THE KINNEIL TRACK
The former track is located within the Falkirk Council owned Kinneil Estate which is still operated as a public park. Kinneil is situated on the western edge of Bo’ness and lies beside the busy A904 Grangemouth to Bo’ness road. For the first two official meetings in 1934 and 1935 the course ran uphill from the courtyard for a half mile in a dead straight line. To make the track more interesting the start line was moved downhill in 1936 which allowed drivers to experience the daunting Courtyard bends for the first time. In 1937 Snake Bend was constructed on the upper part of the track and the start line was moved even further downhill which brought Craw Yett Bend into the racing action. The pre-war track length was 800 yards long. The track length was extended in 1947 to a full half-mile (880 yards) and it remained basically unchanged from then until closure in 1966. The Kinneil track was the first true motor racing venue in Scotland. Prior to 1934 any motor sport events were held on public roads (until 1925) or on sand. The track holds the dubious distinction of being the scene of Scotland’s first motor racing fatality - Ian Struthers crashed and died at Snake Bend in June 1952.
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Last updated 4 August 2008
Jack Walton 1952 (Cooper Bristol)
