MALLORY PARK
The Racing Circuit and how
it began
"Mallory
Park" is situated in the rural countryside of Leicestershire
and sited in the grounds of a 200 acre ancient estate once owned
by the Noel family . The track itself, lies within a natural basin
making it an ideal viewing venue . Construction work first started
in the 1940`s with the aim of creating a Pony Trotting Track .
Marsh ground was drained and a strip of Kirkby Wood cleared to
accommodate the track, although the bulk of the mature trees in
the wood were felled earlier under the instruction of the "War
Agricultural Committee" as a contribution towards the war
effort.
The 1660 yd oval grass track was eventually
completed in the late `40`s, with Judges Box erected, and starting
gates in position . Then without warning the "Kirkby Mallory
Racing Association" together with "The Shirley Race
Course" and other associated companies, were forced to cease
trading when the parent company " The Pony Turf Club"
went into liquidation. The Leicester Query Club then rented the
track to put on motorcycle scrambling events . This continued
for several years, the highlights of which were the holding of
the National Grass Track Racing Championships, the first being
held September 1951.
In
1955 the estate came into the possession of Mr. Clive Wormleighton,
a prosperous local builder . Work at once commenced on re -designing
the circuit, the first major project was to construct a hard road
racing surface in place of the existing turf. The second, was
to extend the track by adding an hair pin bend at the Northerly
end of the circuit . The track now measured 1.35 miles and was
ready for opening on the 25th of April 1956, a lap of honour being
performed by the motor racing ace Bob Gerrard . The official opening
before a crowd of 20,000 was a month later on the 13th of May,
when 248 riders put on a display of motor cycle racing with George
Salt setting up the highest lapping speed of 84.08 mph on a Norton.
From then on Mallory Park was to stage a mix of car and motorcycle
racing events . Memorable meetings to follow were, Bob McIntyre`s
win in the first "Race of the Year"competition in 1959
and in the following year Mike Hailwood, setting up a new lap
record of 89 mph to win the second prestigious "Race of the
Year "event .
Further facilities were to follow,
a new clubhouse was built on the site of the
old hall . The brook that ran through
and under the track was dammed with a sluice gate which was then
used to control the level of the newly formed lakes . Unfortunately
all these improvements were not achieved without a price, wooded
areas, tracts of rhododendrons and formal gardens were to be cleared
in the process.
In
1962 Clive Wormleighton sold Mallory Park to Grovewood Securities,
a leisure company which already owned Olton Park, Snetterton and
the Brans Hatch racing circuits. Under their expertise Mallory
Park Circuit Ltd. continued to prosper attracting crowds of up
to 50,000 for the more popular events like the post TT International
Motor Cycle meetings, when in 1962 Mike Hailwood clocked up the
winning speed of 91.70 mph . In1964 the Daily Mail sponsored both
the "Race of the Year "and the "Sidecar Race of
the Year" racing spectaculars . Mallory Park was now firmly
established as the leading motor cycle circuit of the midlands.
Other attractions were to be introduced, the Derby Speedboat
club held regular events on the large lake, the British Racing
Sports Car Club regularly organised race meetings, and for diversity
there were the"Radio 1 Fun Days". In 1970 the Mallory
Park circuit was incorporated into the World Cycling Championship
route, which formed part of a round trip that took in several
local villages . The main indoor events being held at the Saffron
Lane Sports Stadium in Leicester.
But
being limited to only 30 meetings a year and with attendances
now steadily falling, Mallory Park , on the 31st. of October 1982
gave notice that it was due to close.The prospect for any future
racing looked bleak . Then in February 1983, Titan Properties
Ltd. a Leeds based company agreed to buy the estate from Grovewood
Securities, so ensuring the continuation of motor sport at Kirkby
Mallory.
| MALLORY
PARK Looking south with "Kirkby
Straight " in the foreground note the lake in the centre
of the circuit . Picture taken 1966. |
 |
Sources - Mallory Park Souvenir Book
of Motor Cycle Racing
By
Peter Arnold.
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