HSCC Autosport 3 Hours - Snetterton

[terence]

Excellent idea Grant,now where's that e-mail address.

[John Turner]

Originally Posted by SAMD

Whoa, you are pushing the boat out a bit John. working until quarter past 11 before taking lunch!

Work? You mean someone is going to pay me for this?

Originally Posted by simon drabble

When we realized that beyond our wildest dreams we were in for a chance of winning the Turnstyle Trophy the game changed and I am afraid the last hour and a bit became a shameless pot hunting exercise!! My instructions to nurse the car and stay out of trouble

Very flattered that you should say that, Simon, but on a more rational level, it was a good call anyway, once you realised that against the odds a class win was possible. You have to go for it when the opportunity arises. However, the irony of you calling yourself a 'pot hunter' has not escaped me after some of your past posts!

Originally Posted by Terry Scannell

John & Andrew - thanks for the superb photographs and stories of the event - shame I didn't have more time to catch up with you both - but I'm sure you appreciate it was quite busy in RC most of the weekend! Terry

Likewise, Terry but I was aware how busy you'd be anyway, and no doubt catch up when there is a bit less pressure!

[John Turner]

At the end of the second hour the order was:-

1 - Fleming/Stevens - B8 - 51 laps
2 - Lovett/Hadfiled - B8 - 51 laps (2 mins behind)
3 - Shipman/Hales - Crossle 9S - 50 laps
4 - Hodges/Middlehurst - B8 - 49 laps
5 - Allison/Nelson - B8 - 49 laps
6 - Watson/Watts - Lotus Elan - 48 laps

Nick Fleming had finally pitted for the car's first pit stop during the second hour and Luke Stevens took over, during which time, Simon Hadfield's fine drive had brought him close enough to take the lead as Luke emerged from the pitlane. At the end of the lap Simon's lead was about 5 seconds, and I half expected a typical Luke Stevens charge to close the gap but such was Simon's pace that he continued to stretch the lead out. Luke played the team game - after only 10-15 minutes, the safety car was again deployed and quick thinking brought him straight back into the pits to hand back to Nick Fleming for their final pit stop, whilst the rest of the field had been slowed by the pace car. When Simon then handed over to Ed Lovett, Nick resumed the lead which was the best part of a lap over Ed. By this time, it seemed likely that barring accident or mechanical mishap the race was between these two cars. Note the fine 6th place of the Elan at this point, and also that the Hodges/Middlehurst B8 was beginning to make its presence felt on the leader board but its pace was not looking good enough to catch the Shipman/Hales Crossle which was now well established in 3rd.

[John Turner]

More Pics:-

[John Turner]

More:-

[John Turner]

Where's everybody gone?

More:-

[Peter Mallett]

*looks around*
I'm still here.

Good reporting John, thank you.

[grantp]

Originally Posted by John Turner

Where's everybody gone?

More:-

Probably all gone to Porto or testing at Mallory or something.

As Peter said - great reporting and good shots.

I was a little concerned the Snetterton would be less than photogenic but with the grass starting to green things and some very interesting spectator area locations it seems much better than I expected.

That said I reckon AK's shots (and presumably those from anyone else with a media pass) make very good use of the country scenery as a backdrop using some excellent angles. Trees rather than debris fencing - much nicer in my opinion.

[Simon Hadfield]

Yes, just back from Mallory testing! Thank you for the comments John, it is always one of my favorite meetings - I've missed only one, when Monza clashed last year - and I think next year I should try to run something a little different. One comment about the new Snetterton layout, really unless one really tries to pull up out of the way any sort of car failure will bring out the safety car or worse a red flag. As a competitor who is acutely aware of the need to reduce Terry B's workload(!) possibly more cutaways in the armco or refuges are needed?

[morninggents]

Originally Posted by John Turner

Where's everybody gone?

More:-

Waiting with baited breath the next load of pics and reports, naturally. Great effort again John - I don't know what we would do without you.

[John Turner]

Thanks all; will put up final post/comment on the 3 Hours sometime tomorrow. Then a case of seeing what I have for the Sunday races.

[Alan Morgan]

Originally Posted by Simon Hadfield

Yes, just back from Mallory testing! Thank you for the comments John, it is always one of my favorite meetings - I've missed only one, when Monza clashed last year - and I think next year I should try to run something a little different. One comment about the new Snetterton layout, really unless one really tries to pull up out of the way any sort of car failure will bring out the safety car or worse a red flag. As a competitor who is acutely aware of the need to reduce Terry B's workload(!) possibly more cutaways in the armco or refuges are needed?

I fully agree. In our race (Historic FF2000) a car pulled off just after the exit to Agostini and had to be towed all the way round the circuit to the end of the straight, resulting in a long safety car period - not good in a 15 minute race.

[one-two]

I fully agree too - in fact, this is the point I was trying to make in post 46 above

[Chris Sharples]

Robert and Alan,

You are right.

It would be helpful if there were more gaps to allow marshals to pull cars to safety. Also I recollect that when the new circuit plans were originally published there was some sort of embryonic pit area serving the '100' circuit (somewhere near Tyrrells Diner). It would substantially reduce downtime if it was possible to have a gate in this area to pull errant cars back to the paddock. Hopefully this would reduce red flag and safety car incidents.

Another thought is to use a gap at Tyrrells to save cars cruising all round the circuit at the end of the race/practice. This would be just like taking cars off from Bottom Bend at Brands. I reckon it could be worth a time saving of well over half an hour on a 9 race timetable.

I don't know how practical/expensive these ideas would be for MSV but I will ask Grahame to raise them in his next meeting with them.

Chris

PS; John great pix. I am certain there are lots of us browsing but not posting!

[Mike Bell]

Chris, there is (was?) a gate before Agostini that brings you straight into the new bit of paddock. At Easter they bought us in through it to save time on slowing down lap. From Agostini to the Esses (or Brundle as it is now!) in event of breakdown you are stuck there. I do however remember one car in 3hr (Lenham P69?) managing to park out of the way on right hand side of Bentley straight just after Williams?

The 3 red flags on sunday while I was watching were as far as I could tell due to incidents at Murrays or pit lane entrance.

I'm sure JP, Jamie & co will be getting reports back and hopefully these are 'teething troubles' only!

[grantp]

Originally Posted by Alan Morgan

I fully agree. In our race (Historic FF2000) a car pulled off just after the exit to Agostini and had to be towed all the way round the circuit to the end of the straight, resulting in a long safety car period - not good in a 15 minute race.

3 cars Alan, all towable as it turned out and in different, but not far apart, locations.

Now, it occurs to me that all of then could have been towed back into the "Tyrrell's" exit quite rapidly except for the problem of some rather soft ground in the centre section. (No surprise given the recent development).

However, if there was a thin 'transfer strip' across that centre section of grass between Hamilton and the opposite straight (ie, something with substance better than soft ground, soft ground being likely to persist fior a year or two) recovery of all 3 could have been effected quite quickly. Or, even better maybe (?) all 3 could have been parked in a safe location in the centre area awaiting the end of the race.

I suspect that if the Red Rocket presence could be augmented by a 4x4 tow car when the 300 circuit is in use recovery would be more flexible as well as a great service.

That said, I have not been to Snetterton before and I have to say that what I found exceeded my general expectations an all respects - other than the Sunday PM weather but I can't find any justification to place blame for that.

Much to my surprise Cadwell, Oulton and Snetterton have become 3 of my favourite circuits to rival Donington and Mallory, both of which have the benefit of being very local to me.

[Andrew Kitson]

Originally Posted by Chris Sharples

Robert and Alan,

You are right.

It would be helpful if there were more gaps to allow marshals to pull cars to safety. Also I recollect that when the new circuit plans were originally published there was some sort of embryonic pit area serving the '100' circuit (somewhere near Tyrrells Diner). It would substantially reduce downtime if it was possible to have a gate in this area to pull errant cars back to the paddock. Hopefully this would reduce red flag and safety car incidents.

Another thought is to use a gap at Tyrrells to save cars cruising all round the circuit at the end of the race/practice. This would be just like taking cars off from Bottom Bend at Brands. I reckon it could be worth a time saving of well over half an hour on a 9 race timetable.

I don't know how practical/expensive these ideas would be for MSV but I will ask Grahame to raise them in his next meeting with them.

Chris

PS; John great pix. I am certain there are lots of us browsing but not posting!

Chris,

They have been doing that. I'm suprised they weren't at the HSCC meeting. I've been to several meetings at Snett this year and the return route to the paddock at some meetings was through the Agostini paddock entrance. At track days too...as this substantially increases track time over the day. There is a snatch vehicle at most meetings, parked behind the trees on the exit of Riches to recover cars from the farmer's field. Perhaps having it parked in 'centre parks' would be better...the infield area where marshals cars are parked between Oggies and Williams so it can reach the entire new infield easier.

[grantp]

Originally Posted by John Turner

Thanks all; will put up final post/comment on the 3 Hours sometime tomorrow. Then a case of seeing what I have for the Sunday races.

John,

I'm sure you don't need any help but I can augment what you have for Sunday, though not for all races because, sadly, a few fell out of the coverage I needed to work to. And the rain did not help! Who organised that?

[John Turner]

There was certainly a big contrast in the weather on the two days; in fact, I'd had enough by the end of Race 16 and took no pics of race 17, choosing instead to take shelter and harangue Mr White about some suggested 'improvements' () in the format which he accepted with his usual great charm and good grace!

[Colin McKay]

After the TC race on Sunday I was instructed by marshals to exit via gate at post 8/Agostini, very conveniently near my trailer. From what's been said recovery crews weren't using this, not sure why this was.

[John Turner]

I was in the pits for the last half hour so no pics for that period. However Ed Lovett's pace, whilst good was never going to be enough to catch Nick Fleming. Nick's drive was one of consistent good pace and he had pretty much controlled the race from the front from very early on and thoroughly deserved the victory which had eluded him last year. Ed L brought his B8 home in 2nd, 1 minute 38 seconds behind, a lap clear of the Shipman/Hales Crossle. The Watson/Watts Elan was an excellent 7th, but I must confess my eyes, in that last half hour, had been on the Drabble Merlyn, since until I had reached the pit area, I had no inkling that the car was in for the class win and my old trophy. The team were worried by the rapidly closing Bancroft/Yarwood Crossle 9S but mathematically it proved an impossible task for the latter unless the Merlyn hit unexpected problems, and so it was that Drabble's Senior and Junior took their unlikely victory in the class. No insult to the other cars and drivers in this class is intended but in a way it was an apposite result since it was Simon's comments on here a few years back that led me to decide to make an award to the up to 1600cc sports racers. I'm sorry I couldn't stay to present the award myself, Simon, but feel sure that the great Jack Sears was preferable, anyway!

Brilliant effort by everybody who finished and commiserations to those who didn't, particularly those who actually had cars running at the end but were not classified.

Full results:-

1 - 42 -Fleming/Stevens - Chevron B8 - 78 laps - SRD class winner.
2 - 38 -Lovett/Hadfield - B8 - 78 laps
3 - 52 -Shipman/Hales - Crossle 9S - 77 laps - SRC class winner
4 - 3 -Hodges/Middlehurst - B8 - 75 laps
5 - 32 -Allison/Nelson - B8 - 74 laps
6 - 93 -Douglas/Fearon - Ginetta G16 - 72 laps
7 - 4 -Watson/Watts - Lotus Elan - 71 laps - B1 class winner
8 - 7 -Thompson/Woolston/McLurg - Elva Mk7S - 70 laps
9 - 50 -Brooks/Brooks - Elan - 70 laps
10 - 92 - Drabble/Drabble - Merlyn Mk6 - 69 laps - SRB class winner
11 - 64 - Richardson/Bentley - MGB - 69 laps - B2 class winner
12 - 18 - Bancroft/Yarwood - Crossle 9S - 68 laps
13 - 86 - Adams/Adams - Turner Mk11 - 68 laps
14 - 99 - Bianchi/Bianchi - MGB - 67 laps
15 - 95 - Sears/Bell/Paterson - MGB - 65 laps
16 - 74 - Smith/Field/Field - MGB - 63 laps
17 - 71 - Jonsson - Jaguar E-type - 58 laps - C2 class winner
18 - 41 - Caton/Casey - Lenham P69 - 37 laps - SRE class winner

[Mike Bell]

Originally Posted by John Turner

Brilliant effort by everybody who finished and commiserations to those who didn't, particularly those who actually had cars running at the end but were not classified.

Thank you John for taking so much time with your report and pictures. Even though we were in the race good to have all the extra detail from you and others!

Suzanne & James have invited me share S's MGB 3 years running now, and although almost the slowest car every year reliabilty has resulted in 5th, 4th & 3rd in class B2. Be nice if next year HSCC split the fibreglass GT cars from rest as they do in normal Guards races rather than have one 'GT' class- don't think we are ever going to beat a 26R on pace.

Shame about the 'not classified' thing- is it to do with percentage of winners distance or something?

[John Turner]

Not clear on what constitutes an NCF, Mike. You will note that the Lenham is classified 18th with only 37 laps and an hour and a half running whereas, the Wyndham/Hill B8, running at the end with 51 laps, is not.

For a more coherent account of the 3 Hour, from Marcus, may I suggest you acquire this week's Autosport which afterall lends it name to the race, has a full page including a great head on shot from Richard Styles, and also has two additional pages for the rest of this meeting. If that is not enough, there is a brief report on the Le Mans Legends race and a short piece and editorial by Kev on Sir Stirling's retirement - Kev interviewd him within minutes of his announcement. All that and a little matter of the dramatic Le Mans 24 hours and Button's brilliant Canadian GP win should make it surely an issue to get hold of.

[Colin McKay]

You should stand on a street corner John.
Read all abaht it!

[Mike Bell]

JT is on commission

Half way through my copy, and lots to read as John says.