The tracks... Croft

West Lane, Dalton-on-Tees, Darlington DL2 2PL www.croftcircuit.co.uk

Croft is the premier circuit in the North East of England, is based around an old airfield but has been developed and over the years has hosted a variety of racing including touring cars, British superbikes and rallycross.

Racing has been held regularly since the late 1940s once the bombers had left their home. The current circuit is just over two miles long and is a real test with a variety of bends from fast sweepers to a very tight hairpin opening into one of the longest straights. Being quite bumpy in places it can be a real test of race set up and handling and on gusty days you can see the riders using the shelter of f the start straight pit wall to slipstream and get out of the wind. Average lap speeds can be over 70mph and there is a wide choice of great spectating spots.

To get closest to the action you need to befriend a racer, flutter your eyelids and get into the pit garages that are a feature of Croft. This will in turn give you access to the pit wall where you will feel you can almost touch the riders as they pass down the straight just inches away – very fast.

At the end of the straight is Hawthorn bend and a couple of chicanes that are a test as the riders brake from maximum speeds. These bends have grandstands so you will get a good view as well as hearing commentary.

There are then two more long straights which take the riders away from the main complex and through the Jim Clark Esses to Sunny bend which is where spectators can watch with relative ease. Here there is high banking to help with noise reduction, but this gives a great vantage point – and like all airfield circuits can also be exposed and windy. A great place to watch is the Complex banking which is just beyond the paddock and circuit entrance. From here you will see the riders coming into a fast left followed by a double right as they set up for the tight hairpin – a popular passing place.

Between races you will find a large race paddock with food, drink and a cafe that does a nice lunch. In addition some of the top teams pay extra to get a pit garage and some share the cost to set up an indoor base. These pit garages are only open if you are invited, so please ask before marching in. There is a great pub just down the road where you will often find racers and with Darlington SC and the LCGB being local there is always a good number of scooter spectators around.