise to dips and crests. The circuit features sharp changes in gradient, including one section called The Mountain where bikes can become airborne by up to several feet. Its mix of challenging corners has led to its nickname
Nickname
A nickname is "a usually familiar or humorous but sometimes pointed or cruel name given to a person or place, as a supposedly appropriate replacement for or addition to the proper name.", or a name similar in origin and pronunciation from the original name....
as the Mini-Nürburgring
Nürburgring
The Nürburgring is a motorsport complex around the village of Nürburg, Germany. It features a modern Grand Prix race track built in 1984, and a much longer old North loop track which was built in the 1920s around the village and medieval castle of Nürburg in the Eifel mountains. It is located about...
.
History of Cadwell Park
Located in the Lincolnshire Wolds
Lincolnshire Wolds
The Lincolnshire Wolds is a range of hills in the county of Lincolnshire, England. It is a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty , and the highest area of land in eastern England between Yorkshire and Kent...
, Cadwell Park was established in 1934 by Mr Mansfield Wilkinson of Louth. His sons originally used the land for racing their own motorbikes against each other and this evolved into the circuit which it is today.
In 1953 the track was lengthened to 1.3 miles (2.1 km), upon the invitation of the 500 cc motorcycle-engined Formula 3 to race in a traditional bike meeting. Around 30,000 spectators attended that particular race.
The original track grew to the current 2.25 miles (3.62 km) layout in 1962 and hosted the British F3 series the next May. Some of the bends are named after family members e.g. Mansfield, Charlie and Chris.
Racing usage
Cadwell is now considered too narrow for high level car races, although Club motorsport associations such as the BARCBritish Automobile Racing Club
The British Automobile Racing Club is one of biggest organising clubs for auto racing in the United Kingdom.-History:The Cyclecar Club was formed in 1912, running races for the small and light motorbike powered vehicles at Brooklands as well as rallies and sporting trials. Among the founder...
and 750MC
750 Motor Club
750 Motor Club is an auto racing club in the UK. It was founded in 1939 and was originally for Austin 7 fans . It later led to racing and the 750 Formula where specials were raced...
still hold meetings.
Competitively, it is primarily used for motorcycle racing, with the Bennetts
Bennetts
Bennetts is a motor insurance provider established in 1930. Bennets insures over 170,000 bikers in the UK .Approximately 300 staff, based at its Contact Centre in Coventry, provide quotes to around 600,000 bikers per year....
British Superbike Championship round being the most popular event on the circuit's calendar, taking place on August Bank Holiday weekend each year. In 2010, for the first time, it will host an additional BSB meeting on the weekend of 22/23 May.
Other usage
Several tests and feature clips for the motoring program Fifth GearFifth Gear
Fifth Gear is a motoring television magazine show from the United Kingdom. Originally shown on Channel 5, the show is currently presented by Tiff Needell, Vicki Butler-Henderson, Jason Plato, Jonny Smith and Ben Collins...
have been filmed here. They frequently feature racing driver Tiff Needell
Tiff Needell
Timothy "Tiff" Needell isa British racing driver and television presenter. He is best known as a former co-presenter of Top Gear and current co-presenter of Fifth Gear.-Biography:...
.
In April 2009, musician and Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd were an English rock band that achieved worldwide success with their progressive and psychedelic rock music. Their work is marked by the use of philosophical lyrics, sonic experimentation, innovative album art, and elaborate live shows. Pink Floyd are one of the most commercially...
drummer Nick Mason
Nick Mason
Nicholas Berkeley "Nick" Mason is an English drummer and songwriter, best known for his work with Pink Floyd. He was the only constant member of the band since its formation in 1965...
flew into the circuit by helicopter to drive his £1.5million Ferrari 512.
During the 1960s and 1970s, stock car racing drew big crowds to Cadwell. The gradient changes added excitement to the racing, as stock car drivers were accustomed to racing on flat 400-yard oval tracks of shale-grit or concrete; and likewise their cars' suspensions and gearing were set up for short flat ovals.
Current events
In addition to the August Bank Holiday round of the British Superbike Championship, Cadwell Park also hosts two major historic events with the Vintage Sports Car Club’s annual festival and the new Easter Wolds Trophy covering the post-war period.The Superkart British Grand Prix is held at the circuit, with the popular Modified Live event also on the calendar.
During the week the circuit offers some general test days and driving experiences, and can also be hired out for private testing and track days.
Lap Records
| Car Lap Records | ||
| Driver | Car | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Richard Mitcham | Jedi MK6 | 1:21.138 |
| Shaun Balfe | Radical Radical Motorsport Radical Sportscars is an auto manufacturer and constructor of racing cars from England. The company was founded in January 1997 by amateur drivers and engineers Mick Hyde and Phil Abbott, who built open-cockpit sportscars which could be registered for road use and run on a track without modification... SR8 |
1:22.50 |
| Stuart Moseley | Radical Radical Motorsport Radical Sportscars is an auto manufacturer and constructor of racing cars from England. The company was founded in January 1997 by amateur drivers and engineers Mick Hyde and Phil Abbott, who built open-cockpit sportscars which could be registered for road use and run on a track without modification... SR3 |
1:23.37 |
| Robin Liddell | Radical Radical Motorsport Radical Sportscars is an auto manufacturer and constructor of racing cars from England. The company was founded in January 1997 by amateur drivers and engineers Mick Hyde and Phil Abbott, who built open-cockpit sportscars which could be registered for road use and run on a track without modification... Prosport |
1:25.49 |
| Lee Atkins | Radical Radical Motorsport Radical Sportscars is an auto manufacturer and constructor of racing cars from England. The company was founded in January 1997 by amateur drivers and engineers Mick Hyde and Phil Abbott, who built open-cockpit sportscars which could be registered for road use and run on a track without modification... SR4 |
1:29.04 |
| Russ Stephens | Radical Radical Motorsport Radical Sportscars is an auto manufacturer and constructor of racing cars from England. The company was founded in January 1997 by amateur drivers and engineers Mick Hyde and Phil Abbott, who built open-cockpit sportscars which could be registered for road use and run on a track without modification... Clubsport |
1:29.36 |
| Motorcycle Lap Records | ||
| Rider | Bike | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Leon Haslam | Ducati 999 Ducati 999 The Ducati 999 superseded the Massimo Tamburini designed Ducati 916, Ducati 996 and Ducati 998 range of superbikes in 2003, and was produced through 2006... |
1:26.654 |
| John Simpson | Triumph Daytona 675 Triumph Daytona 675 Introduced in 2006, the Triumph Daytona 675 is a 600 class sport bike motorcycle built by Triumph Motorcycles to replace the Daytona 650.The 2008 model has a tested dry weight of and wet weight of... |
1:33.67 |
| Andrew Bennet | Suzuki GSXR1000 Suzuki GSX-R1000 The GSX-R1000 is a sport bike from Suzuki's GSX-R series of motorcycles. It was introduced in 2001 to replace the GSX-R1100 and is powered by a liquid-cooled inline four-cylinder, four-stroke engine.-2001:... |
1:37.5 |
| Steve Lake | Yamaha R1 | 1:37.9 |
| Superkart Lap Record | ||
| Carl Hume | Anderson/FPE | 1:22.27 |