Snetterton history & memories

[Andrew Kitson]

Some fabulous Snetterton F5000 memories from photographer Mike Dixon. Note his copyright. You can send me an e-mail to info@andrewkitson.com if anyone is interested in purchasing copies of his work. I can put you in touch. Ted Walker at Ferret owns a lot of Mike’s work too and may also have pictures from these meetings.

Good Friday 9th April 1971
Ray Allen in the Pink Stamps M10B


Trevor Taylor in the Malaya Garages Leda exits the fearsome and dangerous Russell Bend. But what a bend….put it back!


Brian Redman in Sid Taylor’s M18


Rob Taylor in the Kitchmac at Russell.


Now we move to August 30th 1971. A race in two heats won by Graham McRae after Gardner and Redman took each other off.

Brian Redman..fully committed to the second part of the Esses, known as the ‘Bombhole’ today.


As is Mike Hailwood in the works TS8.


Another TS8. Alan Rollinson in the McKechnie car.


Gordon Spice, M10B


Teddy Pilette in the Team VDS M10B


Redman leads Gardner and McRae through the Esses.


Redman & Gardner. Two of the greats of Formula 5000.


Gardner leads McRae into the Esses




…and out of the Esses


Then it happened..Gardner & Redman tripped each other up at the end of the Home Straight. Both unhurt.










Meanwhile Terry Sanger battles with the Harrier, Dave Berry’s BT16/21 Rover behind.


Tony Trimmer TS5A ahead of Spice


Mike Walker in Doug Hardwick’s Lola ahead of Hawtin’s Cooper.


Fabulous shots, sure you’ll agree. More soon..

[Tim Barry]

Fabulous photos and fabulous cars! Snetterton has always been a bogey circuit for us and F5000's. Keith Holland in our Len Gibbs Lola T400 was leading but was knocked off at the Esses by David Purley in '76 allowing Mallock's F2 to win (aaargh!). And the few times we've been there since with our F5000 March 76A and Trojan T102 we have only finished once!!

[terence bower]

Excellent photos,thank you. A race I remember well,only spectating at the time,but some great racing.
RE,Len Gibbs,is that the same chap who used to race an HRG?

[Tim Barry]

Terence

No, the team owner Len Gibbs was a Sittingbourne builder who sponsored Keith in the ex-Durex T400 and brand new T332C and gave me a hand with entry fees for my FF1600 in 1977. His son is Robert Gibbs who ran successfully in FF1600.

[roger saretzki]

i found a very nice artikel in MOTORRING NEWS :

Opening races at Snetterton (march 1974)

COLIN CHAPMAN droped the union at Snetterton on Sunday
to signal the start of the Formula Ford race , the first race on
Norfolk`s "new" 1.9 mile circuit..............................................
................................................................

FORMULA FORD - 8laps

Four times SCCA champion Gordon Smiley planted the works
Merlyn-Scholar MK25 securely on pole for the opening race , a
bit of a come down after driving McRae in the last year L & M
F5000 championship , andindeed he had a secure lead as the
jostling bunch headed for the new , and rather slippery , Sear
corner . But as they flashed over the line at the completion of
the first lap Ken Silverstone had the nose of his Hawke DL 11
in front of the American , with fellow American David Allen
holding third place . However , on the second lap Smiley took
the lead again and that`s where he stayed , to win by 2.8 secs
and to receive his spoils from the Lotus chief............................
...................................................................................

1) G. Smiley (Merlyn - Scholar MK25)
2) D. Allen (Merlyn - Scholar MK17)
3) C. Allford (Merlyn - Scholar MK17)


WHICH MEMORYS HAVE YOU GOT ???
ANY PHOTOS FROM THIS SPECIAL DAY ???
RACEPROGRAMM / RESULTS AVAILIBLE ???

reagards roger

rogerracing@web.de

[John Fielden]

Earlier in this thread there is mention of Brian Spicer in his E clouting the pit wall during the late 6os. Does anybody have a photograph of that happening, before during or after? This is not ghoulishness, nobody was seriously hurt but I need a photo to show the amount of damage sustained by the car.

[John Fielden]

Originally Posted by John Fielden

Earlier in this thread there is mention of Brian Spicer in his E clouting the pit wall during the late 6os. Does anybody have a photograph of that happening, before during or after? This is not ghoulishness, nobody was seriously hurt but I need a photo to show the amount of damage sustained by the car.

I have just been all the way though the thread, and, whilst there is mention of Brian's E Type there is no mention of the shunt. I must have seen it elsewhere but the request still stands.

[BertMk2]

Great photos - are there any circuit maps anywhere showing the various layouts that Snetterton has had? It'd be interesting to see how it's changed over the years from airfield to its current configuration.

[Andrew Kitson]

Bert, here are a few maps I put together a while ago, for some talks I have given on the history of the circuit.

The original 2.7 mile circuit:


Below, the first change. The addition of Russell Bend in June 1965 to increase the lap to 2.71 miles. At the same time the first vehicle bridge was built at the Esses. This first version of Russell was very tight, so much so that some bike clubs refused to come. It was eased over the winter of 1966/67 to an almost flat-out kink, used right up until 1990, sorely missed today but had to be treated with respect. Many racers came a cropper against the earth banks, but a real 'men from boys' sorter! I say bring this 1967-90 version of Russell back...plenty of room for run-off today.


The first major change. Over the winter 1973/74 the circuit was shortened to 1.9 miles. The new back straight using the West-East runway, was named The Revett Straight after a motorcycle racer, it was also used as a drag strip. The dragsters ran in the opposite direction from 1974 until 1979, starting at the Esses. The fast left/right kink at the end of the new straight was the new Esses, the first fast version shown as a pink line. However following a fatality, it was slowed and tightened to how it is today, the red line. This amendment was designed by racer Peter Wardle. The old right hand part of the Esses remained un-named, until the mid 80s when it became The Bombhole. The old hairpin on the original circuit was used as part of the rallycross course and the old long circuit featuring the Norwich straight was last used in 1979 for motorcycle racing. It is now mostly dug up or has market buildings on it and owned by the Sunday market operator.


In 1990 Russell Bend was changed again, this time to a chicane type corner which remained until the end of 2010. However the first year, 1990, this was very tight, especially the second apex and it was eased for the 1991 season.


The most recent change. The 2.99 mile '300' circuit using the infield behind the paddock. The outer ring is 2 miles long and used as the '200' club circuit. The last corner Russell Bend has gone, replaced by a left hander 'Murrays' following a longer/tighter Coram Curve. Sear corner has gone replaced by a hairpin 'Montreal. But many people feel that the Sear name in particular should return , me included, as it was Oliver Sear who started it all, doing a deal with landowner & farmer Fred Riches. Without Oliver, none of us would have known or visited Snetterton Circuit.

[Buildtech]

Hey Guys; there is some amazing stuff here; I have just been through the whole thread, thanks Andrew for sharing those fantastic photos. I am Norfolk born and bred and was a regular at Snetterton from the mid seventies through to the late eighties when I moved south.
I have also picked up the Willhire 24hr Race thread which holds great memories; hoping to contribute more here when I get a little more familiar with the posting routine - photos etc. Meanwhile how about these one liners to stir a few more memories:

• Stockcar Racing using the old circuit and perimeter road off the A11.
• The Revett Race of Aces on the full circuit.
• Rallycross.
• Drag Racing.
• Uncle Norman Greenway.
• The metallic green Sideways Garage recovery truck.
• Viewing from the top of the pits.
• Formula One testing.
• Formula Ford festivals.
• Minis and other one make series ploughing the fields between Riches and Sears corners.
• Listening to the Skylarks between races in the summer.
• Standing on the outside of Coram.
• The great Russell Bend before the chicane.

I am sure there are many more.

[BertMk2]

Originally Posted by Andrew Kitson

Bert, here are a few maps I put together a while ago, for some talks I have given on the history of the circuit.

Thanks for those Andrew that's fantastic.

[vjay48]

I was watching an episode of Lovejoy recently and the Sideways garage breakdown truck was in it. I wonder what happened to it,i know it stopped appearing when Alex George got the contract

[terence bower]

Nice maps Andrew,I still have a boxed grill badge of Snett in the original layout,great days indeed!.

[GORDON STREETER]

Having driven at Snett on the different layouts from 1974 it is still one of those tracks that can be bloody windy and cold !

[gt917]

Originally Posted by GORDON STREETER

Having driven at Snett on the different layouts from 1974 it is still one of those tracks that can be bloody windy and cold !

Yes, and so can most other circuits in the more northerly hemisphere!

Having driven on it since 1969 it can also give you a sun tan very quickly also