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MotorbikesToday
Track Guide |
Snetterton |
With two of the longest
straights in the country, this is not a circuit
for the faint-hearted |
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address: |
Snetterton
Circuit
Snetterton
Norwich NR16 2JU |
tel: |
01953-887303 |
fax: |
01953-888220 |
website: |
www.motorsportvision.co.uk |
contact: |
Jamie
Hopper |
e-mail: |
ontrack@cadwellmsv.com |
opening
times: |
0900-1700 Mon-Fri
- circuit also has a 24hr licence |
circuit
length: |
1.952 miles |
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How
to get There
from
the north: |
take the A1 south to Newark,
then the A17 SE through Sleaford to Kings
Lynn, then the A10 and A134 to Thetford, then
A11 NE towards Norwich |
from
the south and east: |
from Cambridge take the
A14 NE and then the A11 NE through Thetford
towards Norwich |
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Facilities
paddock: |
medium, mostly
tarmac with some grass and gravel areas, large
grassed overspill area |
garages: |
yes - 30+ |
fuel: |
on-site for
racedays, petrol station on A11 at circuit
entrance |
catering: |
Tyrells Restuarant
at rear of paddock area |
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History
Originally a US bomber base
during the second World War, the circuit was created
in 1951 wwhen the American Air Force went home.
The circuit has had many revisions since then,
notably the major shortening in the late 70s that
reduced the track length from 2.7 miles to the
current 1.9 miles, by removing the long straight
and hairpin that took vehicles almost up to the
A11, and is now used for circuit access and the
Sunday Market. At he same time the notoriously
fast and dangerous S-bend between Coram and the
start-finish straight was replaced by the painfully
slow Russells Bend, although was eased somewhat
in 1997.
At the end of 1996 the whole
circuit was re-surfaced, getting rid of some of
the vagaries of grip caused by the multi-compound
surfaces, especially in the wet. The general facilities
and access were also improved, and the track areas
around the the Esses and the infamous Bomb Hole
were tidied up. |
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Trackday
Operators |
name |
tel: |
website |
100% Bikes |
0870-8722532 |
www.100pc.co.uk |
Track Time Promotions |
01386-423555 |
www.tracktimepromotions.co.uk |
Focused Events |
01903-744011 |
www.focusedevents.com |
No Limits |
07000-600750 |
www.nolimitstrackdays.com |
European Superbike School |
0870-2415159 |
www.europeansuperbikeschool.com |
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Where to
Stay |
name |
tel: |
distance
from circuit |
Strenneth Country B&B, Fersfield, Diss |
01379-688182
email: pdavey@strenneth.co.uk |
4 miles |
The Angel Hotel, Larling |
01953-717963 |
1 mile |
Hill House Farm B&B |
01953-453113 |
5 miles |
Best Western Hotel, Wymondham |
01953-606721 |
5 miles |
The Thatched House B&B, Thetford |
01953-483577 |
5 miles |
The Hollies B&B, Eccles |
01953-888307 |
2 miles |
Country Travel Lodge B&B, Larling |
01953-498421 |
2 miles |
Home Farm B&B, Wymondham |
01953-602581 |
6 miles |
Abbey Hotel, Wymondham |
01953-602148 |
10 miles |
Park Farm Country Hotel, Hethersett |
01603-810264 |
8 miles |
The Thomas Paine Hotel, Thetford |
01842-755631 |
9 miles |
The Mill Farmhouse B&B, Snetterton |
01953-498590 |
1 mile |
Sherbourne House Hotel, Attleborough |
01953-454363 |
4 miles |
College Farm Hotel, Thompson |
01953-483318 |
8 miles |
Willow House B&B, Attleborough |
01953-717644 |
1 mile |
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A
Lap of The Circuit
As usual, out of the pits onto
the start/finish straight. The first bend, Riches,
is an uncomplicated right hander. Provided it
is dry. In the wet, Riches is a lake. Oh, and
the prevailing wind can mean that as you sit up
to brake at the end of the straight you act like
a sail and don’t lose speed like you’d
expect. It is said that the field alongside the
track now grows bits of motorbikes instead of
carrots. I don’t know about that, but I
do know it bites, so treat it with respect.
Out of Riches there is a short
straight to Sear – another right hander,
this time with lots of runoff. Watch for the very
rough concrete on the outside edge of the track
and try to be back on the tarmac before the gravel
starts, especially if you’re still leant
over. Watch out for highsides. The following Revett
Straight is probably the fastest place in British
Motorcycling. This year the Superbikes were doing
over 190mph down it, so it will certainly be a
chance for you to stretch your bike’s legs
if you want. Just remember that all straights
have an end, and that you will have to scrub off
a lot of speed and energy before attempting The
Esses – a left-right complex that comes
up much too fast. You need to get all your braking
out of the way before the Dunlop bridge. The left
is fast but the right is slow and narrow.
The Esses exit straight into
The Bombhole - a sweeping right hander with very
little runoff and a large dip in the middle which
can upset things a little. There’s a grandstand
here for a reason – it’s a good place
to watch. that means you need to be careful. Watch
for highsides on the exit, again.
Coram is the next bend, a very
long, very fast right hander. Hug the inside for
as long as you can or you risk running out of
track on the exit. Russell Bend, which comes next,
used to be the most hairy bend in the country.
Changes over the last few years have made it much
slower and safer but robbed it of its character.
Now it is no more than a sharp right-left chicane
leading back onto the start/finish straight for
another lap. As is so often the case, be very
wary of highsides on the exit, especially as the
left side of your tyres will be cold. Stay off
the kerbs if it is wet. |
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