Snetterton history & memories - Page 5

SAMD · 19 Feb 2012, 14:22 (Ref:3027962)

Quote:

Originally Posted by nicanary

Thanks for the info. on Sundays - being an Englishman I always feel a bit baffled about it all. There is no Sunday football, cricket, no anything so I assumed it was a Belief-led thing. No offence meant in any way.

No worries, I would say you are right and it was a belief led thing. It never seemed to do that much harm either. It is kinda nice to put the feet up on a Sunday. I have only raced once on a Sunday (Mondello) and I am not sure if I will again. We work a 7 day week when carrying out contract work so its nice to stop when we can.

nicanary · 19 Feb 2012, 15:07 (Ref:3027968)

Thought I'd better get the thread back on track about the old days.

I've just realised that when I cycled the 18 miles it was on a Haddon tourer (steel frame,so no lightweight),complete with a massive 3-speed Sturmey-Archer. Must have been really keen.But as Noel Coward one said - "Very flat - Norfolk".

I never did visit the paddock on race day.I can't imagine there was any charge at a clubby so it must just have been that I felt socially inept and would have been embarassed to engage a driver in conversation.

Just been looking at a few old progammes that I got recently from Pooks.(If you like that sort of thing,I can't recommend this shop enough-you need to take K-rations for a week, sleeping-bag etc.).They were for meetings I attended.

I'd forgotten the Kincraft which I suppose was built just to win the Libre races of the time.It also reminded me of the saloon races when Ted Savory used to win all the time in his M ustang - A guy called Reg Gubbings raced a couple of old Ford Pops with yank-metal engines as well although they always seemed to be at the back with the tiddlers.The Abarths of Radbourne fascinated me as they seemed so exotic at that time, not just the saloons but that beautiful 2000GT which raced against the Morgans and TRs.

In the sports-car race on 1.5.66,the entries included a Jaguar D and an Aston DBR1 !!.Mind you I have a prog for Oulton Park in '63 when the saloon race had a Healey Westland and a Riley Pathfinder - optimism all round.

If anyone's got any progs for Snetterton 1964 to 66 which they don't want, I'll be willing to take them for a small contribution to your next broadband bill.

John Elwin · 19 Feb 2012, 15:16 (Ref:3027969)

Quote:

Originally Posted by nicanary

Thought I'd better get the thread back on track about the old days.

I've just realised that when I cycled the 18 miles it was on a Haddon tourer (steel frame,so no lightweight),complete with a massive 3-speed Sturmey-Archer. Must have been really keen.But as Noel Coward one said - "Very flat - Norfolk".

I never did visit the paddock on race day.I can't imagine there was any charge at a clubby so it must just have been that I felt socially inept and would have been embarassed to engage a driver in conversation.

Just been looking at a few old progammes that I got recently from Pooks.(If you like that sort of thing,I can't recommend this shop enough-you need to take K-rations for a week, sleeping-bag etc.).They were for meetings I attended.

I'd forgotten the Kincraft which I suppose was built just to win the Libre races of the time.It also reminded me of the saloon races when Ted Savory used to win all the time in his M ustang - A guy called Reg Gubbings raced a couple of old Ford Pops with yank-metal engines as well although they always seemed to be at the back with the tiddlers.The Abarths of Radbourne fascinated me as they seemed so exotic at that time, not just the saloons but that beautiful 2000GT which raced against the Morgans and TRs.

In the sports-car race on 1.5.66,the entries included a Jaguar D and an Aston DBR1 !!.Mind you I have a prog for Oulton Park in '63 when the saloon race had a Healey Westland and a Riley Pathfinder - optimism all round.

If anyone's got any progs for Snetterton 1964 to 66 which they don't want, I'll be willing to take them for a small contribution to your next broadband bill.

I've probably got one or two duplicates - I'll have a look when I've got a moment & come back to you.

Are you just interested in car meetings, or 'bikes also?

John Elwin · 19 Feb 2012, 15:49 (Ref:3027973)

Nicanary, I have sent you a PM with details of the spare programmes I have.

Rob29 · 19 Feb 2012, 18:39 (Ref:3028024)

Kincraft I think was bult for proposed Intercontinental Formula 1962 which never happened.Remimds me of my first Snetterton visit.1961 ICF/F1 Lonbank Trophy Mar 24 I think Saturday.Still lived with parents in north London(Kentish Town)tube to Liverpool St.Train to Eccles Road-walk through pig farm to circuit.First paddock ticket I was ever able to buy.Did this trip a few more times until train no longer ran.

Mike Bell · 20 Feb 2012, 06:46 (Ref:3028220)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rob29

tube to Liverpool St.Train to Eccles Road-walk through pig farm to circuit.First paddock ticket I was ever able to buy.Did this trip a few more times until train no longer ran.

Well, Eccles Road station is still there, as is Harling Road just other side of circuit. They are on the Norwich Cambridge line, so in theory still possible to make the journey by train! Unfortunately one stops at either only once every blue moon...... Attleborough and cycle would work though- just plan a route avoiding the A11 dual carriageway.

Andrew Kitson · 20 Feb 2012, 11:54 (Ref:3028340)

The trains that pass Snetterton to/from Norwich are not only from Cambridge. You can jump on a train that stops at Attleborough and go all the way on the same train to Peterborough/Nottingham/Sheffield/Manchester and Liverpool...takes 5 hrs mind!
Someone mentioned Foulgers Transport. One of the Foulger brothers ( George )raced 500cc F3 himself in the early/mid 50s, with the Strang, one of the first F3 cars built in 1949. George is still about in Attleborough. The only remains visible of Snetterton's wartime past are some of the aircraft hard standing areas and the entrance runway, which the Home Straight used. Some of the wartime buildings from the old technical site in use on the industrial estate near the circuit entrance. When the circuit first opened a good viewing point was the earth mound, alongside the pit straight down towards Riches. This mound was used for the firing butts, B17s lined up and fired their guns at targets against the mound to line-up the sights and for firing practice. This mound was removed in 1965 and used for the Dunlop vehicle bridge ramps at the Esses. That bridge was removed in 1997 and the earth used again for the new bridge ramps we use today. Might still be some lead shot in their somewhere! Robin Darlington and Jim Moore were the two regular drivers of the Kincraft that I saw at Snett in the 60s.

nicanary · 20 Feb 2012, 12:39 (Ref:3028354)

Re the Kincraft - the Intercontinental Formula petered out in 1962,and I think was only ever for a max. of 3-litres.I'd always thought the Kincraft was built with the Ford 289 in mind from the start - it was very professional for what was in effect a home-built car (no offence meant),and was a good-looker.

Andrew Kitson · 20 Feb 2012, 12:56 (Ref:3028357)

The Kincraft's basic layout and geometry was designed by Len Terry in 1964, based on the 1961-62 Gilby B-type F1 car he designed before he went to Lotus. Lotus colleague Martin Waide took over the detail design work and oversaw the construction at Jack Pearce's premises. It had its first outing at Brands on June 20th 1965, driven by Pearce, chassis no. Kincraft FL-012-1, indeed powered by a 4.7 (289) Ford V8. Pearce raced it twice, then John Hine raced it, before it was sold to David Bridges, then it changed hands to Robin Darlington and then again to Jim Moore.

gt917 · 21 Feb 2012, 15:24 (Ref:3028961)

Andrew,

you are dead right saying "might be some lead shot in their somewhere."

I picked up a "live" shell case near to the Cafe just last September !! I,d like to run a metal detector over the site and see what other "treasures" lie beneath.

Nothing like a good meeting to go with a bang !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Graham.

snett fan55 · 22 Feb 2012, 17:30 (Ref:3029539)

Dear all,
wonderful to see and read that this thread is still going after 10 years.Still great to hear about spectators different ways of getting to the circuit,I have been trying to recall the little pub at Eccles ,where I assume the pig farm might have been?Don't know why you all seem to think snetterton is cold,after walking from Eccles Road you should be warmed up!
Re the cannon shells, I recall that when I first visited snetterton with my family I had to ban my sons from playing with their cars in the dirt,specially when they found something"interesting".
Am I right in thinking that we used to pay extra to cross the old bridge to watch from inside the track?
So many great reminders,guys,please keep them coming.
Regards to all
Snett fan55

Andrew Kitson · 3 Mar 2012, 17:42 (Ref:3034568)

Some old Snetterton photos by my friend and neighbour Mike Dixon. I’ve persuaded him to let us see some of his great archive here, note they are Mike’s copyright. Mike was a reporter and photographer for both Autosport and Motoring News in the 60s/70s, mostly at Snetterton. He is still behind the lens on occasion but you are more likely to find him in officialdom these days, he works as an MSA steward. Any queries, Mike can be contacted by e-mail at mikedixon7@lineone.net

April 1965 and Graham Hill in John Coombs’ Brabham-BRM leads Jim Clark’s Ron Harris Lotus 35 in the Autocar F2 International.

Mo Harness, F3 Ensign enters Coram, 1973

Brett Lunger, winner of the Good Friday F5000 race 1973. Sid Taylor Trojan T101. He set the outright lap record for the old 2.71 mile circuit, 1min 18.4 at 124mph, a record never beaten.

Nigel Mansell in his Crossle 32F leads the FF pack into the bombhole 1977

Prod saloons through Sear Corner in 1972. Tony Lanfranchi’s Moskvich and Mike Chittenden’s Escort.

Britain’s first ever Formula Renault race was held at Snetterton in May 1973. Patrick Tambay won from Rene Arnoux.

The 1966 Archie Scott Brown memorial trophy race for Group 7 sportscars and GTs.
Won by Denny Hulme in Sid Taylor’s Lola T70

Mo Harness in the wet in his FF Lotus 61 at Riches Corner, 1970

Bill Gubelmann, Formula Atlantic winner in 1972 in his March 722

The Formula Atlantic March 712 of Sonny Rajah, 1972

Guy Edwards, in his brand new Lola at the hairpin, winner of the Anglia Television Trophy, Good Friday 1972

Arthur Collier, Daren, 1972

Mike Beckwith’s Citroen leads some prod saloons through the Esses, 1972.

Assembly area 1971 style

More to come….

Andrew Kitson · 3 Mar 2012, 18:29 (Ref:3034593)

More happy Snett snaps from Mike Dixon.

Chris Meek’s Formula Atlantic March 712M at the hairpin in 1972, note bent nose fin.

Trevor Taylor, Malaya Garage Leda F5000, Easter 1971

Howden Ganley, F5000 McLaren M10B at the hairpin, 1970

Mixed bag sports car grid 1970. Tim Goss on pole in his Mallock, John Jordan’s ex Essex Wire GT40 ( the car Adrian Newey owns today)

Local hero Jack Sears in his Coombs 250GTO in the 1963 Autosport 3 hour race

Jody Scheckter winning his first race out of South Africa, April 1971 in the ex- Fittipaldi ‘Magic’ Merlyn. Mike Wilds follows in his Team Skyjump Titan.

Clubmans cars of Fris the Whizz and Ray Mallock 1971. This one made the front cover of Autosport.

Brian Rice and Derrick Brunt, Camaros 1975

F3 1973 – Danny Sullivan in the Ehrlich EMC leads Pedro Passadore’s DART GRD at the hairpin

Tony Brise, F3 GRD 1973

Ian Mawby, FA Lotus 69, sprint 1972

Formula Atlantic August 1973. Vandervell, Friswell and Nicholson with Purley trying to outbrake them all into the hairpin.

Rallycross in the 70s, date unknown.

Wets or intermediates? Meeting abandoned, 1978.

More to come….

Andrew Kitson · 4 Mar 2012, 12:17 (Ref:3034938)

More Snett snaps from Mike Dixon. mikedixon7@lineone.net

Alan Jones, winner in the F3 DART GRD 373 in 1973.

Gijs van Lennep, Lola T330, Easter 1973

August 1979, Mike Thackwell F3 March with Alan Jones.

‘Uncle Norm’ Norman Greenway interviews Alan Jones, August 1979

Mike Wilds and Tony Brise in the F3 assembly area 1973

Bobby Brown and Teddy Pilette, F5000 Easter 1973 at Coram Curve

Bernard Unett, Avenger at Sear Corner 1972

Dave Brodie, Capri at Sear ‘72

Roger Bell, BMW at Sear ‘72

Sprint, 1972

Shell F3 International October 1972. The grid for the final sets off led away by Brise, Jones & Williamson.

Williamson jut pips Brise in locally built GRDs.

A proud Tom Wheatcroft pours the champers for his happy driver.

Mike Tyrrell, F3 Ensign 1973

Mick Hill, Boss Capri 1971

Brian Redman, Sid Taylor M18, Good Friday 1971

Geddes Yeates, FF JRRDS Merlyn, Danny Alderton’s Mirage and Mo Harness, Lotus 61, 1970.

David Prophet, M10B at the hairpin 1970

Peter Wardle leads the field into the hairpin in his Lotus 69, F.Atlantic 1972. It was Wardle who designed the ‘new’ Esses layout that Snetterton has had since 1974.

Colin Vandervell in the Magic Merlyn 1970

Sir John Whitmore winning the ETCC 500km in Alan Mann’s Cortina, August 1965. The first very tight version of Russell Bend. ( eased for 1967 onwards )

Even more to come….hope you are enjoying!

SAMD · 4 Mar 2012, 13:01 (Ref:3034950)

.

SAMD · 4 Mar 2012, 13:04 (Ref:3034951)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andrew Kitson

More Snett snaps from Mike Dixon. mikedixon7@lineone.net

Sprint, 1972

What was this machine here Andrew? it looks class. Looks like a Rover V8 in it judgeing by the 'Aunties Rover' badge or whatever you called that model. Modified G4?

Andrew Kitson · 4 Mar 2012, 13:15 (Ref:3034953)

I think it might be David Render's Ginetta G4 V8. A top sprinter but he also raced it too. Richard Styles would know.

John Elwin · 4 Mar 2012, 13:47 (Ref:3034963)

Quote:

Originally Posted by SAMD

What was this machine here Andrew? it looks class. Looks like a Rover V8 in it judgeing by the 'Aunties Rover' badge or whatever you called that model. Modified G4?

According to the programme it is a Vixen FB1, driven by one J.Bailey. Engine capacity is given as 875cc, which would suggest Hillman Imp, a far cry from a Rover V8.

Funnily enough, I saw a Vixen (or at least the remains of one) at Antwerp Classic Show only yesterday! Never worked out how to stick pictures on here so I'll send it to Andrew to deal with!

A friend of mine is associated with the Antwerp-based club upon who's stand it was sitting so will try to find out more. There was a photo of a driver named Ian Stronach with the car.

Andrew Kitson · 4 Mar 2012, 13:54 (Ref:3034965)

Hi John, you mean car 65 right? A Vixen is an F4 single seater so yes the top pic could be one of those...yes send the pic. Is that a CUAC sprint? Ian Stronach had the Kincraft too, remember?

John Elwin · 4 Mar 2012, 14:11 (Ref:3034969)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andrew Kitson

Hi John, you mean car 65 right? A Vixen is an F4 single seater so yes the top pic could be one of those...yes send the pic. Is that a CUAC sprint? Ian Stronach had the Kincraft too, remember?

No, car 70 is listed as a Vixen but thinking about it an 875cc Vixen sounds more like an F4, but you will see the uncanny resemblance with the Vixen sportscar pics I've just sent you.

Andrew Kitson · 4 Mar 2012, 14:23 (Ref:3034971)

John, I think we are looking at the wrong meeting. You are looking at the prog for the early 1972 CUAC sprint, there was another at the end of the season, but I don't have the prog. That's definitely David Render in the Ginetta G4 Rover V8. I found another pic of it and his name can be seen clearly. I reckon the pics are from November '72.

oneofapair · 4 Mar 2012, 17:04 (Ref:3035025)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andrew Kitson

John, I think we are looking at the wrong meeting. You are looking at the prog for the early 1972 CUAC sprint, there was another at the end of the season, but I don't have the prog. That's definitely David Render in the Ginetta G4 Rover V8. I found another pic of it and his name can be seen clearly. I reckon the pics are from November '72.

The car may have a v8 But it IS a Ginetta G12 not a G4

John Elwin · 4 Mar 2012, 17:37 (Ref:3035034)

Exactly. G4 has the engine the other end. Funnily enough, a stunning example of the G4, a rare G4R with Lotus Twin Cam engine, was on sale at Antwerp Classic this weekend too.

Mike Bell · 4 Mar 2012, 18:33 (Ref:3035048)

Andrew, the pics are wonderful, just wonderful! Thank you and Mike for sharing them.

Andrew Kitson · 4 Mar 2012, 19:17 (Ref:3035064)

Cheers mike, yes ok a G12, but a Ginetta. Want more pics chaps...coming up.

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