Russell Bend at Snett.

[Andrew Kitson]

Are there any racers out there who raced through the 'old' Russell Bend at Snetterton before the tight chicane we have now?
All of the drivers I have spoken to who did, speak of the awesome challenge of this 'almost flat' kink after the ultra fast Coram. Definitely one to hold your breath for they say.It was deemed too dangerous I believe because of the earth banks around it.I saw many shunts there simply because there was something to hit if you got it wrong.
Why can't it be put back to how it was but with wide kerbs and run off? There is plenty of room on the infield at Snett, surely the collecting area could be put to the other end of the pits/paddock (behind parc ferme) to create the run off? It seems to me that the Russell we have now spoils the flow of a great fast circuit.
If enough of you wanted changes such as this, would Octagon and the MSA listen?

[Barry Pomfret]

I remember the old Russell in great detail, it was a corner that deserved a lot of respect! My most memorable attempt was in about 1984 in a FF 1600 Tiga, I was competing in the BARC 74-80 FF 1600 championship and as Andrew correctly states it was just about flat out in top. As I turned into the left hand kink at the start, Andy Woods in a Sparton touched my rear tyre, suddenly the car half spun at well over 100mph and hit the armco protecting the start of the pit lane. The impact broke the engine mounts which dropped the engine out of the back and the gearbox and rear suspension flew approx. 15' into the air and landed several yards away from the rest of the car. The impact also broke the armco retaining post. Inside the Tiga the fuel tank was held in by a 1/2" diam. round tube running across the width of the chassis, this also supported the seat, during the impact I was forced onto this tube and bent it backwards about 2" with my upper back! Apart from numerous bruises my only injury was a sprained wrist from the steering wheel whiplash.
For some photographs of the Tiga and another spectacular accident, but this time at Donington! have at look at the gallery on www.barrypomfret.co.uk