ENGLAND'S ONLY LEGAL STREET RACE! The Story of the Birmingham Super Prix (1986-1990)

As the recent Commonwealth Games will tell you, It's a Brum Ting.
But it's remarkable how Birmingham and not London or any other city to this day is still the only full on street race in UK history, as the FE races have been held at the ExCel Centre and in Battersea Park.
So then, how did Birmingham become the home of a street race that is still fondly remembered by Brummies and motorsport fans as a whole? Let's take a look.
Enjoy! And remember to like and subscribe for more!
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[@AidanMillward]

Why the hell does that say Denise Richards?

[@danesorensen1775]

The Superprix was also where Tom Walkinshaw had his first drive in the new TWR Commodore in 1988. Qualified 5th, which wasn't too bad considering he was up against Sierras and had no special Q tyres... and was missing fourth gear. However, having qualified the car, he never got to race it: David Hunt lost control of his Formula 3000 Lola at Loctite Corner and punched a hole in the brick wall of a wholesaler, shutting down the session. Hunt was basically fine, but he remembered nothing of the day before arriving in hospital, and the car was taken away on two recovery vehicles. That, and another shunt that triggered delays, meant the end of the day came before the BTCC round could kick off, so it was scrubbed. A couple of months later, Tom and his car were at Bathurst for his final start at the Mountain... and the less said about that, the better...

[@tingewickmax]

Back in 1968 I remember an article in Autosport, with a well detailed map, for a proposed "Hyde Park" GP. Now if you know the roads there the speeds would have been insane. The thought of F1 cars blasting down the road to the bridge over the Serpentine are mind boggling. It was not published on April 1st.

[@liamrobbins4470]

Birmingham is still a race track. Just three weeks ago, I had BMWs cutting to the front of traffic lights, everyone launching from the reds, average speeds of 60 in a 40, 4 wide in every tunnel. And on track crashes and spectators diving for cover

[@millennialchicken]

we need street races back in the UK... I nominate Leeds as a candidate.

[@CrunchyMotorsport]

Please do a video on Jan Magnussen who was a driver who should have rivalled Senna but never reached his potential

[@minibus9]

awesome video, would be great to see similar events happen again in the UK, same for tarmac rally stages on clsoed public roads, i'm in Devon and there are some great roads here for the tarmac rally stages in particular

[@danbradley7176]

Really enjoyed the video, would love to see more city races in England. I also live near Birmingham, but it's in Alabama. The locals talk funny over here too.

[@WEJeppo]

Olivers mount (Scarborough) had held road races since 1946 and still does ro this day, although that is for motorbikes and not cars

[@jimm4867]

In gratitude to the Irish they painted the car green.... and called it British racing green... Thanks lads.

[@seaninterpop]

I was there in 1987 and 1989. As a kid it was incredibly exciting and exotic to have International F3000 racing locally, especially when Jean Alesi won in ‘89 having already made his F1 debut. I don’t think we fully appreciated it at the time and I still find it disappointing that the existence of the race has been rather swept under the carpet. It was something that gave the city of Birmingham international notoriety at a time when things like that didn’t really happen in the UK, and especially in the West Midlands.

[@frictionstreaker]

I remember watching the Birmingham super prix, loved the Metro 6R4 race, being that I was into rallying at the time.

[@timdgoodwin]

I was a paddock marshal at 4 of the 5 events, and a spectator at the first (was too young to be a marshal), sat in the rain, watching the pit crews playing football on the pit lane during the rain delays.

[@agesanderas3250]

Just showed this to my dad (who grew up near Kings Heath/Moseley) and he can't stop smiling.

[@mr_pennason5329]

I was on turn1 for the 1990 saturday practice. The Martin Donnelley crash/pile up happened rigyt infront of me, i was 7, i was then hooked on motorsport fir life!

[@gemwilz]

I remember going in 1990 with my Dad. I was 4 years old, but it started my love for cars and racing.

[@jackrex7817]

Grand Prix - Silverstone

[@volrath__]

As a local growing up mad on motor racing I always remember my Dad talking of this event and how insane it was to see these cars blast around the city. I know I went to the last event, sadly I was only 3 at the time so have absolutely no memory of it! Would love to see racing return to Brum!

[@78lagwagon]

Really cool video! This reminds me a lot of the Wellington street races in NZ. They were around a similar time,, struggled to make money and unfortunately unlikely to make a return. It's a reminder to make the effort to go to these events when they do occur because they may only last a short time.

[@weslittlereptilefamily3418]

Your historical videos are the best. I tell anyone who mentions they are getting in to F1 to watch you videos. Especially the storytime/history videos. I've learned so much. Thank you.