Crystal Palace Show and Sprint
The road race circuit at Crystal Palace in south London closed 40 years ago. When it was active, the motorcycle events that formed a large part of the calendar were extremely popular. In the years since closure there have been occasions when race engines have been heard again...
The Sevenoaks and District Motor Club organises an annual weekend – this year on May 26 – car sprint and motor show in aid of charity. While it is primarily a four-wheel event, the importance of motorcycles in the circuit’s history is far from ignored. Last year, the motorcycles from the Brooklands Museum were guests, this year it was the turn of the Classic Racing Motorcycle Club. A display of various capacity racing machines, some of which were definitely known to race at the Palace, were fired up, attracting onlookers and encouraging reminiscences.
Most of the later circuit remains in place and the sprint course uses sections of both that and the longer pre-war course. If all the formalities can be completed satisfactorily, it is hoped that the bikes will be seen out on the course, parading at least, next year.
