Snetterton

The disused airfield provided a convenient shortcut for Oliver Sear and his wife Hazel for their shopping expeditions. On one such trip, while crossing the airfield, a chance remark was made that Snetterton would make a good venue for a motor race. Oliver Sear was at the time the Eastern Area Secretary for the Aston Martin Owners Club and following this remark he put forward a proposal to the club.

The following extract is quoted from the Norfolk & Suffolk Journal & Diss Express issue of Friday October 26^th 1951. It is from an item under the heading of “Diss and District Motor Cycle and Light Car Club” written by ‘Twistgrip’.

On Saturday October 27^th the club will be supplying travelling Marshals for Aston Martin Motor Clubs’ high speed sprint at Snetterton drome”.

The following extract is quoted from the same source but from the issue of Friday November 2nd 1951.

With Silverstone out of commission next year motor and motor cycle clubs are looking for a new venue for their racing activities and it may well be that Boreham or Snetterton may prove to be just right for their needs, and we may see the Fangio’s, Farina’s and the Parnell’s of motor racing fame and the Duke’s and Doran’s of motor cycle fame, entertaining us on our very doorstep as it were. We shall see. Racing was of a very high standard in both the sports and racing car classes. All events were over two laps of this 2.7 mile circuit and the fastest time of the day was recorded by Ken Wharton the Shelsley Hill Climb Champion driving P. H. Bell’s 1900 cc super charged E.R.A. his time being 3 minutes 56 seconds, an average speed of 82.4 mph. Estimations of his speed on the long straight before the hairpin were in the region of 120 to 130 mph, this gives you some idea of the possibilities of this circuit. All our members had a very enjoyable day and were thanked by the organisers for the efficient way in which they speedily discharged their duties. Did I see some potential Dukes and Dorans? Well maybe that was wishful thinking, but they enjoyed their trips round the circuit all the same”.

Oliver Sear, later to be referred to as the ‘father of motor sport in East Anglia’ had brought motor racing to Snetterton.

Forming a partnership with the local farmer Fred Riches, who owned the surrounding land, the company Riches and Sear Limited was created in 1952 to promote motor racing.

The Eastern Counties Motor Club, pioneering club of the region held the first of their many and continuing meetings at the circuit.

1953 saw bad luck for one circuit bringing almost immediate rewards for Snetterton. This was the closure of the track at Borehamwood, Nr. Chelmsford, which at the time was the ‘home’ of the West Essex Car Club. The West Essex had already put on two of the largest race meetings of post war years with the backing of a national newspaper. In mid season, deprived of their circuit, the club approached Snetterton and arranged that the remainder of their fixtures for 1953 would be transferred to the Norfolk circuit. It was in fact the West Essex Car Club who first brought international class racing to Snetterton attracting such names as Stirling Moss, Jack Brabham, Tony Brooks, Ken Wharton, Ron Flockhart and Reg Parnell.

1953 also saw the first Motor Cycle race meeting, which was organised by the East Anglian trials group of clubs. This group included the Diss M. C. C. and the Norwich Viking Club. Bob Havers ran the meeting.

Plans were submitted in 1953 for more permanent facilities to be provided at the circuit. Proposals included the erection of two 1000 seater grandstands, a line of pits, a bridge across the track and a combined clubhouse and control centre.

1954 saw the founding of the Snetterton Motor Racing Club. The Clubhouse of the S.M.R.C. was completed only a few hours before its’ opening by Mr. W. M. Young the general manager of the Norfolk News Company.

At the first annual dinner and dance of the motor racing circuit, held at the Lido Ballroom, Norwich, Oliver Sear announced that it was probable that a full International meeting would be held at Snetterton the next year. The awards handed out that evening included the “Eastern Daily Press” Shield for the driver with the highest number of points gained on the circuit during the last season. This was presented to Mr. Jim Russell, at that time a Downham Market garage proprietor driving in Formula 111 500 cc cars.

In 1955 Roy Salvadori driving an Aston Martin DB3S won the “Eastern Counties 100 Trophy” with the cup being presented by Sir Charles Bunbury. Roy Salvadori entered because of the cancellation of the Rouen Grand Prix in the aftermath of the Le Mans tragedy. It was at Snetterton that the first drivers briefing was given following the horrific crash at Le Mans which claimed the lives of 80 spectators. There was at the time a great demand for the complete stoppage of the sport.

Of the partnership formed between Oliver Sear and Fred Riches it was Oliver Sear who had the interest in motor sport and in an effort to help promote the facility had persuaded a petrol company to build a garage on the A11 at the end of the Norwich Straight, near the Hairpin. In 1956 a deal was arranged whereby Oliver Sear took over the running of the circuit and became the sole shareholder in the company with a 99 year lease on the track. Fred Riches then had the sole interest in the filling station. Until that time all racing had been taking place on a Saturday. Now changes would be made.

Racing was now switched from the Saturday to the Sunday and almost immediately attendance at the circuit went up by 50 per cent.

Until the mid 1950’s the circuit was still marked out by oil drums, which were filled with earth and planted with trees and shrubs.

1956 saw the construction of the first pits complex and the timekeepers’ box was built.

1957 saw many developments including the founding of the Jim Russell Racing Drivers School which was the first of its’ kind in England. The first Commander’s Cup was presented, night racing was held at the circuit and Grandstands were erected at the Esses and at the Hairpin. The night racing came about with the promotion by Autosport of a 3 Hour event. The agreement was reached with the S. M. R. C. because of the absence of the Tourist Trophy and the Goodwood Nine Hours from the calendar. This meant that there were no long distance sports car events in Great Britain during 1957. The idea was to start the race at 5.00 pm so that spectators would be assured the spectacle of day and night racing which had only taken place that year at Le Mans and Rheims. The S. M. R. C. was going all out to capture the atmosphere of the big continental events with the pit areas floodlit and the scoreboards illuminated. John Bolster assisted the regular Snetterton commentator and members of the Autosport staff provided the press and public information services.

Throughout the mid and late 1950’s the Snetterton Motor Racing Club had been developing not only as a social organisation but also as an administrative unit. It had for some time been organising the majority of the meetings at the circuit and had established an envied reputation for efficiency. For this, credit must go in large measure to the Club Chairman Mr. Cavendish Morton.

A milestone on the track was reached in 1959 when Ron Flockhart driving a 2.5 litre BRM completed the first 100 mph lap. The Silver City Trophy race was for Formula 1 cars and on his way to victory Ron Flockhart covered the 25 laps at an average speed of 101.71 mph leaving the lap record speed at 103. 85 mph.

In 1961 the Club was recognised by the S. M. M. & T. for Trade Support and that same year saw the first television coverage of racing at the circuit.

In 1962 the pits were extended and grandstands were built at the startline and at Riches. At the end of the year Grovewood Securities made an approach with a view to their purchasing the circuit.

In 1963 Brands Hatch Circuit Ltd bought the Snetterton Motor Racing Circuit for £45,000.00. The parent company of the purchasers was Grovewood Securities, which had interests in such diversified areas as blocks of flats and chemicals. Included in the purchase were the Snetterton Motor Racing Club, the proprietary company as opposed to the Club itself, the clubhouse, buildings, grandstands and other facilities and the lease of the 2.7 mile track and car parks. The future management of the track was to be undertaken by Brands Hatch with Oliver Sear staying on as manager of the circuit and Secretary of the S. M. R. C. The commentator’s tower was erected.

Construction of a new hairpin corner at Snetterton was completed in June 1965. This was to be called Russell Corner as a tribute to the Norfolk driver Jim Russell and its’ location was between Coram Curve and the pits and paddock area. It was used for the first time during the British Racing and Sports Car Club’s Scott Brown Memorial Trophy meeting. It was constructed to eliminate the risk of an accident in the pit area as a result of a car losing control coming out of the left-hander after Coram. The result of an accident in one of the new sports cars capable of speeds up to 200 mph in or near the pit area could be horrific. It would also substantially reduce the speeds of cars past the pits and thus facilitate easier pit signalling and official timekeeping. It now provides an exciting new viewing attraction at one the circuit’s most popular points. Russell was soon to build a reputation that survives to this day. The Bailey bridge was erected to provide easier access over the track. Oliver Sear, the man responsible for the success of Snetterton, relinquished his posts as manager of the circuit and as Secretary to the S. M. R. C.

The organising of the race meetings was taken over from the S. M. R. C. by the British Racing and Sports Car Club but an application had to be made to the licensing session at East Harling so that members of the B. R. S. C. C. could enjoy the amenities of the on-licence of the Snetterton Club.

Following the Good Friday Guards International 100 race in 1967, Snetterton became the second fastest circuit in the country with a lap record, held jointly by Graham Hill, Jackie Stewart and Jochen Rindt of 110.61 mph.

The biggest fixture list ever was set for 1969 with a total of 47 meetings ranging from international car and motorcycle races to sprint and scooter trials. Group 6 and Group4 sports racing cars, as raced at Le Mans and Sebring and in the Targa Florio were to clock well over 160 mph on the Norwich Straight.

1971 and both Frank Gardner and Brian Redman set identical lap record speeds in the same F5000 meeting at 120.44 mph pushing Snetterton onto the 120’s for the first time.

1972 saw the creation of a race meeting at Snetterton which became immediately popular with drivers, teams and spectators. Peter Browning of the B.R.S.C.C. brought about not only a way of satisfying his customers but also of providing a fascinating Formula Ford ‘knock out’ competition. The entry fee for spectators for the first meeting included two tickets to a grand festival party with prize giving, a discotheque and firework display to be held at the circuit on the Sunday evening. The first Formula Ford Festival was held at Snetterton on Saturday and Sunday the 4^th and 5^th of November.

1973 saw the commencement of further change to the layout of the circuit, which was completed for the 1974 season. This saw the creation of the Revett Straight joining Sear Corner with the Esses that eliminated the Norwich Straight, the Hairpin and the Home Straight and formed a ‘club’ circuit within the 2.7 mile track. The new 190 mph motor racing straight was also created to facilitate the fast growing sport of drag racing where vehicles were reaching terminal speeds of 240 mph. It can also be used as a run way for small twin engined aircraft used by competitors and visitors. The work was carried out at a cost of £30,000.00. Night racing also returned to Snetterton in 1973 after a gap of nine years, when four races were held there during the Avon Tour of Britain.

1974 saw a different kind of event being held at the circuit when the Anglian Land and Sand Yacht Club held a meeting on the 13^th May for Land Yacht racing. The first drag racing meeting was held there on 29^th September proving immediately popular as the crowds lined the new quarter mile strip to watch both cars and motorcycles put through their paces.

August 1975 and the newspapers were speculating on the possible sale of the circuit. Grovewood Securities, owners of Snetterton, Brands Hatch, Mallory Park and Oulton Park had recently been taken over by insurance giant Eagle Star. Chairman of Grovewood Mr. John Danny would only confirm that a bid had been made. After a summer spent in improving racing and spectator facilities the Snetterton Rallycross circuit was reopened in September 1975. The original track had been shortened to a purpose built three quarter mile circuit of tarmac, chalk, gravel and grassland, which it was thought, would provide closer, all action racing.

At the Archie Scott Brown Memorial meeting on 30^th July 1978, floods washed out the racing but the spirit of the club was typified in the press by pictures of officials and spectators with buckets endeavouring to ‘bale out’ the circuit.

In November of 1978 Oliver Sear, the father of motor sport in East Anglia died aged 57.

On the 19^th/20^th June 1979 the last successful run on the long circuit was made for the Commanders Cup. Drivers Andy Rouse, Tony Dron and Win Percy in a Porsche 924 covered over 700 laps of the circuit at an average speed of 77 mph. In changing entirely to the use of the new short circuit a replica cup was presented to the holders of the record for the long circuit.

With 59 dates on its 1979 schedule Snetterton was Britain’s most active circuit.

1980 produced firsts for Snetterton, Saturday and Sunday 21^st and 22nd June were the dates of the first Willhire 24 Hour event, Sunday 24^th August saw the Daily Mail British Grand Prix for Formula One Air Races and November 23^rd was the date of the first Charity day for the British Heart Foundation. At this latter event members of the public were able to buy rides round the circuit where local driver Martin Brundle was one of the first to offer his services. The event was created following a discussion between Paul Whitford of the Sportsman at West Winch and one of his customers Spencer Barker of East Winch. The event was then organised by Pete Bodle.

May 1986 and the future of Snetterton as a motor racing circuit was given more security when a deal was announced between Motor Circuit Development and John Foulston, Chairman of Atlantic Computers plc. The deal, reputed to be worth 5.25 million pounds guaranteed the existence of the three MCD operated circuits as racing venues for the foreseeable future.

On the 12^th April 1990 team boss Ken Tyrrell was on hand to open the new restaurant facility “Tyrrells.”

The end of the year again saw speculation in the press about the future of the circuit and the possibility of a ‘new village’ being created on the site.

Winter 1990 saw Russell realigned, again.

In 1991 on Sunday 27^th October the circuit celebrated its 40^th Anniversary with a meeting organised by the Historic Sports Car Club.

There is still much to be written and added to the history of this circuit, this will include features on the Willhire 24 Hours and the Commanders Cup among others.