Mallory Hairpin - how close can you get?

In the recently resurrected Crystal Palace thread mention is made of the hairpin at Mallory and what a good place it was to see cars at close quarters. You could get even closer if you were on the inside - viz this shot of Peter Westbury offering to polish a marshals shoes.

And you could just about step into Mike-The-Bike's Surtees...

BTW, Westbury in F2 BT30 entered by his Felday team and Hailwood in the works F5000 TS8, both in 71 (but not the same date!).

Dave,

I haven't been there for a couple of years but you could get as close as the people on the outside of the circuit in the first picture when i was there.

What condition is Mallory Park in today? I know it from GPL, I'd be interested to hear how it's ended up.

I have mentioned this before, but seeing shots like these makes we dream of a time machine that would allow me to pop back and spend time at circuits like this. This summer I had the opportunity to have a photo pass for the Montreal CART race, and appreciated the access to shooting areas very much, but this stuff is fantastic.

Should mention that I am very aware of the inherent dangers of track layouts and access points like this, but as it is unlikely that I will in fact be able to pop back in time with some era appropriate camera gear, I can day dream and not worry about getting clobbered by a flying wheel or Mike the bike.

cheers

Originally posted by M Coupe
Dave,

I haven't been there for a couple of years but you could get as close as the people on the outside of the circuit in the first picture when i was there. More than a couple of years since you could stand at the hairpin I think.M Coupe?
And work has just started on a chicane between Stebbe Straight & the Esses. Hopefully it will be like the one after the hairpin,that is used only by bikes.

Originally posted by Rob29
More than a couple of years since you could stand at the hairpin I think.M Coupe?
And work has just started on a chicane between Stebbe Straight & the Esses. Hopefully it will be like the one after the hairpin,that is used only by bikes.

There's still good spectator access at the hairpin - the picture doesn't look all that much different to how it is nowadays. Of course, the inside is much better - that's where I spent Boxing Day! :)

As for the new layout at the Esses, I'm not sure whether it will be used for both cars & bikes, but I suspect it will.

The new layout is mostly in response the fatalities and sheer magnitude of 'how-did-they-walk-away-from-that?' type incidents that have occurred recently.

As for standing on the apex of the hairpin, it is a unique and breathtaking experience, especially on the first lap!!!!

Originally posted by neilwaynesmith
..................................As for standing on the apex of the hairpin, it is a unique and breathtaking experience, especially on the first lap!!!!

Try it from inside the car then ;)

http://www.mallettracing.co.uk/IMAGES/mallory070402-01.jpg

This is the only one I've got showing a mildly crowded Shaws. This was the second lap and I was overtaking the black car.

Big act of faith Peter- around the outside! I tried that once with Martin Brundell in the Walkinshaw BMWs. Only he took the opportunity to dismiss me (spun me out). *******! ;-)

Can't believe Martin would do such a thing but I have to say that Martin West (in the black Capri) and I have raced closely without touching a few times.

My favourite outside overtaking move was at Castle Coombe in 1999 in a very wet race at the last corner before the start/finish line. I passed about three cars on the apex and apparently it was a crowd pleaser. Unfortunately I only did it because I was travelling to bloody fast to slow down! :rotate:

Rob,

I've got a few pics which once I fix my scanner (hopefully tomorrow) I'll post which I took there a couple of years ago. You can't stand on the outside other than at the exit side but you could still get fairly close.

Mark

Originally posted by Peter Mallett
This is the only one I've got showing a mildly crowded Shaws. This was the second lap and I was overtaking the black car.
Peter - are you sure that is not Gordon Spice going around the outside of La Source in the Belga Capri in the 1981 Spa 24 Hours? :)

Seriously though - here are a couple of shots I took at MP
a few years back. It is virtually unchanged save for new armco and a better spectator fence but thankfully, no large wire fence to spoil the view.

The hairpin itself and in the background - The Kirkby Mallory Coachhouse - The local village pub should one develop a thirst between races!

BMWs approach the hairpin. As previously posted, a great place to take pictures, if you can get a press pass that is!
Scary too, especially with cars that interlock wheels easily
such as FF1600.

[i]Originally posted by Andrew Kitson [/i
Scary too, especially with cars that interlock wheels easily such as FF1600. [/B]

exactly my thoughts Andrew. There doesn't seem to be much runoff room straight on is there, unless of course you mean entering the pub at a gallop!

In one of your shots, hasn't that tree been there for ever and ever? I seem to recall it in old film clips that I haave seen from there.

Yes djb, that tree does seem to have been there forever.
Chris Meek, owner of Mallory, gave me a nice book a couple of years ago that he commissioned about the history of the estate and the aristocratic families that lived there. In the grounds, just near the coach house and still standing is the 'Byron' tree. It is said that Lord Byron used to sit under it on a hot sunny day writing.

It's also VERY good to hide behind.:) Especially on the first lap of a 750 Stock Hatch Race :eek:

well, you learn something everyday don't you?

and neil, do you mean a 750cc bike race (don't get the "hatch" reference, as in hatchback, as in car)?

Dug out this shot from the FF race during the F2 meeting on 14th March 71. I took it from Devils Elbow looking towards Shaws hairpin, and you can see where the spectators were allowed to stand in those days. It was a great place to watch from and there were a lot of incidents there - a haven for the demon late brakers!

Photographers at work (I think that's Nigel Snowdon standing). Taken at the same meeting - Derek Bell's March 712M entered by Frank Williams.

A quote from davemorganfan in the F3 thread: "Ah, a good lad, Mr Maskell. I think he was the only one who dared to appear in one of those seriously ugly Chevron B18s in 1971."

Jo Siffert ran two that year for himself and Xavier Perrot, and here the latter is chased by Jeremy Richardson at Mallory. They finished 7th and 6th respectively on aggregate of two heats.

Siffert himself didn't figure in the results following an accident in the first heat, although he finished 5th in the second.

One of the most exciting views I ever had was on the inside of the hairpin about five years ago. BOSS or similar were running, and there were two Footwork F1s in the field. 195mph on approach to the esses, lift and change down to 145, back up to 185 then on the brakes at the oak tree to get down to 45 for the hairpin.
Awesome.
Then it started drizzling and one of them went straight on with the wheels locked, into the Recticel. The damage? It peeled the end plate off the front wing...

The other great moment there was a full field of Tuscans, the one at the front using the brakes, and everyone else using the one in front.

Ah, Mallory. REAL motor racing like when Murray was a lad.

I will look up Mallory for more info later, but roughly where is it situated and what sort of real travelling times are required to get there from various places? Just curious for future reference.

DaveM-great pics again,thanks!
I was at that 1971 meeting too. In the crowd on the entry to the Esses, but fortunate not to be hurt when Ronnie Peterson lost his March, cleared the earth bank and landed up against the picket fence that we were all clinging on to!
a young lad only ten yards away was hit by flying debris. A quick visit to the St.John's had him back a race or two later when Ronnie appeared with the battered nose cone that he signed for him.In the FF race you posted, I remember Andy Rouse barrel rolling up at the Hairpin and in the Saloons, Dave Brodie winning from the back in the fantastic Run Baby Run Escort.
Please keep those pics coming!
djb- Mallory is near Leicester, about 10 miles west of the M1 Motorway, signposted at junction 21. About an hours drive up the M1 from London - traffic permitting! It is also only about 20 miles south of Donington, also next to the M1.

Originally posted by djb
well, you learn something everyday don't you?

and neil, do you mean a 750cc bike race (don't get the "hatch" reference, as in hatchback, as in car)? Think he means the 'Hot Hatch' small saloon (car)series run by the 750MC.

Originally posted by DaveM
Dug out this shot from the FF race during the F2 meeting on 14th March 71. I took it from Devils Elbow looking towards Shaws hairpin, and you can see where the spectators were allowed to stand in those days. It was a great place to watch from and there were a lot of incidents there - a haven for the demon late brakers! Thanks Dave,thats what I meant in my first post.I may have been in the crowd by the building at the hairpin.

djb, how about you come over for Minis at Mallory? I'd love to have you along to share the nerves of spectating with! :)

thanks Andrew for the situating etc (I've said this many times before, but kor blimey you lot are so lucky to have such a concentration of tracks near to each other)

and to Rob for the "hot hatch" explanation.

"Minis at Mallory", has a nice ring to it doesn't it?

Originally posted by Andrew Kitson
[B]I was at that 1971 meeting too. In the crowd on the entry to the Esses, but fortunate not to be hurt when Ronnie Peterson lost his March, cleared the earth bank and landed up against the picket fence that we were all clinging on to! /B]

Here is proof that you weren't exaggerating Andrew!

Originally posted by Andrew Kitson
and in the Saloons, Dave Brodie winning from the back in the fantastic Run Baby Run Escort.
Please keep those pics coming!


Your wish is my command Master. Dave Brodie in Run Baby Run. I remember some time later at Silverstone, in the support for one of the F1 meetings, I was spectating at Woodcote and caught sight of a ball of fire rolling along the track from Abbey. It was Brodie after clipping the back of Dave Matthews' car and I was sure he couldn't have got out, but thankfully he did.

I took loads of pics of the F2s at that meeting but not many of the supports. I think the Sports 2000 (?) had their first race then, and Tom Pryce was one of the drivers.

Since you were at the Esses Andrew you will have seen this outrageous chop at closer quarters than I did. I think it was Ray Calcutt in the Fraser Imp trying to hold on to the lead, but can't recall who from. Over to you!

What about Ian Bax? Or the guy Cox from Brighton or was he just a Brands specialist?

Great pics DaveM! Again..
The sportscar debut was the F100 class. Any pics?
Yes, Tom Pryce was in one as was the Jim Russell car of Stan Matthews. I think the Mini challenging Calcutt is the green and yellow car of Tony Dickinson with Mike Evans following and the clubman of John Hipkiss just coming into shot.
The Brodie shunt you mention at Silverstone was the Group 2 support to the '73 GP. 3 cars were involved at Abbey - the Mini of Jim Burrows too I think . I remember being at Copse and saw the pall of black smoke. With the monster 'Scheckter' F1 shunt and a huge pile up at the start of the Atlantics - involving a flying Jas Paterson - it was a busy day for the boys in orange!

about the "Run baby run" Escort shot, was the driver 4'11'' or was the seat seriously lowered? And is that a Mini on steriods in the background?-all bloated to the side wot?

The Schekter shunt , have only seen a shot of it taken with a very long movie camera lens that compressed everything very much, but even with that visual effect, I couldn't believe that there were not serious injuries. Weren't there at least bits of cars that went flying into the pits area as well?

Jim Burrows still pedals a Mini with the CTCRC.

Not a 'hairpin' shot but in the Mallory Paddock. Remember these two?
Derek Lawrence and Ken Bailey with the works Team Titan FF cars from 1972.

Andrew, have you been caught you out at last??!!!! was not the Mini involved in the horrendous Brodie/Matthews shunt at the 1973 GP at Silverstone drven by Mo Mendham who was minding his own business as a Class D runner being lapped by the much much faster Brodie and Matthews. IIRC Mendham never raced again...

Ah, you might be correct! Jim Burrows was in the same race though. We will have to ask TimD if he has the 'Autosport' report from that meeting - British GP 73. Tim?

Originally posted by Andrew Kitson
The sportscar debut was the F100 class. Any pics?
Yes, Tom Pryce was in one as was the Jim Russell car of Stan Matthews.

Here is Tom Pryce but I don't know who the challenger is - any idea?

I didn't know whether to post this here or in the F3 thread. As it is so obviously Mallory, I thought here. Remember the JPS liveried F3 cars built by Lotus in 1972 as their junior F3 team? Drivers were Tony Trimmer and Bernard Vermilio, pictured here.

Gentlemen, these photographs are superb. It's nice to go to an old, relatively unchanged circuit like Mallory. You can quite easily imagine these pictures coming to life.

Please continue posting them :)

Originally posted by Woolley
BOSS or similar were running, and there were two Footwork F1s in the field. Awesome. The other great moment there was a full field of Tuscans, the one at the front using the brakes, and everyone else using the one in front.

Ah, Mallory. REAL motor racing like when Murray was a lad.

I was on starline for both of these, I remember standing on the line with the yellow as both grids rounded the elbow and thinking :censored: :censored: !!!!! But WHAT A SIGHT!!!!! I also remember it snowed when the Tuscans came :bag: and there was an almighty startline accident. Two absolutely great days with serious horsepower on tap.

Originally posted by DaveM
Here is Tom Pryce but I don't know who the challenger is - any idea?
DaveM- yet another great photo. The challenger in your F100 photo at Devil's Elbow above is the green Sturgess SL2 - BMC of Chris Lee, who won the race. Pryce finished second in the Royale RP4.

Talking of F100's - here is a painting I did for the front cover of the book 'Nowhere to Hide' - The story of Royale Racing Cars. It is also available as a print. The F100 is top right in 1970 - driven by Ray Allen who still instructs at some track days.

F.Atlantic Chevron B18 - Graham Eden Racing, Cyd Williams 1971.

Peter Gaydon has been mentioned in the 'F3 1960s/70s' and other historic threads - here is a Mallory painting I did for him of his little 1966 Lotus 23b. Chris Meek, now the owner of the circuit chases in the works Elva with the Willment Lotus 23b and Lotus 40 of Jack Paterson and Frank Gardner giving chase into the awesome Gerards bend.
Talking of Gerards - I was chatting to Roger Cowman today about the early 70s F2 meetings there.
These threads create discussion away from the site too! He recalled that the practice sessions were split into odd and even numbered cars. All of the drivers NOT in Ronnie Peterson's session wandered down to the entry to Gerards - purely to watch the master at work. None of them could work out how he was going in flat, returning shaking their heads. Brave indeed.

like the anecdote Andrew. Seeing your work over time really has made me think about the medium vs my profession, photography (although, I am not a sports photographer, and have done precious little motorsport). I find it interesting how as an illustrator, you can really take a key moment, or a purely emotional moment of a race that represents the drama and essence of the event, and illustrate it with the freedom from camera placement, focal length, shutter speed, depth of field etc etc. To be quite honest, in the past I usually haven't looked much at motorsport illustration (to begin with, there isn't much motorsport stuff here anyway, not compared to the UK anyway) but I'd have to say that I enjoy looking at, appreciating and thinking about your work.

oh, and the supports for that footbridge look damn scarey if you got seriously crossed up out of that downhill right!

cheers, david

deej,

I think its still the same except there's a barrier in front of the supports now. There's another modification which came from a CSCC Mustang in 2000. Its a part of a flywheel which broke up as the car was heading under the bridge and embedded itself in the beam! The part is gone now but the evidence is still there.

I'll remember to look if I ever turn up there one day!

With a twist on the 'how close can you get?' theme, this has to be the closest we will ever get to seeing the first racing car negotiate the hairpin. It was Wednesday 26th April 1956 when the circuit was officially opened by Bob Gerard who did a few laps in his Cooper Bristol.

And here is Bob Gerard plunging down Devil's Elbow with the Moto Guzzi of Maurice Cann following to officially open the track for the motorcycling world too. Note the 'lake' behind the bare paddock had yet to fill up. Excavation had taken place there to provide material for the base of the circuit and for spectator banks.

3 Coopers head towards the hairpin in an F2 race in 1959.

Yes, that tree has been there forever! A Formula Libre race also in '59.

Mallory roughly as it is today, although a chicane is being installed just before the Esses.This was taken in the mid '90s at a Superbike meeting.

[i]...mid '90s at a Superbike meeting. [/B]

why you're right Andrew, I can recognize Carl Foggerty approaching the hairpin ;)

but seriously folks, thanks for the aerial, as I had no idea of the layout of the place. Looks like a very quick circuit, hard on left side tires.

Summer of 66, the days of the relaxed paddock. Peter Sutcliffe's GT40 enjoys some attention. A pal of mine knew one of the writers of the GT40 book, The Ford That Beat Ferrari published in 1985, and they used several of my photos including this and the one that follows, for which I was given a signed copy of the book. I saw a copy in a motor racing book dealers last year priced at £375! (and that was the standard edition like mine, not the limited leather-bound job). Invest in books for a good return it seems.

Hadn't noticed before - it's got one of those Little Boy bonnet mascots.
Bit of the lake in the background and Stebbe Straight beyond. See todays Autosport for a plan of the circuit showing the new chicane which may not be used for cars.

Originally posted by djb
but seriously folks, thanks for the aerial, as I had no idea of the layout of the place. Looks like a very quick circuit, hard on left side tires.

Well even a slow old bloke like me averages around 88mph there with a first gear hairpin!;)

I first visited MP in 1974 for Super Saloon and FF1600. Patrick Neve won the FF final and Mick Hill had a big blow up in the Superloon race coming out of Devil's Elbow. Next year will bring up my 30 years at MP and I still love the place, it's what a race track should be. I am hoping that the new section will not spoil it, but I fear it will.
Thanks to eveyone for the old photos as they have really brought back so many happy memories for me. I would love to see some from the mid to late 70's.

Originally posted by paddy
Superloon race

:rotate: :rotate:

Apt, very apt.

Welcome to our friendly forum paddy.

Paddy, welcome to the forum. Rest assured I will hunt out a few 70s photos. I too was at that meeting. Patrick Neve set a new FF lap record that stood for many years. Everyone was convinced that he must have had a bent motor. Who knows as I don't think it was protested.

Here is a photo of the HSCC single seater championship taken in October 2002 at Mallory Park. This was a cracking meeting with some great racing and wonderful machinery. Pictured here are( I think!) a Brabham BT14, a Brabham BT16, a Cooper T82, a Brabham BT28 and a March 702.
As you can see the view is still great at Shaw's Hairpin and there were some lovely sounds as well.

I'm sorry I messed up attaching the photo. Here goes again.

my parents took me to malory,
we got there early to watch the testing,
Two original Cobras,
and an XJ220,
loads of other good cars i cant remember,
the second race, some small formula i think,
on of the cars smashed into the barrier at the corner before the start/finish strait.
Meeting was abandoned,
dads promised to take me again though.

Andy Slaughter's production saloon Mazda RX3 in '73 smoking around the hairpin.

Tony Lanfranchi's Moskvich(!) in the same race.

John Nicholson - now of Nicholson McLaren engines - in his green & white Pinch plant hire Formula Atlantic Lyncar in 1973.

Richard Mallock - clubmans 1974.

Andrew, thanks for the photos. The 1 of Richard Mallock shows how close the bank on the outside of the corner was. My brother and I used to stand there regularly and I particularly remember a Group 8 race with Derek Bell(F5000)battling against Derek Warwick(F2)for the full 50 laps before Bell left his braking too late for Shaws on the last lap, or last lap but 1, and slamming head on into the bank and giving the win to Warwick.
Another memorable battle involved Frank Sytner in Sports 2000. Sytner chased the lead for the whole race and took the lead on the last lap at Shaws with a brilliant pass that involved a bit of contact. I can't remember the year or who he overtook. Can anyone help?

Originally posted by paddy
Frank Sytner ...............................involved a bit of contact.

No change there then! :laugh:

I got the group 8 bit wrong. The F5000 driver was Guy Edwards.

Re Sytner barging someone off, was in Mike Taylor? There were a number of good 'Taylors' but a particularly good one , a printer maybe, in a yellow Sports 2000 Royale?

That was Mike 'Fulmar' Taylor, father of F3 driver Mark( this year in USA Infiniti-Pro ). He can be seen in the Silverstone old photos thread, with Jeremy Rossiter in Sp2000.

To use the thread title in a different way, here are some cars which have got a bit too close at Shaws, starting with Mo Nunn, being followed by Schenken and Svensson.

The previous shot was from June 68 BTW, and this one of Mike Beckwith's Spence Lotus 59 in more nose trouble is in June 69.

And from the same meeting, Jaques Lafitte's Martini (one for the road?) has just clobbered Peter Gaydon's Tecno

Of Course, it wasn't just at the Hairpin things got a little close ...

Our Lola T360 BDX ... getting out of there. 1977.

Carlos Reutemann's Rondel Brabham laps John Wingfield in the F2 race, March 1972.

Local hero Roger Williamson in his F3 GRD, 1972.

Peter Hull's Brabham trips up over Alan Jones' GRD in an F3 race in '72. Good photography by Diana Burnett.

If you have never been to Mallory, go, it's a great little circuit.
Here are a few shots around the hairpin area taken a few years ago. Nothing has changed much since at this corner and these shots show how close spectators can get.

Another. Those grass banks are full at the Superbike meeting.

Renault 5's approach the hairpin. Taken from the spectator enclosure. A great place to get photos.

Originally posted by Andrew Kitson
If you have never been to Mallory, go,

....and tomorrow's a good a day as any!;)

750MC, I believe, according to Autosport.

Just noticed the picture of Mike Beckwith earlier in the thread. I once bought a Hillman Avenger from him - if anyone is still in contact with him, I was very happy with it!!

On the subject of Sunday................

Picture of a friend racing in the Roadsports class.

http://www.elise-s160.co.uk/images/Lotus/donny03/mallory03a.jpg

Another roadsports picture


http://www.elise-s160.co.uk/images/Lotus/donny03/mallory02a.jpg

...and some Historic Formula Juniors.

http://www.elise-s160.co.uk/images/Lotus/donny03/mallory01a.jpg

Thank M Coupe, our favourite tree intact.

Some interesting lines there.

... but low speeds Peter. The only important thing is having the throttle wide open ASAP, so lines on the exit are less critical eh?

Peter,

It's quite an interesting place to watch as so many people try lots of different lines to try and gain an advantage.

At times it looks like someone has really messed up only to get their place back on the run down to the Elbow as they got on the throttle very early.

I didn't take any pictures of the stock-Hatch racing but they didn't disappoint on very close ;) racing, especially at the hairpin, the grass on the outside was used a lot.

Originally posted by gfm
... but low speeds Peter. The only important thing is having the throttle wide open ASAP, so lines on the exit are less critical eh?

In tight, floor the throttle, out wide and watch that oversteeeeeeeeeeeeeer!!! :rotate:

Any more pictures would be welcome,MC......especially if they show the four ten-tenthers who were marshalling at the hairpin!;)

Andrew, interesting in a couple of your last shots, it shows the slight banking and uphill that hasn't been apparent in the tighter shots that have been up here 'til now. Anyway, just an observation from someone piecing together the place in my head thanks to the various photos, illustrations and track map.

Originally posted by djb
it shows the slight banking and uphill that hasn't been apparent in the tighter shots that have been up here 'til now.

Just to give you an idea of how steep it is, on boxing day, with a big oil spill there on top of a wet track, I found myself sliding down the slope when trying to stand still!

I remember watching a Group 1 race there - I guess 1978. A Dolomite went straight on at the entry and rammed the barrier that was placed at the edge of the tarmac where the grass run off is now. Trying to remember who, perhaps Rex Greenslade. I recall Walkinshaw's BMW was declared the winner of the race at the red flag. A fire broke out in the engine bay of the Dolomite and the marshals doused it with loads of foam, which took a while to put out. We were standing behind this barrier and the impact caused everyone to 'duck' - it was a big one and only 6 feet away! This foam ran down the slope and created a huge white puddle at the hairpin apex which took ages to clear up once the car had been removed. Shortly after this, spectators were no longer permitted in that area and the run off was created.

Perhaps the banking is the reason why so many different lines can be taken for that all important track position before the Elbow. I have seen countless races at the circuit where the leaders go out of view up to the hairpin on the last lap, yet a different leader comes back into view to win. Yes, a great circuit.

David and Andrew, I once raced at a track in New Hampshire (USA) in a production bike race, and there was a hairpin type corner with a great big banking to it. Had a hell of a time trying to get it figured out, never did really, as it seemed that no matter what line I took, I always felt soooo slow. Part of it was that all the practice sessions were in the rain, and I never raced in the rain before, and i could never get over the weird feeling of the suspension loading up so much, feeling like it would just let go without warning (and then there's the fact that I wasn't on it all that weekend, was never that great anyway! Had bags of fun though, despite turfing it down the wet track at one point)

Another couple from the hairpin 35 years ago (frightening how long ago that was!). Firstly checking Chris Williams' rev counter in his Sports Motors Chevron.

And Dave Williamson overdoing it a bit. He used to have a sticker on the side of his helmet with the admirable slogan: "Make Love Not War". Perhaps he was thinking too much about the former...

... with Anita Taylor. Don't tell me you don't have a picture of her?

I'm sure there was a small recent pic of Anita in Autosport 2 weeks ago with Natalie Goodwin, Christabel Carlisle and Gabrielle Konig for the launch of the new book ' Women in Motorsport'. The pic was taken by Jeff Bloxham in the BRDC suite.

John...the only pic I have with Anita Taylor in it is a distant shot of the Broadspeed Anglias. Unfortunately her attributes aren't visible. I believe she married Dave Matthews, who raced saloons in the 70's. I'm off to start a Broadspeed thread.

Originally posted by Andrew Kitson
I'm sure there was a small recent pic of Anita in Autosport 2 weeks ago with Natalie Goodwin, Christabel Carlisle and Gabrielle Konig for the launch of the new book ' Women in Motorsport'. The pic was taken by Jeff Bloxham in the BRDC suite. The caption on that photo is wrong.Anita is second from left.Looks as glamourous as she did in sixties! If you want a sixties photo there's one on the front cover of the recently published 'Women in Motorsport from 1945'
Dave M: She must have divorced Dave Matthews as she is now happily married to Robert Morrell.

Originally posted by Andrew Kitson
I remember watching a Group 1 race there - I guess 1978. A Dolomite went straight on at the entry and rammed the barrier

I was there too...it was actually David Piper that crashed...I think I was about 13 but I remember my dad mentioning him having a false leg and I was very worried he wasnt going to get out in time :rolleyes:

Regarding the new layout...the new chicane that's been added just before the Esses (Edwina's) is only planned for bike usage. The resultant earthworks from building this have provide a lot more banking at the entrance to the Esses and once its smoothed and grassed will be an excellent spectator spot (it already is, just a little rough and lumpy)...you seem VERY close to the action.
The Esses have actually had the dip removed along with the "sabre toothed" kerbing so speeds are up through there which by my reckoning lead to a lot of extra frenetic breaking for the hairpin as people arrived a little earlier than they were used to :D

I remember watching a Group 1 race there - I guess 1978. A Dolomite went straight on at the entry and rammed the barrier that was placed at the edge of the tarmac where the grass run off is now. Trying to remember who, perhaps Rex Greenslade. I recall

I remember that incident as well - was on yellow flag at the 'ini flag point so had my back to the oncoming traffic - heard the engine note of the dollie (the throttle had jammed full open) and started waving the yellow as the car came past the flag point as there was no way it was ever going to make it round the corner - and it had almost the full field right behind it.

As Paul states it was David Piper not Rex Greenslade.

It was pretty big impact, it pushed the left front corner of the car back as far as the windscreen piller.

Yes, Paul is right. I have since checked the old programme and it was David Piper who was standing in for Barrie Williams.

you still have those programmes??? !!! wow

Paul, I have probably got around 500 from all sorts of meetings ( mostly UK ) from 1965 onwards. But many I have acquired of events I did not attend as they come in handy as reference for my work.
I get quite a few from memoribilia dealers like 'Simon Lewis' and 'Art,Antiques & Autos'.

I'm impressed :D
One of my most tresured posessions was a program my dad brought back from the French Grand Prix from 1972 (I think) that had all of the driver photos autographed...somewhere down the years it vanished :(

If anyone has the Renault promotional film "A Bunch of Fives" there is some cracking footage of this hairpin (I think) when a bloke out braked himself and rolled trying to avoid my mother!

From memory, teh marshal put his beer down to go help lol

which of course begs the question, was your mother a.-a competitor in another car?
b.-another marshall?
c.-a spectator?
or d.-neither of the above.

Just found this thread, ABSOLUTE QUALITY!!!!!!!!

As someone has resurected this thread here's a few pictures and a video lap from a trackday I did there last weekend


Mallory Park Trackday (http://www.elise-s160.co.uk/Mallory%20Park.htm)

Wasn't Roger Bell involved in the Dolomite incident at the Hairpin? I remember it vaguely as i was pushed to the ground by my dad as we stood in the head on position!!

Just a thought....Mallory Hairpin was great - anybody remember Tony Lanfranchi two-wheeling a Moskvitch there ? - but how about Crystal Palace for close quarters spectating/photography, esp on the outside at South Bank ? I seem to remember a Watson/Peterson incident there in 1970, and one or two others......?

ooops sorry, please delete, thought this was track day :o

Originally posted by imull
If anyone has the Renault promotional film "A Bunch of Fives" there is some cracking footage of this hairpin (I think) when a bloke out braked himself and rolled trying to avoid my mother!

From memory, teh marshal put his beer down to go help lol imull,is your mother Maggie Anderson? She raced Remault5s and was offered an F5000 drive-a big jump I thought,but then retired and was reported to have moved to a Scottish island.Hope she is still well-maybe she could post some of her experiences here.Like why there were more women racing competitively 25 yrs ago than there are now?

I know its not historic, but hopefully you won;t mind.

This is yours trully back in July testing a Ray Formula Ford Zetec coming into Shaws. This is another fantastic thing about Mallory - Wednesday mornings! All kinds of stuff every week. I know for a fact that day I had a Bugatti, a Fvee and a Tyrell 001 on track with me!

I cant sit idly by and let this go http://paulsands.org/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/top/th07.jpg

Another early Mallory memory for you especially for all you Atlantic and Special Saloon fans. 1973 when father Ken Bailey was racing his March 722, he had all sorts of problems with drive shafts braking (this was eventually sorted by David Purley who had some specially made by Wilkinson Sword, but that's another story!) at this particular meeting at Mallory: another drive shaft failure, dad asked the clerk if he could practice out of session to make sure the repair would be ok. Clerk agreed and sent him out with the special saloons. After a few laps dad came up behind a certain Gerry Marshall in Baby Bertha. As they entered Gerrards, dad was right behind Gerry and had to have a big lift as Gerry was going so slow (or so he thought). Gerry was really on it with his inside front wheel about 6" off the deck all the way round the corner! Dad thought his ideal opportunity to pass would be as soon as they entered the next straight. So there he was lining up to "blast" past him when, BANG!! he was gone!! Dad couldn't believe how fast he disappeared in front of him!!!!!

Paul, is that a lister Jag in back?
and yes, you could have reached out a left a finger mark on the 120 or 140 couldn't have you.

it's a Connaught (I think)

I thought this (http://www.paulsands.streamlinenet.co.uk/Mallory021003/slides/IMG01741.html) andthis one (http://www.paulsands.streamlinenet.co.uk/Mallory021003/slides/IMG01757.html) were quite good by Paul Sands. I kept thinking he may fall off the bank each time I went past:eek:

firm footing Tim :laugh:

Excellent shots Paul! Like those a lot.

Swift,

Excellent story about your Dad and Big Gerry, I wonder about the year though. If it was 73, Gerry would have been in his original 2.3 Firenza, not Baby Bertha. That came in 75, in 74, he had Big Bertha, the Ventora styled one. From your description, I suspect it would have been one of the latter years, I can't believe a 2.3 Vauxhall would have gone away so quickly from an Atlantic. Very willing to be proved wrong though !!

Hi Dan
Spoke to dad about your query on the year. He's almost certain that he was in his March 722 which would have put in 1973. All he remembers about the Vauxhall was that it was big, silver and quick! Well, it was 30 years ago!!!!He did point out however that he managed to pass him before the hairpin as Gerry began his braking miles earlier than he did.

Some early Mallory photos from Steve Bradley.

Not much run-off from Devil's Elbow in those days, but on this occasion in '66, the club circuit 'Castrol chicane' link (from the Esses to the Elbow) was being used.
http://img119.exs.cx/img119/9678/mp66clubmans2gq.th.jpg (http://img119.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img119&image=mp66clubmans2gq.jpg)


Formula Libre ready for the off 1965. Jim Moore's Cooper on pole, David Prophet in the middle, Tommy Reid nearest camera with winner Alan Rollinson on row 2.
http://img119.exs.cx/img119/1738/mp65jimmooreprophettommyreidro.th.jpg (http://img119.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img119&image=mp65jimmooreprophettommyreidro.jpg)



Sports/saloons also in 1965.
http://img119.exs.cx/img119/9624/mp65saloonsports9qv.th.jpg (http://img119.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img119&image=mp65saloonsports9qv.jpg)

hi there

mallory is my local track and i enjoy the racing there very much

seen lots of incidents including the mustang blowing up in 2000 & a morgan plus 8 actually ripping the barrier out of the floor at the devils elbow which forced the cancellation of the rest of the meeting as they couldn't repair it
(driver was fine but his car & wallet weren't)

i usually sit on the front straight bank as you can see virtually all of the track from there

will be there again next year

see you later

d-b

My dad, David Hodgkinson, sometime during the mid 60's in a 50cc race:

http://www.freewebs.com/raceralex/P1000002.BMP


It is mallory isn't it?

Been tidying up a few photos I've had lying around and found this which I thought may be of interest in this thread.

I think it is 1998 but nor 100% sure.

http://www.exige.me.uk/Mallory Hairpin 1998.jpg