Cross in Hand....For everyone who remembers this track.

[cjhill]

Hi guys.

My Dad used to attend nearly every meeting at this track until its closure in 1972. He said it provided a great atmosphere and fantastic racing.
I'm afraid to say that the woodland that surrounds it is gradually eating it up. Only the curb that seemingly once separated the racetrack from the infield is what makes the racetrack recognizable to this day. The track was built on a slope which I'm sure would have made the racing even more interesting. The top half is still very much intact whereas the bottom half and the first turn are now unrecognizable.

Here are some pictures I took....

Imagine we are racing in a clockwise direction...

Looking down the back straight with turn 3 off in the distance.


The most intact part of the raceway today, middle of turns 3 and 4 looking back down the hill towards the back straight


Looking up the hill round the last turn.


Looking back from turn 3 and 4 down the back straight.


Sadly this is all that remains of what was once the first turn, looking uphill as if the home straight is round the corner.


I only took this one of the home straight as its pretty unrecognizable (a bit like that last pic)



However if you want to see the rest of the pics then go here






Comments welcome...

[smash hit]

its hard to believe that this was once a race track. looking at those pictures. short circuit done a good piece about it that makes a good read. with some good pictures.

[father of the kids]

i can remember going to cross in hand to watch my uncle (brian edwards 243) in the stock cars amongst others,foxy dance geoff munn etc and it was a brilliant track for the stockies.
i can remember the size of the crowds being massive and indeed was there for the last ever meeting and joined in on the protest march.
it was a lovely setting in the bottom of the valley and think that after all of these years since it closed down nothing was done with the site.
just wish we where still there racing now!

[jaybo]

my dad use to race there . his number was 267 GRAHAM NORTH.

[Humps00]

I have many fond memories of watching racing at the Cross though I never raced there myself. I mechaniced for Eddie Asling #553 for a few years and we regularly went there. I've supplied a few pictures from my collection to Short Circuit and Richard John Neal for his books but here's one you won't have seen before:

If the locals residents had not got their way would there still be racing at this amazing track?? Alan Humphrey

PS: Who could ever forget the great "Cockney Whizz Kid" - a legend!!

[cjhill]

Nice Pic!

Bit of a long shot question this.

Anyone know what issue of short circuit featured a piece about this racetrack?

[scarey411]

It was August 1992, bought the back issue myself last year

[cjhill]

Thanks

[Mr Poulter!152!]

me an my ol man sorting threw old stuff found the first meeting program (in 65 an the last meetings program aswell he went to both anhardly missed a meetin! he loved it an its were he got his inspiration watching foxy dance an gentleman geoff munn!

[The London Allstar]

Is that an early super?

My how they have changed!

[Paulwjs]

I went to the remains when I was about 7 was too afraid to climb through the nettles. On the George Polley The Driver DVD/video from Martin Hunt he is interviewed by Graham Brown on the track. This was made back in 1990 and the track is far more visable.

[tumblewood]

Good old Cross-in-Hand, my favourite track. Chris Hill beat me to it. I have often wondered what became of the track, as the outline still remains on some maps. Absolutely amazing how it has been left to sleep peacefully without some developer wanting it to build house or road. I am sure some nights you can still hear the sound of Stocks and Rods. (Maybe nos. 70 and 267 still it battling out) Used to love going to meetings there, including once, camping out on a two day event. Nowhere else quite like it with the two straights at different elevations and each turn on a hill. The track was in the middle of nowhere as can be seen from how the track has reverted back to nature. Considering it was a tricky track for the drivers to negotiate, there were never many bad accidents or re-starts.
Some original pictures and biography can be seen on Pete’s stock Car Pages web site. (Hope he doesn’t mind the link)

http://www.petermarsh.freeuk.com/stockcar/cross.html

Quote jaybo earlier in the post “My dad use to race there. His number was 267 GRAHAM NORTHâ€

[cjhill]

also....

Check page this months edition of 'Wheelspin' magazine which can be purchased at any spedeworth race track.

Big thanks once again to Paul Huggett for including this.

[billy*]

have u seen it now they're clearing it??? it is the nuts was there yesterday

[pg125]

have you got any idea who and why they are clearing it ?

i really wanna go and see it