Great Read: We shall race them on the beaches

Why speed pioneers took to sand  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ View in browser View in browser ARTICLES MAGAZINE SHOP DATABASE SHOP ARCHIVE We shall race them on the beaches: why speed pioneers took to sand February 2002 | Bill Boddy With few permanent circuits and road racing banned in the early 1920s, motor sport's pioneers turned to beaches to realise their primeval urge for speed. In today's Great Read, Bill Boddy recalls how Southport, Saltburn, Redcar and Weston-super-Mare became the original homes of British racing. More motor racing on sand courses has occurred than may be generally realised. The inaugural use of such a venue appears to have been in 1904 by the Irish Automobile Club on The Velvet Strand', near Dublin. If Ireland instituted speed events on what might appear to be an unsuitable surface, the British mainland soon followed suit. But why beaches? READ MORE F1 Mark Hughes MPH: Hülkenberg mutiny earned podium, but it began with 1 lap in 2020 Nico Hülkenberg's long-awaited first podium at Silverstone came after a virtuoso drive, but it only came about thanks to one unforgettable qualifying lap in 2020, as Mark Hughes recalls READ MORE F1 Pablo Elizalde Brands Hatch: F1's beloved countryside amphitheatre On this day in 1964, the roar of F1 engines echoed through the Kent countryside for the first time – Brands Hatch has been a fan favourite ever since READ MORE F1 Pablo Elizalde Brands Hatch: F1's beloved countryside amphitheatre On this day in 1964, the roar of F1 engines echoed through the Kent countryside for the first time – Brands Hatch has been a fan favourite ever since READ MORE F1 James Elson Aston Martin Valkyrie hypercar gallery: Racing's most beautiful car Monstrous yet beautiful, the Aston Martin Valkyrie is fighting its way up the sports car field with a screaming V12 – here's our exclusive photoshoot with the car READ MORE Motor Sport Branded Explore our best-selling products, specially selected for Motor Sport enthusiasts like you. Racing Green Motor Sport Binder BUY NOW Wireless Earphones Motor Sport BUY NOW Coasters Motor Sport BUY NOW Le Mans Winners' Cars Motor Sport Poster BUY NOW Flask Bottle Motor Sport BUY NOW Laptop Bag Motor Sport BUY NOW Update your content preferences UPDATE NOW Connect with us We now accept © 2025 Motor Sport Magazine, All rights reserved. Motor Sport Magazine, 18-20 Rosemont Road, London, NW3 6NE. © 2025 Motor Sport Magazine, All rights reserved. Motor Sport Magazine,  18-20 Rosemont Road, London, NW3 6NE. Unsubscribe  |  Privacy Policy