April 23, 2009: Rooftop Racetrack

Yeah, a racetrack on the roof... for cars, real cars.

This is the old 5 storey Lingotto building in Lingotto, Turin, Italy. At one time, when owned by Fiat, it was the world's largest car factory.

Car production started at ground level and as each car reached another stage of completion, it was moved up another floor until it reached the rooftop, hopefully finished, and ready to be raced around the test track on top of the factory.

I think it was actually a long ramp like a parking garage, that each car climbed as it was assembled, up the 5 storeys to the roof.

Maybe after the spin around the track came the bumper test getting it back down? :haha:

link

Pea green.. No porta potties right?

The only race track I've ever seen where the infield is not a coveted area.

Sign: "Absolutely no right turn"

what it looks like today on google sightseeing.

pretty cool

http://googlesightseeing.com/maps?p=&c=&t=k&hl=en&ll=45.03367,7.666534&z=19

http://googlesightseeing.com/maps?p=&c=&t=h&hl=en&ll=45.032,7.664874&z=17&layer=c&cbll=45.032534,7.663543&cbp=12,135.01733436055522,,1,-10.2195685670262

street view is kewl

It "Looks" out of business..

A comment at the link;

About the Lingotto building:
- in the eighties it has been renewed, following a Renzo Piano project (the factory closed down in 1980);
- yes, it now hosts quite an hideous shopping centre, but also a nice auditorium and an art gallery (that rectangular superfetation you can see on the roof, on the left of first pic);
- yes, unfortunately the track is not used anymore;
- and finally yes, the Italian Job was shooted there.

and finally yes, the Italian Job was shooted there.

Was that the one where they dropped the safe thru the building and into the water below to steal it?

Damifino?

No, you'll need the original Italian Job with, IIRC, Michael Caine.