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Then & now!


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#1 picblanc

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Posted 01 February 2012 - 21:30

Thought it would be interesting to see how tracks have changed over the years, any "Then & Now" pics pit & paddock too?
The bomb hole @ Snetterton 1971 & similar position in 2007.
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#2 picblanc

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Posted 01 February 2012 - 21:47

Clearways Brands Hatch 1975.
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Clearways 2010.
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#3 picblanc

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Posted 01 February 2012 - 22:04

Surtees into McLaren 1975.
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2010.
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#4 picblanc

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Posted 01 February 2012 - 22:12

McLaren 1975.
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2010.
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Edited by picblanc, 01 February 2012 - 22:13.


#5 picblanc

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Posted 01 February 2012 - 22:41

Top of Paddock Hill 1979.
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2007.
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#6 Redneb

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Posted 01 February 2012 - 23:09

Huge difference in the lean angles...


#7 ravenous25

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Posted 02 February 2012 - 09:52

Great shot of the Bombhole in 1971, that's changed a fair bit!

#8 tonyed

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Posted 02 February 2012 - 12:14

McLaren 1975.
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Ron Rowlands?, Mick Robinson :smoking: , Steve Goodrum?

#9 picblanc

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Posted 02 February 2012 - 16:49

Ron Rowlands?, Mick Robinson :smoking: , Steve Goodrum?


Not Steve but Peter Weale, Tony.

Edited by picblanc, 02 February 2012 - 16:50.


#10 tonyed

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Posted 02 February 2012 - 18:24

[quote name='picblanc' date='Feb 1 2012, 21:30' post='5502752']
Thought it would be interesting to see how tracks have changed over the years, any "Then & Now" pics pit & paddock too?
The bomb hole @ Snetterton 1971 & similar position in 2007.
Posted Image
Photo Copyrighted to Graham Etheridge.

I fell off here about where the third rider on the Aermacchi (Bob Bentley?) is, trying to take the bend in third gear on a five speed TD2B in the wet after it wouldn't start and lost my rag.

I wish the bend had been like it is now, I would not have the smashed vertibrae I enjoy :cry: today. :rolleyes:

#11 picblanc

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Posted 02 February 2012 - 22:09

Snetterton start/finish 1975.
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Just a little further to the right in 2010.
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#12 picblanc

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Posted 02 February 2012 - 22:24

Mallory 1975.
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2007.
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#13 picblanc

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Posted 02 February 2012 - 22:39

Start/top of Paddock Hill 1977.
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2010 tree in centre top of 1977 pic still there!!
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#14 Mick Robinson

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Posted 02 February 2012 - 22:44

Surtees into McLaren 1975.
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2010.
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In the '75 shot looks like Jimmy Wells 41, 6th rider back Brian Flak, 7th back Richard Horton and at the back inside Butch Hobbs.
Who are the others Graham ?

#15 picblanc

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Posted 02 February 2012 - 22:53

In the '75 shot looks like Jimmy Wells 41, 6th rider back Brian Flak, 7th back Richard Horton and at the back inside Butch Hobbs.
Who are the others Graham ?


Yep correct Mick,
#42 Clive Offer with Alan Lee hidden behind him & Wells
#51 Clive Wall
#25 Barry Homewood
#44 Derek Head (yellow/primrose helmet)
#39 Dave Saltwell (blue helmet)
on the outside retiring are in front Greg Barsdorf & Vaughan Young.

#16 ravenous25

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Posted 03 February 2012 - 10:14

I used to think the entrance to Paddock Hill must have been a nightmare as there was no run-off whatsoever - I remember Con Law, Johnny Rea and another Irish rider having a right tear-up in the 350cc race at the 1983 Powerbike meeting and my Dad said 'this is going to end in tears' - sure enough Law and Rea went down in a big way at the top of Paddock Hill, straight into the barriers. Law smashed his leg (legs?) and was never the same rider again.

#17 picblanc

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Posted 03 February 2012 - 17:24

I used to think the entrance to Paddock Hill must have been a nightmare as there was no run-off whatsoever - I remember Con Law, Johnny Rea and another Irish rider having a right tear-up in the 350cc race at the 1983 Powerbike meeting and my Dad said 'this is going to end in tears' - sure enough Law and Rea went down in a big way at the top of Paddock Hill, straight into the barriers. Law smashed his leg (legs?) and was never the same rider again.


Was one of the greatest races I have seen, but four abreast into Paddock Hill was never going to happen!!, did look bad with cartwheeling bikes riders & flying straw bales etc, very very lucky the both of them.
Re Paddock Hill bend Phil, (you probably know this?) it now goes inside the original corner, so once was even closer to the sleepers & rock hard years old Straw bales, but was altered/realigned before the start of the 1976 season.
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#18 tonyed

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Posted 03 February 2012 - 19:30

I used to think the entrance to Paddock Hill must have been a nightmare as there was no run-off whatsoever - I remember Con Law, Johnny Rea and another Irish rider having a right tear-up in the 350cc race at the 1983 Powerbike meeting and my Dad said 'this is going to end in tears' - sure enough Law and Rea went down in a big way at the top of Paddock Hill, straight into the barriers. Law smashed his leg (legs?) and was never the same rider again.


You are correct. I had my first racing crash at paddock in 1969 when there was little runoff. Ran wide and the front wheel must hace caught in an old rut in the grass as it tore the bars out of my hands and send me into the bank. Took the front forks out of my Ariel Arrow. Didn't bend the forks or damage the Norton front wheel but crumpled the steering head in the pressed steel frame. We had a week to find a new frame prepare it and rebuild the bike before Snetterton the next weekend. :clap: I was alright just got thrown over the bank and landed softly.

Edited by tonyed, 03 February 2012 - 19:31.


#19 Russell Burrows

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Posted 04 February 2012 - 09:14

In the '75 shot looks like Jimmy Wells 41, 6th rider back Brian Flak, 7th back Richard Horton and at the back inside Butch Hobbs.
Who are the others Graham ?


Mention of Brian Flak reminds me that his sister appeared on here for a bit and I asked her what had become of her bruv, but I got no response. Anyone know?

Edited by Russell Burrows, 04 February 2012 - 09:33.


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#20 picblanc

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Posted 07 February 2012 - 20:49

Mention of Brian Flak reminds me that his sister appeared on here for a bit and I asked her what had become of her bruv, but I got no response. Anyone know?


Brian himself posts on here occasionally Russell, did not know his Sister did?

#21 picblanc

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Posted 07 February 2012 - 21:01

Snetterton Russell chicane 1979
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Photo Mick Robinson/Tony Harris.

& 2007, but as we/you know has been altered again in 2011.
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#22 Russell Burrows

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Posted 07 February 2012 - 22:11

Brian himself posts on here occasionally Russell, did not know his Sister did?


Ah, what's his tag, Graham? BrianFlakKawasaki is his sister.

#23 BrianFlakKawasaki

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Posted 08 February 2012 - 10:43

Hi
I don't think Brian posts on here he's never mentioned it...anyway he is alive and well and living in South Australia, as is our Dad (he of tuning fame!) I found Dads name on another forum for kawasaki triple enthusiasts and apparently he is no longer with us!!!! News to him and us :rotfl:

#24 Russell Burrows

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Posted 08 February 2012 - 11:00

Hi
I don't think Brian posts on here he's never mentioned it...anyway he is alive and well and living in South Australia, as is our Dad (he of tuning fame!) I found Dads name on another forum for kawasaki triple enthusiasts and apparently he is no longer with us!!!! News to him and us :rotfl:


Thanks for the good news. I too belatedly saw that post elsewhere about Brian. Be good if he dropped in occasionally.

#25 ravenous25

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Posted 08 February 2012 - 12:13

Coming back to the original 70s picture of the Bombhole, did they used to go down the back straight and then into the Bombhole?

#26 tonyed

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Posted 08 February 2012 - 12:35

Coming back to the original 70s picture of the Bombhole, did they used to go down the back straight and then into the Bombhole?


The original long circuit came off the Home Straight, in the picture to the right coming towards you from under the bridge (a left hander on the racing line) and then into the Bomb Hole (a right hander). When the short circuit arrived in the early to mid 70s and the Norwich and Home straights dissapeared the Revett straight ended into a chicane, left then right into a short straight undernaeth the old bridge as you see it and then into the Bomb Hole which remained unchanged into the noughties when it became a section of motorway with a two thousand yard run off of silk cushions, as opposed to the armco barrier that lined the edge of the tarmac, only marginally safer that Crystal Palace.

#27 Robin127

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Posted 08 February 2012 - 15:59

...Bomb Hole which remained unchanged into the noughties when it became a section of motorway with a two thousand yard run off of silk cushions, as opposed to the armco barrier that lined the edge of the tarmac, only marginally safer that Crystal Palace.


It was a pretty nasty place to fall off. I came off there in 1979 and I was very lucky, hurt my knee but with no lasting damage, it could have been much worse as Tony can attest to. The one thing that still amazes me is that when my helmet was taken off it was full of straw from the bales I'd hit...that and the not so pleasant mucus that coated the inside of the visor. :eek:


#28 Russell Burrows

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Posted 08 February 2012 - 16:15

It was a pretty nasty place to fall off. I came off there in 1979 and I was very lucky, hurt my knee but with no lasting damage, it could have been much worse as Tony can attest to. The one thing that still amazes me is that when my helmet was taken off it was full of straw from the bales I'd hit...that and the not so pleasant mucus that coated the inside of the visor. :eek:

Snot very nice.

#29 picblanc

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Posted 08 February 2012 - 16:22

Ah, what's his tag, Graham? BrianFlakKawasaki is his sister.


Ah! apologies to all, not paying attention again! :blush: I thought it was Mr Flak himself.

#30 picblanc

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Posted 08 February 2012 - 16:25

The original long circuit came off the Home Straight, in the picture to the right coming towards you from under the bridge (a left hander on the racing line) and then into the Bomb Hole (a right hander). When the short circuit arrived in the early to mid 70s and the Norwich and Home straights dissapeared the Revett straight ended into a chicane, left then right into a short straight undernaeth the old bridge as you see it and then into the Bomb Hole which remained unchanged into the noughties when it became a section of motorway with a two thousand yard run off of silk cushions, as opposed to the armco barrier that lined the edge of the tarmac, only marginally safer that Crystal Palace.



You can just make out a rider under the bridge coming from the right & the old hairpin (if you squint hard!!)

#31 picblanc

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Posted 08 February 2012 - 16:46

It was a pretty nasty place to fall off. I came off there in 1979 and I was very lucky, hurt my knee but with no lasting damage, it could have been much worse as Tony can attest to. The one thing that still amazes me is that when my helmet was taken off it was full of straw from the bales I'd hit...that and the not so pleasant mucus that coated the inside of the visor. :eek:


This picture of Steve Parrish @ the apex of the corner, taken in 1975 from the old Grandstand right on the edge of the bomb hole, shows how high the banking was & it was like that both sides all the way round.
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#32 Xover

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Posted 21 February 2012 - 11:14

It was a pretty nasty place to fall off. I came off there in 1979 and I was very lucky, hurt my knee but with no lasting damage, it could have been much worse as Tony can attest to. The one thing that still amazes me is that when my helmet was taken off it was full of straw from the bales I'd hit...that and the not so pleasant mucus that coated the inside of the visor. :eek:

Likewise tony, I stuffed my Bultaco into the sandbank there while leading a race in 1967. Lost the front end for no apparent reason. Same thing happened at Beecher's, Aintree the following weekend behind Dennis Trollope. I later discovered that Dunlop Triangulars had to be kept above freezing during the winter to avoid such losses of traction. :mad: Anyone else have grip problems with them after a hard winter?