1948 Olympics track surface inquiry

Does anyone out there know if the track surface used in the 1948 London Olympics was synthetic? My brother has a VHS tape featuring all (or most) of the olympic 100 meter dash champs along with the 1500 meter champs though 1988 and in viewing the 1948 race won by Harrison Dillard the track surface appears to be reddish.

Re: 1948 Olympics track surface inquiry

There was no such thing as a synthetic track in 1948. They didn't come along until the '60's.

[stevehj197]

Re: 1948 Olympics track surface inquiry

synthetic tracks/runways had not even been imagined in 1948... must be some kind of red clay for sure.

[dj]

Re: 1948 Olympics track surface inquiry

First synthetic track for OG was '68, in Mexico City. Tokyo wanted to install one, but IAAF wouldn't let them under the rule that outlawed equipment changes that weren't universally adopted at least one year in advance (the '72 PV controversy).

Re: 1948 Olympics track surface inquiry

Thanks.

[john1022]

Re: 1948 Olympics track surface inquiry

I graduated HS in 1961.

The new HS in our county (which opened in the fall of 1960) had a rubberized asphalt track .. I believe that meant asphalt with ground up tires.

It was a great track.