Old Snetterton Pictures

Anybody remember the 'old' Snetterton circuit in Norfolk UK?
As you approached the track on the A11 road you could see Sear corner then the mile long Norwich Straight leading to the hairpin. This ran parallel to the main road, about 30 feet back behind a small hedge. Many times everyday Sunday motorists were suprised to hear and see a full field of raucous F5000s on the first lap just behind the bushes!
Safety got the better of the place and it was cut in half in 1974. I guess a GT40 ending up in the petrol station forecourt swayed the decision!
Sear corner is still there, just behind the hedge, but moved further back.
The circuit has a new entrance flyover being built right now together with dual carriageway set way back from the track. Shame really - the old straight and hairpin are no more, they have been dug up to create these improvements. Passing motorists will no longer be in danger of having their concentration compromised by lunatics charging around Sear!

I've got the old snet on Grand Prix Legends and it is one hell of a track after Crystal Palace its my fav british circuit.

I have always had a soft spot for Snett - I don't know why, probably because I spent so much time there in the 60s/70s as it is the local circuit to me. In those days there were huge crowds and big Internationals.I have posted several pictures before in the other threads in this historic section - here are a few more.
Starting with the start of the Good Friday Group 4 Sportscar race in 1969. Lola T70s on the front row of Redman, Bonnier and Hawkins, with Attwood's John Woolfe T70 and Juncadella's GT40.
More great period sportscar pics can be seen here:
http://www.wheelsarchives.freeserve.co.uk

The winning car of Paul Hawkins in the same race.

Trevor Taylor at the end of the old Home Straight runway - where the pay booths are now - about to go under the Dunlop bridge at the Esses.

Denny Hulme in Sid Taylor's GT40 in 1967.

And this is how it looked back then.A very fast circuit with challenging corners.

Just out of interest, would anyone be able to take Andrew's picture of the old circuit layout and overlay it with the new layout for comparison?

Yeah, I can do that Maisie! Will post it soon.

Cheers!

Here you go, I hope this works. Old track in grey, new one in black with new entrance bridge at end of Revett Straight. If only they would do away with the Russell chicane and revert to the almost flat Russell kink as on the old track. That sorted out the men from the boys!
However, there is a chicane to be built on the Revett straight, but used only for some bike meetings and the 2cv 24hr race only.

Many thanks, Andrew, that's fantastic!

Cracking photos Andrew. I never got to Snetterton during my if-it's-a-weekend-there-must-be-a-race-to-go-to days. It looks fast now on telly but, boy, how much faster it must have been then! I hadn't realised short the current circuit is in comparison.

Marvellous days, when top class fields could be seen at most of the British circuits.

Dave - I did an Formula Ford Festival there on the old circuit. It was fast and the hairpin at the end of the straight was 'sudden', particularly at the end of lap 1!. I think Donald McLeod was the winner, or Ian Taylor was it? I know Bob Arnott had me off at the hairpin in the final.

gfm- Ian Taylor won the first Festival, held at Snett in 72.
What did you think of Russell? The old one of course.
I think Don won the second in '73 in the first Van Diemen.

Regarding the old map of Snetterton - Originally Russell wasn't even a kink, just a left handed sweep out of Coram. And there was no pit wall or barrier in those days!

squareleg - absolutely correct. Russell has changed so many times over the years since its introduction to slow the kink from Coram. The first 'chicane' was even tighter than now but the old favourite was the version from the late 60s to late 80s - not quite 'flat' unless you were very brave, especially with the earth banks lining the course to act as launching ramps if it went wrong which was often!

You guys are right. It was an extremely interesting and fast S bend. You were always tempted to try the low curbs but because the speeds were high you had to be careful it didn't upset the car and end up losing it.
You also had a bit more room on the run up to Sear. Altogether the speeds were higher and I remember thinking at the time, the new circuit was a bit 'pointless' compared to the trip round Norfolk that it was previously.

Just would like to point out that I race the old circuit on GPL and it's great!!

Compare this to the map above - Snetterton in 1996.
The curve in the foreground is Coram. The old Esses bridge is still there in this shot, the new one is now at the end of the 'new' Revett straight running through the centre. The old Norwich straight can be seen at the top, with the busy A11 road just behind the hedge. The Sunday market now occupies the area at top right where the hairpin was by the main entrance. From above, it is far more obvious that Snetterton Heath was once a WWII airfield, as the runways and positions of some of the hangars and B-17 standing areas can still be seen. Quite why the corner after the Esses known as the 'bombhole' is so named is a bit of a mystery. No bomb ever fell on the airfield during the war.

The start of an F3 race at Snett in 1972.
Tony Brise, Alan Jones and Roger Williamson to the fore.

Williamson justs beats Brise - both in GRD 372s.

Jackie Oliver testing his F1 BRM - 1968 I think, exiting the hairpin up by the A11 road. The sign for the crossroads
can be seen in the background. Straight across from the circuit for about 200 yards is the Van Diemen factory.This junction is now occupied by a massive fly-over, still under construction, as part of the new A11 dual carriageway.

Jack Sears up at the same place as the Oliver BRM pic. However, 1965.

The first version of Russell, to slow the cars from the flat out kink from Coram.This one was a bit like the one in place today - too slow!

Originally posted by Andrew Kitson
Compare this to the map above - Snetterton in 1996.
The curve in the foreground is Coram. The old Esses bridge is still there in this shot, the new one is now at the end of the 'new' Revett straight running through the centre. The old Norwich straight can be seen at the top, with the busy A11 road just behind the hedge. The Sunday market now occupies the area at top right where the hairpin was by the main entrance. From above, it is far more obvious that Snetterton Heath was once a WWII airfield, as the runways and positions of some of the hangars and B-17 standing areas can still be seen. Quite why the corner after the Esses known as the 'bombhole' is so named is a bit of a mystery. No bomb ever fell on the airfield during the war. Was the bomb in fact one of 'ours'B17 crashed on take off with full bomb load?

One theory, it is thought but not confirmed, that the Motorcycle racers termed it the bomb hole. Many fall and have fallen off there and named it the B*m hole - this name has been slightly changed to a more discreet version! As far as the loss of a B17 with full bomb load at this part of the circuit, not true - although some were lost in accidents around the local area, including one that crashed onto the railway line to the south that can be seen when standing in the pit lane. More than 900 aircrew and 250 aircraft were lost from Snetterton Heath from Jan 1943 until the end of the war in Europe. At the entrance to the circuit now stands a wonderful monument made of stainless steel to commemorate the 8th Airforce at Snetterton Heath. This was erected last year and is well worth stopping to look at if you ever visit Snett.

I'm not certain, but I think this is Snett when the new section was built at the Esses - '73. Any ideas?
Cyd Willliams' Brabham BT40 leads Peter Wardle and Geoff Friswell in F.Atlantic.

F2 cars in 1967 head down the Home straight from the hairpin to the Esses.This piece of tarmac still exsists, behind the bank to the right alongside the runway when you drive towards the entry ticket booths.

This photo also from the '67 F2 race illustrates how dangerous the old Russell used to be!

The start of the same F2 race in '67. Rindt on pole, Hill in the Lotus.

wow!! these pictures of Snetterton are fantastic!!! as a regular vister to the circuit (i live a minute away) its great to see these pictures. being 19 i can only remember the circuit in its current form. i'm going to have to dig around in the loft and recover some of my dads old pictures for this thread.

Spaced invader - yes please do!

Here are a couple more:
Emerson Fittipaldi in full drift through Russell in his 1969 Jim Russell Racing Drivers School FF Merlyn. His mechanic was Ralph Firman, boss of Van Diemen.

A Snetterton regular in the 60s - Albert Betts in his Jag MkII. He is seen negotiating the second part of the Esses, now known as the bomb hole. This Jaguar is now owned by Don Law and is a regular at the Goodwood revival, although now repainted in original grey as it was before Albert went two tone green.

More Formula Ford. The start of a 1969 race with Mo Harness on pole in the JRRDS Lotus 61 wedge. Not sure on the middle man but I think it is Ian Ashley on the outside.

How about Ray Allen ?

Yes John, good call, you could be right. That shot of Emmo above, did you also take Russell like that? Amazing commitment considering the earth banks at the track edge as can be seen on the Russell F2 shot above too!

The slip angle allowed by the early FF road car tyres was fantastic - this is a great shot and the Merlyn was as well balanced chassis as you could find. Our FSVW were on race tyres so slip angle wasn't as high. You see what I mean about touching that inside curb when you had the whole thing moving though?
Funny thing about photographs and I've noticed this recent from another sphere where actually movie type jpegs were available, but photos still capture that precise moment when you can 'read' what's going on.
I wonder whether top race teams take a close look and see exactly what the tyre angle and everything else is doing. We did a year or two ago. One of our drivers complained bitterly the car didn't handle through the Monza chicanes. We got some shots a bit later and found out why - he was completely in the air most laps going straight over them, the effect of which was captured perfectly on the photos.

Originally posted by Andrew Kitson
Quite why the corner after the Esses known as the 'bombhole' is so named is a bit of a mystery. No bomb ever fell on the airfield during the war.

Hi Andrew,

Just reading through these posts (local track and all), And im thinking its time to "ask carol" if you watch look east. Im sure she will know. I was going to but I stalled it for some reason. Great pictures by the way. Thanks for putting them together.

Sim

Remember the Shellsport Escort Mexico 'panel bashing' series? Here is Tom Pryce through Russell in 1973.

Same bend - not as tidy! Prod saloon Capri's also in '73.

Panel bashing in the Group 1 saloons at the Esses in 1975.That's Noel Edmonds in the BBC Radio One Opel to the left.

More Shellsport Mexicos.

Got any more photos anyone?

Originally posted by Andrew Kitson
Quite why the corner after the Esses known as the 'bombhole' is so named is a bit of a mystery. No bomb ever fell on the airfield during the war.
Never mind. It doesn't spoil Norman Simon's line when he first came over here to race Formula Ford in '94[?]. Excuse the cod German! "You guys schould be grateful to my Grandfather! During the war he was in ze Luftwaffe and he made ze Bombhole for you at Schnetterton" :laugh: :laugh: Funny guy!

Edgar - we used to race regularly at the Ring 73 on, and made some good German friends. One guy, either Dunlop Germany or Champion Germany's Competition Manager, came to join us for breakfast at the Goldener Pflug, the first guest house on the left heading up to the Castle.
In the middle of boiled eggs and ham, he jumped up, loudly clicked his heels and gave the Nazi salute - to all the guests and shouted,
'NO SCMOKING IN ZE GAZ CHAMBERS !!!'

(Submitted in the best possible taste of course)

I'm fascinated by all this. I think I shall have to go for a wander next time I'm at Snetterton and explore the track and the old track a bit.

Here is another old circuit map:

http://magnust.d2g.com/bapommaps/map-snett67.pdf

If anyone else knows about the wartime history of Snett I'd be interested to see old photos and plans of the airfield as it was.......such a shame there is hardly anything left of it now.......

The Little Chef on the petrol station just 'south' of the circuit entrance has some history boards showing the war time planes and users of the airfield. Plenty info there.

Little Chef has closed,there on web sites on wartime USAAF bases,one of which has all the info.

For a brief history of Snetterton's wartime history I can thoroughly recommend Michael Bowyer's excellent book "Action Stations Revisited - No.1 Eastern England",
published by Crecy in 2000.

i found a website about Snetterton heath and other airfields during the war. it gives a few details about what flew from Snetterton and what was based there.
www.controltowers.co.uk/s/snetterton_heath.htm

it also has a picture of the control tower at Snetterton heath.

I never raced on the old Snetterton, but a former boss of mine did F3 in the 60's. I remember him telling me about being flat out in his Brabham, but being overtaken by an E-type on the A11

Welcome to the forum, Cirrus! Talk about a tantalising first post. Now we're going to be trying to figure who your boss was, you realise....!

Unless you tell us who your boss was of course! Welcome cirrus and a fine choice of thread for your first post!
Alas, racing along the A11 against the race cars is now history! The new bypass is now open and the circuit is no longer visible from the road.

I don't think his F3 career could in any way be described as illustrious, but he was my boss at Fireater Systems.

So, has anyone identified him yet? Cirrus, what was his best performance (in the car, of course)?

I think I'd better put you out of your misery, to save fruitless scannings of mid sixties Autosports. His name is John Wellborne, and I worked for him for about a year 77/78. If I remember correctly, he said he used a BT18 which was a year or two old, so I guess that would make it about 67/68. He made no mention of any success, and the only anecdote I recall is the E-type story, so I can only assume there wasn't much more to tell.

However, if he actually got as far as the straight, his F3 career was more successful than mine, which amounted to half a lap of Zolder (broken driveshaft) and an entry in the 1980 British GP support race (did not arrive - lack of funds).

Actually, having studied a map of Zolder, I now realise that I have been guilty of outrageous exaggeration. My foray into F3 was nowhere near half a lap.

The aftermath of a prod saloon pile up at the exit of Russell in 1973.
Note the crowd on the pits - a great view in those days.
The commentators tower to the left is still there but will come down this year. The new one is currently being built alongside. The footbridge is long gone as is the covered grandstand at Riches in the distance.

Note from the collapsed roofs a lack of rollcages. Probably just roll bars in those days. Can I use that on my website please Andrew?;)

Fantastic stuff as always Andrew, I didn't get into racing until the eighties, still great club racing then but these images from earlier always make me wish I'd been there.
On a personal note do you have Clubmans or Special Saloons from the 70's / 80's in your collection ?

Andrew those photos are amazing and am very jealous you got to see such cars and drivers, I have a few old pics my dad took in the sixties as he used to watch down Norwich Straight, but ur pics are great. I only started going in the eighties and then Russell was a very fast kink ready to catch the unwary. Did hear once that someone used to video the incidents there for the season and make a compilation, now that would be good to get hold off

Got any more pics Andrew? would love to see them

I received an e-mail from Maurice Levy ( who has a classic F3 ex-Bond March) regarding these old memories of Snetterton.
He has had trouble logging on and asked me to post the following for him. He thought it would be a good idea ( I wholly agree!) to make members aware of the Archie Scott-Brown memorial plaque and has also included some fascinating info about his earlier racing days.
Quote:
"As a local (24 miles distant) to Snetterton, my first visit was in 1955 to watch the Lotus Mk 10 of Kasterine and with various motorcycle and car racing activities,I've been a regular ever since. I would like to remind other members that though in a poor state,the plaque in the memory of our dear departed Archie Scott-Brown still resides on the rear outside wall of the scrutineering bay ( race control side). I was one of the "original" slaves at Hornsey for Chapman from 1955 -1960. As Team Lotus, we were based at Florence Road in Edmonton (working round the plaster mock up of Fraylings Elite - the prettiest GT car EVER !) but the move to Cheshunt never inspired me and after a row with Chapman on our return from the 1960 Argentine GP I left - along with the prototype Mk 18 (Innes Irelands car) to work for Mike Taylor who crashed the car at Spa in practice for the 1960 Belgian Gp when a steering column weld broke (another story)!"
Maurice Levy

Thanks for your input Maurice, I often stop and look at the plaque when at Snett. Archie was indeed 'Mr.Snetterton' back in the 50s, he started his career there, drove for Brian Lister just down the road in Cambridge and had his garage buisness on the A604 road ( now A14) a few miles outside the city. It is now a bit derelict next to the Travel Lodge (opposite the Cambridge Services) towards Huntingdon.
The Snetterton plaque sometimes looks a bit forgotten but certainly not on the occasion of the Archie Scott-Brown trophy - a tradition the East Anglian BRSCC carries on to this day. At this meeting, a laurel wreath is hung upon the plaque. At the AMOC 50th anniversary Snetterton meeting in 2001 it was nice to see the Pearson's Lister Jaguar parked beside the plaque for the weekend. A fitting tribute. Although too young to have seen him race myself, my father knew Archie and passed on many stories. Long may Archie be remembered.

Drag Racing at Snetterton?
Yes, it did happen back in 1976.
The start of the drag strip was by the 'old' Esses Dunlop bridge and the finish was half way down the Revett Straight 1/4 mile later- the opposite direction to the race circuit. The run off area that we all know at the end of the Revett straight was the start.
I went to this meeting and one of the dragsters lost its chute together with a jammed throttle. It ended up way past Sear corner at the end of the straight a couple of fields away towards the Angel Pub! The unfortunate driver, Roz Prior, was taken to the Norwich hospital for checks but she returned to the meeting OK.
The paddock for the Drag meetings was on the old Home straight up towards the Sunday market area.
Despite being 27 years ago these machines are still the fastest things to have been at Snetterton. Well over 200mph was reached.

Snetterton also held Rallycross meetings in the 1970s. The track was up at the hairpin where the Sunday market is now, and used part of the Norwich Straight, the hairpin and home straight as the tarmac section before turning right before the old esses onto the muddy stuff.A huge hole was dug, named the quarry, to add a further challenge.

As mentioned above, Archie Scott-Brown was remembered at the 2001 Snetterton 50th anniversary meeting and Gary Pearson's Lister Jaguar was parked by the rememberance plaque that can be seen on the wall of the scrutineering bay.

A couple of years back I made the old Snetterton for the incredible PC-simulator "Grand Prix Legends" with friends in the "GPLEA". If you fancy, get the simulator real cheap and download the track from www.gplea.org . I also did Goodwood & crystal palace together with a local guru, Phil Flack.

http://gplea.racesimcentral.com/tracks/gpleatracks/snetterton67/sn67sc2-full.jpg

A great place to race a virtual 49B!

Wow, can I just say thanks a lot to knutspeed. I have GPL and have really enjoyed all the tracks you helped create. The updates for cars and tracks are remarkable and make a 5 year old game easily the best racesim on the market still. Snetterton is nice and easy for a novice like me, Crystal Palace is really tight (must have been something else in real life) and Goodwood always seems harder than it looks like it should be. So thanks again for all the enjoyment (and frustration) you have given me and others.
:beer:

does anyone have their Cobra in Jack Sears configuration now? and was it successful or was it a lot heavier?

I guess you mean '39PH' Simon. The ex-Willment car now owned by the Minshaws.
By the way, good likeness to the old Snett from the GPL sim boys above! However, one thing missing is the old clubhouse ' control tower' to the left by the bridge. We used to stand up on the roof to watch.
Last week I was 'Jim Clark' in a Lotus going around the Goodwood version on my brothers PC. Incredible game - wish I had more time to play it!

I did some Mini 7 races on the old long circuit in 72 and 73 and it was far and away the best circuit we ever raced on - we used to start 48 Minis on that layout - cutting out the Norwich straight and the Home straight ruined a great track - Its all still there - it could be re-instated.

How about a 24 hr race for sportscars on the old long track - it would be brilliant !

A brilliant idea RTH, the 'Willhire' 24 hr race should have been on the proper track too. I remember the old 500km saloon races there, racing into the darkness. The racing saloons frightening the passing motorists on the A11 next to the Norwich Straight!
Unfortunately though, the land occupied up by the hairpin was sold to the sunday market people and much of the old Norwich straight, from the old Sear to the market has been ploughed up.
I bet your little Se7en used to scream along the long straights there!

Before making the old track for GPL, I walked the track on a very chilly january day with a video camera. As far as I could tell, it wouldn't be much of a problem to rebuild it - but as andrew mentions, it's all sunday market now. I couldn't believe how close to the A11 the track was! Also, judging from findings and old pictures, the run-off was rather frightening too. Concrete marshalls posts on apexes among other things! In GPL, it makes for fantastic racing. So many overtaking spots, especially the hairpin. A true shame that all this has been lost - with some proper funding this track would be an excellent venue for sportscars and major league formulas in my opinion.

A belated welcome to the forum Matt.

I did the Willhire 24 hrs (one was a 25 hrs ! ) as a driver 4 times and as team manager another 4 times from '84 to '93 and it was without doubt the best fun we ever had in motor racing . In '85 76 teams sent in their entries for one of the 38 places - then the circuit owners (She knows who she is ) raised the circuit rental by a additional £15000 for the weekend and the entry fees simply priced the great race out of existance a disaster - I would love to be still doing it ! It needs a new loop - perhaps parallel route down to a new hairpin in the area of the old circuit , and then back to the revitt straight to extent the track length out to over 3 miles an produce 3 long straights and two more very tight corners at each end - at the end of the day all this entails is laying tarmac - not too expensive in the scale of things - surely - and we could have a UK' Le Mans ' . Its a great venue and now has motorway to the door ! - And its still for sale - anyone ?

Does anyone remember the F1 race that was held at Snetterton? If so please put me out of my misery and tell me which year it was. It was the first motor race I went to. There had been widespread criticism that Snetterton was unsuitable as it was so bumpy, like many others we drove around the track after the race and it was certainly bumpy in a road car!! I stood past the hairpin on home straight for the race, did Hill drive a BRM with near vertical exhausts? Innis Ireland, Clark Salvadori -who else?? As I have no reference books to look up, I can only guess this was early to mid '60's. I also remember that one of the roads to Snetterton was closed and the traffic redirected. The driver of our car deceided to tell the police on duty that it was illegal to close a public road and we were going to use that road. For a time it looked like the only thing we were going to see that day was the local police station!! HELP WHICH YEAR WAS THIS!!

Andrew, welcome to Ten-Tenths.

The race you describe was probably the International Lombank Formula One Trophy race on Easter Saturday, 14th April 1962. Jimmy Clark won the 50 lap race in his Lotus at 101.09 mph from Graham Hill's BRM ( with the vertical exhausts).

Jo Bonnier finished third in his Republica Venetzia Porsche but the early laps were led by Stirling Moss in his pale green UDT Laystall Lotus 24 in which he set a new Snetterton lap record of 1.33.6. Stirling eventually finished 7th. Two days later, his professional driving career was at an end following his crash at Goodwood (in the same car) at the Easter Monday meeting.

The race had 20 entries from the cream of the F1 world championship. The only team not present was Ferrari.
When the old circuit closed in 1973, the outright lap record had dropped to 1.18.4 by Brett Lunger in his F5000 Trojan T101. Formula One returned to Snetterton in the late 1970's with the Aurora British F1 Championship, using the new shorter circuit.

It seems incredible now to think that the stars of the day would be racing at Snetterton in their usual Grand Prix cars and again at Goodwood two days later, both circuits not used for Grand Prix World Championship races.
Can you imagine the modern day F1 teams turning up now with their 'star' drivers to do two non -championship races in the UK (on the same weekend !) at circuits not on the usual F1 calendar?

No, its amazing how many non-chapionship races were done in F1 & F2.! -and they often drove in other events at the same meeting. Wow, 40 years ago, I remember being told to watch out for a scottish farmer called Cark, now I recall being so pleased he won, thank you so much. There was just a light chain link fence to divide spectators from cars but there were some raised earth embankments nearer the hairpin and the view wasn't too bad as the lines of people were only 2 or at most 3 deep. I hadn't realised Moss' accident was so soon after! -Thank you again p.s. (I was 12 years old the month before!)

Andrew, if you can get hold of it, there is a great recent book on the market entitled ' Motor Racing Circuits in England - Then and Now', by Peter Swinger.
Published by Dial House, order number ISBN 0 7110 2796 X. Over 50 current or once used circuits are covered including 13 pages on Snetterton alone, with a colour shot of Stirling on the Home straight in that race.
It is about £20 GBP in the UK.

Some possibly interesting photographs at http://www.hylabreese.plus.com/sparkydesign/snett/

Mr Kitson, sir! please can we have some more old snet pics, been sometime since a posting, no excuses like doing a painting or anything!!

Has somebody the programm of the Snetterton Spring Meeting, dated ?March? 1963. I would like to identify a picture of the lotus 23, race number 139 and 119. Also 28. 09. 1963 Snetterton 3 hour race. Lotus 23 starting No. 38 F. Who was the driver?
Thank you very much for your help.

Yeah this is an ace thread! I'd like to see Snett extended a little too, even if i wasn't even on the planet when the original long track was being used!

Andrew i think the pics are excellent. Sorry to be nit picky but i think the Edmonds Commodore shot is from prod saloons, not Group One. Being a Capri fan, the two MK1's may also be Group 1's. I think it's Dave Brodie and Dave Matthews hard at work there!!? :beer:

It is fantastic to see those old pics, i've been going to Snetterton my whole life (18 years) and i can just remember the old grandstand at the Esses and the old bridge.
The old strait and hairpin had stopped before i arrived so i never got to see racing there.
My dad has a picture that i'll try to find and scan, a FFord which is viasbale 'ABOVE' the old brige during some carnidge at the esses.

Some memories of "old" Russell - who remembers Paul Stewart winning his first (and only?) F3 race backwards over the line having got a little excited exciting Russell. I only drove it in FFirst (it was changed before I got into anything more powerful) and just remember spend most of the lap thinking/worrying/phsyching myself up for the Russell. It was one of the best corners in the UK...

...and now its one of the worst!

Gong back to the original posting. I don't have any old pictures of the Circuit, but somwhere in my "files" I have a copy of the original RAF Station plan (Runways, perimeter roads buildings etc) along with one for Silverstone - both circa 1945.

Unfortunately they are both at A3 size, but I will try a scan and paste to get them something like publishable!

I also seem to remember a section about Snetterton in a book entitled "Airfields of the Eighth - Then and Now" with comparison of USAF airfields about the country during operational times and the more recent past.

Originally posted by Andrew Kitson
Andrew, welcome to Ten-Tenths.

The race you describe was probably the International Lombank Formula One Trophy race on Easter Saturday, 14th April 1962. Jimmy Clark won the 50 lap race in his Lotus at 101.09 mph from Graham Hill's BRM ( with the vertical exhausts).

Jo Bonnier finished third in his Republica Venetzia Porsche but the early laps were led by Stirling Moss in his pale green UDT Laystall Lotus 24 in which he set a new Snetterton lap record of 1.33.6. Stirling eventually finished 7th. Two days later, his professional driving career was at an end following his crash at Goodwood (in the same car) at the Easter Monday meeting.

The race had 20 entries from the cream of the F1 world championship. The only team not present was Ferrari.
When the old circuit closed in 1973, the outright lap record had dropped to 1.18.4 by Brett Lunger in his F5000 Trojan T101. Formula One returned to Snetterton in the late 1970's with the Aurora British F1 Championship, using the new shorter circuit.

It seems incredible now to think that the stars of the day would be racing at Snetterton in their usual Grand Prix cars and again at Goodwood two days later, both circuits not used for Grand Prix World Championship races.
Can you imagine the modern day F1 teams turning up now with their 'star' drivers to do two non -championship races in the UK (on the same weekend !) at circuits not on the usual F1 calendar? Andrew,for the sake of acuracy it was not on Easter saturday,but a week before.I actually went to 4 F1 races in as many weeks.
Sat 14 Apr Snetterton
Mon 23 Apr Goodwood
Sat 28 Apr Aintree
Sat 12 May Silverstone
Mon 11 Jun Crystal Palace
Sat 21 Jul Aintree (GP)

In those days you could still get to Snetterton by train.It stopped at Eccles Road station.Left out of the station,through a pig farm and down the middle of a runway,brought you to the main entrance.

Originally posted by JNWRF01
Some memories of "old" Russell - who remembers Paul Stewart winning his first (and only?) F3 race backwards over the line having got a little excited exciting Russell.
Do you remember why he won and why the race was red flagged though? It was 1989.
Mika Hakkinen lost it coming out of the bombhole, hit the tyres and rolled the car, uninjured. I have the aftermath on home movie VHS. At the same time, Paul Stewart lost it backwards across the line as you say. But luckily for him on countback he won the race!
Rob, I stand corrected on the date of the Snetterton F1 race. I was going by the 'Racing Circuits in England' book.
Eccles Road Station is still there but as the main entrance is now up by the A11 a long way to walk to get in! I assume you entered opposite the pits in those days?
I'll have to have a dig around to try and find some more Snett pics.
For those who do not live in the Anglia TV region, the new owner Dr.JP visited the circuit last Monday and was interviewed for the local news. He has vowed to start it's rejuvination with a new grandstand, albeit 'a small one for now' he said. I remember when the place had three covered stands and an open stand at the hairpin!

Unfortunatley i am old enough to remember the Guards Trophy Race from the first set of your pictures, i was watching then from above the pits
and will never forget the way the ground shook
as all those pretty Lola T70 MK3 cars left the grid!

Andrew, great thread!!, I have been going to snett for more years than i care to remember (now 47) and remember most all of the races.

On top af all the other types of racing there was also a banger track on the inside of the home straight and also did you know we even tried a truck with a view to racing them there.They would not go under the old road bridge.

I even worked there as a full time marshal during the week for 3 years and have great memories of 80+ cars/120 bikes a day for testing or F1/Gp C teams for "exclusives".

I also have 1945 plans for the airfield and would recomend the book "Snetterton Eagles" for a histoy of the 96th bomb group.

One of my best modern day memories was seeing the unofficial lap record set by a Benetton F1 car(Nanini i think) and equaled on the same day by the Silk Cut jag.

From the old days pick any one of the (13) 24hr races,8 of which i was chief pits.

Please keep the great pics coming

Chris

Hi Chris. Hopefully new owner JP and his team can develop the circuit and bring more fans in to watch. I am also hoping he can remember the proper Russell bend and re-instate it! He drove it many times in his mod-sports Marcos, FF and F3 cars.

Can you remember the times that Nannini and the Jag set? The official outright lap record is 59.47 set by Luiz Garcia in the British F3000 championship 8 years ago!
Wondering what a quick Euroboss F1 car would do now - about 54 secs surely?

When lotus tested there regularly, a mate was watching Zinardi and timed him at the 54 mark. In fact the debrief took far longer than the lap!! mate was listening in (trying to get some hints for his laps!!)

If memory serves it was 53.96, but i don`t know who was on new tyres or how much fuel was in each car.Jan Lammers drove the Jag

I remember the old Russell very well, a story went around the FF1600 ranks that it could be taken flat and so many novice drivers tried and ended up in the armco on the outside, two who did it more often than not were the japanese Kozo Orita & Riki Kishisita ( try saying that after a few beers) and so became known as the "Kamikazi twins" (sorry for the spelling).

Remember these little Fiat Abarth's with boot lid propped open for cooling? In the ETCC 1966 I think(?)
This was from an Autosport, but until now still in my childhood scrapbook which I am pleased to still have. Photographer unknown.
Out of the hairpin heading down towards the Esses. Visitors to Snetterton Market drive on this piece of tarmac now at the entrance.

David Alexander leads a bunch of Minis through the Esses in '67. He is turning in to what is now the bombhole, with the left hander from the home straight 'joining' the new circuit under the old vehicle bridge. Also from an old Autosport, snapper unknown.

The much missed old Russell at Snett. This Autosport photo from 1969 shows the committment required whatever the car though this 'almost flat' kink lined by earth banks. Graham Bean's blue Anglia and Roger Taylor's immaculate Dagenham Motors Escort.

Here is a snap that I took in the Snett paddock in 1971. My father on the left is chatting to his former driver Stan Matthews with Stan's FF Lotus and his road going E-type. Stan lost out by a nose in the race to Mike Catlow.
I have put this one in to mention the power of the web.
Someone saw a thread on Roger Williamson where I mentioned Stan, the fact that I last saw him in 1978 and no-one seemed to know where he went.This kind gent from South Africa got in touch to say that Stan lives there now and he works with his wife. So after after many years we have contact again. As we did so many Snetterton meetings, Stan may have some old pics we can post. He is sure he has some.

Andrew

Here's a couple of early pics of Snetters. The airborne shot is definitely at that circuit. The start/finish line one too, I think. You can just make out the end of the "grandstand" on the extreme left of the shot. For more info about the car/driver, see my separate Don Moore thread.

http://buildingsite.igentics.com/sites/972ED3A7-C865-4556-9F0C-67505DC8D42D/images/don%20snetters%201.jpg http://buildingsite.igentics.com/sites/972ED3A7-C865-4556-9F0C-67505DC8D42D/images/don%20snetters%202.jpg

Gnuvolari-great pics. The finish line shot is definitely Snett, although I don't think it is the end of a grandstand you can see but the hangar that used to be there. Note the lack of spectator protection on the main straight!

I'm ashamed to admit that I have only just "discovered this forum!
Re Andrew's comment about the open stand at the Hairpin.It was from there that I recall watching a titanic "battle" between two great F1 stars "having a bit of fun" - Jim Clark in the L/Cortina and Jack Brabham in a big American V8. As they came into view along the long Norwich Straight Jack was way ahead, but needed to start braking while Jim Clark still had his right foot flat on the floor. In the apex of the corner CLark was right up behind and then as they accelerated away down towards the Esses Brabham pulled away again.
It was a wonderful battle, hard fought but gentlemanly. In those days no-one even considered nerfing anyone off, unlike today's breed of touring car drivers - shame I can't remember who won!

Mike, welcome. Jack would probably have been in Alan Brown's red Mustang. He had many battles with Jimmy in this car.

Originally posted by Andrew Kitson
Remember these little Fiat Abarth's with boot lid propped open for cooling? In the ETCC 1966 I think(?)
This was from an Autosport, but until now still in my childhood scrapbook which I am pleased to still have. Photographer unknown.
Out of the hairpin heading down towards the Esses. Visitors to Snetterton Market drive on this piece of tarmac now at the entrance.

Dont remember the year, but I was there! As I recall the race featured an epic scrap between Jochen Rindt in the works GTA Alfa and Sir John Whitmore in the Allan Mann Lotus Cortina. It also slung it down with rain I think. I would have been about 12 or 13 at the time. Later between 1972-74 I marshalled a few clubbies there (I was with the University of East Anglia Motor Club at the time). Generally it beat marshalling road rallies (the Fens at 3 am are very lonely) unless you happened to be at Riches on the first lap of a Formula Ford race. About 20 guys, all thinking they're the next Emerson Fittipaldi and all convinced they have exclusive right over the racing line. Absolute carnage.......

just a note to say how much fun reading this (and looking at pictures) has been, should be going to sleep!

Just found this thread as well!
I marshalled at Snetts from 62 to 82 when moved from East Anglia to Wiltshire, so many days were spent at Snetts.
Memories include first ever day on the bank...Russell when a really quick " flick right/flick left" and European saloon cars; pulling formula fords out of the ' lytag' gravel trap at the hairpin at the end of the long straight; flagging on the narrow bank in the middle of the Esses with T70s a flags length away (!) and a steep drop behind you; first 24 hour races with 4 hours on & 4 off with a "dawn patrol" stint at Sear; picking up go kart wheels which rweached the hedge next to the A11 near Sear; one boring day on the flag post half way down the A11 straight only enlivened by two breakdowns ( one on the road for which my brother & I put out yellow flags when a race car was returned to its trailer) and an inexhaustible supply of carrots around the post; greasy breakfasts at the early 24 hour races.........
Must stop, nostalgia is not what it used to be.

John Day - FF Lotus 51 at Riches, May 1969. Photo Ted Walker, Ferret Fotographics.

Spitfires never flew from Snetterton Heath in the war but one visited in the mid 90s. Its pilot was racing too and parked it as close as possible to his motorhome in the paddock overnight. Photo by Peter Swinger.

I imagine there wasn't the need for anyone to set their alarm in the morning for a mile or two, just set the Merlin on auto contact and full rich for 630am thankyou!

Wouldn't be good to reach over and hit the snooze button come to think of it......

I well remember the spit visiting at a couple of meeting and also a Me 109 flown in by a driver,pity neither took the time to shoot down Nicola!!

The RAC Rally ventured into East Anglia in 1964. Here is the winning Volvo at the Esses.A Mike Dixon photo.

Start of an F3 race in 1970. Dave Walker, Richard Scott and Emerson Fittipaldi at the front.

This I.C.Pearce photo shows Archie Scott-Brown winning in 1953 in the Tojeiro-Jap. Note the hangar on the outside of Coram and lack of spectator protection.

I've put this one in to show Snetterton regular Bernard Vermilio and the Jim Russell Racing Drivers School ( Merlyn?)It is either 1970 or 71. Thing is which circuit? It is not Snetterton - which track had motorcycles racing in the opposite direction ( note the grid markings), either Mallory or Brands at a guess.Tony Brise in the middle and Russell Wood on the outside.

Thinking about it , can't be Mallory as the pit straight runs north to south. The sun would not be north north east!
Probably Brands.

:)
This could well be Brands Hatch as the Hutch 100
bike race was run in the reverse direction in those days:eek:.

:)
Present day starters might be glad that the chequered flag is not as big as that one Andrew!!
Great stuff
:cool:

Originally posted by Startline1
I well remember the spit visiting at a couple of meeting and also a Me 109 flown in by a driver,pity neither took the time to shoot down Nicola!!

If it was a 109, then the Spit presumably would be the Mk 9 run by Ray Hannah the Old Flying Maching Company at Duxford? I believe his son flew the only airworthy 109 in the UK in those days (sadly he crashed it a couple of years ago and was killed). Didnt know they races as well though

The spit was flown by David Pennell.

Great pictures. I well remember sitting in the little grandstand at the hairpin, watching the Kincraft thundering towards me and wondering if it would go right over my head in the event of brake failure.
I never could resist flooring the throttle of my TR3 going down the A11 in the faint hope of keeping up with someone on the other side of the hedge!
I still have a faded photo of me trundling along the old straight in a Jim Russell school Lotus 51.
Fings ain't what they used to be, but then they never were!
Geoff Butcher

Originally posted by Andrew Kitson
The spit was flown by David Pennell.

Thanks Andrew.....Be interesting to find out what it was then. Looks like a IX, but then again....

Afraid Vintage aicraft are another thing of mine. Fortunately they're well out of my price range....

:)
Andrew your picture of Stan Matthews reminds me that he also raced in Formula F100 that little sports car series in the seventies.
I also remember the dices between Nick Coles,
Silhouette and Ray Allen,s Royale RP4/6?.
Formula F100 was named after the tyre that the formula used i beleive, and that a member of the Firestone family also came to britain to compete,Brooks?.:D :D

Yes Pete, Stan drove a Jim Russell school F100.

Yes, the Spit is a Mk LF 1X, serial MJ730. It was sold to the USA in 2000, where I understand she is still in flying condition. I wonder whether the 109 was flown by Robs Lamplough. I believe he operated a Spanish built machine with a Merlin, rather than DB power.
Chris.

Originally posted by Riley Imp
Yes, the Spit is a Mk LF 1X, serial MJ730. It was sold to the USA in 2000, where I understand she is still in flying condition. I wonder whether the 109 was flown by Robs Lamplough. I believe he operated a Spanish built machine with a Merlin, rather than DB power.
Chris.

Thanks Chris, that would be an Avia then, wouldnt it? Always thought it ironic that they had Merlins, almost as ironic as the fact that a big customer after WWII was the fledgling Israeli Airforce......

It is even more ironic Nick. The Spanish built 109's were produced by none other than motor manufacturer Hispano, including the licensed Merlin engine. The Avia machine was Czech built using tooling recovered from Germany and were DB powered as the original. They were indeed sold to the Israelis, who sent pilots over for training in Czechoslovakia as it then was. Still not sure whether it would have been the Lamplough machine at Snetterton, but I think he may have raced there, hence the guess.
Chris.

Robs posts here in the historic forum from time to time.

Originally posted by Andrew Kitson
Robs posts here in the historic forum from time to time.

Thanks for the info Andrew and thanks to Chris for filling in some details on Avias. I guess the most well known vintafe aircraft enthusiast who also raced was the late lamented Patrick Lindsay who had an original Mk I Spit, later passed to Victor Gauntlett I believe. I always thought that being able to fly to a circuit in your Spitfire then race your ERA had to be the ultimate...

Anyway,,,, back on topic I suppose!

Nick

Here are some 60s photos taken by Steve Bradley. Should enlarge when clicked on.

Prophet spins his Elva at the hairpin in the 1964 3 hour race.
Note the petrol station in the background with the A11 road running parallel to the Norwich Straight behind the hedge.
http://img119.exs.cx/img119/9100/sn643hrsprophetelvaspinhairpin.th.jpg (http://img119.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img119&image=sn643hrsprophetelvaspinhairpin.jpg)


Bill Morris in his ERA also in '64.
http://img119.exs.cx/img119/5583/sn64billmorrisera2ms.th.jpg (http://img119.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img119&image=sn64billmorrisera2ms.jpg)


Another Elva spinner. Paul loses it at Riches 1963.
http://img119.exs.cx/img119/5044/sn63paulelvaspinriches3pc.th.jpg (http://img119.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img119&image=sn63paulelvaspinriches3pc.jpg)


The Minis of Hopkirk and Banks exit the Esses ( now known as 'Bombhole') 1965.
http://img119.exs.cx/img119/3286/sn65minishopkirkbanksesses7ak.th.jpg (http://img119.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img119&image=sn65minishopkirkbanksesses7ak.jpg)


Same place also in '65, Bradley waves through Clark and Hill. In the background, another car can be seen turning into the Esses leaving the home straight, before the vehicle bailey bridge was built.
http://img119.exs.cx/img119/6339/sn65bradleyclarkhill10april1jg.th.jpg (http://img119.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img119&image=sn65bradleyclarkhill10april1jg.jpg)


Coundley leads Amon at Russell in the 1966 Archie Scott-Brown trophy race.
http://img119.exs.cx/img119/2083/sn66coundleyamon1if.th.jpg (http://img119.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img119&image=sn66coundleyamon1if.jpg)


Things often went wrong at Russell with the earth banks close to the track.
Blake's Anglia with Faller's Mini bank climbing. 1965.
http://img119.exs.cx/img119/9217/sn65blakeangliafallermini7zm.th.jpg (http://img119.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img119&image=sn65blakeangliafallermini7zm.jpg)

Jack Sears, Mike Spence with Jim Clark, 1965.
http://img119.exs.cx/img119/6025/sn65searsclarkspencepaddock5nt.th.jpg (http://img119.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img119&image=sn65searsclarkspencepaddock5nt.jpg)

The 1965 Hutcheson Galaxie 500.
http://img119.exs.cx/img119/7539/sn65hutchesongalaxie5xd.th.jpg (http://img119.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img119&image=sn65hutchesongalaxie5xd.jpg)

I hadnt raced at Snett since 1964,thought that I would at least recognize the bombhole this summer,always came out of the hairpin at the end of the straight,just a little lift off turning left into the bombhole and scrub off the speed ( no brakes on the E type after you had slowed the car on the Norwich straight anyway) as you came up out of the bombhole turning right,but this summer ,no bomb hole ,just a chicane,some one has filled it in. Yes,it was a bloody fast track,great fun.

Eric Falce