The test track (1928)
An important problem occurred at the IMPERIA works.
For months the management of the factory were overwhelmed by complaints, because of the frequent road test on the roads around the factory. More and more tests were necessary and the population got more and more fed up. Chickens, little animals and sometimes people were victims to these "metal monsters". The test drivers used the roads of the village and the roads to Banneux, a road with a lot of bends. Speeding and high revving engines made the population mad and they were no longer willing to support the factory
The works, squeezed between two hills, would not allow an easy solution, so the only solution was to build a test track within the factory and using the football field of the football club of Nessonvaux. The ring started within the factory, then over the roof which gave a track of about one kilometre. Only Fiat had a similar track.
This little test track became an attraction in the region. A little causeway allowed people to climb onto the nearside hill to watch the spectacle of car testing over the factories roofs.
Source: www.standardmotorclub.org.uk
Well, this is a very special location.
Only the huge Fiat Lingotto factory comes to my mind when I think of car test tracks on a factory roof.
And this is still in original order, but in the state of decrease...
There is a construction company located at the former Imperia works nowadays. There does not seem too much interest in preserving this unique monument, unfortunately.
Acces is limited at the weekends. Maybe Iīll have the chance to visit at week time again. Then Iīll have a closer look at it again.
