Fondly nicknamed the 'mini-Nürburgring', Cadwell Park celebrated
its 80th anniversary in 2014. It remains as closely-held in
the hearts of many motorsport fans as it ever has. Located 10
miles north of Horncastle and five miles south of Louth, the
Lincolnshire circuit is especially popular with bikers
nationwide.
Cadwell Park's twisty and undulating nature, winding through
open park and woodland, has marked it out 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 calendar, with the infamous 'Mountain'
section, which riders usually tackle airborne, providing a
particular challenge.
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 two vintage
and classic motorcycle events.
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. 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 thus became the track's first car race
winner in his Cooper. 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 and hosted
the British F3 series the following May. It has three
configurations - the rarely used Woodlands circuit, the short Club
circuit, and the splendid, daunting Full circuit.
These days, its 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.
Cadwell Park remains a firm favourite with motorcycle fans, who
flock to the Lincolnshire venue every August to see their heroes in
the MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship. The most popular
spot is still the Mountain, where the competitors' airborne leaps
echo those of legends including Barry Sheene, Mike Hailwood, Phil
Read and Derek Chatterton.
