Superprix

Sam Collins grew up in South London within sight of the Crystal Palace Race Circuit and at the age of 16, he found himself on work experience at Williams F1. Sam has been heavily involved in the sport ever since, having studied automotive and motorsport engineering he then went on a mission to write a clear and easy-to-use guide to getting started in motorsport (How to Get Started in Motorsport - Veloce). Since then, Sam has written for Motorsport News, Autosport, and Model Collector. He has also written three other Veloce bestsellers: Autodrome - The lost race circuits of Europe, Unraced ... and a homage to where it all began for him in Motor Racing at Crystal Palace - London's own circuit. Currently, Sam is working as Deputy Editor of the world's leading journal of motorsport technology Racecar Engineering, a position that gives him unique access to the inner workings of international motorsport, and is also a regular on entry lists as he competes in sprints, hillclimbs, races, rallies and trials. He lives in St Ippolyts near Hitchin, in Hertforshire. David Page first began following motorsport when he got sucked into 'Mansellmania' in 1992, when Nigel Mansell dominated Formula One. In 2001 he attended the University of Wolverhampton to study a Photography degree. During this time he became more interested in the history of motorsport. David was intrigued by the famous road circuits where many racing drivers were brave enough to race wheel-to-wheel - circuits such as the old Nurburgring Nordschleife, or Spa-Francochamps. But his most compelling interest wasn't to be realised until he learnt about a little-known British street motor sport event called the Birmingham Superprix.

1960s: The origin of the Birmingham street race * 1966 - Peter Barwell and Martin Hone's dreams 1970s: The birth of the proposed Birmingham road race and the political quagmire * 1970 - First steps into the proposed Birmingham road race * 1971 - Birmingham City Council considers the road race project * 1972 - The Birmingham road race project suffers a setback * 1973-74 - Crucial steps forward despite political difficulties * 1975-76 - Another setback for Martin Hone ... * 1978 - Martin Hone goes back to basics 1980s: Progress and the green light * 1980 - Continuing the momentum with the Birmingham road race project * 1981 - Martin Hone gains some experience at the Dubai Grand Prix * 1982 - Birmingham to study plans for a street race * 1983 - A new circuit proposal has been put forward * 1984 - Paving the way for the Birmingham road race bill * 1985 - Transition from dream into reality ... * 1986 - Politics turns ugly as the big day approaches 1986-1990: The Birmingham Superprix years * 1986 - Birmingham suffers a washout * 1987 - Birmingham declared a holiday resort * 1988 - Chaos all around at the Birmingham Superprix * 1989 - Birmingham Superprix saved by the FISA * 1990 - The last ever Birmingham Superprix 1990s: The death knell * 1991 - The demise of the Birmingham Superprix * 1992 - Final hopes, but it is all over for Birmingham 2000s: A possible revival? * 2001 - Racing returns to Birmingham, unofficially! * 2002 - Former drivers dig up memories of the Birmingham Superprix * 2003 - Resurrection of the Birmingham Superprix? * 2004 - Struggling with the finances * 2007 - Birmingham to host a rally event? * 2008 - Another revival ...