Business as usual at Mallory Park
The outward journey featured some unusual quirks – not least at Newport Pagnell services. At the head of the payment queue, a Polish gent was earnestly trying to buy a bottle of vodka… and struggling to take ‘no’ for an answer as the lady behind the counter tried to explain that she didn’t sell alcohol at any time of the day, let alone 7am. Reassuring normality lay about 60 miles to the north, with the unmistakable sausage cologne that permeates as soon as you reach Mallory Park’s paddock.
The Leicestershire circuit has flirted with the news of late – following concerns that a row about noise levels could affect its future – and last month colleague Paul Fearnley outlined some of the details on this website, while at the same time paying eloquent tribute to the venue’s past.
As yet there is no formal word on long-term survival, with negotiations between the circuit, local residents and councillors still ongoing, but there are positive signs – not least a solid calendar for 2013, something that had still to be published on the Mallory Park website just a few weeks ago. There are fewer fixtures than hitherto, but potential highlights include a few vintage motorcycle weekends, two rounds of the British Rallycross Championship (April 14 and June 2), a classic touring car festival (August 3-4), a Vintage Sports Car Club event (August 21), a dedicated sidecar extravaganza (October 13) and the always popular Plum Pudding meeting, when four wheels share prime billing with two on Boxing Day. The adjacent motocross track lies silent, however, and it seems two-strokes have screamed their last across its many spectacular ridges. The layout remains intact and is likely, we understand, to be adapted for more tranquil pursuits.
The East Midlands Racing Association was in charge last weekend, with some grass-roots motorcycle races. These might have lacked the profile of the concurrent British Superbike season-opener at Brands Hatch, but were infused with parallel passion. Highlights included cheerful camaraderie, no-nonsense competition… and sidecar passenger Anne Garnish selling pots of jam, in a bid to raise funds to sustain her hobby. Business as usual, then, and the perfect complement to Mallory’s homely charms.
More than 30 years have passed since the successful Save Mallory campaign, which was spearheaded by Ron and Edwina Overend, the management team of the day. They were determined to preserve the track after previous owner Motor Circuit Developments announced its intention to sell the site for development at the end of 1982. It would eventually pass to a property company, albeit one whose owner was steeped in racing. Chris Meek retains control to this day.
There have been only a few major meetings since that deal was struck. The British Saloon/Touring Car and F3 Championships have not visited since 1982, while the British Superbike Championship dropped the circuit from its schedule at the end of 2010. No matter how much has been stripped away, though, the circuit has always retained its soul (and, arguably, Britain’s finest paddock breakfasts).
Should Mallory Park ever close, our sport would be immeasurably the poorer.
Read more by Simon Arron.
Read Paul Fearnley’s article on Mallory Park.
Motor Sport Magazine – The original motor racing magazine
Source: Motor Sport Mag