Solved NIC#32 - AMOC sprint at Snetterton Oct 1951

[nicanary]

I'm copying "Woodinsight" here - motor sport from the "Golden Age". For one point tell me the year and place. If you can tell me the names of the drivers (with proof) you get another 2 points. (I don't know).

[Allan L]

That's a good 'un.

[nicanary]

That's a good 'un.

I suspect it will be on these pages for many moons. On the other hand, the members of our band of brothers never fail to amaze me.....

[nicanary]

Experts?

[mekubb]

Silverstone 1929 ?

[nicanary]

Silverstone 1929 ?

No and no. But it is in the UK, although I suppose that was fairly obvious.

(BTW I meant to add - Silverstone was opened as an RAF base in 1943, so your date is waaaaay out. Airfield circuits proliferated in the UK after WW2 because they were readily available for motor sport use. Now there's a hint concerning the date, and as to why those type of cars were there.

[richard fridd]

Is the event being run in a counter clockwise direction?

[nicanary]

Is the event being run in a counter clockwise direction?

Now that's actually a very good question. The photo shows the circuit almost unrecognisable from what it later became, and indeed I was not sure myself. I have checked a good source which refers to circuits thoughout their history, and it appears that the track was always negotiated in a clockwise direction.

[richard fridd]

Is picture of the modern day startline position, if so Snetterton?

[nicanary]

Is picture of the modern day startline position, if so Snetterton?

Yes! Well done. It's Snetterton , or Snetterton Heath as it was known, after the title of the former USAAF base on that site. Just give me the date of the event (the year will do) and the point's yours.

[richard fridd]

Is it the 1954, the first year of motor racing at Snetterton?

[nicanary]

Is it the 1954, the first year of motor racing at Snetterton?

Sorry, no. Motor sport took part there before that year. LOCKED for you, though.

[richard fridd]

According to the book "1946 AND ALL THAT" 27th October 1951 saw an AMOC  two lap speed trial, and the following year the first race meeting. So 1951 is my answer.

[nicanary]

According to the book "1946 AND ALL THAT" 27th October 1951 saw an AMOC  two lap speed trial, and the following year the first race meeting. So 1951 is my answer.

And that IS the answer. I have obtained  a phototcopy of the entry, and it comprised a few F3 cars, these pre-war Astons, and a few other sports cars, mainly pre-war, but including the Cooper of Cliff Davis. The meeting was supposed to be a sprint, but actually consisted of several heats of 2 flying laps, so it was akin to racing. According to my source, the track maintained its original shape for many years, so that must be the start/finish line we all know, but I don't remember that hangar being there in the 60s. The track always was very wide, and 5-4-5 formations were commonplace.

One point to you - well solved. I wish I hadn't offered those extra 2 points for the drivers' names, although a bit of investigation has given me some information. I'll put it up to the Pros now to see if they can finish it off.

[pnegyesi]

Ken Smith, Smith Buckler

[nicanary]

Ken Smith, Smith Buckler

Those names are not on the entry list.

[pnegyesi]

Dennis Poore was there with an Alfa and Ken Wharton won in an ERA

[nicanary]

Sorry. I have not been very helpful with my line of setting questions. I require the names of the drivers in the actual cars in the puzzle photo - it's not going to be easy!

[Allan L]

Let's try Maurice Geoghegan for the black Aston third from our left and "Bill" Ellwell-Smith in one of the other Astons, perhaps the leftmost one. At the extreme right is it perhaps the Lagonda Rapier of James Crocker?

You had me going on the airfield's identity on this one. I thought Silverstone as the original startline was just past the left-hander of Abbey but you said it wasn't. I could find a reason for it being many of the ex-airfield circuits but not for Snett as I couldn't remember a hangar or even the base for one in 1960-odd when I first went there. Not even a sign of one in some 1958 film on You-tube (mustn't link it) but there is a quick glimpse in a 1952 film which includes Archie Scott-Brown's first race win!

[nicanary]

I had a pre-puzzle guess at who would be the first to have a real crack at this one, and I was right! I'm sorry Allan, none of your guesses is correct. I'm having real regrets about this second part of the puzzle - my excellent source advises me that the image is copyrighted by the AMOC. One of this site's editors recently suggested that if anyone was particularly anxious about copyright they shouldn't allow the image on a public site, and it was therefore "fair game". All the same, I reckon it can only be solved by contacting the club, and that would open this site up to possible rebuke.

I'll leave it here for the time being, unless I hear from one of the editors. I have a copy of the programme for the meeting, which comprises an A5 sheet with the title of the meeting on the front, and a numbered list of entries on the back. Typical programme for those times of austerity. The puzzle photo shows some race numbers, and I can therefore "tie-up" those drivers, but the rest will be educated guesswork. A hint - they are all Aston Martins. (I have to confess, I'm no expert on AMs of that era, and they all look the same to me!)

According to Peter Swinger's book (which has been criticised for some inaccuracies), the circuit has had roughly the same format for some time until the recent major changes. His map for 1951 shows a shallow curve before the start/finish called Paddock Bend, which later became more convoluted as Russells. This would fit the curve seen in the background of the image. But that hangar had me for a long time, just like you. It must have been some demolition job - they used to hold B24s. The only hangars I can remember from the early 60s were the ones which housed Foulgers Transport on the left of the main entrance road. My dad used to park there to save the car park charge - Foulgers were customers of his.

STOP PRESS. I have just obtained the details I require - full info to complete the puzzle. I even know who took the photo. BTW the copyright isn't the AMOC's, but the Aston Martin Heritage Trust. Let's see how long this takes you all to solve.

[richard fridd]

Did Geoff Goddard take the  photo?

[nicanary]

Did Geoff Goddard take the  photo?

No, but a good guess. It was taken by friend/family of one of the cars in the photo.

[richard fridd]

So not Louis Klemantaski then?

[nicanary]

So not Louis Klemantaski then?

Definitely not - just an amateur.

I have to say, the chances of anyone solving this are very slim. It just happens that my source of information on matters Snetterton sent me a copy of the puzzle picture, and by a fluke the individual cars/drivers are identified on the bottom of the photo in handwriting by one of the contestants. The names are not. of course, on the photo I obtained from the web, which is why I originally stated that I didn't know the answer. This is a real Black Hole candidate.

[richard fridd]

Anyone famous in the lineup?