HSCC Snetterton Autosport Guards Trophy 3hr race meeting (9 & 10 June, 2007)

[johngee]

Originally Posted by John Turner

I also understand from Leigh Trevail, that The Peter Swinger Memorial Trophy, awarded by Swinger's widow, Kay, for the driver of the race who best displayed the competitive spirit of her late husband, was given to Karl Wetherell who finished 18th in his Triumph TR4.

It's good that Peter Swinger is being remembered. His untimely death was a tragic loss to motor sport, particularly the historic side and I still miss the benefit of his advice and wise council, as well as his delightful sense of humour.

[terence]

John T,hence my question ,"Should I invest In something a bit Quicker".I,m not knocking the fact that there are so many Sp/Racers,I,m thinking about moving away from the "B"!.Seem,s to me there,s a bit more fun in going quicker.

John G-I suppose the problem starts when they all decide to come in for thier change over at once! CCTV on the pit lane?.It would be good if it,s peeing down!

[johngee]

Originally Posted by terence bower

John G-I suppose the problem starts when they all decide to come in for thier change over at once! CCTV on the pit lane?.It would be good if it,s peeing down!

No - the problem, as you so rightly pointed out earlier, is adrenaline! LOL I'm sure everybody leaves the briefing with the best of intentions to 'do the right thing' but in the heat of the race, it all gets forgotten!
We do have CCTV covering the pit lane but the resolution isn't really high enough to show the kind of things we're talking about - remember that on the CCTV footage on CrimeWatch, the balaclavas are being worn for a different reason!
Seriously, we already have some good plans to get it much fairer and safer next time

[John Turner]

Originally Posted by terence bower

John T,hence my question ,"Should I invest In something a bit Quicker".I,m not knocking the fact that there are so many Sp/Racers,I,m thinking about moving away from the "B"!.Seem,s to me there,s a bit more fun in going quicker.

I was bemoaning the fact to someone over the weekend that there were no Ginetta G12s which I reckon were the true predecessors of the Chevron B6/B8, so I reckon that's what you should get; must have the bigger engine, though!

[terence]

John Gee,now that was funny!

John T,When you say the bigger engine,you mean the legal version I take it Only one problem,where would I find one!

[John Turner]

Originally Posted by terence bower

John T,When you say the bigger engine,you mean the legal version I take it Only one problem,where would I find one!

Yes, of course, legal! If I recall correctly there were 3 engine sizes fitted in period, the biggest of which was, I think, 1594cc. Look, I've saved your brain by making the decision for you; I'll let you do the finding! Actually, I think a few when to Japan, so perhaps Drifty might help!

[terence]

I[hopefully!]Have got two Healeys going out there,when the pound devalues,that is,perhaps I could do an exchange!!

[petestenning]

The sight of those F5000 cars was a better turn out than the first F5000 race at Snetterton in period.

On that day i was disappionted that the championship leader Peter Gethin's Church Farm Racing McLaren M10 B was a non arrival.

The battle on Saturday between Nick Shrigley-Fiegl's Lola T300 & Nick Barnby former clubmans driver's Modus F2 was epic.

The five cars at the front of the Saloon race 1 was also thrilling The Mustang of Nigel Vaulkhard held up Bob Bullens Anglia 105e for much of the race allowing Les Ely in the BMW 2000 to close in and drag both Jonathan Gomm & Louis Bracey both in Lotus Cortina's

On the last lap Ely tried to out brake everyone including 2 back markers , he left his braking way too late and took the shortcut to victory. However the officials correctly gave him a time penalty giving victory to Jonathan Gomm.

Pete

[gojo]

Originally Posted by petestenning

The sight of those F5000 cars was a better turn out than the first F5000 race at Snetterton in period.

On that day i was disappionted that the championship leader Peter Gethin's Church Farm Racing McLaren M10 B was a non arrival.

The battle on Saturday between Nick Shrigley-Fiegl's Lola T300 & Nick Barnby former clubmans driver's Modus F2 was epic.

The five cars at the front of the Saloon race 1 was also thrilling The Mustang of Nigel Vaulkhard held up Bob Bullens Anglia 105e for much of the race allowing Les Ely in the BMW 2000 to close in and drag both Jonathan Gomm & Louis Bracey both in Lotus Cortina's

On the last lap Ely tried to out brake everyone including 2 back markers , he left his braking way too late and took the shortcut to victory. However the officials correctly gave him a time penalty giving victory to Jonathan Gomm.

Pete

What a wise and observant fellow that clerk of the course is!!

J.G.

[johngee]

You may think that - I couldn't possibly comment!!!

[John Turner]

Joe, you deserved that victory. Great driving in both races; shame about the second race.

[gojo]

Originally Posted by John Turner

Jo, you deserved that victory. Great driving in both races; shame about the second race.

thanks John, would have helped if I hadn't switched the ignition off in race two!!

Any photos?

Joe.

[Paulaweybridge]

I am also very pleased that Peter is being remembered.

He was a lovely man that together with his delightful wife Kay, I got to know very well.

You are so right John, he left this world way too soon.

Paula Hamilton

Originally Posted by johngee

It's good that Peter Swinger is being remembered. His untimely death was a tragic loss to motor sport, particularly the historic side and I still miss the benefit of his advice and wise council, as well as his delightful sense of humour.

[petestenning]

Some amatuer clips from snetterton are here on youtube, Note Jo two clips of the Saloon cars which include you in the top one.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MrUleORxJT8



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gWh32FC3dOA



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q0nNa...e=user&search=

The amatuer bit is when yours truly forgot to switch off before filming the grass under my feet
It was my first effort.



Pete

[John Turner]

Originally Posted by gojo

thanks John, would have helped if I hadn't switched the ignition off in race two!!

Any photos? Joe.

Joe, when I saw you trickle into, and then stop at the entrance to the pitlane, I thought that you had lost all gears until suddenly you shot off again!

Yes, there will be pics but I'm playing catch up at the moment and am off to Le Mans on thursday, so probably won't be able to put many up until next week.

[John Turner]

Originally Posted by petestenning

The amatuer bit is when yours truly forgot to switch off before filming the grass under my feet
It was my first effort. Pete

Pete, nice one; I think that I must have seen you, since I noted a lone camcorder user at Russells. I've got hundreds of hours footage of meetings I attended between 1997 -2005 when I filmed as much of the racing as possible, and yes, I had plenty of those 'grassy failed to switch off'' moments!

[John Turner]

As Andrew has put up a number of Pit & Paddock shots, I'll restrict myself to just 3!

The Morgan Plus 4 of Malcolm Paul and Rob Wells was one of the oldest cars entered for the 3 hour race:-


Very smart Lotus 59 brought over from France for the Historic FF1600 race and driven by Carol Quinion:-


Michael Schryver fuels up the Chevron B6:-


And one qualifying shot of the Chevron B8 of Charles Allison and Philip Nelson, at Russells:-

[Andrew Kitson]

Nice pics John. It was a really great meeting.
Sorry to be 'picky', but you have caught the TV commentator disease!
They often get it wrong by saying 'Russells'. It should be Russell (Russell chicane named after Jim Russell) likewise many say 'Sears' corner thinking it is named after Jack, it is not, it is Sear (named after Oliver Sear).
Carry on.

[John Turner]

I was just being lazy, I should have put an apostrophe in! Although it is a chicane the programme map always alludes to Russell Bend.

[Andrew Kitson]

What they should do is put the proper Russell bend back, as was from '67 to the early 90s, complete with close earth banks. That sorted the men from the boys, testing those brave enough to take it 'flat' !

[simon drabble]

our race was like the Curate's Egg but am definately looking forward to next years race, and next year Terry and I will be more observant of 911's cornering styles!
Re marshalling I was certainly a victim to those jumping the start and racing before we passed teh lights, annoyingly I didnt join in as I thought that they would all get done!
I was staying with a family friend nearby who has been associated with the circuit since it started as a sprint track. She was very involved in the instigation of both the Willhire and teh original FF Festival as well as being Jim Russell's time keeper at Le Mans when he raced there. When she saw the photograph on the plaques we were all given showing the start of teh first Autosport 3 Hour in 1964 she was able to able to show me where she was standing and the gossip..... well I hope she puts it onto paper one day!
Did everyone else know that teh red telephpne box opposite the pits was for a long time the only landline at Snetterton?!

[Andrew Kitson]

Originally Posted by simon drabble

Did everyone else know that teh red telephpne box opposite the pits was for a long time the only landline at Snetterton?!

Yes, I remember sitting in the grandstand next to that phone box in the late 60s, observing a couple of well known drivers queuing up to use the phone, Hailwood & Gardner I think it was, hence a good time to pop down and get autographs! There was of course a footbridge back then across from the paddock. I am told by Snett staff the phone in there works and BT still come to empty the money from it!

[DaveW]

Originally Posted by simon drabble

Re marshalling I was certainly a victim to those jumping the start and racing before we passed teh lights, annoyingly I didnt join in as I thought that they would all get done!

Simon, if you are referring to the race start then you are free to race once the red lights go out, not when you cross the line. The reverse is true however on a restart after a safety car, when you must maintain position until passing the green flag displayed on the start line. Hope that helps for the future.

Overall though it seems that it was enjoyed by all, competitors, spectators and marshals so here's hoping it's repeated next year.

[Marcus Mussa]

Originally Posted by Andrew Kitson

What they should do is put the proper Russell bend back, as was from '67 to the early 90s, complete with close earth banks. That sorted the men from the boys, testing those brave enough to take it 'flat' !

Hear hear! The present effort is a contender for the world's worst corner. The rest of the track is fabulous.

[simon drabble]

I was sure that the drivers briefing said that as it was a rolling start you had to maintain position until you passed the lights in the same way that you do at Spa. Anyway it was a cracking weekend and like everyone else look forward to next year