Pace notes -- your guide to what's coming up
Chevron’s Oulton celebration — HSCC Oulton Park Gold Cup, August 28-29
An unparalleled celebration of the Chevron marque is the centrepiece of the HSCC’s Gold Cup meeting over the August Bank Holiday weekend. As many as 80 Chevrons will take part in dedicated races as the marque’s 40th anniversary season comes to a high point.
Such has been the demand for places in the unique Chevron-only races that three have been planned. One grid will be for single-seaters, with the sportscars sub-divided to accommodate entries from all over Europe. Brian Redman, a works driver in period, will return to his home circuit to drive the B16 in which he won the Nürburgring 500km in 1969 and possibly a B42 Formula Two car.
Other leading runners include B26s for John Burton and Gareth Burnett, B16s for Jon Minshaw, Sean Walker and Irvine Laidlaw, and Richard Piper’s B31.
The Gentlemen Drivers movement will make its debut at the Cheshire track, while 1950s sportscars are well represented by the penultimate round of the BRDC Historic Sportscar series. A full programme of races for the HSCC championships completes the programme from Historic Racing Saloons to Historic FF1600.
Sunday has a midday start while Monday has more qualifying during the morning followed by a full afternoon’s racing. This includes two Chevron races, Gentleman Drivers GT and Sports, BRDC Historic Sports and the HSCC’s Derek Bell Trophy, as well as Historic Racing Saloons, Historic FF1600 and Classic Sports contests.
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GT40s to the fore –Tour Britannia, September 5-8
Over four days in early September the inaugural Tour Britannia will pit around 50 classic sports and saloons through a mix of races and Tarmac special stages.
Seasoned rally organiser Fred Gallagher has created an event with races at Cadwell Park, Silverstone and Rockingham joining timed tests at hill and speed venues Shelsley Walsh, Loton Park and Curborough.
As well as 50 cars in the competitive event, another dozen or so will contest a regularity rally over the same route. Heading the entry are three Ford GT4Os for Ray Bellm, Adrian Newey and Richard Meins: Bellm will start as pre-event favourite. However the Chevrons of Michael Schryver (B6) and Chris Chiles (B8) are expected to excel.
“We’re delighted with the quality and diversity of the entry,” says Gallagher, who plans to make the Tour an annual event on the British historic calendar.
A strong contingent of European-based competitors is also entered. From Spain will come Le Mans veteran John Sheldon with his Lotus Elan. Having already won the French and Spanish equivalents, Sheldon is now aiming to complete the set by winning Tour Britannia. John Hugenholtz (Mustang GT350) and Pietro Silva (De Tomaso Pantera) are other leading visitors.
Among the older cars are the Alfa Romeo P3 of Roger Saul, the Jaguar C-type of Neil Hadfield and the Ferrari 250GT SWB of Ned Spieker.
Tour Britannia is based in Stratford-upon-Avon and returns there each night, with several venues being made available for spectators. Monday’s leg (September 5) includes Belvoir Castle (9am) and Cadwell Park (11am). On Tuesday, the action centres on Rockingham (10.15am), for both a sprint and a race, while Wednesday’s route heads west to include Shelsley Walsh (8.30am), Loton Park (11.30am) and Curborough (2.45pm). The event concludes with races at Silverstone from 9am on Thursday. More details from www.tourbritannia.com
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Sunbeams to shine at Tourist Trophy Centenary, September 7-12
A re-enactment of the 1905 Tourist Trophy on the original 57-mile Isle of Man circuit on Saturday September 10 will mark the centenary of the first running of the famous race. Cars from the early years of the event will tour the road circuit as part of four days of celebration for the evocation.
Prior to the run on the main circuit, cars will take part in a sprint on the Ramsey sea front and a hillclimb on the spectacular section of the Tourist Trophy course that climbs out of Ramsey on the mountain road.
Oldest car set for the event is a 1903 Darracq, with around 25 cars dating back to before WWI also entered. Of note are no fewer than seven Sunbeams from 1913-14, while around 15 Bentleys will represent the1920s and ’30s.
The hillclimb will run on the morning of Thursday (September 8), taking in the Hairpin and the Gooseneck, while the TT Heroes Sprint in Ramsey will run on Friday from around 10am.
Saturday’s re-enactment of the 1905 race will start and finish at the TT Grandstands in Douglas, which is also the venue for the Isle of Man Motor Show.
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Red is the colour — VSCC See Red: Donington Park September 3-4
At least 10 Maserati 250Fs taking part in a dedicated race for the Italian marque will be the main attraction at the VSCC’s See Red meeting at Donington Park.
The iconic 250F will be celebrated during two full days of racing, with several examples on display as well as those racing in the hands of drivers including Mark Hales, Jose Albuquerque and German brothers Josef and Stephan Rettenmaier. The Maserati race will top Sunday’s programme, with the collection of 250Fs demonstrated each day.
The VSCC Historic and Vintage Seaman Trophy races will be another feature of Sunday, with a fine grid for the historic race including half a dozen ERAs and the Alfa Romeo P3s of Roger Saul and Tony Smith. It will be almost exactly 70 years since Smith’s car won the inaugural Donington Grand Prix.
A double-header for the Group C/GTP series will be headed by the Nissan RC9OK of Charlie Agg and Brands Hatch double winner David Mercer (Spice SE90C).
Other significant races include the Flockhart Trophy for front-engined Grand Prix Cars and an HGPCA Pre-65 Grand Prix car race. Sportscars of the 1950s will contest an HGPCA ‘drum-brake’ race. Running into the evening on Saturday will be a two-hour pre-war sportscar team relay race. As in the successful 2004 race, teams of four cars and drivers representing many marques will battle for glory.
Racing is from 1.30pm each day, with adult admission costing £15 per day, or £13 if booked in advance on 01608 644777.
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Bugs to fly despite Angoulême doubts — Circuit des Remparts, September 17-18
With increasing political pressure on the future of the event, the 2005 Circuit des Remparts in the French city of Angoulême could be the last running, at least in the present format.
Held over the weekend of September 17-18, it’s a mix of races and high-speed demonstrations around the historic walled city. The 13-kilometre course is unchanged since Raymond Sommer won the first running in 1939.
A race dedicated to Bugattis is at the core of the programme, with qualifying and racing held throughout Sunday. In 2004 such was the support for the Bug race that the field was split into two.
A grid of Frazer Nashes is another popular element of the programme, with many of the cars travelling from the UK. In ’04, Colin Pearcy won in his Le Mans Rep.
New for 2005 is a race for front-engined Formula Juniors, as the category marks its Angoulême debut. Tony Goodwin heads the entry in his Gemini, but will be challenged by Michael Ashley-Brown (Volpini) and Frenchman Olivier de Boucheron in his Stanguellini.
Supporting the racing will be a touring rally, held on Saturday, while the cars competing on Sunday will run in a demonstration on Saturday morning.
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Race Programme — check out where the action is…
August:
When & where: 28/29, Oulton Park
What: Gold Cup meeting, including Chevron races, HGPCA drum-braked sports, BRDC Historic Sports cars. Admission £12
Contact: Tel: 01829 760301; www.motorsportvision.co.uk
September:
When & where: 3/4, Le Mans
What: Le Mans story meeting on the Bugatti circuit with Grand Prix Masters
Contact: www.grandprixmasters.org
When & where: 3/4, Donington
What: VSCC See Red meeting with Maserati HGPCA races and Group C/GTP. Admission £15
Contact: Tel 01608 644777; www.vscc.co.uk
When & where: 3/4, Magny Cours
What: TGP, Jochen Rindt F2 Trophy
Contact: www.tgp-f1.com
When & where: 5-8, various
What: Tour Britannia, race/rally event for historic sports, GT and saloon cars. Admission: Depending on venue
Contact: Tel 01295 268888; www.tourbritannia.com
When and where: 7-12, Isle of Man
What: Tourist Trophy Centenary, including a run on the 57-mile original TT circuit. Admission: Free
Contact: www.visitisleofman.com
When & where: 10, Thruxton
What: HSCC race meeting. Admission £10
Contact: Tel 01264 882200; www.barc.net
When & where: 17/18, Angoulême
What: Circuit des Remparts race meeting
Contact: www.circuit-des-remparts.org
When & where: 16/18, Goodwood
What: Revival Meeting — see full preview on page 52
When & where: 23-25, Spa Francorchamps (B)
What: Classic Six Hours of Spa, with a fabulous line-up including GPM, Gentleman Drivers, HGPCA, Pre-War Sports and Top Hat races
Contact: www.spa-francorchamps.be
When & where: 23-25, Brands Hatch
What: FIA World Championship for Thoroughbred GP cars. Admission £35
Contact: Tel 01474 872331; www.motorsportvision.co.uk
When & where: 25, Loton Park
What: VSCC hillclimb. Admission £10
Contact: www.vscc.co.uk