Went there in'73 for the GP. The most frightening drops and climbs I've ever seen, the street section, the atmosphere in the citadel start. Then it starts raining on other years and all hell breaks loose. Fantastic years. Great vid.
Just found these comments made by Grand Prix rider Rob Andrews on Facebook "Looking at that track walk video was cool. It makes you realise how crazy the place was, and how you could look at it and think "How on earth did they ever fit a motocross track in there?" The trees are so close together and the track just wound in and out of them. But when I raced there I never even considered that. It was like tunnel vision and we'd walk the track and only see and focus on what was laid out between the fences and tapes. I never considered the trees. Another thing is that in all the years I raced there, and given all the times I walked the track, I never once looked over to the left and saw the moat thing along the ramparts, or considered that we wouldn't want to crash over there. There's a saying that you can't see the wood for the trees. I think at Namur we never saw the trees for the track."
Evo Twinshock well said. Being a Yank I only came to love Namur via UA-cam years after. Man what a magical place and in my opinion rates at the very top of all time best mx race venues in the world.
It looks even more evil without the banners and fans. I got to see the last GP ever there and walked the complete track during Saturdays practice and qualifying. Some of the downhills were so steep that you had to hang on to tree branches as you made your way down. Truly a magical place and I'm so glad I got to see a race there. Would have loved to see the giants of the sport there in the 70's and 80's but just glad I got over there at all. I can only imagine Mikkola, DeCoster, Carlqvist, Lackey, and Malherbe running the trees and jumping back in to the Citadel, must have been amazing.
Really cool,thanks for doing this! Some enterprising and clever UA-cam editor should mix in video of riders back in the day making the various sections described, that would be pretty cool to see.
The scene from the 1977 Grand Prix where Wolsink was chasing Mikkola through the trees--they were both going impossibly fast, almost as if the trees weren't there. I still enjoy watching that video.
Fab. Thanks for doing that vid. I'd been doing a google street view to have peek what it's like now. Should have looked at this first. I'd love to do the walk one day.
One of my big regrets is that I will never be able to watch a race from here. I'm 35 and not rich so I never really had a chance. My brother and I have made a pact that the next des Nations at Lommel we are going over from the states to watch. Then I'll at least have gotten to see a classic Belgium track in person.
Went there in'73 for the GP. The most frightening drops and climbs I've ever seen, the street section, the atmosphere in the citadel start. Then it starts raining on other years and all hell breaks loose. Fantastic years. Great vid.
Afraid the great tracks and atmosphere will never be seen again!!!
good job its sad to me, why? im 58 and i miss the good ol days
I walked this exact lap yesterday...had goosebumps the whole way round! Incredible place :-)
Jupiler, Chips and Mayo and motox, what a great place this is, loved it year after year, such a shame it's no longer :(
Legendary Track 👏
Just found these comments made by Grand Prix rider Rob Andrews on Facebook "Looking at that track walk video was cool. It makes you realise how crazy the place was, and how you could look at it and think "How on earth did they ever fit a motocross track in there?" The trees are so close together and the track just wound in and out of them. But when I raced there I never even considered that. It was like tunnel vision and we'd walk the track and only see and focus on what was laid out between the fences and tapes. I never considered the trees. Another thing is that in all the years I raced there, and given all the times I walked the track, I never once looked over to the left and saw the moat thing along the ramparts, or considered that we wouldn't want to crash over there. There's a saying that you can't see the wood for the trees. I think at Namur we never saw the trees for the track."
Evo Twinshock well said. Being a Yank I only came to love Namur via UA-cam years after. Man what a magical place and in my opinion rates at the very top of all time best mx race venues in the world.
It looks even more evil without the banners and fans. I got to see the last GP ever there and walked the complete track during Saturdays practice and qualifying. Some of the downhills were so steep that you had to hang on to tree branches as you made your way down.
Truly a magical place and I'm so glad I got to see a race there. Would have loved to see the giants of the sport there in the 70's and 80's but just glad I got over there at all. I can only imagine Mikkola, DeCoster, Carlqvist, Lackey, and Malherbe running the trees and jumping back in to the Citadel, must have been amazing.
Really cool,thanks for doing this! Some enterprising and clever UA-cam editor should mix in video of riders back in the day making the various sections described, that would be pretty cool to see.
The scene from the 1977 Grand Prix where Wolsink was chasing Mikkola through the trees--they were both going impossibly fast, almost as if the trees weren't there. I still enjoy watching that video.
Fab. Thanks for doing that vid. I'd been doing a google street view to have peek what it's like now. Should have looked at this first. I'd love to do the walk one day.
scary how its over i hate life its too hard
Nice vid, very interesting stuff. Thanks!
you really need to do comparason pics
Yeah, i remember this track, very fast and dangerous, especially on the 500 s.
One of my big regrets is that I will never be able to watch a race from here. I'm 35 and not rich so I never really had a chance. My brother and I have made a pact that the next des Nations at Lommel we are going over from the states to watch. Then I'll at least have gotten to see a classic Belgium track in person.
at 1238 thats cake for pro's to do