The pinnacle of motorsport, Formula 1, comes to Singapore in September next year. I eagerly wait for the announcement of ticket sales.
For those of you who are similarly anticipating the race, you can view a historic clip above, reporting on the 1966 Singapore Grand Prix. This involved cars (I think I spotted a Mini Cooper) and motorcycles. The reporter called it “the premiere motorsport event in South-East Asia” and apparently “attendance topped a quarter million”.
That’s pretty amazing attendance considering the population of Singapore in the ’60s.
You can also read about the old Grand Prix and the Singapore Airlines Rally in 1977. (via Yesterday.sg: Singapore Grand Prix at Sembawang Circuit and Motor Racing in Singapore)
peter
/ Tuesday, 1 January 2008Actullay there’s more on the motor racing calender in the 1960s…..
Shenton Way between Lau Pa Sat Market and the Conference Hall was the Go-kart Circuit during the PESTA SUKAN Sports Festival in 1964.
Even the air strip at Sembawang Air Base and the land behind Dieppe Barracks was used as a small race circuit for normal “street cars”.
Last if my memory serves me right, the land behind around the Clementi MRT Station was jungle land. There used to be a British Army camp there (which was subsequently used by the SAF as its Staff and Command College in 1968) called “Colombo Camp”. Next to the camp cross-country races were held for moto-cycles.
If you search PICAS you can find more photos of Shenton Way in the 1960s and the go-kart races. DBS Bdlg, SGX Center, Shenton House and UIC Building never existed in that era.
acroamatic
/ Wednesday, 2 January 2008Thanks Peter, for all that information. Didn’t know about the other motor sport events here. Shall check out PICAS.