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Keimola
In 1965 the Finnish racing driver
Curt Lincoln took the initiative to build a race track near Keimola. The
circuit was constructed in a short time and opened his gates at June the 12th
1966. It was a 3,3 km long circuit with 9 corners and a 1 kilometre long main
straight. Later a kart track, where Mika Häkkinen started his career, and a
rallycross-track where added to the complex. Typical for the circuit was that
start/finish and the pit where not on the same straight as usual.
Click on
the map for a complete lap at Keimola!
Also typical for the
lay out was the labyrinth of seven different corners followed by a long
straight. International series who visit Keimola where the Formula 2 in 1966 and
1967, and the Interserie (sportscars) from 1969 till 1972.
Interserie in 1971
Despite of it's
favourable location, near the capital Helsinki, the crowd didn't came in big
numbers to the circuit and the financial situation became more difficult every
year. The outbreak of the energy-crisis in the 70's was the finishing stroke for
the circuit, which closed officially in 1978.
After the circuit
closed many people drove illegal with their cars and motorcycles on the circuit.
When in 1988 a motorcyclist had an almost fatality, the owner of the site
decided to make it impossible to ride there anymore! He rented a bulldozer and damaged
the surface. He also didn't forget the typical tower, a popular object to climb,
when he threw a lump of mud in front of the entrance. But that never stopped
visitors to dig their way inside the tower! In 2004 the tower became badly
damaged after someone set the large storage area, containing old car tyres, next
to the tower on fire.
Today the neglected
circuit is still there. Some initiatives to reopen the track unfortunately
failed. The location, close to Helsinki, is now a thread for the survival of the
circuit ruins. There are plans to level it down and build houses on the site.
That would be the definitive end of the Keimola circuit!
Discuss this circuit at the forum.
©
Text: Herman Liesemeijer Pictures: Lauri Vartiainen, Yrjö Talvitie and Martti Alkio
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