Forgotten Race Tracks - RAF Fersfield - Where the BTCC began...Sort of
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- Опубліковано 3 бер 2022
- #abandoned #racetracks #norfolk
Hidden away in Norfolk sits an abandoned RAF airfield. Fersfield was built in 1943 and it was here that the mad idea of Operation Aphrodite was conceived. In short, flying remote control B17 bombers!
In the 1950s, racing began on site and whilst it was short lived, it paved the way for the British Touring Car Championship, BTCC and Snetterton race track.
If like me, you enjoy motorsport, history and looking at pieces of tarmac... you'll love "Forgotten Race Tracks" where we take a look at some of the old and abandoned race tracks around England.
From Drag strips to Formula 1 circuits, in this short series, we'll be investigating what remains of Britain's motor racing history.
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Really sorry to mess up the audio at the start! I hope you enjoy the video none the less :) UA-cam points to who ever knows the intro music.
Solid bit of Gran Turismo menu music!
Hi John,
Just a bit of additional background on Operation Aphrodite.
One of the pilots killed (and the one referenced in the letter you showed at 1:40 in the video), was Joseph Kennedy Jr, elder brother of future US President John F Kennedy. As the eldest son, Joe Jr was the favourite of his father (Joe Sr) who had high ambitions for him.
However, when JFK became a decorated war hero in the PT-109 patrol boat incident (in which he was painted as the key player in rescuing 11 crew members and received the Navy & Marine Corps Medal), Joe Jr felt he needed to reassert his own commitment in light of his little brother's exploits. At that point he volunteered for the Aphrodite operation, knowing it was hugely risky, and as you mentioned was tragically killed before he could bail out.
Whilst many other tragedies would befall the Kennedy family in the decades to come, Joe Jr's death was probably the first. It severely affected Joe Sr, who then switched all his aspirations toward JFK, which ultimately led to his election as President in 1960.
John, love your videos, please NEVER change the delivery, or your humour.
Gran Turismo music feeling nostalgic
Keep the little history bits in as they add to the whole. Another great video, nice channel dude!
Fascinating, both about the track and the bombers, and that they tried use 'drones' (of a sort) back in WW2!
I'm also very glad that ECMC carried on after leaving Fersfield as I went on a track day at Snetterton 2 months ago! Good fun!😎
Ah, people are still watching these vids... they're a bit old now, but nice one, thanks for watching, hope you enjoyed it. Snetterton is a fun track.
Just come across your channel and love it, You're wrong when you said in a previous you know what no one cares! I was waiting to hear all about it.
As a child of the very early 1970's I remember toy cars & and race sets such as scalextric would have circuits just like the one you suggested here.
I've only just discovered your channel. Great stuff, I'm really enjoying this particular series of lost racetracks. Such a shame that we've lost so many of these, as you say, grass roots circuits. The UK always seems to be 'interested' in Motorsport but not interested enough to put any effort into the grassroots.
Still, thanks John.
The unmistakable sound of a rotary engine as the lap starts :)
Definitely what the Saab sounds like stock... honest.
Gran Turismo music? Instant like
First to notice!!
Another cracking video sir...every days a learning day 🙂
Cheers mate. Thanks for watching as always!
I think the Operation Aphrodite part was very interesting.
☮
If you combine the drone view and the sped up video, you'll get a Knight Rider effect with that black Saab :)
Jon’s “But what’s all this got to do with racing?” is the comment that I came here to see and laugh out loud at. Another excellent video, despite the shonky sound at the start. Subbed!
Superb…
Another great video Mate.
Great video, keep them coming
Great series of videos!
This is a very interesting series, John - amazing to think that was once a racetrack (and runways!)
Good work Jon 👍
Thanks for watching!
May I clarify the following:- The period cine footage was from home movies taken by Alex Sherlock, a GP from Felixstowe and Norman Perkins. The latter was an analytical chemist at BX (British Xylonite) Plastics, as such he was an expert in celluloid film. The footage shows two Eastern Counties Motor Club meetings in 1952. As far as I know there is no footage of the 3rd and final meeting.
Snetterton Heath Circuit was started by three E.C.M.C members:- Oliver Sear, John Wyatt and his brother Ben. As a club the E.C.M.C had no financial involvement with the circuit. When we used it we hired it the same as any other club.
The E.C.M.C has never claimed to have been behind the B.T.C.C or its forerunner the British Saloon Car Championship which was organised by the B.R.S.C.C. However, some of the E.C.M.C races at Snetterton did qualify as rounds of the British Saloon Car Championship.
The official length given for the circuit does not tally with the eyewitness accounts of those at the races, hence the discrepancy. In its day the concrete was much wider than shown on the recent footage. Also one section has been totally removed and is now part of a field.
I would like to add that John done well not to pick up a puncture or buckle a wheel on the rough surface!
It's all gone now John . it's posh housing estate built by Cala homes , bringing more traffic to grid lock Stratford upon Avon . Been watching it develop over the last few years on my daily travel to work, had some great times there over the years.
I think the circuit had 2 layouts from what the areal view looks like.
And I thought the BSCC was started by the BRSCC at the end of 1957, with the first race taking place at Brands Hatch on Boxing Day. OH well looks like I've learnt something new today, maybe!
Is Aintree worth a vid? Lots of the track left weaving in an out of the horse racing job. I watched some clubby racing there in the early 80s on the half of the track on the far side of the Melling Road from the grandstands.
@start music from Gran tourismo playstion lol
Agree
Fine work. Trying to think of other locations for your consideration.
Thank you sir! Please do let me know if there's anything we should take a look at.
@@AutoShenanigans ever thought of crystal palace?
@@dcdude345 I have indeed and it's a good suggestion. Truthfully, I haven't rushed to get there because it's London and I'm not down with their congestion charges and ULEZ etc. but also, it's been well documented already, we'd simply be repeating the same stuff.
Had you thought about videos of the history of current circuits?
Yes very much so, the challenge is that circuits that are in use require "permission" and paperwork etc. That and very few reply to my emails. We'll hopefully be able to make such a series soon.
@@AutoShenanigans I've a book, 'Motor racing circuits in England then and now'. There's loads of gems in it. Love the vids. Great stuff
@@samgarrod4781 I've seen that whilst researching and intend to order it at some point.
@@AutoShenanigans I purchased it in Truro, after seeing it in my local emporium years earlier and not having the cash. (Great Yarmouth). It's soft cover and a bit knackered, has annotations. Like my diary of the Truro holiday. Do well. 👊
Textbook overtake at 06:34
Not to nitpick but, oh who am I kidding LOL, the USAF didn't exist back then, it was the USAAF (United States "Army" Airforce), the United States Airforce wasn't formed until in 1947 two years after the War against Japan ended.
is this the main menu on gran turismo
Home Garage menu on GT4
@@corsaandy94 couldn't think of the wording lol home garage is it.
many hours clicking away from that garage
There's loads up my end, Nelson, Rochdale, Bellevue, white city, Aycliffe, Hartlepool to name a few. What happened to poor man's Motorsport???
Was that DISSagree? Even though I agree
1800 yards, not metres.
Aphrodite is pronounced “Afro-die-tee”.
Blythburgh's pronounced "blybruh" (bloody foreigners😂 )