Newsgroup: it.sport.formula1.moderato
Titolo: Old Hockenheim/Jim Clark

http://www.f1traveller.com/f1experiences/2002/clark.htm
(fotografie)
oming to Hockenheim from Scotland the one thing I couldn't leave without
doing was finding the memorial marking the spot where he died. Now that
the old track is gone this is more difficult, especially as I didn't have
much of an idea where it was to begin with, only that is was near the Jim
Clark Chicane. Which doesn't exist any more! 
fter the race we headed off in the opposite direction to everyone else and
got round the fence and on to the old track. I shouldn't say old track...
I mean where the old track once was. Walking along was rather sad, and
spooky, and surreal. The space where the track was is there, with the
trees stretching up on either side. The marshals posts are still there,
and the metal constructions to hold adverts, but nothing more. And it was
silent too. There was even one post - an observers post I presume - which
had 2 levels and was open, so we climbed to the top to look out and
imagine what had been there once. 
hen we reached the chicane we found it was just a huge expanse of dirt.
There was no 'chicane' shape any more, just an open expanse in the forest.
And on the left hand side was a junkyard of bits and pieces... kerbing
stones, stacked up different colours. Bits of tyre wall, grass growing
through it. A huge pile of sections of advertising hoardings - Mobil 1
etc. And signs pointing directions to where the grandstands once were.
Bits of something once great, now left in the middle of nowhere to the
grass and the moss. 
nd no sign of the memorial. I was starting to worry that it had been
destroyed along with the track, or moved, or abandoned. It was so hot, and
so sad to be wandering in earth where I track had once been, that if the
memorial was not to be found it would mean the day ending on a real
down-note. Mentally I apologised to Jim Clark for coming all this way and
not being able to find his memorial. But exactly at that moment my friend
called over from the other side of the track that he'd found it! Taking
the shortest route meant going over some lumps of earth - no problem I
thought. What I didn't know was that somehow these were still mud, not
earth, and as my sandalled feet disappeared up to my ankle I realised
shortest is not always best, and I hoped Jim, wherever he was, was happy
with what I was going through to get to his memorial! 
t sits on a clearing at the side of the track, it's own little grassy
area, flanked by a fir tree on either side. A small stone cross, perhaps
half a metre high, with 'Jim Clark 7.4.68' carved on it. Very simple but
poignant. It is very close to where the original track was, and he must be
feeling a bit lost now with no cars to watch tearing past, no sounds of
engines roaring through the trees. But at least it was there, and since
getting home I've learned they will be keeping it on it's grassy clearing
even after they have planted over the original track. 
he big issue at the German GP was of course the new track. And I think
unfortunately people at home weren't getting quite as good an idea of the
new track as those of us who were there, thanks to the state F1 racing is
in at the moment. The race itself was pretty boring and uneventful, which
naturally made people wish we had the old track back. I'd rather have the
old track as well, but I can say that the other races over the weekend -
Porsche Supercup, F3, F3000 - were some of the most exciting races I've
seen in ages. There was constant overtaking, 3 cars abreast, action
everywhere on track. All that made me think we were in for a great F1
race! But of course I'd forgotten that there is no overtaking in F1 :o/ 
he old track definitely had more atmosphere, and was more unique than the
new one, which is very like any number of other tracks. But it is great
for spectators with the new grandstands etc. But if you gave me a choice
I'd say I'd have the old track back! As for cutting down the trees, it
didn't look to me like there was that much missing (mind you I never saw
the old track) and the forest area is still *huge*. 
hat saddened me most was the old track. Rather than preserving it like
other old tracks, or even ignoring it like Monza etc, it is gone. Already,
ripped up and no more. And soon trees will be planted on the dirt road and
the layout will be lost forever. All that F1 history completely erased. 
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 the layout will be lost forever. All that F1 history completely erased.
Può benissimo darsi che, oltre al fatto che mantenere la vecchia pista
sarebbe costato dei soldi, la possibilità di costruire la nuova pista, col
relativo abbattimento di alberi sia stato possibile solo a condizione di
"reintegrarli" piantando nuova vegetazione al posto della vecchia pista.
Il problema delle vecchie piste comunque c'è anche in altre situazioni :
ad esempio il vecchio Silverstone non esiste più, e non era comunque
possibile conservare la vecchia pista dato che ci si corre ancora sul
nuovo tracciato. Il vecchio Glen non esiste più, tali e tante modifiche
sono state fatte. Zandvoort non esiste più, e la vecchia pista non mi pare
sia stata conservata.
Stesso destino, se non ho letto male, per le piste francesi non più
utilizzate, tipo Rouen o Reims, anche se di questi, come del vecchio Spa,
esistono i tratti relativi alla viabilità ordinaria.
Il vecchio circuito di Monaco non esiste più, ma le modifiche sono tali al
tessuto urbano della città da rendere le modifiche necessarie (es. la
rotonda a St. Devote, le Piscine, la Rascasse con il ristorante)
Il vecchio circuito di Città del Messico era stato già rifatto per il
ritorno della F.1 a fine anni '80, ed era stata eliminata una parte
piuttosto caratteristica, come la prima curva, e accorciato il tornantino.
L'ultima versione del circuito è anche peggio, visto che taglia a metà la
Peraltada, e la fa precedere da una curva lentissima.
Credo che anche il vecchio tracciato di Zeltweg non esista più, visto che
alcuni tratti sono stati riutilizzati ed altri no.
Come Silverstone, anche Imola non esiste più nelle sue versioni
"classiche" ma solo nell'ultima, molto meno affascinante.
Il vecchio circuito di Kyalami mi pare non esista più, esiste quello nuovo
che ha usato un pezzo del vecchio tracciato.
A fronte di tante modifiche fatte per ragioni di sicurezza, rimangono
piste assolutamente poco sicure, ma necessarie per motivi commerciali,
tipo Montreal....
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