Classic and Competition Car June 2012

& c i s s Issue 20 June 2012 Cla Competition Car BTCC Donington Park

Donington Historic Festival

CONTENTS

News Page 4

Lola Page 9

Chevron B31 ride Page 15

Donington Historic Festival Page 17

HSCC International Trophy Silverstone Page 20

GT & Sports car Cup Page 21

Thoresby Classic car show Page 23

Archive Picture of the Month Page 26

GT Cup Donington Park Page 27

The Veskanda Group C Page 30

VSCC Curborough Speed Trials Page 31

GT Cup Silverstone Page 34

La Vie en Bleu Prescott Page 37

Special saloon/Modsport revival Silverstone Page 42

CSCC Swinging 60’s saloon race Silverstone Page 45

© Mick Herring

© Mick Herring

Classic and Competition Car June 2012

© Simon Wright

© Porsche Pete Austin Winning 997 of Westbrook and Ashburn at Oulton Park

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EDITORIAL

© Simon Wright

The Historic motor sport enthusiast has been spoilt for choice in the last month in the UK. The Donington Historic Festival started the month with its second running and it proved to be bigger and better than last year with a wide variety of racing to enjoy. My Simon Wright favourites were the sports racing cars, Editor both endurance and Group C, but all the races had interesting and competitive vehicles. Next significant event was the International Trophy at Silverstone which saw a couple of Martini Trophy races for 2 litre sports cars headline the meeting.

Again an interesting selection of cars took part and provided some good racing.

The final event is a real treasure, La Vie en Bleu at Prescott. This annual hill climb event organised by the Bugatti Owners Club, has a real French feel and if you have never been, then don’t miss next year’s event.

Prescott is set in beautiful countryside and offers fantastic viewing. The open paddock allows the opportunity for real interaction with the drivers and the display of unusual French cars on display make this a must attend event if you like classic cars.

PETE AUSTIN

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

© Simon Wright

Mick’s first love is GT racing, including Historic's, especially the Lola T70 JANET WRIGHT

Front Cover.

Group C action at the Donington Historic Festival Gareth Evans Mercedes C9 leads Rupert Cleavely Lancia LC2 and Russell Kempnich Porsche 956 © Mick Herring All content is copyright classicandcompetitioncar.com unless otherwise stated. All photographs are copyright the original photographer and June 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, © Simon Wright 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 To Subscribe for free and be notified when the next issue is published please the event organiser before making a long trip. click here. To check out our web site with additional photos please click here 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

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

Lola Cars International Ltd and Lola Composites Ltd have appointed an Administrator due to the economic downturn and the decision of HMRC not to pay ongoing R&D tax credits. This caused serious cash flow problems for the business.

Lola cars International Ltd was formed back in 1958

News

Mike Wilds Lola T530 Can-Am car in the Thundersport Race at the 1986 Birmingham Superprix Š Simon Wright

Check out our new updated WEB site at www.classicandcompetitioncar.com regularly for additional photo galleries, wall papers and other additional content.

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Celebrity line up announced for Silverstone Classic.

The annual celebrity race at the Silverstone Classic has some out of this world drivers. Sir Patrick Stewart (Captain Picard, Star Trek and Professor X X-Men films) is joined by Olympic skier Chemmy Alcott, ex-England footballer Steve Bull, TV presenter Julia Bradbury, Radio presenter ‘Comedy’ Dave Vitty, Rock star Brian Johnson, Emmerdale soap actor Kelvin Fletcher, Coronation street actor Tony Hirst and Sky Sports presenter Vicky Gormersall. They will be joined by regulars Heston Blumenthal (Chef), Brendan Cole (Strictly Come Dancing Dancer) and Jo Wood (Lifestyle guru).

They will be driving race prepared Morgan sports cars like last year in aid of the Bobby Moore Fund, the Birmingham Children’s Hospital and both Crohns and Colitis charities

© Simon Wright

© Pete Austin

David Lamb in a Riley Brooklands at the VSCC Spring Start meeting

The Brooklands Double Twelve Motorsport Festival.

Coventry Festival of Motoring.

New for 2012, the Coventry Festival of Motoring is moving from Memorial park in Coventry to a new home at Stoneleigh Park. The 50 mile run on the Sunday will also take in a new route round Coventry and the Warwickshire countryside. The event will take place over the August Bank Holiday weekend - 25th and 26th August 2012. For more information see their web site at www.festival-ofmotoring.co.uk/ Classic and Competition Car June 2012

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Taking place over the weekend of the 16th and 17th of June 2012 organised between Brooklands and the VSCC to celebrate the 105th anniversary of the Brooklands circuit. The Brooklands Speed Trials take place on the Saturday using an 800m course on the Mercedes Benz World circuit with over 100 prewar cars competing. Sunday is the Double twelve Driving Concours, where 12 cars in 12 classes will take on a series of challenges within the Historic site. These will include the Test Hill, part of the famous banking and the finishing straight, where drivers will be marked according to completing specific tasks. There will also be a Concours d’Elegance and the car with the top overall marks will be the winner.

To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the MGB and the 80 years of the Coupe des Dames (Lady drivers using sports and rally cars) there will be special classes in the event, plus classes for the Touring era from 1918 to 1939, Mercedes Benz sports and Touring cars and a special class celebrating cars with a Brooklands racing history.

The event celebrates the actual opening of the brooklands circuit on the 16th June 1907.

Carroll Hall Shelby 11th January 1923 to 10th May 2012 Born in Leesburg, Texas in 1923, Shelby suffered early health problems aged 7 from a heart valve leakage problem. This eventually led to him have a heart transplant in 1990 and a kidney transplant in 1996.

He started out as a racing driver in the 1950‘s with Cad-Allard, Aston Martin and Maserati. In 1956 he set a new record on the Mount Washington Hillclimb in a specially prepared Ferrari Roadster and was Sports Illustrated’s driver of the year in 1956 and 1957. He competed in the Formula 1 World Championship in 1958 driving a Maserati 250F in four Grand Prix, France, Britain, Portugal and Italy.

He achieved 9th place in the British and Portugese Grand Prix and 4th in the Italian where he shared the drive with Masten Gregory and was therefore not awarded points. In 1959 he drove for Aston Martin in a DBR4/250 in another 4 Grand Prix, Holland, Britain, Portugal and Italy. He retired from the first two , finished 8th in the Portugese Grand Prix and 10th in the Italian Grand Prix. He also drove in several non-championship Formula 1 races during this period.

In 1959 he won the Le Mans 24 Hour race driving an Aston Martin with Roy Salvadori. He retired from driving in October 1959 for health reasons.

After retiring from driving he set up a high performance driving school and the Shelby-American company. He imported a sports car © Simon Wright from British manufacturer AC but replaced the original Bristol engine with an American Ford engine to produce the AC Cobra which was later known as the Shelby Cobra. He also worked for Ford working on the Daytona Coupe, the Ford GT40 and produced the Ford Mustang based Shelby GT350 and GT500 and the 427 Shelby Cobra. After parting company with Ford, he helped develop performance cars for Dodge and Oldsmobile, including the Dodge Viper. To his family and friends we offer our sincere condolences.

Les Leston born Alfred Fingleston

© Simon Wright

16th December 1920 to 13th May 2012.

Born in Bulwell, Nottinghamshire, Les started his racing career driving a Jaguar SS100. In 1952 he won the Luxembourg Grand Prix which was run for Formula 3 cars, driving a Cooper.

He became a Cooper works driver in Formula 3 in 1954 and won the British f3 championship.

He made his Formula 1 Grand Prix debut in 1956 driving a Connaught Type B in the Italian Grand Prix where he retired from the race. In 1957 he drove a Cooper T43 in the Monaco Grand Prix practice but failed to qualify for the race. He then drove a BRM P25 in the British Grand Prix of 1957 where he retired.

He was probably best known in Britain for his range of after market car parts such as steering wheels and gear knobs.

To his family and friends we offer our sincere condolences.

A BRM P25 similar to the car that Les drove at the 1957 British GP

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Tour Britannia.

This years Tour takes place from the 6th to the 8th June and for the first

Goodwood Revival.

time will have a works entry. In the Targa class for post ’75 cars, radical have entered a road legal SR3 SL for Richard Meaden and Jethro Bovingdon.

This year, the 8th running of the event, will feature a shortened route taking in Croft and Cadwell Park plus 20 asphalt stages round Yorkshire, and Licolnshire. Starting at Harrogate, the event will travel north to the Croft racing circuit on the Thursday taking in several stately home stages before returning to Harrogate for the overnight stop.

The Silver Arrows will return 75 years after their first UK appearance at the 2012 Goodwood Revival meeting in September. Currently there should be at least 10 of the Silver Arrows together, and there should be a once in a lifetime opportunity for them to do a high speed demonstration round the circuit, driven by top level racing drivers. The Silver Arrows should include the Mercedes Benz © Simon Wright

© Janet Wright

Friday starts with the Harewood Hill Climb course being run downhill, followed by a trip south to Cadwell Park in Lincolnshire again taking in more stages before returning to Harewood Hill Climb course to tackle the hill in the correct direction this time, but using an extended course using part of the paddock and service roads to extend the course. The event finishes back at Rally headquarters at Harrogate. For further information, including entry list, see their web site at www.tourbritannia.com

W25, W125, W154 and W165 and the Auto Union Type C and Type D. It is also expected that many of the contemporary cars of the period from ERA, Maserati, Riley, Bugatti and MG will also be present at the meeting.

Historic F3 1 litre to race at Spa Summer Classic The 1KF3HRA together with their European colleagues are organising for the first time a race for the Historic 1 litre Formula 3 cars at the Spa summer classic meeting on the 15th-17th June 2012.

Classic and Competition Car June 2012

© Simon Wright

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Stirling Moss reunited with MDU 212 By Pete Austin At the Donington Historic Festival Stirling Moss completed some demonstration laps in one of the Jaguar C Types that he raced in period. Chassis XKC 005 (registration MDU 212) was first owned by Tommy Wisdom and Bill Cannell (of Moores, Jaguar’s Brighton distributors).

Tommy raced it in the 1952 © Pete Austin Monaco Grand Prix, finishing sixth, and becoming the first private owner to finish a race in a C-Type.

The car was later fitted with experimental Dunlop disc brakes and thus equipped, Stirling Moss drove the car to victory in a 50 lap race at the 1952 Reims Grand Prix meeting. This was the first competition success for a disc braked car. Moss also scored wins at Boreham and Turnberry and a second at Goodwood later in the year.

In 1953 the car was loaned to the ‘works’ team and entered for Tony Rolt and Len Hayden in that years Mille Miglia although they retired from the event. Moss again drove it to third place in a Goodwood Sports Car race in June and took the same position in the 9 hour race held at the same venue. © Pete Austin

Jaguar Heritage to go racing.

Jaguar Heritage Racing have announced a return to competitive motorsport in the historic motor sport scene. Jaguar C and D types will be works supported for the first time since 1956 at venues across the World, including the Nurburgring, Goodwood, the Mille Miglia and also events like the Concours d’Elegance at Pebble Beach in America. They will also support additional events such as the E-Type challenge in the UK. The first event that Jaguar Heritage Racing attended was the 2012 Mille Miglia retrospective in Italy. This was a significant event for Jaguar as it marked the 60th anniversary of the first event of a Jaguar C Type fitted with disc brakes, driven by Stirling Moss and Norman Dewis (Jaguar’s chief development driver at the time).

In August the team will compete in the AVD Nurburgring Oldtimer Grand Prix. The circuit is often referred to as the ‘green hell’ and is regarded as one of the toughest tracks in the World, which is why Jaguar has a dedicated test facility located there, running a rigorous durability and performance programme for its modern range. After Germany, the team will return to the UK for the Goodwood Revival in September, considered the jewel in the Crown of the Historic motor racing calendar, where the Jaguar C and D Types will be on home turf.

The racing programme is operated and managed by JD Classics, based in Maldon, Essex. They are preparing the cars and will have responsibility for all race day activities. Jaguar Global Brand Director Adrian Hallmark said that “Jaguar is proud of its heritage, and it is a heritage that is both alive and ever evolving”.

The Heritage racing programme will supplement the activities of Jaguar Heritage who look after a priceless collection of cars from Jaguar’s past, who will continue to exhibit and demonstrate some of the collection at a number of events in 2012.

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Lola.

Lola cars have been building racing cars since 1958 and have built cars for probably every major category in the World. Everything from Formula 1 and Indycar, to Le Mans and the mighty Can-Am championship, plus all the customer cars they have provided to the junior categories such as Formula Ford, F2, F3, Formula Junior and Formula Atlantic. They have built some of the best Sports racing cars in the World including the thunderous Lola T70’s in World Endurance racing and for years their 2 litre sports cars battled with rivals Chevron for mastery in the European 2 litre sports car championship. Of the five championships run for the 2 litre European Championship, Lola won it twice in 1971 with Jo Bonnier and 1973 with Chris Craft. Lola were probably most successful in Formula 5000, a single seater category for big V8 engined cars that was adopted all over the World. The first championship they won was in 1968 - South African Gold Star with Jackie Pretorius driving a T140 and again in 1969 with John McNicol in a T142. In 1971 Frank Gardner won the British F5000 championship driving a T192, then finished the season in the new T300. In 1973 Jody Scheckter was US Formula 5000 champion finishing the season in a Lola T330. Brian Redman then won the American championship for the next 3 years driving various Lola models including the T332, t400 and T332C. Bob Evans won the British championship in 1974 at the wheel of a T332 and Teddy Pilette won the British Championship in 1975 driving a T400. Warwick Brown took the 1975 Tasman Series in a T332The Australians CAMS Gold Star series was won in 1976 by John Leffler in a T400, in 1979 by Johnnie Walker in a T332 and 1980 by Alfredo Costanzo in a T430 while the New Zealand Gold Star was won in 1975 by Graeme Lawrence in a T332 and Ken Smith in 1976 in another T332.

The company went in to administration on 22nd May 2012 and 37 people were made redundant with immediate effect from Lola cars international Ltd. The administrators have welcomed significant interest from Tom Belso Radio Luxemburg Lola T330 Race of Champions, Brands Hatch 1973 Š Pete Austin potential buyers.

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© Pete Austin

© Mick Herring

Mike De Udy Lola T70 MkIII Brands Hatch Guards Trophy 1968

Lola’s first Formula 1 car, the 1961 Lola Mk3 © Mick Herring

© Simon Wright

European 2 litre Sports Car Championship Lola T210 driven here by Graham Adelman at the 2012 Martini Trophy, Silverstone

Can Am Lola T160 of Tommy Walker three wheeling through Devils Elbow at Mallory

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© Simon Wright

© Pete Austin

© Janet Wright

Lola B10/60 Coupe - Toyota LMP1 of Belicchi/BoullionSilverstone 6 hours 2011

1971 Formula 2 1600cc Lola T240 driven here by Tim Barrington at 2012 Donington Historic Festival

The 1976 Le Mans Lola T380 of Alain de Cadenet and Chris Craft

© Simon Wright

© Janet Wright

The winning Red Ball Special Lola T90 as driven by former World Champion Graham Hill to victory in 1966 Indianapolis 500

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© Simon Wright

1975 Formula Atlantic Lola T360 driven here by Daniel Glanz at the Donington Historic Festival 2012

Few people can be unaware of the suspected heart attack Frank Sytner suffered whilst driving his Lola T70 Mk3B at the Donington Historic Festival in 2011.

By Mick Herring The race, for the popular Pre-72 Sports Racing Cars, formed and continues to form part of the evocation of the great era of 1,000Km races for cars up to 5 litres.

The 66 year old (at the time), double British Touring Car Champion and former multi-BMW dealership chain boss, began his racing career in the 1970's in Formula Ford before moving on to race in Clubmans Formula sportscar championships.

Following his success in BTCC, naturally in a BMW, Frank then rose to prominence in historic car racing, both in sportscars and historic F1 cars, most notably the Penske.

Major heart bypass surgery in 2006 did little to diminish "Fearless" Frank's historic racing and having already contested three races that April Saturday in 2011, he readied himself for the what would prove to be a fateful race in the big Lola.

Starting from third on the grid for the rolling start he worked his way into the lead.

Towards the close of the 1 hour race, Frank failed to negotiate the right-hander at McLeans and hit the barriers there.

The race was stopped immediately and the medical team were quickly on hand extract962 Frank Ground Effectto Porsche Stevefrom Tandy the car and revive him at the scene of the accident.

As his subsequent recovery gathered pace, it became a question of "unfinished race and unfinished business" and regular updates each time I met Simon Hadfield, the cars preparer, confirmed that Frank had ultimately passed all of the stringent tests, set by the FIA, in order for him to regain his license. © Mick Herring The badly damaged Lola had been rebuilt by Simon Hadfield and pronounced equally fit.

So at 18.58 on Saturday 5th May 2012 Frank Sytner started his comeback race in the famous ex-Syd Taylor Lola T70. © Mick Herring This time he would share the car with Simon Hadfield, who would start this race in the similar car of Leo Voyazides.

Frank drove a strong, if steady race before handing over the car to Hadfield, Simon then made inroads into the lead of the third place Lola he had recently vacated.

All of this could have come to nought when a misunderstanding at the last chicane saw the two Lolas touch.

The number 22 Lola now had third place and Leo Voyazides had to visit the pits to change a damaged wheel but would retain fourth position.

A jubilant "Fearless" Frank Sytner had returned in triumph to what could have been his final race one year earlier.

Frank Sytner Returns To Racing

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American legend races at Donington

Ernest Nagamatsu and Scooter Patrick (right)

By Pete Austin ‘Scooter’ Patrick made a welcome visit to the Donington Historic Festival recently when he co-drove Old Yeller MkII with the cars owner Ernest Nagamatsu in the Stirling Moss Trophy for pre ’61 Sports Cars.

He was best known for driving various Porsches and Alfa Romeos for Otto Zipper in the 1960’s and 70’s with considerable success. It was © Pete Austin

© Pete Austin

Scooter Patrick in Old Yeller MkII

through Otto’s connections that he drove for the works Porsche team in 1967 and 1968. Driving a Porsche 910 to third place in the 1967 Sebring 12 hours partnering Gerhard Mitter. He again drove for the works team twice in 1968 this time in a 908. He drove at the Watkins Glen 6 hours and the Le Mans 24hrs although without success on these occasions.

In the final year of the original Can Am in 1974 he scored the last victory for a McLaren M20 Chevrolet in that series at Elkhart Lake driving a car run by U.S. Racing. ‘Scooter’ also enjoyed success in Shelby owned Toyota 2000GT’s, a Lola T70 run by James Garner’s American International Racers and F5000.

A rare opportunity arose recently at Donington to witness the rare Peugeot 905B, from 1991 - 1993, driven on track. The particular car, in the hands of Rupert Clevely, bearing the livery and nomenclature of the car that finished third at Le Mans in 1992 and 1993 when driven by Mauro Baldi, Philippe Alliot and Jean-Pierre Jabouille. © Mick Herring It accompanied it's sister cars to 1-2-3 at Le Mans in 1993.

The technically advanced Dassault carbon-fibre monocoque of the 905B, built in a Paris suburb was a radical evolution of the previous 905, mainly in it's aerodynamics and powered by a revised 80degree SA35-A2 alloy V10 engine of 3.5 litres and naturally aspirated in the manner of contemporary F1 engines.

In this form it produced c.715 bhp and revved to 12,500 rpm.

With the demise of the World Sportscar Championship, for 2004 Peugeot turned it's attentions to F1 and became engine suppliers to McLaren with a 905 engine which required little adjustment to meet F1 rules. After this unsuccessful venture into F1, they left to concentrate on the World Rally Championship and would not return to sportscars again until 2007. By Mick Herring.

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Free AA assistance for all Festival travellers.

© Janet Wright

The AA is offering complimentary breakdown assistance for everyone attending the Silverstone Classic powered by the AA. During the 3 days of the event anyone requiring assistance within the Silverstone car parks and surrounding roads within a 2 mile radius will be able to call 0800 072 3642 for free help between 8am on Friday 20th until 8pm on Sunday 22nd of July 2012. Any one outside the 2 mile radius will be offered the chance to join the AA on the spot and receive immediate roadside rescue.

Win Percy at Donington Spotted at the Donington Historic Festival were Win Percy and 91 year old Norman Dewis, a former Jaguar test driver (Left). Win was interested in his old TWR Jaguar XJS currently driven by Alex Buncombe and Gary Pearson. Win is currently able to walk with sticks following being © Mick Herring

© Mick Herring

paralysed from the waist down after a medical error caused by back surgery that went wrong in 2003 after a garden accident.

Percy, currently 68, has been British Touring Car champion 3 times and won various races teamed with Tom Walkinshaw in the Jaguar XJS including the Spa 24 hours in 1984.

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Fast lady now using car!

Chemmy Alcott is used to traveling at high speed as an Olympic downhill skier. Five times British National Champion, 29 year old Chemmy is now switching her skies for a Morgan sports car at the Silverstone Classic where she will compete in the Celebrity race. Clocked at 92 mph on skis, she would like to double that speed on four wheels. She has just passed her official ARDS test at Silverstone, and is now a fully fledged MSA competition license holder. She is pictured below at the recent Silverstone Classic media day where she tried sitting in an old Lola single seater to pose for pictures. © Simon Wright

Chevron B31 Wednesday 9th May By Mick Herring If that was only 60%, I can only imagine how my ride in that Chevron would be on a warm, dry day, complete with slick tyres.

The Chevron in question was a 1975 B31 sports racer, fitted with a 4 cylinder Hart 420R, 2 litre engine, piloted

by James Dodd, who shares the car with his highly experienced father, Graeme. It is easy to forget how fast the two litre cars were in period, often worrying the bigger cars on the tighter circuits, utilising their light(er) weight and nimble handling to the maximum. It would also be interesting to compare the Chevron to the earlier, big-banger coupes I've ridden in.

Another first for me would be riding down the expansive Silverstone Wing F1 pitlane.

Once strapped into the tight confines of the open cockpit you get a tingle and buzz down your spine as the eager, solid-mounted engine bursts into life immediately behind you. As the revs rise the engine becomes smoother and we exit the pitlane, always a menacing time as you see "Armco" barriers and fencing slip closely by before you © Simon Wright reach the open track, but this time, substitute a huge wall of black steel and concrete on either side as you gather speed up the steep incline and into the daylight beyond Abbey. On a cold damp day like today, where slicks would have, possibly, been the better of the borderline options, we accelerated hard around the left hand curve at Farm before braking for the "Arena" section, as we reached the wide, uphill, Loop we came up behind a "Sebring" MGC GT, towering above us. James tucked the nose virtually underneath it's rear valance and it was obvious how docile the powerful Hart engine is as we followed the big MG towards the Wellington Straight and then unleashed all of it's 275 bhp. Early on the brakes, as the last thing we needed was to "chunk" the wet tyres and head into the gravel trap, thus stopping the session. Now to negotiate the "Complex", where you can feel the huge mechanical grip, before the speed along the next straight leading to Copse. In clear air, the car's considerable "aero" is demonstrated by how solid it feels on the track and © Simon Wright how much the air flowing over you wants to pull your helmet off.

Speaking to James afterwards, he said "you only realise how much aero grip you have, when you come up close behind another car and it all disappears".

The blast down the Hangar Straight really see's the engine scream all the way to 9,000 rpm, repeated in each gear, reaching an estimated 150+ mph before braking for Stowe. The level of sophistication reached by 1975 and in these cars, is witnessed by the minute adjustments in steering and throttle that would bring about instant, but communicated, transitions from understeer to oversteer. Make no mistake though, instant and precise reactions are required to keep the compact Chevron pointing the right way.

As precise and rewarding to drive as the contemporary single seaters, with which they shared many of the the engine, gearbox, suspension components and other systems but often faster due to their superior aerodynamic performance.

Another equally enjoyable lap followed, re-inforcing why the sophistication Classic and Competition Car June 2012

© Janet Wright

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and progression of British sportscars continues to lead the world of motor racing.

As for a comparison between these and the the "big bangers", the only thing I can think of is, toffee hammer to club hammer. Both equally effective in the right circumstances. Oh, and I can still visualise, with affection, being able to count the rivets that held the rear valance on that big green MGC from my privileged seat.

My thanks to James and Graeme Dodd for making another valuable part of my education complete.

Sons pay tributes to their fathers

© Pete Austin © Simon Wright

58 FIA MGB’s will contest the official MGB50 celebration race at MGLive! On Saturday 23rd June 2012 The 62nd meeting by the MG Car Club at Silverstone, MGLive! 2012 will see a 50 minute race for FIA specification MGB sports cars to celebrate the 50th anniversary of this iconic British sports car. MGLive is the Worlds largest MG event and attracts 20,000 enthusiasts from all over the World.

There will be two further events to celebrate the MGB 50th anniversary, another race at the Silverstone Classic meeting in July, and a gathering at Blenheim Palace in September.

Former works driver Paddy Hopkirk will present the awards to the winners of the MGB50 Celebration race.

Beverley and Chris Phillips MG B at Silverstone International Trophy meeting

Classic and Competition Car June 2012

The Silverstone Classic will dedicate two races to two of our respected drivers who have recently passed away. To celebrate this fact, their sons appeared at the recent Silverstone Classic media day and posed with their fathers famous cars.

The Peter Gethin Memorial Trophy for Formula 2 and Formula 5000 cars (1960-70’s) will honour the man who won two British F5000 titles in 1969 and 1970 plus the Tasman series in 1974.

He also used a Formula 5000 car to upstage several Grand Prix teams at the annual Race of Champions at Brands Hatch in 1973. Peter Gethin is also remembered for winning the closest ever Grand Prix, the Italian at Monza in 1971 in a BRM. The Alan Mann Trophy for Under 2 litre Touring cars (1960-70s) will pay tribute to Alan Mann who set new standards in race car preparation that earned his team official backing from Ford which made it the team to beat in British and European Touring car racing in the late 1960’s.

Both mens’ sons were present at the Silverstone Classic media day. Nick Gethin was with the McLaren M10 that his father drove, while Henry Mann will drive in the Under 2 litre Touring Car race in one of his fathers iconic red and gold Ford Lotus Cortinas.

Both said how proud their fathers would have been to have this tribute paid to them

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Donington Historic Festival

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

© Pete Austin

Paul Knapfield Ferrari 512M in the 1000 pre 72 Sports Racing Cars

Back for it’s second year, the Historic Festival is already proving popular with the car enthusiasts. The 12 race program over the two days gave the fans a chance to enjoy every type of Historic motor sport, including Historic © Simon Wright Karting on the Melbourne loop behind the paddock. This year there was a large turnout of 54 Car clubs displaying around one thousand members vehicles on the infield area of the circuit. Event organiser Duncan Wiltshire was very happy with the success of the meeting and reported that visitor numbers were up on last year. One of the high-lights for the fans was the appearance of Sir Stirling Moss on the Sunday to demonstrate the Jaguar C Type that he drove to victory in the 1952 Reims Grand Prix for Sports Cars. (see separate news story) With over 300 cars competing, the varied race program started with the ‘Mad Jack’ race for pre-war sportscars. This proved to be an easy win for Fred Wakeman and Patrick Blakeney-Edwards in their Frazer Nash Super Sport, over 55 seconds ahead of Sue Darbyshire and Gary Caroline in the Martin Stretton hits the wall on the going to the grid lap in his F2 March 742 amazing small Morgan Super Aero 3 wheeled racer. Event organiser

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© Janet Wright

Duncan Wiltshire was entered in this race driving a 1927 Bentley Red Label with Clive Morley but unfortunately they were the first retirement from the race.

Next up were the Historic Formula 2 single seaters. These got off to a smashing start when Pole Position man Martin Stretton driving his March 742 out of the pit lane for the go to grid lap, turned left instead of straight on and shot off across the gravel and hitting the wall, smashing the nose cone off the car. This took him out of any further Formula 2 action for the rest of the weekend. The rest of the cars formed up on the grid and after a slight delay to remove the damaged March from the gravel trap, Matthew Watts from the front of the grid took a comfortable victory in his March 772 from David Gathercole in a Chevron B25.

Next out were the sweeping lines of the pre-56 Sportscars. This proved to be a demonstration that beauty can be fast with the Jaguar D Types of Carlos Monteverde and Gary Pearson winning ahead of another D Type driven by John and Gary Pearson. Yes the same driver finished 1st and 2nd! There were a couple of Maserati sports cars in the race, finishing 4th and 5th split by John Ure and Nick Wigley in their Cooper Bristol T24/T25.

Another classic Jaguar design won the next race as well. The Jaguar E-

Cottingham/Diffey BMW 328 Sport in the Mad Jack race

Type challenge gave Alex Buncombe first place ahead of Graeme © Simon Wright Dodd and Jon Minshaw.

Moving forward in time, the JD Classic challenge for 66-85 Touring Cars saw the creme of European saloons in action. Jaguar was again represented at the front of the field with an immaculate ex TWR Jaguar XJS taking on its classic rival a BMW 3.0 CSL ‘Batmobile’, a couple of TWR Rover SD1’s and the might of the Ford empire in the shape of Ford Capri’s and Escorts. This time it was the blue oval which took victory in the form of the Ford Escort RS1800 of Mark Wright and Dave Coyne leading home the Jaguar XJS of Gary Pearson and Alex Buncombe, who didn’t manage to continue their winning streak at this meeting. Bert Smeets finished on the podium with the TWR Rover SD1.

The final race on Saturday was the 1000km for pre-72 sports racing cars. This race had drawn a fantastic entry including a Ferrari 512M, a Porsche 908/2, a Matra MS650 and a pair of Porsche 910’s in addition to the regular Ford GT40‘s and hoards of Lola and Chevron Leylands finest. Anthony Robinson Triumph Dolomite Sprint & Bert Smeets TWR Rover V8 SD1.

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models which form the backbone to these races. The race also saw the return of local hero Frank Sytner who nearly died of a heart attack at this race last year (See separate story). The race duration was one hour in the dusk of the evening and saw the mighty Lola T70 MkIII of David Coplowe and Martin Stretton roar its way to victory over the superb sounding Matra MS650 of Rick Hall while Frank Sytner and Simon Hadfield managed to finish 3rd after a collision with the other Lola T70 of Leo Voyazides at the © Mick Herring chicane, which Hadfield had also driven for its first stint!

Donington Historic Festival – Day 2 by Pete Austin In a complete contrast to the weather on the previous day competitors were greeted by bright sunshine on the Sunday of the event.

Sadly the second E-Type encounter was marred by an unpleasant accident caused by oil on the pit straight.

Both David Edge and Trevor Groom were taken to hospital for checks but happily released later. Alex Buncombe took his second victory of the weekend in the red flagged race.

The enthusiastically driven Aston Martin DBR1 of Bobby Verdon-Roe sped to victory in the Stirling Moss Trophy

Russell Kempnich Porsche 956 Group C finished 8th

for Pre 61 Sports Cars. Stirling himself was present at the event demonstrating the Jaguar C-Type he raced in period and signing autographs for the many fans.

© Pete Austin

Classic and Competition Car June 2012

Reliability wasn’t the name of the game in the second Formula 2 encounter of the weekend with seven retirements clearing the way for a win by Philip Gladman’s Chevron B34. Martin Stretton again non started his March 742 which was too badly damaged after yesterdays ‘off’.

Gary Pearson was certainly having a busy weekend and in the Pre 63 GT encounter he partnered ex Grand Prix driver Jackie Oliver to a win in the fabulous yellow Ferrari 250 SWB. The Group C cars provided one of the most exciting encounters of the weekend when the raucous Aston Martin AMR1 of Andy Meyrick beat Robin Donovan’s C2 category Spice SE89 by 1.7 seconds after an hours racing including pit stops.

The final race of an excellent days racing was the U2 TC under 2 litre Touring Car encounter which was won by Simon Hadfield and Leo Voyazides in their Ford Lotus Cortina.

There are lots of extra photographs in our new on-line gallery. Click here to view E Type challenge Race 2 lap 1

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International Trophy, Silverstone 19th-20th May 2012

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

The Historic Sports Car Club (HSCC) ran the International Trophy at Silverstone with the Martini Trophy headlining the meeting. The 2 litre sports car series, now incorporating SuperSports, had a good entry for the two races. Silvio Kalb in the later model March 76S took Pole position for the Saturday race from an impressive David Gathercole in a much earlier Lola T212 on the damp track. Gathercole managed to lead the first lap before John Burton got in front in his Chevron B26. By lap 5 Kalb passed Gathercole for 2nd and chased hard after Burton for the rest of the race, finishing just 0.111 seconds behind at the flag. Gathercole was slowly dropped but still held third place at the finish. The second race on Sunday nearly had a pile up before the start when a front wheel parted company with the rest of Julian Maynard’s Chevron B52 as he rounded Luffield on the warm up lap and the cars behind nearly collided with him as they accelerated for the start of the race. This brought out the safety car at the end of the first lap, so Kalb made the best © Janet Wright

© Pete Austin

of the first lap to lead back to the safety car while Gathercole managed to hold off Doug Hart in his newer March 75S for 2nd. John Sheldon in his Lola T290 had started at the back after problems in the © Simon Wright first race, and made great progress through the field, up to 12th by the end of the first lap, but unfortunately mechanical problems forced him out on the third lap. After the Safety car was cleared Michele Liguori grabbed 2nd place in his Lola T296 which he held until the end. John Burton finished third in his Chevron after a battle with the March 75S of Doug Hart but at the end Hart only finished 5th after Gathercole took 4th place on the last lap.

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© Pete Austin © Mick Herring The European series GT and Sports Car Cup held a one hour race on Sunday.

Red Bull Grand Prix team bosses Adrian Newey and Christian Horner were entered in Adrian’s Jaguar EType and qualified 3rd Winner Leo Voyazides and Simon Hadfield AC Cobra but after leading the first lap Adrian ended up in the gravel trap and it took several laps before the car was extracted meaning the car finished last, 4 laps behind the winner. Pole Newey leads on the first lap down the Hanger Straight position was taken by the E-Type of Clark and Fiskin but after Adrian went © Mick off another Herring E-Type of O’Connell © Janet Wright and Hodges took the lead. It did not take long before the AC Cobra of Voyazides and Hadfield swept in to the lead which they basically held till the end to take victory by just over 8 seconds from the E-Type of Clark and Fiskin after an hour of racing. The GT3 class was © Simon Wright

Adrian Newey and Christian Horner before the race

The three Morgan Plus 4 SLR’s in formation with class winners Emberson and Wykeham at the front

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won by Emberson and Wykeham driving one of three superb Morgan Plus 4 SLR models. Williams and Newall won the GT2 class in the unusual Alfa Romeo Gulia TZ while the GT1 class was taken by the Lotus Elite of Jacobsen and Jacobsen. The Maserati 250S of Bond and Fell took SP2 while SP1 was won by Trouillard and Rondoni in the classic Lotus 11.

© Simon Wright

The other feature series at the meeting was the Derek Bell Trophy for single seaters. This did not have a very big entry, but what it lacked in quantity it made up for in quality. Simon Hadfield grabbed Pole position in the STP Trojan T101 and led Michael Lyons off from the start in the first race though Michael led by the end of the first lap in his Lola T400. Unfortunately Hadfield headed for the pits after only three laps, not to be seen again. This left Frank Lyons in the Gurney Eagle chasing his son, who pulled away to win by over 1 minute. Jamie Brashaw was first of the Formula 2 cars home in his March 782. The second race later in the day saw Frank Lyons give Michael a lesson in how to race by leading for the first three laps with Michael in his wheel tracks before Michael passed to lead tp the flag making it another Lyon 1-2 finish. Jamie Brashaw was again the first F2 car home, this time taking 3rd overall. © Mick Herring Leo Voyazides had a good day winning the Historic Lyon’s family day out. Mother Judy Lola T332 about to be lapped by husband Frank’s blue Touring Car Gurney Eagle and son Michael‘s red and white Lola T400 race in his Ford Falcon as well as the European GT and Sports Car Cup race. Dan Cox grabbed the lead on the first lap in his Ford Lotus Cortina but the power of the Ford Falcon in the hands of Voyazides gave him the lead on the second lap and Cox had to chase him all the way to the flag.

Classic Formula 3 saw Benn © Pete Austin Simms take an easy win in his March 803B and Ian Jones took the Classic Racing car race in his Lotus 59. The Formula Junior field Cooper T59 battle between F Junior winner Jon Milicevic and Sam Wilson. was split into two races with Jack Woodhouse winning the first race in an Elva 100 while the second race was taken by Jon Milicevic in a Cooper T59.

The Guards Trophy was split into two races on the Saturday, with the Sports Racing Cars event won by Fleming driving a Chevron B8 while the GT race was won by Whitaker in a TVR Griffith.

The 70’s Roadsports and Historic Roadsports were combined into a single race which was won by Tooms in his Lotus Elan giving the Historic Roadsports a very narrow victory of just 0.265 seconds from Plant in his Morgan Plus 8, the first of the 70’s Roadsports cars. The Historic Formula Ford race was won by Mitchell in a Merlyn Mk20 from Grant in another Merlyn Mk20a by just 0.129 of a second.

The meeting again provided a wide spread of historic racing which showed the depth of talent present in this type of racing and proved to be a worthwhile meeting for the title the International trophy.

There are extra photographs in our new on-line gallery. Click here to view

Rainer Becker Porsche 910 Guards trophy

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Š Mick Herring

Thoresby Classic Car and Motor Cycle Show 7th May

By Mick Herring

The Classic Car and Motorcycle Show at Thoresby Hall in north Nottinghamshire takes place twice a year, traditionally on the first May Bank Holiday Monday and again on August Bank Holiday Monday. Always well attended, in beautiful surroundings and a firm fixture in the show calendar, these shows traditionally attract a large following from the surrounding counties of Leicestershire, Derbyshire, Lincolnshire, Yorkshire and beyond. The local motor clubs are always strongly represented with partisan followers from TVR, Capri, other Ford, Triumph, classic American and just about any other owners club you would care to name.

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Classic and Competition Car June 2012

Š Mick Herring

Š Mick Herring

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I don't think I've ever seen so many diverse classic Minis assembled outside a specific Mini show than were here today.

The motorcycles always amaze and personally I've never seen a Dunelt before.

Star of the show for me, apart from the huge pink Cadillac, so over the top it deserves recognition, was another American car, the 1914 Saxon, thought to be the 2nd oldest survivor.

Requiring petrol to be poured into the cylinders before it could be Š Mick Herring started and it's primitive but effective open steering box on full view, it dwarfed the Austin 7 alongside and featured a lever on the floor, begging the question about its purpose, which turned out to be for bypassing the exhaust silencer in mountain regions and so removing any restriction to aid it climbing steep gradients. At $395, it was $100 less than a model T Ford and in 1917 was USA's seventh largest automobile manufacturer but by 1922 it was gone forever.

With heavy rain forecast the judging of all of the categories was hurried through in dry conditions by the organisers and everyone went away happy and still dry.

Lets hope the weather improves in August.

© Mick Herring

© Mick Herring Vauxhall Cresta PB

Citroen 2CV underneath

© Mick Herring Reliant 3 wheeler van

© Mick Herring Pink Cadillac

There are extra photographs in our new on-line gallery. Click here to view

Classic Competition Car June 2012 © Janet and Wright

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Archive Picture By Pete Austin In the 1960's and 1970's it was common place for Grand Prix stars to mix it with up and coming drivers in the F2 category. The so called 'graded' drivers though would not be eligible for championship points. This is a good example being the Alcoa International Trophy held at Crystal Palace in 1970.

The field is shown here approaching North Tower corner with amongst others, Jochen Rindt (Lotus 69) leading Clay Regazzoni (Tecno), Jackie Stewart (1 Brabham BT30), Francois Cevert (Tecno), Carlos Reutemann (11- Brabham BT30), Graham Hill (21 - Lotus 69), Alan Rollinson (18- Brabham BT30), Derek Bell (12 - Brabham BT30) and Tesu Ikuzawa (25 - Lotus 69). The race itself was won by Jackie Stewart. Š Pete Austin

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Š Mick Herring

GT Cup Donington Park

By Mick Herring.

Bob Berridge Aquila took the first race, here chased by Martin Short Mosler Super GT and Benji Hethingtons’s Nissan GT-R GT3

A dry blustery Saturday at Donington, the opening race of the 2012 GT Cup Championship saw Bob Berridge's spectacular Aquila take victory after a hard fought race.

Ongoing parts supply problems denied the debut of Jim Geddie's McLaren but a quality field of 16 would take the start and a storming launch from fourth on the grid saw Derek Johnston's black/lime green Ferrari 458 Challenge take the lead around the outside of Redgate and extend to three tenths by lap one's end.

Johnston held the lap until lap 3 when the recovering Aquila swept past down the fast Craner Curves, he succumbed to pressure from Martin Short's Mosler on lap 5 and to Freddie Hetherington's Nissan GT-R GT3 on lap 8.

Now clear of the field the yellow Aquila opened an increasing gap over Martin Short Rollcentre Mosler Super GT and didn't slow until his final lap to win by 7.6 seconds, setting the fastest lap in the process.

A fight back by Derek Johnston would see him get the final podium place in Group 1 after re-passing Hetherington's white Nissan on lap twelve and defending his position until the twenty lap race was complete.

Kevin Riley, his first race for two years, brought his Mosler MT900GT in 5th ahead of Michael Saunders' TVR Cerbera fresh from it's winter rebuild.

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Group 2 honours and 7th overall went to Peter Smallwood's Porsche 997 GT3, securing his place at the first corner when Harry Whale suffered an off that would see his Porsche retire and in spite of Don Grice's BMW mounting a comeback mid race.

Group 3 victor would be Lee Mowle's Ginetta G50 in 8th. © Mick Herring Jordan Witt's Jordan Witt Fire out and suspension broken Chevron GT3 suffered front suspension problems that would see him deep in the last chicane gravel trap and a dash back to Cheshire for some new wishbones to be fabricated overnight.

Race 2 In contrast to the conditions of the previous day, Sunday would dawn wet and rain would continue to fall throughout the day.

Neither the Aquila nor the TVR would take the start of this race, both citing engine problems, the BMW of Don Grice would also be a non-starter today.

But in the end the Nissan GT-R GT3 of Benji Hetherington would claim it's first worldwide win. © Mick Herring © Mick Herring

Harry Whale Porsche 997 GT3 retired on the first lap.

Derek Johnston, still recovering from his hip replacement operation, made another strong start to claim second at Redgate and then first, from Short, as they slowed for the chicane at the end of lap 1.

A spin two corners later, at Hollywood, would see him waste three laps whilst he was extracted from the gravel trap.

Despite a spirited defense Martin Short would relinquish his lead to the Nissan on lap 6 at the Old Hairpin.

Harry Whale's Porsche 997 GT3, repaired from yesterday, finished 3rd (1st in Group 2) after an entertaining race long battle with Dan Stringfellow's BMW M3.

The big BMW could be seen struggling to put it's power down in the conditions and took the final podium place in Group 1.

Lee Mowle took group 3 victory again and 5th overall.

Benji Nissan GT-R GT3 an Hetherington

scored

historic first win in the second

race

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© Mick Herring

Race 3 Having scored their worldwide first win for Nissan, JMH were mindful of the current spares shortage for the GT-R GT3 and elected not to run the car in race 3.

With twelve starters and a mild let up in the weather Derek Johnston was determined not to repeat his previous mistake and took victory by nearly 1 second despite unrelenting pressure from Martin Short's Mosler.

The start would see Nick Whale lead Martin Short and Johnston into Redgate but a determined Johnston claimed 2nd and then 1st before lap 1 was complete.

Short passed Nick Whale and sped off after Johnston eating into his lead as the track dried, the duo taking turns at posting fastest lap.

With only five minutes left the rain made it's return and the Mosler driver sensed one last chance to snatch victory but Johnston hung on and raised a triumphant arm out of the window as he took the flag.

Nick Whale came in 3rd nearly 52 seconds adrift, 1st in group 2, with Lee Mowle 4th and 1st in group 3 ahead of Kevin Riley's Mosler and Jordan Witt's Chevron.

Peter Smallwood, Colin Broster and Chris Bentley brought their Porsches in from 7th to 9th.

There are extra photographs in our new on-line gallery. Click here to view

© Mick Herring

Derek Johnston Ferrari 458 Challenge won the 3rd race © Mick Herring

Kevin Riley’s Mosler finished 5th in the 3rd race

Lee Mowle Ginetta G50 4th in the 3rd race

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The Veskanda By Pete Austin Rare Group C Veskanda debuts at Donington The rare Australian Veskanda Group C car made its European debut at the recent Donington Historic Festival in the hands of Paul Stubber.

© Pete Austin

The car made its debut at Calder, the fifth round of the 1985 Australian GT/ © Pete Austin Sports car championship. Up to this point, Terry Hook’s Lola T610 and Chris Clearihan’s Kadicha had been the cars to beat. The Veskanda beat them both first time out. The car was unbeaten in the Australian Sportscar Championship in 1985-7 in the hands of John Bowe. Due to its domination, the aim of the team was not just to win but to break the lap record at every circuit, which they also achieved, with a couple of outright lap records in the process, at Surfers Paradise and Calder Raceway in 1986. They then made an appearance in the 1988 FIA World Sports Prototype Championship at Sandown Park. On that occasion Dick Johnson co-drove with Bowe. After qualifying 8th in that event, the car was disqualified in the race for exceeding the fuel allowance.

The car was the idea of Adelaide commercial photographer Bernard van Elsen and built by K&A Engineering which had been set up by Elfin race engineer Dale Koennecke and Harry Aust. The car has a monocoque tub made of aluminium with honeycomb ground-effects venturis and bulkheaded side pontoons for added stiffness. The car was built to comply with both Group C and IMSA regulations so the car could be raced in America. Where the two sets of regulations differed, K&A took the more conservative requirements. So the double front bulkhead and double rollover hoop came from the IMSA rules while the laminated windscreen and 100 litre fuel cell were required under Group C regulations. The car was powered by a 6000cc Chevrolet V8. The name Veskanda acknowledged the input of Koennecke and Aust in the project.

Run by Xtec Engineering Paul finished 5th in the race at Donington.

© Mick Herring

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© Simon Wright

VSCC Curborough Speed trials By Simon & Janet Wright. Additional photos by Mick Herring.

6th May 2012.

Curborough is a deceptive course, tight and twisty in part, but with a very long sweeping curve to start and a fast straight to finish. Due to the design of the course, it is excellent for spectators who can view most of the circuit from the spectator viewing bank and the open paddock allows everyone the chance to view these fantastic machines up close and personal. There is always a good entry for this event, held right in the heart of the country, and this year was no exception, with 11 entries in the Edwardian class.

The overall award for the fastest time of the day went to Tony Lees driving a 1925 AC/GN Cognac whose time of 37.30 seconds gained him the Curborough Trophy. Terry Crabb in a 1937 ERA R12C took the award for the fastest Pre-war car at 37.41 seconds and Robin Baker in a 1930 Hispano/Amilcar Special was the fastest Vintage car, with his 11.7 litre engine powering him round the course in 38.96

Curborough Trophy winner Tony Lees AC/GN Cognac

Mark Walker 1905 Darracq Land Speed Record Car seconds.

With nine separate classes, the early history of British motoring was on display, and many of © Janet Wright the cars were driven in a very spectacular fashion. They might be old cars, but they are driven to their limits, and sometimes just beyond, as can be seen in the videos we have from this event, links at the bottom of this article.

One of the most Fastest Pre-war car Terry Crabb 1937 ERA R12C © Mick Herring unforgettable cars seen in action is the 1905 Darracq driven by Mark Walker. This 200HP model is basically a 25 litre engine fitted to a chassis with a steering

Classic and Competition Car June 2012

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wheel and seat and not much else. It makes the most distinctive sound as © Janet Wright it is hurled around the track, often with a touch of opposite lock as it comes out of the 180 degree Fradley Hairpin on to the long Shenstone straight. Mark won the Edwardian Class, setting a new class course record of 40.95 seconds, but was only 0.11 of a second ahead of David Baker in a 1913/18 Piccard-Pictet Special. On Handicap, Richard Black in a 1903 Panhard-Levassor S4M was 1st.

Andrew Bush in a 1935 Riley TT Sprite Rep was fastest in the Standard and Modified Sports-cars up to 1500cc unsupercharged class, David Knight’s 1928 Frazer Nash Super Sport was first Vintage in class, while the similar 1927 car of Matthew Parkin was 1st on Handicap. Terry Brewster driving a 1937 Lagonda LG45 was fastest in the Standard and Modified Sports cars of 1501cc and over unsupercharged, with Mrs Jennifer © Simon Wright Lees 1920 Vauxhall Ian Baxter 1935 MG Bellevue Special runs wide out of the Fradley Hairpin 30-98 was 1st Vintage and Martin Sismey’s 1934 Alvis SP20 VDP was 1st on Handicap.

Dudley Sterry in his usual HRS Sports was fastest in the Special Sports cars and all supercharged sports cars up to 1500cc with Peter Tierney 1st Vintage in a 1928 Lea Francis Hyper S and Greg Lerigo in a 1932/35 Riley Special was 1st on Handicap. The over 1501cc class saw Gareth Graham fastest in his 1923/28 Bentley 3 /4 © Mick Herring ½ litre and also the fastest vintage, while Stephen Walley in his Roger Collings turns his 1903 Mercedes 60HP in to a lawn 1935 Alvis Robinson Special was 1st on Handicap.

The Pre 1941 racing cars were split into 4 classes. In the up to 1100cc class James Gunn was fastest in an MG Q Type replica, with Ed Swain the 1st Vintage in a 1928 Singer Junior single seater while David Asplin in a 1931 Austin 7 Ulster Replica was 1st on handicap. The 1101 to 1500cc class was dominated by Terry Crabb who also took the Fastest Pre-war car overall award. The 1st vintage award went to David Leigh in his Classic and Competition Car June 2012

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Greg Lerigo Riley Special

© Mick Herring

Andrew Oliver first ever Speed event in Riley 9

Anne Berrisford in a 1908/19 GN/JAP Grand Prix.

There are extra photographs in our new on-line gallery. Click here to view

The fabulous 1937 Alfa Romeo 8C of Charmian Black

We have 3 videos from this event.

To see the first click here http://youtu.be/s4EmK7q0e0w For the second click here http://youtu.be/4Aj7yJVtffo And for the third click here http://youtu.be/cSrkiozq5vI

© Simon Wright

Classic and Competition Car June 2012

1923 GN Spider with a new class course record of 39.03 seconds, while the Bugatti Brescia of Julian Eckersley was 1st on handicap. The 1501 to 3000cc class provided the overall fastest driver of the day Tony Lees who was also the first vintage car in class. Rod Another first timer Sarah Foster in a 1934 Austin 7 Nippy King in a 1938 Delage Special was 1st on handicap. The final class for racing cars over 3000cc was won

by Robin Baker driving a 1930 Hispano/Amilcar © Janet Wright Special who had set the fastest Vintage time of the day and a new class course record in a time of 38.96 seconds. 1st on handicap went to Miss

33

GT Cup Silverstone 12th/13th May

Š Mick Herring

By Mick Herring The second round of the Bute Motorsport GT Cup Championship Silverstone National Circuit 12th/13th May Race 1 Saturday Quality not quantity was the theme of this meeting and the quality of the racing permeated the field throughout.

As the eleven cars left the pitlane, many expected it to be a demonstration run from Martin Short's Rollcentre Mosler.

Yes, Martin won the race but victory was far from assured until the very end.

Jordan Witt's Chevron GT3 tried to go down the inside at the very first corner but Short closed his path and the aborted move saw him relinquish 2nd to Richard Chamberlain's Porsche 935 later in the lap.

The first lap order was Short, Chamberlain, Witt, Derek Johnston (Ferrari 458 Challenge) and Kevin Riley (Mosler MT900GT) in 5th.

Lap 2 would see Chamberlain's orange Porsche pass the Mosler at Brooklands and the fleet Chevron catching also.

Derek Johnston and Kevin Riley were both slipping back from the lead trio.

By lap 5, with the Chevron getting closer, Short speeded up, passing the Porsche as it faltered momentarily and then regained ground.

Classic and Competition Car June 2012

First lap Short, Witt, Johnston, Chamberlain and Riley

Sadly the next lap saw the Porsche pit lane bound with the rear of the car Š Mick Herring engulfed in flames.

The excitement was not confined to the front, the 3-way group 2 battle saw Don Grice's BMW sandwiched between the Porsches of Peter Smallwood and Harry Whale, this carried on for several laps until Whale overcame the BMW and set about an entertaining battle with Smallwood all the way to the flag.

Jordan Witt's determination was rewarded on lap 12 when he slipped by Martin Short at Becketts to take the lead.

Witt's lead lasted two laps before Short regained it at Copse and found a useful buffer in the group 2 battle they had caught, once he was through it.

Once Witt was through the group 2 cars he set off after the Mosler, Short responded and the two traded fast laps to the flag, with a half second separating them at the end of 27 laps.

The Group 1 cars of Derek Johnston and Kevin Riley completed the top four The group 2 finish was closer still, Smallwood heading Whale by 0.16 seconds, 5th and 6th overall.

Don Grice BMW 7th in the first race

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© Mick Herring

Race 2 Sunday With Richard Chamberlain's fiery Porsche repaired and Jordan Witt's Chevron developing a problem on the sighting lap which would prevent him taking the start, 11 cars would head for Copse, many with success ballast added after yesterday's race, which would play a part in the outcome especially in group 2.

This time Short kept his Mosler easily ahead but with Kevin Riley comfortably deposing the orange Porsche and Derek Johnston's Ferrari.

Riley's Mosler began to fall back as the first lap was completed as a fuel pump problem began robbing the engine of power and causing his retirement on lap 5.

A first lap lock up at Maggotts saw Lee Mowle's Ginetta G50 hit Chris Bentley's Porsche, severely delaying Bentley and prompting his own retirement.

As the race progressed the only probable challenge to Martin Short's dominance ended when Chamberlain's Porsche 935 threw a belt at 10 laps.

At the end of 27 laps Short took the flag by nearly 3 seconds from Johnston's Ferrari with the following four places taken by the group 2 cars of Don Grice (BMW), Nick Whale (Porsche 997 GT3), Peter Smallwood (Porsche 997 GT3) and David Witt (Chevron GR8).

Group 3 victor Peter Rowbottom (Ferrari 430 Spyder) finished 7th

Richard Chamberlain Porsche 935 lead the first race but did not finish

overall.

© Mick Herring

Race 3 Sunday The start of the weekend's third Bute Motorsport GT Cup race would see Martin Short take the lead he would not lose with, once again, Richard Chamberlain's Porsche 935 providing the only opposition. © Mick Herring The pair drew away from the rest until the Porsche retired 8 laps in, leaving Short with no opposition and allowing him revel in his Mosler, extending his 18 second lead to 46 seconds at the flag.

The highlight of the race was in the next two positions as Derek Johnston Lee Mowle Ginetta G50 6th and Class 3 winner race 3 Classic and Competition Car June 2012

Peter Rowbottom Ferrari 430 Spyder finished 7th in the second race and won class 3

35

fought to keep Kevin Riley's Mosler behind until they traded positions on lap 11.

Johnston regained the advantage on lap 19 after a tense battle but had to be mindful of Riley's constant presence to take 2nd by less than half a second.

Group 2 provided good racing again, this time Harry Whale leading the Porsche- BMW-Porsche trio, Don Grice in the middle again, ahead of Peter Smallwood.

Mechanical issues would drop Grice to the rear of the field allowing the two Porsches to resume their customary duel.

Group 3 honours would change hands with only four minutes remaining when Lee Mowle's Ginetta G50 took half the length of the pit straight to pass Chris Bentley's Porsche, having previously overcome his earlier mistakes, to catch and pass Rowbottom's Ferrari Spyder.

At the conclusion of 25 minutes racing, the order was Martin Short, Derek Johnston (Ferrari 458), Kevin Riley, Harry Whale (4th, 1st group 2), Peter Smallwood (5th, 2nd g2), Lee Mowle (6th, 1st group 3), Chris Bentley (7th, 2nd g3).

A trio of race wins for Martin Short, with a fastest lap for the entire meeting at 54.23 on his penultimate lap of the 1.6404 miles Silverstone © Mick Herring National Circuit, headlined the strong battles going on in the other groups.

Kevin Riley Mosler

© Mick Herring

© Mick Herring

David Witt Chevron GR8 There are extra photographs in our new on-line gallery. Click here to view

Classic and Competition Car June 2012

Martin Short in the Mosler took 3 wins out of three

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Š Simon Wright

La Vie en Bleu

By Simon & Janet Wright

Don Press 1913 Peugeot 148GP at the top of the course For one weekend a year, part of the beautiful English countryside becomes French when the Bugatti owners Club hold their annual La Vie en Bleu weekend.

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© Janet Wright

Steve Hemingway Pilbeam Ford MP50 set Fastest time of the day

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This year the weather was hot, as was the action on the hill, with a great variety of cars both competing and on display. As you would imagine, there was a great selection of Bugatti’s at the meeting, including a new Bugatti Veyron which did several very fast runs up the hill during the day.

The French theme is continued off the circuit, with various French themes all around the paddock, and the orchard is full of French cars on static display from various car clubs. There are a couple of French ‘Gendarmes’ wandering around the paddock and spectator enclosures, Can-Can dancers in the paddock, and a couple of Stilt men all adding to the flavour of the event.

Although the event has a French theme, non-French cars do take part and this year there was a class for the Morgan Three Wheeler Club to take part. Prescott is a twisty but flowing course, with no real straight, so it does not always favour the most powerful cars to be fastest to the top. It does allow a well set up car to gain maximum traction and this is what Steve Hemingway used to set fastest time of Day (FTD) in his modern Pilbeam Ford MP50 with a time of 43.24 seconds followed home by Tina Hawkes in an OMS Hornet Suzuki single seater, who was just over ½ a second slower. First of the non single seaters was the powerful Audi Quattro Sport of Mick Harriman.

Some of the Morgan Three Wheelers obviously thought that they could reduce rolling resistance, and therefore go quicker with less wheels in contact with the track as several seemed to try and take Ettore’s bend on only two wheels. As always at Prescott, there was a good contingent of Bugatti’s entered. This year was special as a Bugatti T73C made a run up the hill.

© Simon Wright

© Simon Wright

© Janet Wright

Howard Savage-Jones spun his Lola Colgan B5 - TKD YV8 at the Esses Dave Poplar in his 1950 Morgan 3 wheeler F Super enters Pardon

Tina Hawkes pushes on in her OMS Hornet Suzuki out of the Esses Mike Harriman Audi Quattro Sports

© Simon Wright Tom Dark Bugatti T59/50B at Ettore’s bend

© Simon Wright

Classic and Competition Car June 2012

© Janet Wright

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© Janet Wright

© Janet Wright

Classic and Competition Car June 2012

© Simon Wright

© Simon Wright

Top to bottom L to R Breitling Wing Walker.

Stilt walkers.

Can Can girls dancing in the paddock.

Bob Gibson Renault Alpine A110 on the hill.

Bugatti Veyron blasts off the start line.

The 3 litre engine of the 1938 Bugatti T59/50B of Tom Dark.

There are extra photographs in our new on-line gallery. Click here to view © Janet Wright

© Simon Wright

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Special Saloon/ Modsports Revival Silverstone 26th May 2012

By Mick Herring

Š Mick Herring

Simon Allaway Lotus Esprit Silhouette Special 5500 took the first race victory

The Classic Sports Car Club's initiative, last year, to revive and combine grids for Super Saloons and Modsports cars that formed the backbone of club racing in the 1970's has been well received and provided two nostalgic races today, when Silverstone's National circuit hosted the second round of the 2012 Classic and Competition Car June 2012

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Š Mick Herring

series.

As a bonus the second race even delivered the most fitting and hugely popular race win for probably the most famous and iconic Super Saloon from that era.

Race 1 was dominated by the Modsports cars and victory eventually went to Simon Allaway's Lotus Esprit Silhouette Special 5500 after a tense battle with Ian Hall's unique Darrian Wildcat T98 5300.

The Darrian (class B) posted a pole position time 1.9 secs faster than the (class A) Lotus and led for much of the race until Allaway managed to slip past and went on to win by that same margin of 1.9 secs. Third was Adrian Beer's three-wheeling (class B) MG BGT V8 4200 with David Brewis' (B) Lotus Elan 4th.

In 5th was the first Super Saloon, Peter Stevens' (A) Vauxhall Carlton 6000 with Joe Ward's (B) Baby Bertha 5700 6th.

Two Class C Modsports cars were were next up in 7th and 8th.

© Mick Herring

Joe Ward in Baby Bertha by 2.7 seconds

Race 2, with Ian Hall's Darrian Rover not scheduled to take part, was dominated by Simon Allaway's Esprit until electrical problems forced his retirement on the penultimate lap.

Following in the wheeltracks of the legend that was Gerry

Marshall, restorer and long-term custodian of Baby Bertha, Joe Ward, took a faultless and popular victory after a superb, if less exuberant © Mick Herring than Gerry would have been, drive to lead Peter Steven's Vauxhall Carlton home by a commanding 2.7 secs.

You can read in detail about my ride around Mallory Park in the iconic Baby Bertha and the CSCC's Super Saloon/Modsports Revival in the August 2011 issue of www.classicandcompetitioncar.com.

Third was Adrian Beer' orange MGB, the two litre Triumph Spitfire of Ron Harper 4th and Paul Sibley's Midget 5th.

Martin Hall's MGB Roadster 3900 was 6th ahead of the fleet Hillman Imp Spaceframe 1040 of Martin Baker. An excellent end to a good day's full grids racing, with a poignant conclusion and one which Gerald Dallas Royston Marshall would have, no doubt, approved.

There are extra photographs in our new on-line gallery. Click here to view

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Andy Wilson Mini finished 11th in the first race

© Mick Herring

© Mick Herring

Pete Edwards Ford Escort Mk2 finished 10th in the first race

Pete Stevens Vauxhall Carlton Leads Adrian Beer MGB © Mick Herring

Ron Harper Triumph Spitfire finished the first race 8th

Classic and Competition Car June 2012

© Mick Herring

Ian Hall Darrian T98 Early Lead over Simon Allaway Lotus Esprit

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© Mick Herring

© Mick Herring

Steven Moss finished 8th in the second race in his Ford Anglia

Anthony Hayes Mini 10th in the second race © Mick Herring

© Mick Herring

Bob Claxton Skoda 110R 2500 finished 9th in the second race

Martin Baker Spaceframe Imp 7th in the second race

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CSCC Swinging Sixties Gp1 and Gp2 Silverstone 26th May

By Mick Herring The largest, most diverse grid of the day was the multi-class 40 minute Swinging Sixties Gp1 and Gp2 race with mandatory pit-stop and driver change, if double driven.

The Chevrolet Camaro of Raymond Barrow took the flag by 21 secs from the Paul Conway/Ed Mercer Morgan Plus 8.

However the drive of the race came from the diminutive 1500cc Ford Anglia of Andy Yool who, having suffered a fuel related and not totally cured misfire, proceeded to comprehensively carve his way through the field from the back of the grid to third, spending much of the time waving a front wheel in the air.

He would finish a lap down from the two big bangers in front and 22.8 secs ahead of the swift Mini Cooper of Richard and Martin Wager. © Mick Herring

There are extra photographs in our new on-line gallery.

Click here to view

Raymond Barrow Chevrolet Camaro wins © Mick Herring

Tim Cairns Frogeye Sprite finished 5th

Classic and Competition Car June 2012

© Mick Herring

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Andy Yool Ford Anglia back of the grid to 3rd on 3 wheels

© Mick Herring

© Mick Herring

Made in Sweden Goran Nyberg Volvo P1800S

John Leslie Reliant Sabre 6

Simon Miller Ford Mustang

Joe Ward TVR Grantura

© Mick Herring

© Mick Herring

© Mick Herring

Classic and Competition Car is published by simonwrightphotos.com E-mail simonwright57@hotmail.com Classic and Competition Car June 2012

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Richard and Martin Wager Mini Cooper S 1300 4th