Longford Flying Mile

[internetscooter]

I was having a google to see if there were any "flying mile" events in Australia. I came across this which should be of interest

http://www.longfordrevival.com.au

"The Longford Revival Festival will be held from the 1-3 April 2011 and it will be the first annual celebration of Longford motor racing from the 1950’s and 60’s. The historic town of Longford, Tasmania is home to one of the world’s greatest race tracks, it hosted the Australian Grand Prix and saw the best drivers and F1 cars compete on the 4.5 mile track. It was closed in 1968 but sections of the track still remain today and the most famous section, ‘The Flying Mile’, where cars once reached 180 mph, will play host to a revival festival to celebrate the tracks amazing history."

There is a form where people can sign up for the speed demonstration:
http://www.longfordrevival.com.au/Longf ... speed.html

[David Leikvold]

It's a pity they don't tell us which road they intend to use for the flying mile. I just had a look on Google maps, that Cressy Road out of Longford looks good. It is at least two and a half miles dead straight before a slight bend then almost the same distance again before it reaches Cressy, but it wasn't part of the original circuit from the 1950's. Can't tell how flat it is but the terrain map looks flat. Very nice, what a shame it isn't in South East Queensland! I wonder if anyone would be interested in participating to wave the flag for DLRA? It could be done, especially as it doesn't start until a week after Speedweek finishes.

Here's a good story from Ray Bell, who used to write for Racing Car News back in the good old days: http://www.tasman-series.com/tracks/lon ... ngford.asp

Cheers
Dave

[Reverend Hedgash]

Sounds great.
rh+

[David Leikvold]

With a bit more digging around I've found the roads they used for the original circuit. Time has taken its toll and the circuit as it was is no longer usable, a highway now cuts through it twice and the railway viaduct and both wooden bridges are gone. The road they called the Flying Mile is the part of Illawarra Road that isn't the B52 highway.
Here is the Longford area: http://maps.google.com.au/maps?client=f ... 20tasmania
and here is the track map: http://wikimapia.org/15100111/Longford-Circuit

As you can see, the Flying Mile is dead straight but it is only a mile long with NO run off at the end, just a tight turn onto the highway. I'm presuming they intend to use the original road and I don't know that it would be suitable for many of our specialised salt vehicles. Bikes with front brakes would be fine but two wheel braked cars with a parachute wouldn't get through scrutineering as it is a CAMS event. It is only a week before the Targa Tasmania so I presume that's where they expect the majority of entries to come from.

Maybe they should use a little historical licence and use the Cressy Road instead. Anyone still interested?

Cheers
Dave

[momec]

The Longford Pub is worth a visit. The walls are covered in history on the event and it was an amazing 'Street Circuit' before concrete bareers and safety were invented
Chris

[Dr Goggles]

As you can see, the Flying Mile is dead straight but it is only a mile long with NO run off at the end, just a tight turn onto the highway. I'm presuming they intend to use the original road and I don't know that it would be suitable for many of our specialised salt vehicles. Bikes with front brakes would be fine but two wheel braked cars with a parachute wouldn't get through scrutineering as it is a CAMS event. Cheers
Dave

probably too rough for us despite the obvious point you made......

[David Leikvold]

Maybe we should give some consideration to finding our own flying mile somewhere. I have no idea where but I seem to remember seeing maps with lots of very long straight roads in rural north western Victoria. Ideally we would probably (note the qualifier) first need to find a road that was in an area with a sympathetic council. Find something that was maybe 3 miles long, so we could have a decent run up, then a flying mile and then enough room to get it all stopped again. It would have to be two lanes wide, dead flat for at least the middle mile with a good quality bitumen surface, no trees lining the road, no farmer's barbed wire fences and no wandering stock either. It could not be a major thoroughfare and it must be able to be closed for a weekend without unduly inconveniencing the locals. Having a town somewhere nearby would also be a bonus. Anybody know of any roads anywhere that fit those criteria?

Cheers
Dave

[project100]

Anyone going down for the event ??
These are the entries so far..

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1965 Relica AC Cobra
BMH Comic Book Special
1972 Romac Ford Sports Racing Car
1954 MG TF 1250
1962 Yamaha TD 1A
1998 Nissan 200 SX Sports Coupe
1964 EH Holden
1967 Ford Falcon GT
1961 Jaguar
1997 Nissan R33 GTR
1967 XR GT Falcon
1962 Jaguar E Type 3.8 FHC
Ferrari 246 Dino GTB
1960 MGA 1600 BRG (Number 52)
MGA Twin Cam Coupe
Porsche 2.8 RSR
1960 Jaguar MK2
1968 Jaguar Saloon
1953 Holden FJ
1969 Ford Mustang
1963 Elfin Clubman
1968 Lotus S3 Elan
1964 Replica Ford Cortina Race Car
1956 FE Holden (raced at Longford)
1966 Yamaha TDZ
1954 Holden FJ
1962 Manx Norton 500cc/
1962 Triumph 750 Sidecar Outfit
1963 Triumph TR4
1954 Austin Healey 100 Le Mans
1963 Replica Ford Cortina GT
2004 Porsche 911 GT3 RS
1977 Ferrari 308 GT4
1973 Chrysler Valiant Charger E48 6 pack
Holden Torana LJ GTR Turbo
2003 Suzuki Hyabusa GSX 1300R
1962 CB72 Honda
1967 Honda Side Car
1953 Morgan +4
1959 Morris Minor
1968 Morris Cooper S
1977 Torana Hatch Back
1954 AC ACE Sportscar
1953 Austin Healey 100
1965 Toyota Crown S
2008 Ferrari F430
1967 Mini Cooper S
1958 Holden FC
2008 FPV GT
1966 Ford MKI Cortina GT
1966 Holden FX
1947 Ford V8 Special
1964 Cobra Racing
1960 Replica Ford Anglia
2008 Kawasaki 1400 GTR
1978 Porsche 935 Moby Dick
1987 Porsche 962 Rothmans
1960 Porsche 718 RS 60 Spyder
1969 Porsche 908/02 Spyder
1980 Porsche 911 SC
2003 Porsche Carrera GT
Coca Cola Mustang
Lamborghini Murcielago
FPV Boss 335 Falcon
Brock Corvette
Porsche GT2 RS
2006 FIA GT3 Viper Competition Coupe
Brock Monara
1995 Castrol Perkins Holden VR
Audi R8
2006 Ford GT
2010 Chevrolet Camaro Transformer addition
2008 Shelby Mustang Super Snake
2007 Mustang Saleen
2008 Saleen S302E Extreme Race car
Dodge Challenger

I might go have a look if time permits..

[harky]

When i was i little harky -----about 1958/9 i lay in the grass along the flying mile , BRM s , Ferrari s , and others things went past making the most memorable noises.
I think it is why i have played with and worked on race cars and bikes ever since.
the noise was REAL noise ========= just like @ the lake .
harky

[project100]

Unfortunately I couldn't I didn't make it down there, but here are a couple of vids I found on youtube. Maybe next year.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c6sYj2a_XLo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VVtCTj536Vs

[Reverend Hedgash]

Woah! What a line up of cars! How cool was that white BMW(?) thingy?

Great to see cars doing what they were made for and not the trailer queen game.

Any word on how smooth the tarmac was?

rH+

[internetscooter]

Any word on how smooth the tarmac was?
rH+

Here's the drivers view from one run...


Click here to learn how to add YouTube Videos to your phpBB forum

[BONES]

Looks like a trip to Tazzy for next year.
Best take a turbo bike and show them what FAST is
Bones

[superbikejim]

I think you'l find Grant Schlein upheld the honour for the DLRA with a top speed of the event GPS recorded 181 + MPH
Sounds like its fairly bumpy though and needs a few safety issues to be looked into.

[Lynchy]

Schleiny

Well done Hollywood!