Tucked away in Trecynon, just outside Aberdare in South Wales, there’s a little racetrack that punches well above its weight. Aberdare Park Circuit. It’s short, just 0.9 miles. But what it lacks in length, it more than makes up for in madness. This is no flat industrial wasteland. This is a ribbon of tarmac that threads through a Victorian park, opened back in 1869, surrounded by sculptures, rare trees, and the odd confused goose.
Once a year, the peaceful park goes absolutely feral. Every July, the Aberdare Park Road Races take over for one weekend of glorious noise and fury. Bikes scream past flower beds. Spectators line the grass banks. It’s a full-throttle carnival with a bit of old-school danger thrown in. Riders need to pre-register if they want to take on this leafy lunacy, and the event kicks off with a proper parade to set the tone.
Now, here’s the twist. Aberdare is one of only two anti-clockwise road circuits in the UK. That alone makes it special. But then you get into the layout, and it becomes something else entirely. The lap begins with the Starting Straight, pinned wide open. Then come the tight and twisty bits — The Rosaries, Dunlop, the Back Straight. You’re just getting into a rhythm when it throws you into Paddock Bend, The Esses, Buckley’s Bends, and finally Surtees. It’s relentless. Riders need precision and bottle in equal measure.
For the fans, it’s not just about the racing. The centre of the park turns into a proper festival zone. Trade stalls, food, hospitality, a bit of funfair action — it’s all going on. There’s even camping if you want to make a weekend of it. And yes, you can grab a commemorative t-shirt to prove you survived the madness.
Aberdare Park Road Races aren’t just another event on the calendar. They’re a throwback to when racing was raw, personal, and a bit mad. Whether you’re strapping on a lid or standing in the crowd with a burger and a brew, you’re part of something rare. Fast bikes, fast corners, fast heartbeat. All wrapped in the unlikely beauty of a Victorian park.