Fondly nicknamed the 'mini-Nürburgring', Cadwell Park has a rich
history and celebrated its 85th anniversary in 2019. Located 10
miles north of Horncastle and five miles south of Louth, the
Lincolnshire circuit is especially popular with bikers nationwide
and remains as closely-held as ever in the hearts of motorsport
fans.
Cadwell Park's twisty and undulating nature, winding through
open park and woodland, has seen it become established as one of
the best circuits in the country. Once discovered, it is often a
firm favourite amongst many who visit, whether as a spectator or
participant.
The circuit is also one of the most popular destinations on the
Bennetts British Superbike Championship calendar, with its infamous
'Mountain' section where riders are often completely airborne
providing a particular challenge. Fans descend on the venue in
their thousands in August for the annual visit from the world's
leading domestic superbike category, and it is one of
Lincolnshire's biggest sporting events of the year.
As the circuit's reputation continues to build, there are an
increasing number of club car events taking place at the circuit
including the Historic Sports Car Club's Wolds Trophy and the
popular Vintage Sports-Car Club Festival, along with vintage and
classic motorcycle events and spectacular rallies.
Set in the rolling Lincolnshire countryside, Cadwell Park was
established when land owner Mansfield Wilkinson's sons raced
motorcycles around the park. Charles Wilkinson formed the Louth and
District Motorcycle Club in 1932 and staged the first race
meeting on the track in 1934. Early years saw solo bikes run
anticlockwise around the circuit, while sidecars raced
clockwise.
The length of the track almost doubled to 1.3 miles in 1953,
when the ascendant 500cc motorcycle-engined F3 class was invited to
race in a traditional bike meeting. Reg Spreckley became the
track's first car race winner in his Cooper when some 30,000
spectators were said to have watched the meeting.
The original track, with its fearsome and photogenic 'Mountain'
feature, grew to its current 2.25-mile layout in 1962, allowing it
to hold international motorcycling events. It also hosted the
British F3 series the following May. Esteemed motorcycle racer
Giacomo Agostini made his first visit to Cadwell Park in 1969,
while in the same year James Hunt and Ronnie Peterson enjoyed a
famous F3 battle, with the pair finishing side by side. Other
notable events included World of Sport Rallycross and Formula 1
Stock Car racing that used a specially-designed anti-clockwise
circuit at Coppice and Mansfield corners.
Modern-day Cadwell Park has three configurations - the
rarely-used Woodlands circuit, the short Club circuit, and the
splendid, daunting Full circuit. The venue has always posed a
challenge for drivers and riders, with the legendary Ayrton Senna
among those to have been caught out at the 'Mountain'!
These days, car racing exploits are confined to club meetings
but they are invariably superb as the track's swooping nature
provides fantastic racing, and the challenge has proven
irresistible to drivers and riders alike.
