Magnus,
Thanks for your continuing efforts as caretaker of the GPL track database.
Much appreciated by all. (Wish you'd start another for all the N2003
tracks!)
Of the recent additions, Bridgehampton seems the most promising; a fast,
swooping, soaring track like Zandvoort, only faster, more challenging.
Speaking of which, Zandy '39 is an interesting idea, but so far its best
feature is the marvellous cover art.
Two other pre-war tracks are worth mentioning: Hockenheim '32 (which seems
utterly clueless; I've seen the bits of the track that Mercedes commissioned
as a test for their W165's at Tripoli in '39, and apart from the SW
triangle, which went into the hamlet of Hockenheim, and was later cut off by
the Autobahn, the new track seems to hark back to a "Hockenheim" that may as
well be a fantasy track), and Mellaha '35...Tripoli itself...which is a
joke. They didn't have Armco barriers in the 1930s, and while the plan view
may have some accuracy, the dips and valleys are pure "imagineering."
(Mellaha was out in the middle of a featureless desert, like Stardust
Raceway or Jim Hall's Rattlesnake Raceway. Mellaha's only memorable
structure, as I remember, was an immense grandstand at the S/F line...and
Marshall Balbo, of course)
Martin Pitts' Montlhery also seems promising, altho a bit past its expired
date for 1967 Formula One cars. Despite its narrow width, bizarre parabolic
banking, and lack of safety features (Ascari's father, Antonio, was killed
there in 1925, the year after it was built), the long course--4.8 miles--was
used for the 1000 K's of Paris (sports car enduros) until the mid-70s. The
track still exists today in much shortened form (the double-strand roadway
to the west was cut off), but its glory days were as Smogbike has recreated
it. I haven't tried Martin's other recent release, Roswell, NM's (yes THAT
Roswell) Bottomless Lakes: 42--count 'em--turns in 7.7 miles!
I wish the creators of the two Suzuka's out there ('78 and '00) would pool
their talents and do the best Suzuka of all: 2003, when that impossibly
tight chicane was opened up.
Mauro Traversa's *proposed* alterations to Kyalami, circa 1986, are also
historically interesting (and a great track to drive in GPL), somewhat like
Brent Adams recreation of the proposed Mountain Circuit at Lime Rock (a
personal fav).
Brands Hatch '67 is an unmitigated masterpiece.
--Steve
