RACING EXPOSURE :: Club level motorsport e-magazine

The 360 Motor Club hosted their inaugural event at Snetterton.         Endurance racing has always been an expensive event, with circuits pricing track time by the minute (a figure of £ 150 per minute of track time is not uncommon).   A novel business plan was established in order to attempt to get an endurance race for clubman drivers in more older and more affordable machinery.   The idea was first mooted on popular motorsport forum – Ten-Tenths.

Whilst the entry was slightly disappointing, with just 8 teams taking the start, the efforts and enthusiasm displayed by each team and the pit lane and paddock camaraderie was such that many are looking forward to the next event.   Many were novice endurance racers, more used to sprint races over 15 or 20 minutes.

As with any endurance race, there were battles throughout the order, and there was drama as cars started to develop problems which required nursing to the finish.    Out of the 8 starters, 5 cars were classified finishers, with the Jaguar Mk 1 of Ed Simpson Racing crossing the line 6 hours, 1 minute and 7 seconds after the rolling start, after 221 laps of the Norfolk circuit.

The Peugeot 205 GTI of Climax Motorsport was 2nd overall, on the lead lap just 70 seconds behind the winning team, with the Toyota Corolla GT of Eleiko Motorsport in third, 10 laps behind.   Fourth was the Ford Capri of Mallett Racing, and the final classified finisher was the MG Montego of Team Mont Blanc, completing 190 laps.

The non classified cars were the Ford Escort RS2000 of Team Dilligaf (139 laps, 3hrs 53m), the Lancia Fulvia Sport of Squadra Donnaiolo (137 laps, 4hrs 20m) and the Hairy Canary Escort RS1600 (101 laps, 6hrs 1m)

Graham Turner did some demonstration laps during the lunch break in his marvellous Porsche 917 replica in Gulf Oil livery, and the Alfa Romeo Owners Club put on a parade of cars.

No doubt many lessons were learnt which will be put into practise for the 2011 event, but if the enthusiasm of the organisers and those that competed is any example, there is a bright future for the 360 Motor Club and for a low-cost endurance racing series.

From little acorns…

Report: Andrew Cliffe
Photos: Norwich Photo

Entry is now FREE to spectators for the 360 Motor Club meeting at Snetterton this weekend – check out the Snetterton website for more info…

The 360 Motor Club provides a 6 hour endurance race for classic cars.  The name derives from 6 x 60 minutes.

Two qualifying sessions in the morning, race itself starts at noon.

Do any of you racers fancy racing in a 6 hour race on 15 August at Snetterton?

The event is open to all road designed sports, GTs & Saloon cars up to the 1986 model year & is designed to re-create the spirit of the original Willhire endurance events and the current Spa 6 hours or Guards Trophy 3 hour races with one big exception – this event is aimed at normal club level racers on a limited budget.

The entry fee is based on a NOT FOR PROFIT model and the organising club are looking at entry fees of around a £1000 for qualifying and a 6 hour race. If we get a full grid of 47 cars then the fee will be around £850, hopefully & entrants will get a rebate.

The organisers are all experienced racers & Officials including people who have raced at major international historic events or are officials with years of experience as Clerks of the Course etc.

The organisers are underwriting this with their own money!

Other details:

Snetterton has been booked for 15 August

A number of classic car clubs will be in attendance

There will be a demonstration from 2 Porsche 962 and an Aston Martin Le Mans racer

The event is truly about giving club level competitors the chance to race in an endurance event a low cost. Yes, really, the club that has been established to run this event is none profit making & everyone is giving their time free to run it.

After much debate by the organising committee, the rules have been adjusted recently to allow wide eligibility, including all road designed sports, saloon & GT cars up to the 1986 model year (and cars deemed by the Committee to be in the spirit of the race!)

There is a good level of interest including from a few Alfas) but a few more entries would not go amiss!

I know there is not much time but the club is still staying true to its word about having this as a not for profit making venture & so should be the best value endurance race ever.

Have a look at the 360 motor racing club web site for updated details & to enter.

http://www.360motor-racing-club.com/

The format of the day is planned as follows:

• 8.20 Marshals Briefing
• 8.30 Drivers briefing
• At approx 8.45 we will have the stewards inspection and hoping that all is well on that, the Clerk of the Course with the stewards, will state over the radio to Race Control, “The stewards are happy and the circuit is YOURS”
• 9.00 we have the first practise and qualifying session, it will be for 45 mins
• 10.00 the second of the practice and qualifying sessions again for 45 mins
• 10.45 this is the brunch break, and this is where the fun starts (hopefully) there will be clubs in attendance (well they say they are coming) and they will have a parade lap or two, then Permit permitting we will then see a Porsche 962 or two do a couple of demos for us
• At 11.45 we will get the cars assembled on the grid
• Noon and the race is underway, after over a year of ooohing and arrh ing, of wondering if it can be done, of putting off and then putting back on …..the inaugural running of THE 360 , the (not so yet but who knows) Grand Prix d’Endurance) will start, it will be a rolling start and then….six hours of racing with cars that are now as far apart as 36 years…it will be hopefully a lot of fun While all this is happening our friends from Radio Le Mans will be broadcasting live at the circuit and on the world wide web keeping those around the circuit and those not lucky enough to be there, up to date on what’s happening
• At six o clock, providing someone is still running, the race will conclude, with hopefully winners from all classes…
• At around 6.15 or maybe a bit later, the ceremony of the trophies will take place and we are still working on who will present them
• At 6.30 its all over and we can ALL give ourselves a great pat on the back !!!!”