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Snetterton Classic Sports Car Club 7th October 2006

Event report by John Roberts

The all Marque Jaguar Two Driver Challenge Endurance Race – will it be wet or dry, or will I break another engine?
The truth is out there!

Snetterton in Norfolk has quite a history from being an RAF base during WW2 to being converted into a Racing Circuit in 1951. The locally based Lotus F1 team made Snetterton its home test track, while major British single-seater manufacturer Van Diemen has been based close to the Revett Straight.
Snetterton is one of the fastest race circuits in the country. The layout includes two of the longest straights in the UK, linked by quick corners, and a couple of mind-concentrating chicanes.

I arrived on Friday to a wind-swept and very wet track, wanting to go testing. Luckily my premonition during race prep told me to leave my “Wet” tyres on the car. I went out during the last 50 minute session to slip and slide and with correspondingly slow lap times. But it’s always good practice to drive when it’s wet, whether the circuit is wet or dry on Race Day. Chris Keith-Lucas (CKL) was sharing the race in my car and we both found it difficult to say on the “Black Stuff”

Race day Saturday was a glorious sunny day and yes, we were first out again. (Why do I always fall for these races where I have to get out of bed at 06:00 hrs.) Signing on was at 08:00 hrs, followed by Scrutineering at 08:10, to the Assembly Area by 08:40 and Practice/Qualifying at 09:00 hrs. The track had been well washed on Friday and was dry and “Grippy” from the word go. I was first out and I had about three laps to myself until the “Lightweights” caught me. After 15 minutes I came into the Pits for CKL and I to practice the change-over of drivers.

Out of 26 starters we qualified 18th, with a lot of light-weight Cougars, XK120 Roadsters and heavy-weight, but powerful V12 XJS’s. Here I go, making excuses for myself again!

Our race was at 12:30 hrs and for 40 minutes. I started the race with CKL race ready to take over midway. WELL, what a start. 26 cars from a standing start and going into Riches double-apex first Corner, only to find that Dick Skipworth was sideways on just in front of me in his beautiful silver XK120. I was also trying to fend off a very aggressive attack from Gary Davis in Claire Keith-Lucas’ XK150. Having got past Dick I proceeded to put my foot down.

However, it wasn’t quite that easy. Gary Davis was right behind me and I spent all my time fending off this very experienced racing driver/instructor. At one stage we were side by side going up the Senna Straight, with Gary luckily on the outside. I out-braked him going into Riches and stayed in front with a very determined view of handing over the car to CKL in front of Gary.

Russell`s Hairpin	JR with co-driver Chris Keith Lucas (standing)

So, part two of the race was me seeing my Pit Board going out, screaming into a very busy Pit Lane and jumping out of the car, pulling out most of my seat as CKL’s rear end is slightly larger than mine. I strapped him in and out he went. The change-over went seamlessly and for the remainder of the race we stayed in front of the Gary Davis/Andy Keith-Lucas pairing.

AND, what do you know, by the end of the race we finished 3rd in Class and we came away with a Trophy apiece.

Having only qualified in 18th we finished 13th out of 26. But what’s more, we had great fun and we brought the car home in one piece. (It makes a change from Oulton Park).

On the display side, the MWS Brochures kept disappearing when I wasn’t looking and a number of enthusiasts wanted to talk about Jaguars XK, E-Types et al. A number of Marshals commented on my shiny chrome wires and I explained how many Tooth Brushes I get through in a season keeping them shiny HA HA!!

It was a great day where I met a number of past racing friends from my MG Car Club days like Roy McCarthy still racing his MGBGT V8 with great success at 63 years young and Colin Jones driving his trusty MGA Twin Cam.

So, it’s on to the last race of the Season which is the Birkett 6 Hour Endurance at Silverstone on the 28th October. We plan to have a good turn-out of Jaguar XK’s and E-Types, so come along and watch us and please come and talk to us.

Finally, I hope to have my XK150 at Goodwood on the 1st November for the Jaguar Track Day with CKL Developments. I will be putting a Passenger Seat in it to take people around the circuit.

If you are interested then please let me know and I can book you in. You can contact me on: john@sacor.freeserve.co.uk or on my Mobile 07710 971444.

That’s it for now!

John

Action shots courtesy of Ken Bell, official JEC photographer

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