If you’ve ever taken the JR Keiyo train from downtown Tokyo to Makuhari Messe for the Auto Salon or Tokyo Motor Show, you’ve passed over the former grounds of Funabashi Circuit. Like much of Japan in 1965 Funabashi city was booming, and with its location right between Tokyo and Chiba, city planners had any number of entertainment options. The winner? A 11-turn race track just under two miles long that hugged the Tokyo Bay waterfront.
At the time of Funabashi’s opening in July 1965, Japan’s most sporting cars were the Honda S600 and Toyota Sports 800, partners in a lasting rivalry throughout much of the Sixties. The Datsun Fairlady 1600 was gigantic in comparison and raced in a different class altogether, but it was not uncommon to see those various classes all on the track at the same time.
The grandstands had a capacity of about 50,000 spectators and safety precautions were minimal. Tire “walls” appeared to have been positioned not to absorb the impact of errant racers but to launch them skyward. Even the tarmac was gravelly and rough.
Still, Funabashi became a regular stop on various tours like the Junior Champion series. In this video, you can see racing legend Tojiro Ukiya in his trademark silver-and-white yotahachi go up against a young Motoharu Kurosawa in a Bluebird SS.
However, both Japan and its cars were advancing at such a rapid clip that soon circuits like Suzuka and Fuji, larger venues capable of hosting truly world class competitions, began to overshadow the smaller circuit. Cash flow issues led to management disputes, and after just 35 races in two years Funabashi Circuit closed its doors July 1967.
Today the massive LaLaPort Tokyo Bay shopping mall stands where Funabashi was. No clues that a race track ever existed can be found. Even the sweeping curve that traced the coast edge is gone, as developers filled in the bay itself to make reclaimed land.
Images courtesy of Funabashi City, Motor Magazine Blog, Vivit, Wikipedia.
Lost race circuits make me so sad. I’ve spent a fair bit of time researching what little information there is on former race tracks here in Australia and it never fails to make me feel a little sombre, especially considering I spent a lot of my childhood at a few of them.
Old racetracks here in Canada are the same and the only reason I know a few of
them is, they are mentioned by some of the older members of my car club.
(In a few places shopping plazas now stand).
Something like that is impossible in my country – Poland. You want know why? Because we have here only ONE real racetrack – Poznań Circuit. Openned in 1977.
http://www.aw.poznan.pl/tor/
I never realized the S600 and S800 were that small, my Datsun Roadster is tiny and it looks like a normal car next to them.
That map you’ve got isn’t right.
http://www.the-fastlane.co.uk/racingcircuits/Japan/Funabashi.gif
There were infield routes that could be used for different races. The last photo is showing how parts of the old circuit overlapped with current landmarks.
Great shot of those old hose Honda S cars!
Tokyo Sports Car Club and Sports Car Club of Japan raced at Funabashi Circuit many moons ago.
The video above isn’t available anymore 🙁