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This historic airfield is a small air field located near the historic cathedral city of York. Dating back to the beginning of the Second World War, the airport was used as a Royal Air Force station and is now the location of the Yorkshire Air Museum. The airfield was also used as a race track for three enthusiastic motorists who co-host a show called Top Gear.
To begin with, the airfield was entirely grass within the No. 4 Group RAF- A Royal Airforce group originally formed in the First World War and reformed at the beginning of the Second World War. In 1945, RAF Elvington was a station to the following aircraft: The Handley Page Halifax- A British RAF four-engined heavy bomber.
In 1952, a new 1.92-mile runway was built to make room for the United States Air Force, making the airfield the largest in North England. The airfield was planned as a base for B36 bombers to deliver nuclear deterrents. However, with the development and introduction of Polaris - an operational system of four resolution-class ballistic missile submarines, the airfield was never operationalised and abandoned by the USAF in 1958.
In 1970, the Auto 66 Club held the first of many motorsports events, including the Yorkshire Speed Hill Climb & Sprint Championships for both cars and bikes, which ran over 11 rounds. The championship catered for all classes of 2, 3 and 4-wheeled vehicles.
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