We all know 2013 has been a year of significant motoring milestones, but one had been overlooked on PH until now. This August marks 60 years since the first race meeting at Oulton Park, and we've found a glorious period film from its opening to celebrate.
Freshly turned earth and lots of trees...
Seeing a circuit without grandstands and flanked by trees gives Oulton a really intimate feel from the onboard shots, more akin to a hill climb than a conventional modern track. Indeed, as our very proper narrator points out, the trees "add that natural road flavour to surroundings so sadly lacking at most airfield rendezvous."
Though in its early original format of just 1.5 miles, much of Oulton is familiar. Oldhall remains a bumpy and fast first corner, 'the Cascades' follows and the cars then climb up Clay Hill to the double-apexed Druids. The last of these looks even more intimidating than now, with just banks of mud to punish an overzealous entry speed. Lodge ("a tricky little spot") and Deer's Leap completes the lap.
It's a great little video, enhanced by the narrator's magnificent observations (Oulton is apparently a circuit 'spiced with a flavour of the North country') and some lovely Formula 2 footage. Set aside eight minutes with a brew and biscuit to enjoy a beautiful historic clip; happy birthday Oulton Park!