| Aberdare Park Road Races | |
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The local by-laws of the old Aberdare UDC permitted Aberdare Park to be closed for five days each year and in the early days (1950's) two of these were set aside for motorcycle races. The first of the year being in June and the second in August. The course was set on the perimeter/service road of the park and was unusual in the respect that racing took place in an anti-clockwise direction. The course was quite slow but by 1955 John Surtees who later became World Champion set records in the 250cc, 350cc and 500cc classes with the lap record held by his 500cc machine at 56.95mph. Other famous names from these early years include Bob McIntyre, Mike Hailwood and C.C. "Sandie" Sandford who raced at the park on a number of occasions. |
The difficult nature of the course was indicated by the slow increase in the lap record speed. By 1979 despite advances in machine and tyre technology the 500cc lap record had only been raised a few mph to 59.73mph by another famous name - John Cooper. Reasons for this might also include the 14 year break in racing from 1964 to 1978. Racing continues into the 21st century. The photograph (Circa 1961) opposite shows a group of riders between Ramsey and Maypole corners. The boating lake was to the right of the leading rider and has been known to be a cool-off point for some of the more inexperienced riders. |
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