Why isn't the full snetterton used anymore?
Discussion
What do you mean by the "Full" Snetterton?
There is only one track layout there, although this is different to the original layout which ran alongside the A11, and had a much faster kink instead of the Russell chicane there now.
Not sure when this was changed, but it's been in the current layout for many years.
There is only one track layout there, although this is different to the original layout which ran alongside the A11, and had a much faster kink instead of the Russell chicane there now.
Not sure when this was changed, but it's been in the current layout for many years.
pwig's right.
The original circuit did not include the long straight. Sears was about 20 yards further on, and was a 45 degree corner. This went to another 45 degree left hander, a hairpin, and returned back to the main circuit just after the esses.
I'm not sure why it was abadoned, but it was probably the cost of maintenance. The return straight is now the entrance road (and the market sits on the rest). If you've seen the quality of the surface, it would probably have been expensive to repair.
The original circuit did not include the long straight. Sears was about 20 yards further on, and was a 45 degree corner. This went to another 45 degree left hander, a hairpin, and returned back to the main circuit just after the esses.
I'm not sure why it was abadoned, but it was probably the cost of maintenance. The return straight is now the entrance road (and the market sits on the rest). If you've seen the quality of the surface, it would probably have been expensive to repair.
This layout was used until 1973.
But in this multimap ariel pic.. you can see its still there:
www.multimap.com/map/browse.cgi?X=600000&Y=289000&scale=25000&coordsys=gb
And here:
Im interested in motor racing cicuit history, and looking at the disused airfield web site, it was on there.
>> Edited by pwig on Friday 29th August 23:21
I did a single venue stage rally at Snetterton in 1994 in my venerable Sunbeam. Several of the stages used the old Norwich straight section of track.
The tarmac surface was dreadful, it was all broken up and grass was poking through everywhere.
I think Snetterton is fine as it is - good mix of corners and a long straight for those with loads of power.
The tarmac surface was dreadful, it was all broken up and grass was poking through everywhere.
I think Snetterton is fine as it is - good mix of corners and a long straight for those with loads of power.
The Old Straights at Snetterton are made up from the perimeter roads of the old Snetterton WWII airbase and hence were built using flat sections of concrete to aid quick building. If you've ever driven down the home straight into Snetterton you will hear the thud of the joints as you drive over them and since they were only ever designed to last a few years have broken up very badly in places.
The construction of the modern road alongside the Norwich Straight would have caused saftey concerns being so close the the track and the decision was made in 1973 to close that section and create a new straight from Sear to a new section called the Esses that joined the old track at the Bomb Hole (named as a rather large bomb was dropped there during an attack in WWII). The new circuit layout reopened in 1974.
Incidentally the new Revett straight is the longest straight of any UK racing circuit.
The construction of the modern road alongside the Norwich Straight would have caused saftey concerns being so close the the track and the decision was made in 1973 to close that section and create a new straight from Sear to a new section called the Esses that joined the old track at the Bomb Hole (named as a rather large bomb was dropped there during an attack in WWII). The new circuit layout reopened in 1974.
Incidentally the new Revett straight is the longest straight of any UK racing circuit.
Podie said:
What about Oulton Park..? Poxy short circuit...
From what I hear, Oulton is safe. There are two interested parties. One is a consortium of businessmen, who are racing entusiasts, and the other is the British Automobile Racing Club. So Oulton is should be OK. I'd hate to see the GP track at Brands disappear though.
pwig said:Surely not! The bikes still use the whole circuit don't they (and the WSB round must be at least 25% of the circuit's revenue every year.
Do you think the Brands GP circuit could go the same way?
thumper said:What would Bernie want with any but Silverstone (which is part of the Octagon stable if I remember rightly, perhaps that's what he's supposed to be buying).
Berni is considering buying the whole lot?
FourWheelDrift said:
...the Bomb Hole (named as a rather large bomb was dropped there during an attack in WWII).
Apparently not - there are no records of any bombs dropped on the airfield. The bikers who first ran the circuit named that corner after the part of the body most affected - the Bumhole.
A commentator probably sanitised the name to protect the sensibilities of post-war spectators.
That's according to a very interesting book I bought recently : Motor Racing Circuits Of England - Then And Now
HiRich said:
...the Bomb Hole (named as a rather large bomb was dropped there during an attack in WWII).
Apparently not - there are no records of any bombs dropped on the airfield. The bikers who first ran the circuit named that corner after the part of the body most affected - the Bumhole.
A commentator probably sanitised the name to protect the sensibilities of post-war spectators.
That's according to a very interesting book I bought recently : Motor Racing Circuits Of England - Then And Now
Oh didn't know that, it's what I've always been told though. I know had one of the 8th Air Forces highest loss rates in WWII.
pwig said:
Do you think the Brands GP circuit could go the same way?
Champ Cars have a 5 year contract to run at Brands and they have said that they want to run on the full circuit asap. I believe the only reason they didn't this year was the cost and time of putting up the required extra fencing and the speed/run off area at Clearways. If they get it sorted, then the event will rival the GP as a major motorpsort spectacle.
Someone's got to buy it first though!
williamp said:
On a similar topic, where does "knickerbrook" come from???
Comes from when a bloke called Blaster Bates was laying dynamite around the Cheshire countryside to blast a way for the circuit, he disturbed a couple who were getting rather friendly by the side of brook that runs under the track there. The girls knickers went into the brook, giving Knickerbrook.
Edited to say, on a similar note, why are there several corners in this country called Druids? Theres the one a Brands Hatch, one at Oulton, and I think theres another one at Pembrey, though I could be wrong. Any ideas?
>> Edited by The DJ 27 on Friday 5th September 00:21
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