Racing at the Palace

The Sevenoaks and District Car Club’s efforts to uphold the heritage of London’s Crystal Palace as a venue for motorsport continued in style at the end of May when the organization played host to the fourth annual Motorsport at the Palace event. A huge entry of more than 200 cars assembled for two days of competition on the roads and pathways of the famous park in South London that once echoed to the sounds of racing engines on a regular basis from the 1930s until 1972, when the track ran its final race.

Entries ranging from modern day sprint specials to 500-cc Formula Three cars and pre-war racers filled the capacity entry that left the hosts turning away potential competitors due to the popularity of the weekend. Measuring approximately 800 yards, the track used for the sprint—supported by London car dealer Ancaster—featured numerous sections of the former circuit layout from both the pre- and post-war eras.