Classic and Competition Car April 2012

& c i s s Cla Competition Car Issue 19

April 2012

CONTENTS

News Page 4

Ginetta Media Day Page 12

Tasman Revival Series Page 14

British Women Racing Drivers Club 50th Anniversary Page 19

Masters Historic Festival. Oulton Park Page 22

Archive Photo of the month Page 27

HSCC Season Opener, Donington Park Page 28

Motoring Record Breakers Exhibition, Gaydon Page 34

British GT Media day Page 37

British GT Ginetta ride Page 39

Jaguar Heritage Museum Page 40

Donington Historic Festival Media day Page 43

Britcar Silverstone Page 45

Techno Exhibition, Essen Germany Page 49

Motors TV Live day, Donington Park Page 52

GT Cup Test day Snetterton Page 57

Historic Racing Drivers Club (HRDC) Press day Page 59

Š Mick Herring

Tarrant-Willis/Hollings Ferrari 430 Britcar Endurance series

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EDITORIAL The season is finally underway and various series and championships are getting off to a great start. It is nice to see that some famous teams are also making a return. The photo below shows the new Ecurie Ecosse BMW Z4 GT3 which will contest the British GT Simon Wright Series as well as the Blancpain Editor Endurance Series. Sixty years since the team was first formed, the legendary Scottish team is back in International Sports Car racing, and it is great to see them back.

We look forward to seeing you during the season ahead.

Please say Hello when you see us.

© Simon Wright To Subscribe for free and be notified when the next issue is published please click here.

To check out our web site with additional photos please click here

Front Cover Sue Darbyshire Morgan Super Aero three wheeler leads the Talbot Lago of John Guyatt and the Alfa Romeo 8C of Neil Twyman at the Motors TV Live race day meeting at Donington Park © Simon Wright The Historic Road Sports Ford Mustang of Martin Edridge at Donington Park © Pete Austin All content is copyright classicandcompetitioncar.com unless otherwise stated. All photographs are copyright the original photographer and may not be used for commercial purposes unless by prior approval of the original copyright holder.

We try to ensure accurate and truthful reporting but if you spot an error, please contact us and we verify and correct accordingly.

We do not organise any events which are mentioned and we are not responsible if the event does not take place or is cancelled. Please contact the event organiser before making a long trip.

PETE AUSTIN

Pete is the man for Historic racing, with an extensive archive of black and white images covering the last few decades of motor racing in Britain. He also is keen on BRM MICK HERRING

Mick’s first love is GT racing, though Historic GT, especially Lola T70’s are a favourite.

JANET WRIGHT

Janet has been taking photos for many years but her real speciality is

Classic and Competition Car is published by simonwrightphotos.com High View Drive, Kingswinford, West Midlands DY6 8HT E-mail simonwright57@hotmail.com Tel 07905 435973

NEWS ROSS CLAIMS MSC CROWN AT PHILLIP ISLAND Â

Dunedin driver Steve Ross (McRae GM1) claimed the 2011/12 MSC F5000 Tasman Cup Revival Series crown at Australia's biggest and most Steve Ross and Michael Lyons dispute track position at the start of the prestigious classic Mobil1 feature at the penultimate round of the 2011/12 MSC F5000 Tasman motor racing Cup Revival Series at Christchurch's Powerbuilt Tools RacewayPhoto credit: meeting at Phillip Fast Company/Alex Mitchell Island.

After finishing second to series super-vet Ken Smith (Lola T430) for the past two years Ross crossed the Tasman with an 88 point lead over fellow McRae GM1 driver Aaron Burson with Rotorua man Brett Willis (Lola T330) third. Â

2011/12 Series winner Steve Ross (centre) is flanked by runner-up Aaron Burson (left) and third placed Brett Willis (right).Photo credit: Fast Company/Alex Mitchell

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The number of celebrations being held at this years Silverstone Classic continues to grow. As well as celebrations for major anniversaries for AC Cobra, MGB, Ferrari F40, Lotus Elan and Triumph Spitfire, there will also be the first UK BMW Z-Fest.

It is expected that over 7000 classic cars will be on display over the weekend at Silverstone. There will also be the finest classic historic racing covering over 70 years of motorsport history. With races for Grand Prix cars, Le Mans sports cars, GTs, Group C, Formula 5000, Formula 2, sports and Touring cars in 24 races, there will be something for every car enthusiast. www.silverstoneclassic.com © Janet Wright

Motorsport returns to Crystal Palace for 2012.

Now in it’s third year, the popular sprint time trial promises to be bigger and better this year. Run over the weekend of the 26th to 27th May 2012, the event uses part of the old racing circuit located in the famous South London Park. The on track event features classic and modern racing cars competing to set the fastest time, while for 2 wheel fans, the Classic Racing Motorcycle Club will demonstrate a range of classic GP and racing machinery. Prices have been held at 2011 levels with adults costing £10 per day and children under 16 free if accompanied by an adult. More information can be found on their web site http://motorsportatthepalace.co.uk/

THE MAC CLASSIC CAR RUN On Sunday 22nd of April 2012 the Midland Automobile Club (MAC) have organised a big classic car run across the Midlands.

There are several starting points at Shelsley Walsh, the Cosford Museum, Gaydon and the Forrest of Dean. Cars will be departing from Shelsley Walsh around 9:45am and Cosford around 10am and it is expected that the first cars will arrive back at Shelsley Walsh around 1:30 to 2pm.

© Simon Wright

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DONINGTON HISTORIC FESTIVAL After 60 years Sir Stirling Moss will be reunited with the Jaguar C Type that he drove to victory in the 1952 Reims Grand prix for Sports Cars. On Sunday 6th of May 2012 at the Donington Historic Festival, Sir Stirling will drive some demonstration laps round the circuit in the Jaguar, chassis No XKC 005 registration No MDU 212 which made history as being the first victory of a car fitted with disc brakes. This helped establish Jaguar as an innovative engineering company.

Š Janet Wright

Moss at Rheims in 1952.

Photo courtesy of Jaguar Heritage

2011 Ginetta Junior champion, Seb Morris took to the track to demonstrate the Ginetta backed, Formula Renault, at the Ginetta media day, that he will race in 2012.

Seb Morris Formula Renault Prize

Classic and Competition Car April 2012

Š Mick Herring

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MG6 BTCC Challenger launch.

Š Kary-Anne Jiggle

Jason Plato and team mate Andy Neate unveiled the new MG6 GT BTCC car to the worlds press at Silverstone during the recent BTCC Media day. The car has been prepared and run by Triple Eight Race Engineering, one of the most successful constructors in touring car racing.

The car is powered by the standard TOCA NGTC turbo engine and Jason Plato reckons the team could spring a few surprises in their first season.

Photos by Kary-Anne Jiggle

Š Kary-Anne Jiggle

GT5 Ginetta have also announced the re branding of their Junior category, following a tie up with the Total Oil company.

The Ginetta Challenge will now be known as The Total Quartz GT5 Challenge, still allowing the older G20s to compete with the G40s but also now with the establishing of a G40 "Roadsports" class, for road-spec G40s running on treaded road tyres, within the main races Classic and Competition Car April 2012

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© Mick Herring

BTCC Class of 2012

British Touring Car Championship 2012 The dates have now been confirmed for all ten rounds of the BTCC 2012. Visiting nine different circuits during the year, the season will start and end at Brands Hatch in Kent. At the recent media launch driver and team line ups were confirmed.

© Janet Wright

© Janet Wright

Above Left Redstone Racing Ford Focus - Mat Jackson, Aron Smith and Liam Griffin Above Welch Motorsport Proton Persona Daniel Welch Left Rob Austin Racing Audi A4 Rob Austin and Mark Hazell © Simon Wright

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© Janet Wright MG KX MG6 Jason Plato and Andy Neate

Honda Yuasa Honda Civic Matt Neal and Gordon Shedden

© Simon Wright Binz Racing Vauxhall Vectra Lea Wood

© Janet Wright Team ES Vauxhall Vectra Dave Newsham and Chris James

© Janet© Simon Dynojet Toyota Avensis Frank Wrathall

© Simon Wright

© Simon Wright eBay Motors BMW 320si E90 Rob Collard, Nick Foster and Tom Onslow-Cole

© Simon Wright

© Simon Wright AmD Tuning Volkswagen Golf Mk5 Ollie Jackson

Thorney Motorsport Vauxhall Insignia VXR-R John Thorne

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© Simon Wright Pirtek Racing Honda Civic Jeff Smith and Andrew Jordan

© Simon Wright

© Janet Wright Team Hard Honda Civic Tony Gilham

Speedworks Motorsport Toyota Avensis Adam Morgan and Tony Hughes

© Mick Herring

31st March - 1st April Brands Hatch, Kent

BMW Turbo engine

© Simon Wright NTGC Honda Turbo engine

14-15th April

Donington Park, Leicestershire

28-29th April

Thruxton, Hampshire

9-10 June

Oulton park, Cheshire

23-24th June

Croft, North Yorkshire

11-12th August

Snetterton (300), Norfolk

25-26th August

Knockhill, Fife

22-23rd September

Rockingham, Northamptonshire

6-7th October

Silverstone, Northamptonshire

20-12st October

Brands Hatch, Kent

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Alan Mann 22nd August 1936 - 21st March 2012 Alan Mann will be best remembered as a part time racing driver and part time team manager whose team ran a large part of the Ford works racing efforts in the mid 1960’s across Europe. His team was famous for its Red and Gold colour schemes which adorned many Ford saloons across Europe, achieving great successes. They were also responsible for the © Pete Austin Ford F3L which was a Ford backed attempt to create a 3 litre sports prototype for endurance racing in the late 1960’s.

His team achieved many victories including the World GT championship in 1965 with Carroll Shelby and the Daytona Coupe Cobra. He had many of the Worlds greatest Denny Hulme Ford F3L Brands Hatch 1969 drivers race for his team, including Graham Hill and Jackie Stewart, Sir John Whitmore, Bruce McLaren, Jacky Ickx and Frank Gardner. Many major victories were achieved including winning the 1964 Tour de France with a Ford Mustang, 1965 World GT Championship with the Shelby Daytona Coupe Cobra, 1965 European Touring Car Chamionship with the Ford Lotus Cortina, 1967 British Saloon Car Championship with a Ford falcon and the 1968 British Saloon Car Championship with a Ford Escort.

He died at the age of 75 after a long illness. Classic and Competition Car sends its sincere condolences to his family and friends.

Robert Fernell Robert Fernell was a key figure behind the scenes at Donington Park. He passed away on the 2nd of March 2012 aged 57. He had spent many years working with Tom Wheatcroft on restoring Donington Park. At the recent media launch for the Donington Historic festival, Christopher Tate, the Managing Director of Donington Park paid tribute to his friend of 20 years and a minutes silence was observed around the circuit at 1:15pm with a lone Alfa Romeo on the start line and people gathered around in his memory. Classic and Competition car sends its sincere condolences to his family and friends

© Simon Wright

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Captain Jean-Luc Picard Explores The Space-Time Continuum, Star Date 05/03/2012 By Mick Herring

© Mick Herring

© Mick Herring Sir Patrick Stewart

A chilly and blustery Silverstone played host today today to a group of invited stars from the world of stage, screen and television and some racing drivers too.

At the official Ginetta media day launch for 2012, Ginetta chairman Lawrence Tomlinson, played host to an audience of stars including Star-Trek and Shakespearean actor Sir Patrick Stewart, Emmerdale actors Chris Bisson and Kelvin Fletcher, dancer Brendan Cole and his wife, Zoe, racer and rocker Rick Parfitt Jr. together with TV presenter Nick Knowles. © Mick Herring All of these and many more would experience the thrill of the Ginetta G40 from both sides of the cockpit, the smiles and, in some cases, disbelief at how fast they had just driven or been driven, lit up the pitlane without exception.

However, the presence of former World Champion Nigel Mansell ensured that the world of motor racing was not outshone by television stars.

Nigel was on hand to support sons, Leo and Greg, both of whom would drive the latest Ginetta G55 GT3 alongside works development driver Michael Simpson.

2011 Ginetta Junior champion, Seb Morris, couldn't resist the chance to Strictly Star Brendan Cole drive the G40 again with passengers before taking to the track to demonstrate the Ginetta backed, © Mick Herring Formula Renault, that he will race in TV star Nick Knowles DIT SOS exits the car 2012.

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© Mick Herring

© Mick Herring

Star line up for the test day

Several teams running Ginettas this year, across several championships, took the opportunity to test their cars and drivers ahead of the season start and following a strong showing last year, team boss Simon Mason of Piranha Motorsport came away pleased by the speed of his three drivers, Ryan Ratcliffe, Rick Parfitt Jr. and JJ O'Malley.

Justifiably proud of the progress Ginetta have made with their Supercar G60, Lawrence couldn't resist the opportunity to put several more laps under it's tyres. © Mick Herring

Lawrence Tomlinson does more miles in the Ginetta G60

© Mick Herring

© Mick Herring Ex World Champion Nigel Mansell

Ginetta G55 GT3 leads Ginetta G50

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ROSS KEEPS KIWIS ON TOP IN AUSTRALIA. Tasman Cup Revival series

Š Fast Company/Alex Mitchell Kiwi Steve Ross (McRae GM1) leads Australians Andrew Robson (Lola T332 and Bryan Sala (Matich A50), and fellow Kiwi David Abbott (Lola T430) during the first MSC F5000 Tasman Cup Revival Series race of the weekend at Phillip Island Photo Credit: Fast Company/Alex Mitchell

Dunedin driver Steve Ross (McRae GM1) has so far proved the man to beat at the final round of the 2011/12 MSC F5000 Tasman Cup Revival Series at Australia's Phillip Island circuit this weekend despite the speed of Š Fast Company/Alex Mitchell local ring-in James Davison (Lola T332).

Davison, 25, who races professionally in the United States, set a blistering pace to snatch pole position in qualifying from MSC series champion-elect Ross on Friday. But it was Ross who won the first two MSC F5000 races on the programme at the annual Phillip Island Classic meeting today, Ross passes the stranded James Davison Lola T332 at the hairpin. Photo: Fast Company/Alex Mitchell

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the first from Australian Andrew Robson (Lola T332), Kiwi David Abbott (Lola T430) and Australian Bryan Sala (Matich A50), the second from the Aussie trio of Robson, Sala and a resurgent Davison.

The young thirdgeneration Australian driver, whose cousin Will won the second V8 Supercar race at the Clipsal 500 meeting in Š Fast Company/Alex Mitchell Adelaide last weekend, In Davison's absence, top Aussie race finishers, meanwhile, were Andrew Robson conceded the start of (Lola T332) and Bryan Sala (Matich A50). Photo: Fast Company/Alex Mitchell the first race to fellow front row starter Ross but was closing in for a pass at the hairpin on the third lap when a driveshaft failed, leaving his car stranded in the gravel trap.

The car - which his father Jon used to race in Australian in the late 1970s - was repaired in time for the second race, but because he hadn't finished the first the former Formula Atlantic and Firestone Indy Lights series front-runner had to Š Fast Company/Alex Mitchell start it from the back row of the grid, meaning Ross went on to win a second race unchallenged.

Behind the leading four - Ross, Robson, Abbott and Sala - in the first race came former MSC F5000 series champion Ian Clements, (Lola T332) with a small gap back to UK-based series regular Greg Thornton (Chevron B24) and Aaron Burson (McRae Aaron Burson leads Sefton Gibb, James Davison and Brett Willis. Photo credit: Fast Company/Alex Mitchell.

GM1) with similar gaps back to Brett

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Willis (Lola T330) and Darcy Russell (Lola T332), and Sefton Gibb and Russell Greer (both Lola T332), and Christchurch series rookie David Arrowsmith the first of the Class A (for earlier model cars) category drivers home in 12th place.

The big question in the second race was Š Fast Company/Alex Mitchell how far could Davison make it David Abbott leads Aaron Burson. Photo credit: Fast Company/Alex back up through the field before the chequered flag came out, the answer, fourth place, his progress aided by the race's quickest lap, a 1.30.1503. Not as quick as the 1.29.6362 he set in qualifying, but still just over a second better than Steve Ross' best in the race.

Behind Davison at the flag came David Abbott then a five car battle-pack consisting of Greg Thornton, Ian Clements, Aaron Burson, Sefton Gibb and Brett Willis.

A little further back, American visitors Scott Drnek (Surtees TS8) and Eric Haga (Lola T190) were enjoying their introduction to Australasia's fastest circuit, Drnek driving fellow American Harin de Silva's ex Peter Revson Surtees TS8, 70-year-old Haga - who contested three of the New Zealandbased rounds of the 2011/12 MSC F5000 Tasman Cup Revival Series - the very same Lola T190 he ran first time around in the United States in the 1970s.

Today's two races were the first of four for the MSC F5000 series cars at the big Phillip Island Classic meeting with another two, including a feature series final, tomorrow.

ROSS WRAPS UP TITLE WITH FEATURE WIN IN AUSTRALIA Kiwi Steve Ross (McRae GM1) wrapped up the 2011/12 MSC F5000 Tasman Cup Revival Series title in style with a win in the feature eight lap final at the Phillip Island Classic motor racing meeting in Australia on Sunday.

The series win is the Dunedin contractor's first in three year's contesting the MSC series and comes after early career success at home in the Pre 65 and OSCA classes.

Heading into the weekend it looked like 25-year-old US-based professional James Davison (Lola T332) would have the upper hand, but though the third-generation Australian racer claimed pole

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position with a time a second-and-a-half quicker than Ross, it was Ross who won three of the four races and set the fastest race lap in the feature final.

With two laps to go it looked like the Kiwi would finish second in the other race, too, until he mistook the final lap flag for the chequered one and slowed down, allowing Andrew Robson (Lola T332) to demote him to third before he realised his mistake.

Robson, driving the Lola T332 originally owned and raced in the 1970s with much success by three-time MSC F5000 series champion Ken Smith, ended up best of the rest of the bumper MSC F5000 field, splitting race winner Steve Ross and third placeman David Abbott (Lola T430) in the first race of the weekend on Saturday morning then finishing second to either Ross or Davison in the other races. Š Fast Company/Alex Mitchell

Abbott, in turn, was the best of the other New Zealand-based MSC series regulars, qualifying fourth then finishing third in the first race, fifth in the second and fourth in each Sunday race.

Sunday's races were not just close run affairs up front either, Abbott leading home a tightlybunched freight train of cars in the 6 lap morning outing with UK-based MSC series regular Greg Thornton (Chevron B24) fifth, eventual series runner-up Aaron Burson (McRae GM1) sixth and former series champion Ian Clements (Lola T332) from Christchurch sixth.

A little further back Kiwi Russell Greer and Australian Darcy Russell circulated nose-to-tail in their similar Lolas (Greer's the ex Graeme Lawrence T332, Russell's the ex Max Stewart/Kevin Bartlett T330) with series newcomer David Arrowsmith again the first of the Class A (for earlier cars) runners in his recently acquired Ford-powered Lotus 70.

For 2011/12 series runner-up Aaron Burson the fourth and final race was his best, the Aucklander crossing the line four seconds behind Abbott in fifth with Brian Sala (Matich A50) and Ian Clements (Lola T332) on his tail.

Greg Thornton separated Abbott and Burson for much of the race, but ran low on fuel in the final lap, slipping back to eighth place and crossing the finish line just in front of Sefton Gibb (Lola T332). Paul Zazryn (Lola T332) and the trans-Tasman duo of Russell Greer and Darcy Russell.

Series winner Steve Ross (#5) shares the front row of the rolling start with Andrew Robson as the MSC F5000 Tasman Cup Revival Series field lines up for a rolling start to the third race of the weekend on Sunday morning. Photo credit: Fast Company/Alex Mitchell

That's it for the MSC F5000 Tasman Cup Revival Series for another year but the success of that series has spawned a new one in Australia, the Australian F5000 Cup for which the Phillip Island Classic meeting was the opening round.

Subsequent rounds of that series will be held at major historic motor racing meetings in Australia during the year with the final at one of the early rounds of the 2012/13 MSC F5000 (New Zealand) series meaning both series compliment rather than compete against each other.

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Race 1 (Sat 5 laps) 1. Steve Ross (McRae GM1) 7:40.812 2. Andrew Robson (Lola T332) 7:49.7320 3. David Abbott (Lola T430) 7:54.1416 4. Bryan Sala (Matich A50) 7:54.3979 5. Ian Clements (Lola T332) 7:55.2411 6. Greg Thornton (Chevron B24) 8:05.1892 7. Aaron Burson (McRae GM1) 8:05.3072 8. Brett Willis (Lola T330) 8:09.8070 9. Darcy Russell (Lola T330) 8:10.7555 10. Sefton Gibb (Lola T332) 8:15.7387 11. Russell Greer (Lola T332) 8:15.7606 12. Dave Arrowsmith (Lotus 70B)8:18.5075 13. Chris Hocking (Matich A52) 8:18.6269 14. Bill Hemming (Elfin MR8 AC) 8:30.9175 15. Scott Drnek (Surtees TS8) 8:30.9728 16. Philip Lewis (Matich A50) 8:35.5418 17. Robert Harborow (Elfin MR8) 8:47.2281 18. John Bryant (Lola T140) 8:54.4184 19. Jay Bondini (Lola T332) 8:58.2834 20. Timothy Rush (McLaren M22-3) 9:21.7907 21. Eric Haga (Lola T190) 7:52.5426 DNF Paul Zazryn (Lola T332) Graham Smith (March 73A) James Davison (Lola T332) Race 2 (6 laps) 1. Steve Ross 9:16.3933 2. Andrew Robson 9:22.7601 3. Bryan Sala 9:24.4205 4. James Davison 9:27.0463 5. David Abbott 9:36.2926 6. Greg Thornton 9:41.7281 7. Ian Clements 9:42.0878 8. Aaron Burson 9:42.4318 9. Sefton Gibb 9:42.7369 10. Brett Willis 9:43.0950 11. Darcy Russell 9:47.3020 12. Russell Greer 9:48.3394 13. Dave Arrowsmith 9:56.7463 14. Bill Hemming 10:12.0688 15. Scott Drnek 10:39.1963 16. Robert Harborow 10:39.9125 17. Philip Lewis 10:40.5954 18. Jay Bondini 10:55.2706 19. Eric Haga 9:41.0418 Classic and Competition Car April 2012

DNF Chris Hocking, John Bryant, T Rush Race 3 (Sun, 6 Laps) 1. James Davison 9:09.1226 2. Andrew Robson 9:23.6423 3 1:32.2720 3. Steve Ross 9:27.6461 1:31.2826 4. David Abbott 9:31.5410 5. Greg Thornton 9:31.7545 6. Aaron Burson 9:32.3621 7. Ian Clements 9:32.6542 8. Sefton Gibb 9:40.8712 9. Brett Willis 9:41.0821 10. Bryan Sala 9:45.4126 11. Russell Greer 9:50.5603 12. Darcy Russell 9:50.7879 13. Dave Arrowsmith 9:55.1512 14. Bill Hemming 10:05.0179 15. Philip Lewis 10:05.5641 16. Paul Zazryn 10:18.2385 17. Scott Drnek 10:31.1048 18. Jay Bondini 10:33.7391 19. Tim Rush 9:17.0280 20. Robert Harborow 9:17.1950 21. Eric Haga 9:38.7724 New category lap record James Davison (Lola T332) 1:29.3062 Race 4 (Sun 8Â laps) 1. Steve Ross 12:21.8589 2. Andrew Robson 12:39.3619 3. James Davison 12:40.2964 4. David Abbott 12:40.8408 5. Aaron Burson 12:46.1548 6. Bryan Sala 12:46.2175 7. Ian Clements 12:46.5693 8. Greg Thornton 12:49.4614 4 9. Sefton Gibb 12:52.7510 10. Paul Zazryn 12:53.2443 11. Russell Greer 12:58.9577 12. Darcy Russell 12:59.1939 13. Brett Willis 13:06.2565 14. Bill Hemming 13:20.6072 15. Dave Arrowsmith 13:21.6203 16. Scott Drnek 13:21.8009 17. Philip Lewis 13:49.0367 18. Jay Bondini 14:08.4909 19. Robert Harborow 12:39.4749 20. Timothy Rush 12:41.3054 21. Eric Haga 13:22.5337

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© Pete Austin

British Women Racing Drivers’ Club celebrate their 50th Anniversary

By Pete Austin The British Women Racing Drivers’ Club celebrated its 50th Anniversary with a Gala Luncheon held at the BRDC Clubhouse, Silverstone on 3rd March. The 2011 trophies were also presented to the winners later in the afternoon. Almost 120 guests attended the event including 60s Mini ace, Lady Christabel Watson (nee Carlisle); 60s F3 driver, Natalie Goodwin; Ladies Rally Champion, Louise Aitken Walker; the late Roger Clark’s’ co-driver Tony Mason, Bruce McLaren’s widow and founding vice president of the Women’s Motor © Pete Austin

© Pete Austin Sarah Reader receives the Embassy BWRDC Trophy from Lady Christabel Watson (Carlisle) and in her Juno CN LMP - images by Pete Austin

Racing Associates Club, Patty McLaren-Brickett; CEO of the MSA, Colin Hinton and former BMC competition boss Stuart Turner.

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© Pete Austin

The BWRDC was formed in 1962 by Mary Wheeler MBE who took up racing at the age of 49 in 1959. She felt that women racing drivers were treated in a derisory way in those days and thought that a club representing women would be a great help. The naming of the club was significant in that ladies at that time could not be accepted as members of the British Racing Drivers Club. It wasn’t until 1994 that these views were relaxed.

Carolyn Hoy - winner of the Lord Wakefield Trophy for outstanding life-long services to motorsport with Colin Hinton © Pete Austin © Pete Austin

The aims of the club were, amongst others, to observe and promote the interest of women racing drivers and encourage novices and newcomers to the sport. From 1964 a BWRDC Championship was organised with points being awarded to the member with the best 15 nominated race scores. Natalie Goodwin was the first winner in 1964 and completed a hat trick by winning again in 1965 and 1966. She was allowed to keep the trophy after that! © Pete Austin

Jessica Hawkins winner of the Kartsport Trophy © Pete Austin

Louise Cook receives the Gabriel Konig International Trophy from Stuart Turner © Pete Austin

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© Pete Austin

© Pete Austin

© Pete Austin Top to Bottom Left to Right.

Gail Hill receives the Anita Taylor Trophy from Patty McLaren-Brickett.

BWRDC founder Mary Wheeler Sara Williams receives the Louise Aitken-Walker Rally Drivers’ Championship Trophy from Louise Aitken-Walker MBE Lorina McLaughlin with her ex Schumacher Benetton Right Sasha Heriot receives the Rally Co-Drivers’ Trophy from Alan & Lynn Jones All images © Pete Austin

© Pete Austin

Š Mick Herring

Masters Historic Festival, Oulton Park

By Mick Herring.

Quality not quantity was the theme of the Masters Historic Festival at Oulton Park with four very entertaining races filling the bill.

Split into six classes, wet morning practice mixed the grid somewhat for the Masters 70's Celebration but the dry race would see the lower powered, more nimble cars refusing to give up their morning advantage without a fight.

The race was split into six classes and, once he was able to get away, was won with a gap of 1min 13secs by Mark Wright's, rear wheel-lifting, Zakspeed replica Ford Escort RS1800.

The Bates' Porsche 911 RSR made much of the early running until it's handover to finish 5th ahead of Tom Pochciol until he retired the Ford Capri at half distance.

Second went to the Escort RS Mk1 of Sean/Robert Brown ahead of the 1959 Aston Martin DB4 Lightweight of Nicholas King and these three would lap the rest of the field.

Another DB4 Lightweight took fourth place in the hands of Martin Melling/ Peter Snowdon just 0.274sec of the Bates' Porsche with the giant killing Mini Cooper of Christian Devereux in sixth.

Classic and Competition Car April 2012

Š Mick Herring

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© Mick Herring

Race 2 saw the Masters Pre-66 Touring Cars take to the track for a dry race, after morning qualifying on a damp track.

The largest grid of the day also witnessed the largest attrition rate amongst pack with eight cars retiring from the 1 hour race.

Split into four classes it was always going to be the hugely Simon Hadfield takes the flag with Leo Voyazides in the Ford Falcon powerful Ford Falcons that occupied the first four positions into Old Hall on the first lap with Leo Voyazides, in the Falcon he shared with Simon Hadfield, heading into a lead they would maintain to the flag.

Holding second was © Mick Herring the Martin Melling/ Jason Minshaw Falcon, although this car would drop down the order to an eventual 13th place.

Third was Westley Harding/Mike Jordan Falcon and driving his Mustang for the first time was Simon Garrad in fourth.

In fifth was the, in comparison, diminutive Lotus Cortina battling with Depth of Field. Mike Gardiner Ford the Mustang in front of Lotus Cortina heads Jaguar XK150 him, a battle that would be continued when a determined Phil Keen took over the Cortina from Mike © Mick Herring Gardiner.

The unrelenting battle between these two resulted in them being caught and lapped by the winning Falcon with Hadfield at the wheel.

To see Phil make repeated efforts round the outside at Lodge as the race drew to a close was a sight to behold in car control but he had to settle for fourth and first in class.

William Ward Mini Cooper finished Driver changes and attrition rendered the order 12th after this ‘OFF’

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© Mick Herring

at the end of the hour favouring the Voyazides/Hadfield Falcon with the similar car of Harding/Jordan 54.5 seconds adrift in second place, ahead of the Mustang/Cortina battle.

The Ford Falcon of Rob/Ben Hall was fifth with the next three places being taken by the Austin Mini Cooper S's of Phil Burgess, Glyn Swift and Christian Devereux respectively.

Split into seven classes, race three, for World Sportscar Masters and of 50 minutes duration, was declared a wet race after a sudden shower.

Most drivers took advantage of the ten minute allowance to change to wet tyres.

Leo Voyazides was the exception as he sat at the end of the pit lane in his famous exFittipaldi Lola T70 Mk3B, the rain still falling but a brighter sky following from the west.

He would have to play the patient game in the race

Spins and Wins David Coplowe spins his Lola T70 Mk3B © Mick Herring

knowing he would quickly lose his pole position advantage and so, despite leading the field into Old Hall at the start, he would be hidden in the pack by lap 2, balancing that against the fact that overheated wets on a dry track would never last the distance on the heavier cars.

Making maximum use of their wet tyres, the much nimbler open 2 litre cars, the Daren Mk2 of James Littlejohn/(Georg Kjallgren) and the Lola T210 of Charlie Kemp/Chris Fox entertained the crowd with many changes of race lead per lap until their respective handovers.

Voyazides' patience brought him back into the lead as the track dried but as the race progressed he began to be caught by the the similar car of David Coplowe.

Still with a comfortable lead it all went wrong only three corners from the chequered flag when another car spun immediately in front of him, taking avoiding action, he did two revolutions of his © Mick Herring Marcus T Mussa McLaren M1B finished 8th

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Š Mick Herring

own thus relinquishing the lead to Coplowe, who would take the flag for his first ever race win by 4.3secs from Voyazides. Third was Mark Bates' Porsche 911RSR ahead of the Daren, with the Chevron B16 of Jamie Boot in 5th, ahead of the other early race leading Lola T210 of Charlie Kemp/Chris Fox. David and Samuel Carrington-Yates were 7th ahead of the vocal McLaren M1B of Marcus T Mussa. The final two places went John Bussey's Elva Mk7 and Richard Howells Porsche 911RSR. The final race of the Masters meeting was for Gentleman Drivers Pre-66 GT cars on a damp track, it would prove to be an exciting race with many twists and surprises even before the start of the 75 minutes of racing.

A trip across the grass on the sighting lap, due to a misunderstanding when the safety car short circuited at Fosters, would later have disastrous consequences for pole-man Jon Minshaw in his Lightweight E-type Jaguar. In it's first race since an equally disastrous Spa Classic 6 hr race last September, damaged rear brake cooling ducts would cause the inboard calipers to overheat and blow out their seals when the brakes were used into Druids.

The result was a retirement from the race and an unfortunate exclusion from the results.

Having stepped straight out of the Lola T70, Leo Voyazides took time to adjust

Š Mick Herring

Fiery Minshaw Jaguar E-Type

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Š Mick Herring

Jaguar E Type battles with Diva GT - 3rd and 8th at the flag

and slipped down the field in his Cobra, the conditions proving to be a great leveler once again.

The track began to dry and the bigger, more powerful cars began to assert their dominance once again.

When the very experienced, Simon Hadfield took over the Cobra he had the task of clawing back the huge lead that TVR Tuscan driver, Mike Whitaker had built up.

As the race drew to close, the sight and sound of these two similarly engined 4.7 litre monsters charging past the start line was joyous as the gap narrowed from 42 secs to 9 secs at the flag.

These two and the third place E-type of Jeremy Welch/Mark Pangborn were the only cars to remain on the lead lap.

In fourth place was the beautiful Low Drag E-type coupe of Mike Wrigley as he learnt more about his new car.

The remaining places were taken by the smaller capacity cars, which were equally diverse in their range and each enjoying their own battles throughout.

Fifth was the Marcos 1800 GT of Allen Tice/Chris Conoley ahead of the rare and attractive Rochdale Olympic of Mike Youles, it's engine set so far back in the engine bay no doubt helping the weight distribution.

Allan Ross-Jones/Neil Howe were 7th in their Triumph TR4 ahead of the Diva GT of Aylett/Farrall in 8th, with Simon Edwards' Rejo Mk IV the final finisher in 9th.

After the hectic pace of Simon Hadfield's pursuit of the TVR, Leo Voyazides hoped that there would be enough of the Cobra left for them to do it all again the following day at Donington, where the Cobra/TVR battle would be re-enacted.

Š Mick Herring

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Pretty and rare Rochdale Olympic of Mike Youles

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Archive Picture

By Pete Austin

"Elsewhere in this issue you can read about the 50th Anniversary of the British Womens Racing Drivers Club. By way of a change I've made this months archive photo into a bit of a quiz. There are no prizes but how many of these ladies can you identify? To give you a bit of a clue the photo was taken before the start of the ladies Ford Granada race which took place at Brands Hatch in August 1972 when it was a supporting race before the Rothmans 50,000. The lineup will be revealed in the May issue. Good luck." Š Pete Austin

About Classic and Competition car There are various ways you can read Classic and Competition car.

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Read on line using our Issuu version. Nothing to download, read on-line like a traditional magazine.

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HSCC Season Opener Donington Park

By Simon & Janet Wright with additional photos by Pete Austin & Mick Herring.

Robert Gate had a spin at the chicane in his E-Type Jaguar

A two day meeting at Donington Park opened the Historic Sports car Clubs (HSCC) season for 2012. With a thirteen race program covering ten different categories, the action covered all types of racing. The Historic Touring cars had a big enough entry to warrant two separate races split at up to 1600cc and over 1600cc and the Guards Trophy © Simon Wright was also split into two races, one for GT cars and one for Sports Racing Cars. Finally the Formula Junior races were split with front engined and rear engined races.

The opening race was for 70s Road Sports and saw a thrilling battle between Julian Barter in a TVR 3000M and Paul Conway in a Morgan Plus 8. Barter lead Paul Conway Morgan plus 8 leads Julian Barter TVR 3000M away from Pole position and held the lead for the first half of the race before Conway hit the front and held first position until the flag, winning by just 0.404 seconds. Both won their respective classes. Other class winners were Alan Harper who finished 4th overall in a Lotus Elan S4, Bob Trotter in an Alfa Romeo 2000 GTV, Nic Strong in a Fiat 128 and finally Brian Rides in a Clan Crusader © Janet Wright

© Janet Wright

Next was single seater action with the Historic Formula Ford race. Callum Grant put his Merlyn Mk20a on pole position and lead the first lap, then Robert Wainwright got in front in Classic and Competition Car April 2012

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© Simon Wright

his Elden Mk8. The order remained static for several laps until Wainwright retired from the lead. David Wild driving a Lola T200 chose the same lap to dive inside Grant at the chicane in what was a change for the lead. With just two laps to go, Grant Andrew Mansell Merlyn Mk11A in front of Stuart Dix loosing control of his Cooper Chinook under braking for the chicane Historic Formula Ford got back to the front to win by 0.56 seconds from Wild. Simon Toyne finished 3rd in another Lola T200.

Next up were the front engined Formula Junior single seaters built between1958 and 1963. New for 2012 © Pete Austin is a series for the front engined cars within the Formula Junior championship. At Donington there were sufficient entries for a separate race for the front engine class. Stuart Roach put on a dominant performance to win the race, leading from pole to the chequered flag Stuart Roach Alexis Mk2 leads Jack Woodhouse Elva 100 Formula Junior Race A driving his self prepared Alexis Mk2. His father Keith finished 12th in a Condor S2.

We now returned to Historic Road Sports which covers genuine © Janet Wright production sports and GT cars built and road registered between 1947 and the end of 1969. The front of the race was a Lotus benefit with Paul Tooms winning in a Lotus Elan from Paul Shaw in another Lotus Elan S1.

Class winners included Roddie Feilden in a Morgan Plus 8, John Shaw in a Porsche 911 and Paul Latimer in an MGB. The second Formula Junior race was for the rear engined models and provided a great battle between Michael Hibberd driving his Lotus 27 Tony Davis in his 1300cc Austin Healey Sprite Mk1 in Classic and Competition Car April 2012

the Historic Road Sports Race

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© Pete Austin

and Sam Wilson in a Cooper T59, both leading the race at various points.

It all went wrong when the two locked wheels at the chicane. Wilsons Cooper went over the wheel of the Lotus, launched in the air and landed heavily on its front left wheel, breaking the front suspension and stranding the car on the side of the track. Michael Hibberd Formula Junior race B Michael Hibberd Lotus 27 leads Sam Wilson was able to continue but Cooper T59 had lost the lead but managed to get to the finish and finished 3rd just ahead of his son Andrew in a Lotus 22.

After the incident, David Methley took the © Simon Wright lead which he held to the finish in his immaculate Brabham BT6. Peter Morton was second in his Lightning Envoyette.

The Classic Racing cars race was a Lotus 1-2 with Ian Jones winning from Anthony Ross, both in Lotus 59s. The final race on Saturday was for 500cc Formula 3 cars. It was not a big field, but an interesting selection of cars took part. Steve Jones won driving a Cooper MkX from Jb Jones Ian Jones Lotus 59 won the Classic Racing Cars race in a Cousy No.2. One of the more unusual cars was the Revis 500 © Pete Austin driven by R Bishop-Miller.

The car had a full width nosecone which enclosed the front wheels like a sports car.

Unfortunately, the car only completed 6 laps and was not classified as a finisher.

Sunday brought a whole new range of cars to the meeting, many having travelled from the Masters meeting held at Oulton Park the day Richard Bishop-Miller in the 1951 Revis 500 before. First out were the Historic Touring Cars up to 1600cc. With practice having been held in the wet, the grid was a little mixed up for the now dry track with two Mini Coopers locking out the front row.

Marc Earnshaw had claimed Pole position in his Austin Mini Cooper S from current Classic and Competition Car April 2012

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© Simon Wright

champion Roger Godfrey in another Cooper S. In the dry, it took less than a lap for the Ford Lotus Cortina of Mark Jones to take the lead, which it was never to loose, leading every lap to victory.

Roger Godfrey showed why he is the current champion by hanging on to second place overall and taking a Simon Benoy rolls his 1967 Hillman Imp onto its side at the chicane class win. Neil Brown took 3rd in another Ford lotus in the Historic Touring Cars up to 1600cc race Cortina winning his class and Steve Platts won his class in a Singer Chamois finishing 4th overall. The other class winner was Marc Earnshaw in an Austin mini Cooper S who finished 7th overall. © Simon Wright

More problems at the chicane in the Guards Trophy race for Sports Racing Cars between 52 Neil and George Daws Merlyn Mk6A and 95 Denis Welch Lotus 23B

The Guards Trophy is for Sports racing and GT cars built prior to the end of 1965 which have an International competition history in period. For this meeting the Sports racing cars and GTs had separate races. First up were the Sports racing cars. The Hugh and Mark Coleman Chevron B8 took pole position but it was the Graeme Dodd Ginetta G16 which made the early running and it held the lead until the compulsory pit stop. This let Steve Hodges into the lead in his Chevron B8 which he kept until he made his pitstop.

This allowed © Janet Wright Dodd back in front, where he remained, winning by just 0.369th of a second after 40 minutes of racing from Steve Hodges.

Chevrons filled After 40 minutes racing Dodd Ginetta G16 is just ahead of Hodges Chevron B8 four of the top 5 places. Hodges also had the pleasure of setting the fastest lap in the race. The other class winners were Malone in the Elva Mk V 11S, Andrew Garside in a Lotus 23B, Michael O’Shea in a Cooper Maserati Monaco and Brian Casey in a Lenham P69.

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© Pete Austin

The Classic Formula 3 race for F3 cars built between 1971 and 1984 was amalgamated with the Derek Bell Trophy race for this meeting. The most interesting car here was the six wheeled March 2-4-0 Formula 1 car of Jeremy Smith. In the very wet Jeremy Smith took pole in the March 2-4-0 but was unable to start practice, the March was over 5 seconds faster than the rest of the field which was led by Jamie Brashaw in the F3 march 793. Unfortunately at the end of practice the March pulled in to the pits with mechanical problems and was not seen on track again. This meant that Brashaw took pole position for the race from Ian Gray in a Brabham BT30.

However, the race was run in the © Janet Wright dry, and on the second row of the grid was Greg Thornton in his F5000 Surtees TS11, just back from the winter Tasman revival series in New Zealand. The power of the 5 litre engine showed itself immediately in the dry conditions and Thornton took the lead from the start. Brashaw gamely held on in the 2 litre March only losing about 6 seconds after 13 laps, This time the chicane caught out Rudolf Ernst in his Ralt RT1 when Thornton retired the Surtees with mechanical problems. This left Brashaw to run out winner from David Shaw in another F3 Ralt RT1. Michael Hibberd ran out first of the Derek Bell trophy cars in 4th place overall driving a Formula 2 Brabham BT38. Other Derek Bell class winners were Ian Grey in a Brabham BT30 and Keith Norris in a Chevron B49. The Classic F3 class winners were Brashaw who won © Pete Austin outright, Amnon Needham in a Van Diemen RF82 Andy Jones in a Brabham BT38C and Jan Langdon in a Palliser WDF3.

Next out were the Historic Touring Cars over 1600cc. This race contained a lot of American muscle, all Ford. Leo Voyazides put his Ford Falcon on Pole position but Dan Cox tried to do the David and Goliath act with his small 1.9 litre Ford Lotus Cortina as he chased after the 4.7 litre Ford Falcon. But Leo had the race sewn up from the Dan Cox Ford Lotus Cortina leads Westley Harding Ford Falcon

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start and lead from start to finish, winning by nearly 20 seconds after 15 laps from Cox. Both won their respective classes. Greg Thornton was the only other class winner, finishing 7th overall in another Ford Falcon.

Leo had no time to collect his winners trophy though as he was immediately back out in the Guards Trophy GT race at the wheel of his AC Cobra which was on the front row of the grid next to Pole sitter Mike Whitaker in his TVR Griffith. The GT cars had a longer 40 minute race, the same as the Sports Racing cars earlier in the day. However, it was Nick Fleming in his nimble 1600cc Š Janet Wright Lotus Elan that led the first lap and he stayed in front until his pit stop. Leo lead the chase in his AC Cobra but was fighting hard with Whitaker in the TVR until he dropped back with mechanical problems. Fleming had built up a massive lead before his pit stop on lap 17 which meant that Jamie Boot in his E-Type Jaguar only held the lead for 1 lap until he also came in Al Fleming Lotus Elan 26R spins on the Dunlop straight during practice for his pitstop. This put Fleming back in the lead until the flag fell. He won by just over 16 seconds from Whitaker in the TVR Griffith, both winning their respective classes. Leo Voyazides had dropped 3 laps behind at the finish but was still classified 11th overall and second in class behind Mike Whitaker. Other class winners were Jamie Boot in the Jaguar E-Type, Tom Smith at the wheel of a MG B Roadster, Peter Aylett and Farrall in a Turnex Diva, and Karl Wetherelland and Andy Somerville in a Triumph TR4.

The final race of the day was for Historic Formula Ford 2000 single seater race cars. James Murray took pole position in his Reynard SF77 with Russell Love next to him on the front row in his newer Reynard SF79. Russell Love had a close race with Andrew Huxtable but slowly opened up a gap to win the final race of the day. Huxtable retired on lap 15 leaving second to David Wild in another Reynard SF79. David Clark in his Dulon MP21 won class B and Jon Randall in a Lola Supervee won class C. One incident that made the national newspapers involved Derek Smith who made a slight mistake at the chicane at lap3, clipped the kerb sideways and did a double barrel roll Š Simon Wright in his Delta T80. The car landed back on its wheels. Derek hopped out with Seamus Doyle Lola T580 FF2000 only bruising to his chest caused by his HANS device. The meeting was a great success and points to an exciting season ahead.

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MOTORING RECORD BREAKERS EXHIBITION at the HERITAGE MOTOR CENTRE

By Pete Austin

© Pete Austin © Pete Austin

The Heritage Motor Centre near Gaydon, Warwickshire is currently hosting an exhibition of Motoring Record Breakers.

Forming the perfect backdrop to the display is the Heritage Centre’s own collection of MG record breaking cars. MG EX135 is the car in which Goldie Gardner achieved a speed of over 200 mph on the Dessau Autobahn in Germany in 1939. This was the Classic and Competition Car April 2012

MG EX135

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© Pete Austin MG Record breakers on display

first time that a 1100cc car had broken this barrier. Based on a chassis from the MGA project MG EX179 was built for George Easton and set several class records at the Bonneville Salt Flats between 1954 and 1957. Perhaps the most famous of these MGs’ though is EX181 driven by Stirling Moss in 1957 and Phil Hill two years later. The latter recording a speed of 254.9 mph on the Salt Flats.

A rare visitor to the Midlands is the Sunbeam which was the first car to exceed 200 mph in 1927 with Henry Seagrave at the wheel.

The venue for this record was Daytona Beach in Florida. This car is on loan from the National Motor Museum at Beaulieu.

© Pete Austin

Other types of motoring records are also represented (cheapest-Tata Nano, best selling – Ford model T) and the smallest car ever to make it into production, the Peel P50 built between 1962 and 1969. Be careful when parking though, no reverse gear!

© Pete Austin

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Bringing the story more up to date are two cars both using completely different types of fuel. The JCB DieselMax on display achieved the diesel record of 350 mph at Bonneville in 2006 with Andy Green driving.

The steam driven ‘Inspiration’ set a new record for

© Pete Austin

© Pete Austin

this class at the Edwards Air Force base, California in 2009 with Sir Malcolm Campbell’s grandson Don Wales at the wheel averaging 148.308 mph. Yet another MG in the display is EX 255 built to beat Phil Hill’s earlier record with an MG. With Andy Green at the wheel this attempt was less successful due to technical problems. The fastest Jaguar in the world is also featured having achieved a speed of 225.675 mph at Bonneville in the hands of Paul Gentilozzi.

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British GT and Formula 3 Media Day, Silverstone.

By Simon & Janet Wright with additional photos by Mick Herring. Š Janet Wright

The Avon Tyres British GT and Formula 3 series had their media launch at a bright and sunny Silverstone circuit. The British GT series continues to go from strength to strength with a wide variety of GT and Supercars making up the entry for the 2012 championship.

Trackspeed Porsche 997 GT3 lineup Both series were using the circuit for a test session as well as the media launch, with the Formula 3 cars having track time in the morning and the GT cars were out during the afternoon.

There were 23 cars Š Simon Wright announced at the media launch representing thirteen different manufacturers Aston Martin, Audi BMW, Chevron, Corvette, Ferrari, Ginetta, Lotus, McLaren, Mazda, Mercedes, Nissan and Porsche with a selection of GT3 and GT4 cars. The line up of cars include the Ferrari 458 GT3, Oliver Bryant/Alastair McCaig Ecurie Ecosse BMW Z4 GT3 run by Scuderia Vittoria for Aaron Scott and John Dhillon. MTECH are running Matt Griffin and Duncan Cameron in another Ferrari. A Speedworks prepared Corvette Z06R will be driven by Ron and Piers Johnson, while United Autosports continue with the Audi R8 LMS driven by Matt Bell and Charles Bateman. Twenty teams are entered with 46 drivers confirmed.

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Newcomers this year are the GT4 Mazda MX5 GT and the return of the GT3 Chevron GR8 GT which will be piloted by the experienced Anthony British GT Calendar 2012 Oulton Park Nurburgring Rockingham Brands Hatch Snetterton Silverstone Donington

© Janet Wright Owen Mildenhall and Mark Ticehurst with the GT4 Mazda MX5 GT

07/04/2012 17/05/2012 09/06/2012 23/06/2012 04/08/2012 08/09/2012 29/09/2012

© Simon Wright

Reid and Jordan Witt in the Invitation class.

The Championship is being run over 7 rounds with a big overseas visit to the Nurburgring in Germany in May, and a 3 hour race at Silverstone in September. The series retains the same format as last year, with the opening round taking place at Oulton Park on Easter Monday.

New cars for this season include the BMW Z4, McLaren MP4 - 12C and the Nissan GTR GT3.

The series has a female competitor in the shape of Zoe Wenham driving a Ginetta G50 GT4 which she is sharing with current Welsh Sports car Champion Dominic Evans. Zoe started racing Karts at 9 years old and switched to cars aged 14. In 2010 she became one of the youngest competitors to race in the Volkswagen Cup. Her switch to the British GT Championship is her first taste of Rear Wheel Drive racing but she went well enough in testing to secure the drive for Century motorsport.

© Simon Wright Jim Geddie/Glynn Geddie Apex McLaren MP4-12C

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Ginetta G50 Silverstone GT Media Day

By Mick Herring.

I would have liked a ride in the Beechdean Aston Martin V12 Vanquish but time was running short so I went for the Ginetta option instead and at the end of it I'm really glad I did.

The Ginetta G50 has been around for a good while now and the British GT Media Day at Š Janet Wright Silverstone would prove the ideal opportunity Benji Hetherington and Mick Herring to see how the car has aged against it's peers and it's newer siblings.

Still immensely popular in it's own section of the one make championship and just about everywhere else, come to that, this ride, in the capable hands of Benji Hetherington would prove to be another marvel of entertainment.

A few years ago I was lucky enough to be driven round Rockingham in a G50 but after the slightly artificial, coned circuit, configuration and wet environment of that day, the chance to relax and enjoy the long Silverstone GP circuit lap was to be savoured.

The familiar howl of the 3.5 litre V6 U.S. Ford truck based engine and the whine of the straight cut sequential gearbox was still there as we left the pit lane and joined the track, heading towards Maggotts ever faster with each clutchless gearchange.

Then the brakes dragged the speed off and settled the car on it's progress over, first the left hand kerb and then the right hand kerb of Becketts before another stab on the brakes and more kerbs launched us out of Church and onto the Hanger Straight at great speed.

There followed, much more of the same stark acceleration, braking and kerb hopping, punctuated by the high speed these cars are capable of but most entertaining on both of my laps was the lines that the car was allowed to take with the required corrective steering input by the driver. Š Simon Wright I've never before explored that bit of the tarmac run off area in front of the new Silverstone Wing, but explore it we did and even with very old rubber on the car it remained agile and responsive to steering and throttle inputs with a healthy slide on the three parts of the Arena section. The aforementioned Aston did come past us and then slowed to go in the pits after the end of the Wellington Straight but I was no longer envious.

The speeds experienced on the three main straights at Silverstone coupled with the hugely effective brakes guarantee that the venerable Ginetta G50 will remain a competent and cost effective tribute to Lawrence Tomlinson's foresight in producing this car.

In many ways it reminded me of the Lotus Elan I had been round Brands Hatch in recently but with so much more of everything built in, as befits the 45 year age gap between the two. No wonder so many Ginetta G50s have been built, sold and are still racing.

There's so much life and fun left in this car yet, oh and for me, smiles aplenty. A complete racing car.

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Jaguar Heritage Museum.

By Simon & Janet Wright As we mentioned in last months issue, the Jaguar Heritage museum at Browns Lane Coventry is due to close later this summer,so we made a visit to the museum to see some of this unique collection of Š Janet Wright British motoring history. The museum is a modern building, and while not being very big, it allows around 30 cars to be displayed with unrestricted access. The cars are changed at certain times to allow all the vehicles in the collection to be displayed. When the museum closes, the collection will be put into storage until a new location can be found to allow the cars to be seen again. This may take several years. During this period, parts of the collection may be made available for display at other locations or events. If you have not been to see the collection, do not put it off, we recommend you go very soon.

When we visited, the collection contained a mixture of Jaguar/Daimler road and racing history. As soon as you enter, you are greeted by a 2002 Formula One Jaguar R3 and one of the 1988 Walkinshaw Silk Cut Jaguar XJR9 Group C cars that won the Le Mans 24 Hour race. Everywhere you look, you can see the graceful lines of sleek Jaguar cars from across the decades.

Tucked away in the corner was a 1903 Daimler 35HP similar to the car that won the first ever Hill climb meeting at Shelsley Walsh Š Simon Wright 1903 Daimler 35HP in Worcestershire in 1905.

The Daimler was driven by Ernest Instone and set a hill record of 77.6 seconds to complete the 992 yard course at an average speed of 26 miles per hour. Next to that is a Jaguar XK8 modern GT racer.

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© Janet Wright

There were several cars on display which preceded the Jaguar name but are early examples of the companies designs. These included a 1929 Austin Seven Swallow saloon, a 1932 Wolseley Hornet Swallow four-seater and a 1933 SS Coupe.

One of the more interesting models on display was the 1974 Jaguar EType Group 44 racing sports car from America. In 1974, Mike Dale of British Leyland Motor Inc, the Jaguar importer in the USA decided to enter the E-Type in the Class B Production Car Championship of the Sports Car Club of America (SCCA). This car was prepared by Group 44 founded

by Bob Tullius and Brian Fuerstenau.

After a few early problems, Tullius scored 5 wins while another E-Type prepared by Huffaker and raced by Lee Mueller won another 3 races. In 1975 Tullius scored 7 victories and took the SCCA championship. This © Simon Wright was the swansong of the EType in current sports car racing as the model had ceased production.

Another unique car on display was the 1966 Jaguar XJ13. This is the only one ever built. Designed for the Le Mans 24 hours race, the car was never entered.

Changes to the regulations meant that prototypes were limited to 3 litre engines and Classic and Competition Car April 2012

© Simon Wright

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larger engined cars needed a production run of at least 50. The car had potential, the 5 litre V12 engine produced 502 bhp and in private testing on the banked track at Mira had achieved over 161 mph driven by David Hobbs.

As well as all the © Simon Wright cars on display, there are lots of photographs, documents and memorabilia from the history of Jaguar.

There is also a balcony that gives a nice view down on some of the exhibits as well as being an art gallery, with many famous artists work on display depicting Jaguars.

The Jaguar heritage museum, Browns lane, Coventry Top: 1935 S.S.I Airline Saloon 2002 F1 Jaguar R3 Bottom: 1998 Jaguar XK180 Concept car

© Simon Wright

© Simon Wright

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© Simon Wright

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Donington Historic festival media/test day

© Simon Wright

By Simon & Janet Wright with additional photos by Pete Austin & Mick Herring.

The first Donington Historic Festival was held in 2011 and this year promises to be bigger and better, building on the success of the first event. New for 2012 is the first ever Martin Hines Trophy historic kart meeting which will run on a circuit on the Melbourne loop behind the paddock for historic karts from the 60s, 70s and 80s. Barry ‘Whizzo’ Williams, Patron of the British Historic Kart Club was present at the media launch for the meeting.

The Festival will run over the weekend of the 5th and 6th of May 2012 and has a stunning selection of

© Janet Wright Barrie Williams on Historic Kart

races already lined up for the meeting, with a fantastic selection of cars and drivers attending. Le Mans and Daytona 24 hour winner and ex-Grand Prix driver © Pete Austin Jackie oliver will be racing a ferrari 250 GT SWB with Rohan Fernando in the Christopher Tate MD Donington Park pre-63 GT race. This particular Ferrari will be making its racing debut 51 years after it was built. The aluminium bodied car had a Classic and Competition Car April 2012

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short hill climb career half a century ago, but has never raced before. Jackie will also race his more regular BMW TISA 1800 in the Under 2 Litre Touring Car series.

The media launch was presented by Christopher Tate, the Managing Director of Donington Park and Duncan Wiltshire, promoter of the Donington Historic Festival. Christopher was pleased to announce that © Mick Herring Fire Breathing Porsche 956 Andy Meyrick Donington Park had increased the number of days that racing can take place at Donington Park from 40 days to 60 days, but had decreased the number of noisy days from 40 to 20. This allows 20 days unsilenced, 20 days of moderate noise and 20 days with the MSA approved 105db noise limit. Apart from various World Championship events, the majority of the noisy days will be allocated for historic racing.

Duncan then took over to give details of the festival. With the great history of Donington Park, it was felt that the Historic Festival should represent as much of that history as possible and the races cover cars from the 1920’s right through to the late 1980’s and possibly even some early 1990 vehicles.The Mad Jack race, named after Jack Shuttleworth who won the first British Grand Prix in 1935, is for pre war sports cars. The HSCC are running two races for Historic Formula 2 single seaters, the RAC Woodcote Trophy race is for pre 1956 sports © Pete Austin cars, the Jaguar E-Type challenge will also run a race on both Duncan Wiltshire days. Touring cars up to 1985 are catered for in various races, which always prove popular with the spectators. Saturday evening will see a repeat of the race last year for pre 1972 sports cars. Sunday will see the pre-63 GT race, the Stirling Moss trophy for pre 61 sports racing cars, the pre 66 U2TC saloon race, and the headlining Group C sports prototypes.

He also paid thanks to the HSCC who are helping to organise and operate the event.

Away from the track, the infield section will be opened up to car clubs who will display members cars, and so far over 50 clubs have registered to have display areas, well up on the number that © Pete Austin displayed last year.

Gary Pearson Porsche 908-2 For more information go to the web site at www.doningtonhistoric.com Classic and Competition Car April 2012

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© Mick Herring

Britcar Silverstone

by Mick Herring

Britcar Production Cup Saturday 24th March With the UK still in the depths of recession it Pole Position Seat finished 3rd with 4th places Clarke-Gibson BMW was uplifting to see twenty eight cars take the start at the opening round of the Britcar Dunlop Production Cup championship. This year the format splits to running as a race in it's own right, rather than a shorter race, within the Britcar GT © Mick Herring race.

And as the programme notes pointed out, "New championship, new rules, new competitors and free to battle without compromising their positions on track to the predatory GT cars".

Less than 2.7 seconds covered the first six in qualifying with the Seat Supercopa of Craig Davies/Adam Jones on pole with two more Seats joining them in the top six and Toyota MR2 of Eugene O’Brien and Simon Phillips several more examples of this popular car spaced throughout the grid.

A pair of BMWs and a lone Toyota MR2, in the hands of former BTCC driver Eugene O'Brien and Simon Phillips © Mick Herring completed the variety at the front.

Complementing the BMW and Seat "weight of numbers" for the 90 minute race were examples of Ginetta G40, Honda Civic and Integra together with three Mazda MX5s.

At the end of the 90 minutes of intense racing, victory went to the BMW M3 CSL of Richard Abra/ Mark Poole by 14 seconds from Mark and Peter Cunningham's Seat Leon Winning Abra-Poole BMW challenges for the lead Supercopa with the pole position Seat Davies/Jones a further 17 seconds adrift.

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The more powerful Class 1 cars occupied the first ten places at the flag with the Class 2 Honda Integra of Nigel Ainge and Mike Jordan taking class honours in eleventh.

Class 3 victory went to Edward and Harry Cockill's Honda Civic Type R in fifteenth overall.

Britcar MSA British Endurance Championship March 24th

Š Mick Herring

The Britcar MSA British Endurance Championship season-opening race was won by the pole position Mosler MT900R but that condenses what proved to be a fascinating 3 hours, full of twists and turns, on Silverstone's full GP circuit.

The twenty-one car grid boasted eleven different types of car and alongside the Morcillo/ Cintrano/White Mosler was the black Bailey/Shultz Ferrari 430. Row two had the familiar but reliveried Millard/ Š Mick Herring Heward Rapier SR2 with the next three places occupied by different examples of the venerable Marcos Mantis.

Variety was further enhanced by a Ferrari 458, a pair of Chevron GR8s, a pair of Ginetta G55s, a lone Porsche 997, Lotus Evora/Elite models, BMW M3s and a lone Lunn - Steward Chevron GR8 finished 12th TVR Sagaris V8.

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At the start of the race it was the Bailey/ Schultz 430 that led the field into Copse and this was the pattern of the first part of the race.

The Ferrari and Mosler remained close, Rapier not far behind, although both Mosler and Rapier Š Mick Herring would lead the race in Rapid Rapier SR2 eventually finished 11th the first hour.

With the first of pitstops and driver changes coming into play as the first hour came to a close the yet to stop, big tanked, Mosler still led the Rapier, which had stopped, now two laps behind. The Bailey/Schultz Ferrari third, the Beighton/Finnemore Marcos fourth and the new Ferrari 458 in fifth.

At seventy five minutes the Mosler pitted, Manuel Cintrano taking over, it would re-emerge still leading but with Š Mick Herring the Rapier gaining rapidly.

At the end of the second hour the Mosler led the Rapier by 39 seconds and two laps ahead of the Marcos Mantis of Owen O'Neill/Neil Huggins with the Adams/Green/Byford Lotus Evora in fourth.

The second hour was Strata 21 Mosler of Morcillo/Cintrano took first Britcar victory where most of the twists took place with, first the leading Mosler having to take a drive through penalty for pitlane speeding when Cintrano handed over to Paul White. This handed the lead to the Rapier which suffered an electrical problem causing it to stop out on the circuit thus giving the Strata 21 Mosler it's, unchallenged, first race win.

The Rapier would re-join many laps down when the cut out switch repaired itself finishing eleventh, as would the Bailey/Schultz 430 which was heavily delayed by a fluid leak.

As the sun set at the end of the three hours and 80 laps, Javier Morcillo brought the Class 1 Mosler home two laps ahead of the Class 2 O'Neill/Huggins Topcats Marcos with Toby Tarrant-Willis/Charlie Hollings third in their Invitation Class 3 Ferrarai 430 Challenge and Mike Donovan/Nick Dudfield Porsche 997 GT3, also Invitation Class 3, fourth.

Beighton/Finnemore (Marcos), Adams/Green/Byford (Lotus Evora) and Phillips/Storey (Ferrari 458) taking the next three places.

The next round is at Donington on April 21st.

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Š Mick Herring

Arrowpak Euro Saloons and Sportscar Championship March 24th The Arrowpak Euro Saloons and Sportscars provided a pair of entertaining races either side of the first Britcar Production GTN Championship encounter with good variety of cars from the two disciplines battling for honours.

The BRSCC-run championship is to just about any type of car Suzuki Cappucino of Wayne Schofield won class D in race 2 and their welcoming gambit is:- "If it's got a roof you can probably race it in the championship", with cars built to the former rules and regulations of Super Touring, BTCC, WTCC, other similar one-make championships and compliant, purpose built cars being eligible.

Race 1 was a close run battle between the Ford Falcon of Andy Robinson and the Darren Dowling's TVR Sagaris with both of these V8 engined cars leading the next four turbocharged racers home by nearly sixteen seconds after nine laps and twenty minutes on the sunny Silverstone full Grand Prix track.

However the on track result would not stand as Robinson was adjudged not to have respected the track limits as he sought to control the Australian car's power.

The nett result of Š Mick Herring his on-track 1.4 second win saw him demoted to 2nd behind the TVR. The following four places were shared between Mitsubishi (3rd and 6th), Subaru and Seat turbo cars.

As well as these cars, Renault Clio's also shared the race with some unusual cars such as a rare Harrier LR9, Suzuki Andy Robinson Ford Falcon finished 1st in Race 1 but won Race 2 Cappucino and a British Leyland Mini.

Andy Robinson made no mistake in race 2, his Falcon winning by over 33secs from the Mitsubishi Evo 9 of Barry Squibb, Derek Hale's Honda Accord Super Tourer was 4th with V8 honours being upheld by Doug Elllwood's Marcos Mantis in 5th.The Falcon/ TVR Sagaris(Paul Smith driving this time) battle was not re-enacted when the TVR retired after six laps Classic and Competition Car April 2012

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Techno Classica Essen Photos by Trevor Nobel.

The 2012 show broke records with 181,400 visitors attending from all over the world. In its 24th year the show had over 1,200 exhibitors including some very rare vehicles from across Europe. One of the rarest vehicles at the show was the Spanish built Pegaso.

© Trevor Noble

Pegaso Z-102 Spider Rabasada

The show had a record 21 vehicles on © Trevor display out of a total build of just 86 built in Noble the 1950s. The car above is the Pegaso Z-102 Spider Rabasada, built in 1953.

When the cars were manufactured they had some advanced features for their time, including 5 speed gearbox and supercharged engines but they also lacked disc brakes. The car was fitted with a transaxle system of gearbox at the rear connected behind the differential within a reverse A frame. A fuel tank was fitted on each side of the transmission for better Pegaso Z-102B Tourig Berlinetta weight distribution. The rear suspension was of the De Dion type but with an unusual feature to help prevent side to side movement. The tube had a small wheel on its mid point that moved in a vertical channel on the front of the differential instead of using a Watts linkage or a Panhard rod. Power came from either a 2.5 litre, 2.8 litre or 3.2 litre V8 engine with multiple carbs or an optional supercharger with power ranging from 175 to 360 BHP. The engine had a © Trevor Noble gear driven camshaft and a 5 speed gearbox.

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© Trevor Noble

Audi had an interesting display with the usual tribute to the Audi Quattro and its motorsport heritage. The car on display was celebrating the success that Audi have enjoyed at the Pikes Peak hill climb event in America. The Audi Quattro also enjoyed a very successful career in the World Rally Championship.

They also had an Auto union Type C single seater on display.

Designed by Ferdinand Porsche, the V16 mid engined Grand Prix car claimed many victories between 1936 and 1938. It won six races in 1936 and made Bernt Rosermeyer World Champion.

This car was fitted with 6 wheels. The © Trevor Noble

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© Trevor Noble

rear axle had 2 wheels each side, which was often used by Auto union after the war for hill climbing as it allowed for a more efficient way to transfer the power to the road without as much wheelspin as with a single wheel, giving better traction for hill climbing events.

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A fine example of the 1950 Cisitalia 202 Gran Sport was on display at the show. Built in

© Trevor Noble

Italy, this fastback 2 door rear wheel drive coupe was powered by a Fiat 1089cc 4 cylinder in-line engine, developing 50 bhp and giving a top speed of 93mph and a 0-60 mph in 18.4 seconds. The model was built between 1947 and 1952. New York City’s Museum of Modern Art selected the Cisitalia 202 Gran Sport one of the 10 best automotive designs of all time in 1951 and put an example on permanent display.

A fine example of a 1965/66 Bizzarini P578 fitted with a 5.4 litre Chevrolet V8 engine for the Le Mans 24 Hour race of 1966 and was driven by Edgar Berney and Andre Wicky. It retired after only 8 laps.

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© Trevor Noble

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Motors TV day Donington Park

By Simon & Janet Wright with additional photos by Mick Herring.

© Mick Herring

Donington Park was the venue for the first Motors TV live race day for 2012, with all the races being televised live across Europe on the Motors channel. These meetings are designed to give viewers a taste of all types of club racing, and this meeting was a mixture of modern and historic racing to provide a variety of action. Each category got two races during the afternoon. The meeting was organised by the British Automobile Racing Club (BARC).

First up was the Kumho BMW Championship series, which is for production based cars © Janet Wright from across the BMW range. They were also out again for race 6 on the programme. A large entry saw local driver and defending champion Garrie Whittaker from Nottingham dominate proceedings in his potent BMW E36 M3.

He took pole position for the first race and won both races without being headed. His nearest rival was returning driver Colin Wells from Shrewsbury in a Everyones view of winner Garrie Whittaker BMW E36 M3 BMW M3. Behind the leading pair, there was plenty of close racing and action for the TV cameras to pick up on. Tom Hibbert went off on the first lap at Redgate, but the biggest accident was by Richard Marsh whose BMW E36 M3 went off after the exit of the chicane and hit the tyre barrier very hard.

The tyre barrier was destroyed but it protected the car and driver well, Richard getting straight out © Simon Wright and getting to safety very quickly. It did take a while to move his car after the race and rebuild the tyre barrier though.

Darren Fielding BMW M3 won class B in the first race, with Neil Newstead BMW E36 Classic and Competition Car April 2012

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taking the class in the second race, Mark Smith BMW E90 M3 won class I in both races , Roger Lavender BMW 3 Series won class C in both races and Matthew Fielding BMW 318 Coupe won class D also in both races.

There were four races for the Caterhams with the races split into two classes. The © Simon Wright

Amison (4) spins off as Frost (centre) continues with a damaged nose cone after colliding under braking

second and seventh race were for the Mega and Classic classes, while the fourth and ninth race were for the Super and Sigma classes. ll the races started with split grids, so that each class started their own race, running about ½ a lap apart at the start. All the races had a rolling start and provided close action packed events. With cars in each class being equal, it means close, exciting racing with plenty of slip streaming and out braking maneuvers as the drivers via for position.

The first race was won by Nick Frost from Martin Amison and Mick Whitehead. The Classic ‘race’ was won by David Pearson from Amanda Black and Justin Cox after a particularly tight © Janet Wright battle. In the second race, Nick Frost collided with Martin Amison under braking for the chicane. Amison spun off while Frost then finished the race with a bent nosecone which lifted up down the Dunlop straight each lap. The race was Kim Rayment starts a multi car spin in the first Caterham race won by Myles Packman from Paul Allen and Mick Whitehead. Amison finished 4th and Frost 5th.

The Super and Sigma classes were combined into two races, the first of which was won

by Super Class Toby Briant from Martin Collier and Dylan Stanley while the Sigma class went to Ian Anderson from Simon Pashley and Bill Scott. Showing how competitive Classic and Competition Car April 2012

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these classes of racing are the second race was won by Edward Benson from Dylan Stanley and Jon Wolfe while the Sigma class was won by again by Ian Anderson from Simon Pashley and Ian Dyble.

The third and eighth races were for the Vintage Sports car Club (VSCC) which were fielding races for Pre War Sports Cars. Neil Twyman put his fantastic 2.6 litre Alfa Romeo 8C on pole position Andrew Bush spun off on the first lap in his Riley TT Sprite at the chicane © Mick Herring by just 0.296 seconds from Sue Darbyshire in her amazing 1260cc Morgan Super Aero 3 wheeler. The modern car races were having rolling starts, but the VSCC field lined up on the grid for the normal standing flag start. The little morgan was dwarfed by the large cars but was not intimidated.

Twyman made a terrible start, being passed by about 8 cars off the line. He put his foot down on the accelerator and the car died, a fuel problem which he fiddled with in the car and by the end of the lap it seemed to clear and the car was running great. The lead was grabbed by John Guyatt in a Talbot Lago T150 C off the second row who powered down into Redgate corner first, followed by Sue Darbyshire who was under pressure from Trevor Swete in an Invicta S-Type. As they headed for the Craner Curves, Twyman had powered his way back to 6th place. At the chicane Andrew Bush went off backwards into the gravel trap and was stuck. Twyman was having problems with the Alfa and at the end of the first lap he was down in 12th place. Sue took the lead into Redgate on the second lap and opened up an enormous gap of over 7 seconds lead at the end of the second lap in her little 3 wheeler. Twyman was up to 7th and cutting through the field with ease in his chase of the leaders. Sir © Janet Wright Ralph Robins retired his Delahaye 135 on the third lap with mechanical problems.

As they started lap 4 with Sue just in front, the first three crossed the line almost side by side, but the fastest of the three was Neil Twyman who powered the Alfa Romeo down the start straight into Neil Twyman Alfa Romeo 8C was the lead which he quite forceful with his overtaking didn’t loose again right Classic and Competition Car April 2012

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through to the finishing flag. Sue Darbyshire did her best on her birthday to finish 2nd by just 3.229 seconds after 20 minutes of racing, with John Guyatt right behind her in 3rd place.

Their second race later in the day started in the finishing order of the first race, as were all the second races at this Neil Batchelor in his fire Š Mick Herring meeting. However breathing Blower Bentley Neil Twyman did not take up his pole position as on the warm up lap on the climb up from Old Hairpin, he dropped to the back of the field and retired after only 2 laps. This left Sue Darbyshire alone on the front row of the grid in her Morgan 3 wheeler. But again it was John Guyatt who made the best start in his Talbot Lago to lead through Redgate corner. Although he arrived very late to the back of the grid, Neil Twyman did take the start in his Alfa Romeo from the very back of the grid and on the first lap he had passed ten cars to be in 10th place. Sue had grabbed the lead rounding Old Hairpin to lead at the end of lap one, but through the Craner curves on lap 2 John Guyatt was back in the lead which he held to the finish to take victory by just 0.863 of a second after 15 minutes racing. Again Sue Darbyshire finished second with Trevor Swete taking the last podium place in 3rd in his Invicta S-Type. Neil Twyman had got up to 5th place on the second lap in the Alfa Romeo but as he crossed the finish lie his hand went up as the car slowed and he Š Simon Wright pulled off on to the grass to retire. One of the more spectacular cars was the supercharged 4.5 litre Blower Bentley of Neil Batchelor which was shooting flames out of the exhaust on every lap.

The final category racing at this meeting were the Formula Juniors. Having competed here only two weeks before at the HSCC opener, the competitors were eager to improve on their Michael Hibberd won both Formula Junior races at the wheel of his previous lap times. This time Lotus 27 leading the Lotus 22 of Denis Welch the two races would be a combined front and rear engined class event. Michael Hibberd took pole in his rear engined Lotus 27 while Stuart Roach who took 2 wins at the HSCC opener two weeks before in the front engined race had a problem with his Alexis Mk2. After practice, water was pouring through the carburettors, probably indicating a blown head gasket. Fortunately Classic and Competition Car April 2012

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Š Simon Wright

Stuart Roach (23) in the unfamiliar Condor S11 won the front engined class in both races.

his father Keith, who had improved his lap times from the previous meeting, also races in the same class and gave up his race so Stuart could drive the Condor S11.

The first race was from a standing start, just like the VSCC race. Michael Hibberd led from the start to the finish, but that does not tell what an exciting race took place. Hibberd was under pressure from the Lotus 22 of Denis Welch and the Brabham BT6 of Jonathan Hughes and the Lighting Envoyette of Peter Morton. The two Lotus cars pulled out a slight lead on the others with Morton and Hughes having a tremendous scrap for third.

Even under pressure, Hibberd never put a foot wrong to win. Pete Morton finished second and Denis Welch was third. Even though he was not in his usual car, Stuart Roach took victory in the front engined class. Chris Drake won his class in his Elva 300 and the Elva 200 of Phoebe Rolt and the EFAC Stanguellini of Pat Barford took the other class wins. The second race gave exactly the same results except that in this race Stephen Bulling in a Sadler FJ won class B1 and Pat Barford failed to finish the second race. Hibberd led from start to finish but again was pressurised all the way by Peter Morton, often the two cars were side by side, Hibberd winning by just 0.175 of a second at the flag. Š Simon Wright

Duncan Rabagiliati Formula Junior Alexis HF dives inside at the chicane

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GT Cup Test Day 27th March

By Mick herring

© Mick Herring Dhillon - Scott Ferrari 458 A beautifully warm Tuesday in late March at Snetterton on the full 300 circuit was the venue for the GT Cup test day. Despite a buoyant grid expectancy for the championship's season opener on April 28th/ 29th at Donington, the small turnout today did afford lots of track time.

The Porsche 997 GT3 of father and son, Nick and Harry Whale were joined by the much older, but nonetheless potent, Porsche 935 of GT Cup returnee Richard Chamberlain.

Today was infinitely warmer and drier than last time the 997 was out and afforded me a passenger ride around Brands Hatch.

With the championship opened up, this year, to full GT3 cars, race veteran Kevin Riley was © Mick Herring determined to make the GT Cup Chamberlain Porsche 935 most of his Mosler's potential and acclimatise to the tyres of F1 supplier, Pirelli.

With Kevin's overwhelming desire to race, the GT Cup gives him the perfect opportunity to race his powerful Mosler on the best UK circuits without the need for a professional co-driver or the long haul to Europe. © Mick Herring

Kevin Riley Mosler

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An eclectic mix of other cars filled the pitlane and provided plenty of variety on track.

The sight of a vintage 3 litre Bentley captured on the aptly named Bentley Straight shared sessions with various Radicals, Mazda MX5s, Lotus Elise's, the British GT© Mick Herring bound Scuderia Vittoria Ferrari 458 of Jon Dhillon and Aaron Scott. Both drivers sampling this particular 458 for the first time after a change of team.

Scuderia Vittoria also fielded the Ginetta G40 that broadcaster/commentator Ben Constanduros will race

© Mick Herring

GT Cup Whale Porsche 997 GT3

this season.

Both of these cars would be welcome to join in the close racing that has personified GT Cup thus far.

The world of TV broadcasting was also represented by new F1 commentator Ben Edwards in the paddock, hotfoot from having covered the Malaysian Grand Prix the previous Sunday.

Not to be outdone by the GT cars present, proper saloons honours were upheld by the fabulous exAustralian V8 Supercars, "Thor" of Joss Ronchetti.

It's 7.2 litre engine proudly doing battle with the Ferrari and Mosler for best exhaust note until the massive torque of the monster engine caused the propshaft to cry "enough" on the Bentley Straight.

Overall, an excellent day in the Norfolk sunshine with Snetterton looking great and ready for Thunder from Thor © Mick Herring the season ahead.

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HRDC PRESS DAY 2012

By Pete Austin The Historic Racing Drivers Club (HRDC) held it’s annual press day at the Porsche Experience Centre, Silverstone on the 31st March. The club organises race meetings and series for Touring Greats (pre-‘60 historic touring cars), Grand Touring Greats (pre-‘66 sub 1500cc historic GT cars), Pre-’64 Gp.2 © Pete Austin historic touring cars and Standard Vanguard on transporter next to Porsche 904 Pre-’66 historic sports cars running to GT specification. In addition, to celebrate 50 years of the MGB, they will be running the MGB50 series for pre-’66 FIA MGBs with historically interesting MGBs. A selection of cars which will be racing in the various categories had been brought to the centre and following a welcome and presentation

by HRDC founder and race director Julius Thurgood the majority of these completed circuits of the Porsche test track.

Journalists and guests were also given the opportunity to passenger in the cars.

They say variety is the spice of life and this is certainly true of the cars which appeared at this event. From a Rover 105 to an ex Bathurst Studebaker. From Speedwell Sprite to a Porsche 904 and everything in between.

© Pete Austin Victoria Beever - Rover 105S

Race Calendar Castle Combe Snetterton Mallory Park Spa

9th April 5th-6th May 4th June 15th-17th June

HRDC Race Day HRDC Races HRDC TV Race (MGB50) HRDC Races

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Donington Park 28th July Lydden Hill 18th August Mallory Park 7th October

HRDC Race Day HRDC Race Day HRDC Race Day

As it said on the invitation - the drivers and organisers wanted to let us into one of historic motorsport’s best kept secrets – the return to ‘Old School’ Club Racing!

© Pete Austin MGB takes centre stage this year to celebrate its 50th birthday © Pete Austin

Julius Thurgood (HRDC founder and Race Director) with Tony Dron

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