Hillingdon Cycle Circuit
History
Chas Messenger, the local British Cycling Facilities Officer, organised cycle racing on the unopened Hayes Bypass for several years in the 1990s. Triple Olympic champion and Tour de France winner Bradley Wiggins started his racing career on this prototype circuit as a schoolboy.
Once the bypass opened to traffic, Messenger and Bill Bannister began searching for another closed road circuit in the area. After some abortive suggestions had been investigated, Minet Park emerged as a possible solution. What is now the park had been used to dump waste earth from the construction of the bypass. The area was, however, zoned for sports activities and community use.
Paul Barker, a member of the Westerley Cycling Club and a London Borough of Hillingdon councillor was a key figure in steering plans for the circuit to a successful completion.
The circuit was designed by Don Wiseman as a fast, easy to ride course: it is possible to pedal all the way round the circuit's corners. The circuit opened to riders in 1997.
The early circuit headquarters were temporary huts. There are now permanent storage facilities (part funded by the Kenton Road Club) and in 2010 a clubhouse was opened beside the track with meeting and catering facilities and a classroom.
See also
External links
- Hillingdon Cycle Circuit web site Archived 22 February 2009 at the Wayback Machine
- Hillingdon Slipstreamers web site Archived 29 June 2018 at the Wayback Machine
- Hillingdon Cycle Circuit details at British Cycling
References
- ^ Ray Kelly. "A brief history of the Circuit". Hillingdon Cycle Circuit. Archived from the original on 18 April 2024. Retrieved 18 April 2024.
- ^ "Hillingdon Circuit celebrates opening of stylish clubhouse". Cycling Weekly. 14 July 2010. Archived from the original on 18 April 2024. Retrieved 18 April 2024.
- ^ Stuart Benstead (20 July 2010). "New Club House at Hillingdon". British Cylcing. Archived from the original on 18 April 2024. Retrieved 18 April 2024.