“One man’s dream! - Richard Peacock created one of the very best circuits in the world at a cost of just £6 million!” For some of the most iconic circuits in the world, you just need to speak their name to conjure up vivid visions of the sights, sounds and sensations that spell out the essence of ‘motor THUNDER racing’ to true aficionados. Watkins Glen, Imola, Mount Fuji, Le Castellet, Monza, Le Mans, Spa-Francorchamps and Phillip Island are all more than just venues, they are part of the very fabric of motorsport and they are set apart from ‘ordinary’ circuits ISLAND by more than just layout. We get on aeroplanes, trains and buses to travel for thousands of miles just to stand in those locations, because we don’t have anything comparable at ANGLESEYWORDS: Jamie Clarke PHOTOS: Kevin Hughes home. Before you rush told me he was going to create actually classified as Top Secret. off to the travel one of the most demanding and This is where the Bloodhound agents though, rewarding drivers circuits from missiles and later the Thunderbird have a look scratch, I probably looked at him as 1 & Thunderbird 2 surface to air at one of the though he’d been drinking too much guided missile systems were tested hidden gems of windscreen washer fluid. Like many and refined. When you look at the motorsport that’s others before me and since, I had history of the place it’s almost as if right under your underestimated this quietly spoken it was written that it would become a nose. Welcome man and not only did he obtain the racing circuit. Don’t believe me? Well to North Wales, planning permissions required, try this little piece of trivia:- home of one of he worked the oracle and got the Both the Bloodhound and the most beautiful finances together as well. The total Thunderbird systems used a circuits anywhere cost to date is somewhere around six weapons guidance system designed in the world. I’m aware that’s quite million pounds invested and there and built by Ferranti Electrical Ba big statement, but just look are always ideas in Richards head as Engineering. Ferranti got into around Anglesey Circuit and you’ll to how he could spend more. What financial difficulties in the 70’s find it difficult to argue the point. you now see here is still not quite and were bought up by Thorn Comparisons are often drawn with the finished article, as although Engineering, who were themselves Australias Phillip Island and whilst garages have now been built, the in turn bought out by Tyco you might think that one of them has ongoing development will not stop International. Tyco International are a better climate, I’d just like to point until the facilities here rival the very the owners of Tyco Electrical who are out that the one that has penguins best circuits in the country. now probably best known to most of is not attached to the welsh coast If at any time you should see a you as the headline sponsors of the by the two historic bridges over the tall white haired chap wandering TAS Suzuki BSB team. Menai Straight. around watching the racing, talking During their development period, This is a purpose built racing to drivers or riders, taking an avid the Thunderbird 1 missile systems circuit that came into being largely interest in the general goings were deployed on several key due to one man having a dream and on in the paddock or casting an British airfields and army camps. seeing it through to its conclusion. appraising eye over some far Among them were Snetterton Heath, Richard Peacock is an ex-car racing driver who looked at this old army camp and saw possibilities, where others only saw run down buildings HAVE YOU EVER THOUGHT and sheep grazing next to the sea. “ He literally went and knocked on the door of the Bodorgan Estate offices ABOUT USING that OLD ARMY and asked “Have you ever thought about making that old army camp into a permanent racing circuit?” CAMP AS A RACING CIRCUIT? He was pleasantly surprised by the ” positive reaction and pretty much agreed basic terms over a cup of tea. The original 1 mile circuit here was brought to life utilising the flung part of the circuits environs, East Fortune, Barkston Heath, internal roads of the old camp and you might well be looking at the Haddenham and for a brief 18 month whilst that was good enough to get creator of this great circuit. You see period at RAF Silverstone. All of things started, it wasn’t the vision Richard isn’t someone who got into which became racing circuits from that Richard had in mind when circuit management for commercial the 1950s onwards. he dreamt about what he wanted reasons, he is one of the genuine Many of the corners here have to create. From 1993 to 2006 this motorsport aficionados and is just names of significance to that post circuit operated as a very “clubbie” as interested in all forms of racing war usage of the camp as a weapons venue using that old layout and today as he was all those years ago testing site. The old concrete steadily built a reputation for being when he was a young aspiring racer launching platforms for the rockets friendly and welcoming to all of himself. He still runs his own racing are still partly visible on the cliff face the clubs that used it. Richard had car school and is constantly striving between Rocket and School corners. also surrounded himself with some for ways to get more people involved Target Corner is in direct line with very good people, all of whom are in motorsport. If you get the chance, the flight path of the Jindvik drone still here and very much a part of shake his hand as we need more aircraft that were the ‘targets’ for the success story. That was just people like him in the sport. the missiles flown from Lianbedr to the beginning, because all along the sea area between the Pwllheli plans were afoot to build something TOP SECRET TEST FACILITY peninsula and the island itself. very special here on one of the No, I’m not referring to secret The Banking has no significance westernmost points of Britain. new vehicle launches, or testing of as a name, it merely refers to the I met Richard many years ago innovative formula one engine parts. positive camber of the corner itself. and I have to admit that when he Until 1979 the army camp here was Turn three at Church Corner is named after the lovely old stone church on deceptively fast and drags you in very deep adds an extra dimension. You can’t lose your the headland behind it. for a late apex that allows you to use the full focus though as you have to wrestle the bike The fast and fearsome turn four at School width of the track to get the power on for the over to the right hand side of the track ready Corner is so called due to the old school downhill run to the Banking. for Rocket One, which is invisible to you at building right behind it, which is now used The short downhill blast to the Banking this point. All you can see as you rush up the as a maintenance store. features a crafty little off cambered dip that hill is the heads of the marshals on the right Rocket One is situated directly above the invites you to enter this banked hairpin hand side of the track, with the rest of your original rocket control rooms, where the fast and wide. This is a very similar corner vision just filled with bare open sky. Thunderbird missiles were controlled from. to Shell Oils Hairpin at Oulton Park and This completely blind left hand turn that Rocket Two is on the spot where the rockets can catch you out as the positive camber only actually appears into your vison at the take off and initial guidance was monitored disappears on the exit in exactly the same last instant, has been known to catch even from. way. This is deliberately designed by Richard the most experienced racers out. As the Peel is named after the famous Radio 1 DJ to be a test of skill and judgement as it is corner appears, it looks as though you’ve John Robert Parker Ravenscroft or John Peel absolutely essential to get good drive out of already overshot the apex, but that is just a as he is better known, who was stationed here to avoid having another rider nipping trick of your senses. So many people get this here during his National Service. underneath and spoiling your line on the corner wrong that there is an extra tarmac On the International circuit you’ll also peel in point at Church. The difficulty is run off area in the head on zone that gets find the Tom Pryce Straight, named after the balancing the maximum possible throttle very regular use. greatest Welsh driver of all time, who was opening without getting caught out by the The exit of Rocket One is where the circuit killed at Kyalami in 1977 after hitting a fire sudden loss of traction as the camber goes suddenly gets very physical, as you have marshal who crossed the track in front of his from positive to neutral, just as you’re almost no sooner got the bike turned left when you car & three others.