Spice of life

Variety is what you get in an HSCC paddock. Whilst modern meetings are often filled with series and championships dominated by a single marque, historic racing is different You could see this at the HSCC’s season opener at Donington Park recently. The paddock was bulging at the seams with an entry of nearly 300 cars for the nine-race programme. A quick run through that programme showed cars ranging from a formula one March 761 and a half dozen F5000s in the “Duo” Derek Bell Trophy to a grid including Camaros, Mustangs, Healey 3000s, and a diminutive Ginetta G4 in the “School Garage” Historic Roadsports race. Petite Elva 100s in Millers Oils Formula Junior contrasted with a rumbling Corvette Stingray in Classic Sports Cars. Part of the delight of a club like the HSCC is that, be you a driver, marshal or spectator a typical race-day really does have something for nearly every taste. HSCC members like “nice and proper” historic cars and this makes the paddock an interesting and friendly place to be.

After Donington the HSCC times championships head off to beautiful Cadwell Park on Sunday 23rd April. Classic F3 and Derek Bell Sport Trophy don’t make the trip but the Club is joined at this event by an attractive grid from the JEC XK Jaguar series. This circuit, some times referred to as a mini-Nürburgring, is looking better under the care of Motor Sport Vision and HSCC cars look great in the parkland setting.

Next comes the big Brands Hatch HSCC ‘Superprix’ over the weekend of May 6/7. This is Britain’s oldest historic meeting. This year the ‘Superprix’ presents not just the packed HSCC championship programme but also three generations of Formula 1 from HGPCA and the Masters series. There are races for classic front-engined and later rear-engined pre-1961 cars, fleet footed cigar shaped pre-1966 and awesomely fast 3-litre pre-1978 cars. Marques are likely to include, Maserati, ERA, Cooper, Lotus, Brabham, McLaren, BRM, Hesketh and Tyrrell and many more. Add to this races for pre-1974 Le Mans sports racers and sports prototypes from Porsche, Ferrari, Lola and Alfa Romeo and this should be a great weekend of racing.

At Silverstone on May 20/21 the Club will be celebrating its 40th Anniversary. There will be lots of longer racing for the members. Centre stage in the programme will be a re-creation of the HSCC’s very first 1966 Griffiths Formula race and the Club will be encouraging members past and present to come along and join in the fun. Add in races for the newly formed European F2 series and it should be a most enjoyable occasion.

If you want to spice up your motor racing life and the HSCC sounds like your sort of Club why not come along to one of the meetings or contact Grahame, Martin or Emma at the Club office on 01327 858400 or visit the website at: www.hscc.org.uk