The Royal Highland Showground at Ingliston was first used for motor racing in 1965. The track used part of the existing perimeter road and some of the internal connecting roads of the showground along with a new specially-built section comprising several fast uphill swerves which came to be known as the Esses.

The names originally given to the other corners - Farmers, Bankers, Foresters, Gardeners, Shepherds, Brewers, Vets and Merchants - were derived from the various buildings and display areas that were dotted around the showground and which sprang to life every June for the Royal Highland Show. 

The track was characterised by its tight confines and plethora of trackside obstructions - I doubt if there were any other race circuits in the UK which had such a wide variety of trees, buildings, telegraph poles and miscellaneous wooden structures to hit if you were unfortunate enough to leave the tarmac and spin towards the infield!

Circuit map 1968-92

Circuit map 1965-68

September 1968 saw a new section of track opened, finally giving the circuit a decent straight worthy of the name, along with a very tight hairpin bend, initially named West Gate.

All the corners were re-named for the 1970 season, the new names perhaps being more meaningful than the original agriculturally-derived ones! And yes, there used to be a caravan site at Caravan Corner, and Clock was of course so-named because of the large clock on the race control building situated at that corner.

Sadly, by 1992 it had become no longer financially viable to run race meetings at Ingliston, and after 27 seasons and around 150 race meetings, Ingliston departed from the Scottish motor sporting scene.

Fortunately for Scottish enthusiasts we had Knockhill waiting in the wings.....

GTs on the dummy grid in 1967

The start line in 1981...

F. Libre cars approaching Caravan in 1966...

Same view in 2005 - less tarmac and no armco!

... and in 2005; the original grandstand has been replaced by a new structure which sits right on the old circuit

... replicated by my little Honda CRX in 2003!

1979: Graham Hamilton’s F1 Surtees at Caravan...

makes my little Honda look rather pathetic at the same spot 24 years later!

Modsports at the Hairpin in 1970

Same view during a car show in 2005