Silverstone 'Classic' Festival 09 - The Event

[brands]

The access to garages and paddocks on the Friday was the highlight of my 3 days. Around every corner there was another iconic car and we spent many hours with our jaws dragging on the floor.

As to the on track action, apart from the Minis, every race worked for me.
My picks would be the World Masters and the pre '63 races but there were fine racing throughout them all.

I thought the crowd sizes on Friday and Saturday were around the 2008 levels but Sunday seemed very quiet. I suppose with ticket prices being so high Saturday, with 9AM-9PM racing plus a 90 minute gig, was better value than Sundays offering.

[Zola]

[Zola]

[Mike Bell]

Last year I attended the Classic as a (very willing) helper and this year returned with 2 cars and 4 races of my own to do- a big jump, and one I certainly couldn't have coped with without enormous help from friends- so thanks to all of them!

'Team North Walsham' arrived for testing thurs to find half of car 'tents' not erected, and of course they were the ones where 2 cars needed to be. Thankfully James (Paterson) let me move enough stuff out of my van into his Dastle so I could dash to Leominster to collect all the Gilbern OC Archive pics for display with the GT. On return the tents still weren't finished and it wasn't 'till 6pm we could start to get cars and spares in. Having had a very hectic 2 days beforehand my patience was running thin.....

First thing friday there was still all other stuff to unload including massive toolbox so it was the final straw when arriving at the same place to be told that entry to the area behind pit garages (where we were) was now forbidden for the rest of the weekend. As steam came out of my ears arriving vans with competing cars on trailers queued up behind to be told the same thing! Eventually 'someone' had enough common sense to allow us all in 'as long as the support vehicles were removed after unloading'. Quite.

Qualifying was just that- James and Rick (Bourne) got 3 laps each in James's 11 but an intermittent misfire needed sorting before the race. (And was.) Suzanne did 4 steady laps in the Gilbern then just as I was settling in to learn the GP circuit it rained at Stowe briefly, putting paid to anything like a decent time for the car! New front discs and pads fitted to the Escort required a disciplined bedding-in process in it's 20 minute session, so that was also going to be near the back of the grid. Obviously the highlight of friday was the Delta BBQ, at which it was time to relax !!!!

With first David Leslie race at 1155 the schedule wasn't so hectic and a lot of time was spent talking to spectators checking out the cars- certainly a pleasurable task but sometimes a bit distracting. By the end of the weekend a powerpoint presentation was under consideration! The Escort with brakes transformed from their Magny Cours state was 100% and we pulled up to 15th o/a and 2nd Gp2 car behind Roger's CSL. Near the end of the 20 minutes a hestitation set in but fortunately the gap behind was big enough. When eventually back in the paddock by the tortuous route from Priory through infield (some of 90's Tourers doing 3 point turns to negotiate bends- one burnt out it's clutch and several o/heated!) the fault turned out to be loose alternator & engine earth. Unfortunately the drive belt had gone walkabout and required 2 trips into Towcester for a replacement as hadn't taken one with me.....

The 30 minute race for Pre 66 (GD) later on had me on back row with an MGB alongside and another in front- plus Abarth, TZ and Tony Gaston's Grantura which had stripped it's CWP in qualifying. The rolling start went well for me and by Copse I was past the Poole / Tuckey B and chasing in vain the TVR an 2 Italians. I could also see slowly eaking out a gap Richard Plant's Morgan and Simon O G's SLR. As happens, places were picked up as others had problems or 'incidents' and we finished behind the +4 and SLR, ahead of the Italians, MGB and a Corvette. Highlight of race was following the Minshaw / Stretton E through Maggotts / Becketts and admiring the car control, plus after almost ramming a Cobra who cut me up going into Abbey, seeing him spin at Luffield.....

Sunday BRDC sportscar race started well for James and the 11 picked up several places before a sudden spin on his own coolant and lots of steam suggested something had come adrift in the cooling system. Sadly race over.

Suzanne started with the Gilbern in the 45 minute Pre 66 race and kept a good pace up- but frustratingly other's were going better than saturday. After driver change I went into 'head down' mode and hauled in the Mills / Montgomery B. Somehow I also passed the Ferrao's gorgeous 275GTB without overtaking it, and the other B was behind due to an early pit-stop. Just before race end I could see it closing but fortunately it seemed to drop back when caught by leaders. I was driving the wheels off Gilbert Gilbern and apologise to any faster cars for not moving off the racing line in the twisty bits- a definite case of 'find a way round, please'! Apparantly a commentator referred to my climb to 33rd o/a as 'sything through'. Hardly, but nice that they notice what is going on at the back as well!

Straight out of Gilbern into Escort for 2nd DL race (thanks to James who Jumped in after we came in at Priory and navigated me the quick way to collecting area!) and quick adjustment on warm up lap to slicks etc. Very ragged rollling start and scary driving from some BTCC cars- 4 abreast into Abbey not on- and on lap 3 just got past the CSL (not at full pace for some reason) at Stowe and engine died going through club. Pulled into infield behind barrier so as not to cause any yellows and eventually returned to paddock under tow- Gutted! Looks like there is a blockage in tank outlet. Ironic as after w/end it was all coming out to be modified to improve supply.......

High points-
Some air time for both cars on Motors TV, a radio interview, and Jem Marsh coming over after the saturday GD race to talk about Gilberns. (He briefly owned the company.) A previous owner of Gilbert amazed at finding his old car there racing. Bumping into an old school chum hadn't seen for ten years, watching the fabulous WSM race. The BBQ.

Low points-
Toilets etc.! Having my van towed away Sunday lunchtime (after being parked in same place all w/end with pass including mobile number as required!) Other lack of common sense from officials already mentioned. Some driving standards in DLM races- Wouldn't do them again! Seeing Roger's McLaren hit the pitwall (Relieved he was OK). Having to turn down lunch invite in BRDC 'cos racing at the time!

[Steven Humphrey]

I can agree with Chris and say it was great to have so many waves from the drivers on the slow down laps-really appreciated. I was with some marshal friends waiting for the Pussycat Dolls to come on and someone approached us, asked if we were marshals and thanked us from all the drivers for our work. I can't remember his name but he was in the production Jag race, number 13 so, if you are on here, thanks for that.

Was a tiring weekend, especially Saturday but it was well worth it for the WSM race in the evening. The sight & sounds of those cars racing into dusk sends shivers down my spine!

Thought the off track activities weren't as good as previous years (I spectated on Sunday with my wife, kids & in laws), I missed the Scarf & Goggles area with the live music through the day and noted there were no vintage aircraft. Don't know what happened to the hot air balloons on Saturday either. Thought it was a bit off that some of the fairground rides charged when it was all billed as free in the programme.

All in all a good weekend and will definately be back next year.

[Zola]

[Zola]

[Zola]

[Zola]

[Dan Rear]

Originally Posted by john ruston

Ventoux on Telly.Only go there in chariot!
Off subject,Bradley and Cav ,superb.
Paul Weller lives!

Was Weller there? I heard earlier in the year he might be, but nothing more recently.

[Mike Bell]

[terence]

Originally Posted by Zola

People dont really idolize BTCC drivers,do they?

[Zola]

[zefarelly]

Originally Posted by terence bower

People dont really idolize BTCC drivers,do they?

retired BTCC drivers, and over prepared cars

So highly strung nearly 1/3 of the grid can't finish, not what I would expect from 'production' cars . . .IF they where currecnt production cars the manufacturers would be having kittens looking at reliability and the message that sends out.

over priced and over rated IMO, but obviously a success

[Teddington Ted]

We had an eventful build up to the Classic in the TR2. I decided that it would be sensible to drive it on the road to check that all was in working order. A good decision as it turned out as a bearing seized on a half shaft which led to a locked wheel and very flat spotted tyre ! Anyway, after a 400 mile round trip to fix the axle all went well on track thankfully and I thoroughly enjoyed the Woodcote Trophy race.

I had a simlilar experience to Mike though with the tents. We arrived at lunchtime on Thursday having booked a slot in the tent only to find it full. We hadn't brought the Easy Up and had a rear axle to rebuild. Can't say I was too impressed with the event's organisation at that point. If the Classic is going to be up there with Le Mans Classic and Goodwood it needs to do a much better job of making us feel well looked after as competitors. We ended up setting up camp in the support vehicle car park just as we do for a clubbie event.

I'm also not sure why they had a drivers' club (didn't seem to be much in it or going on there) and the Jimmy Brown centre which had sofas etc last year was very bare this.

There also seemed to be a disproportionate number of numpties in day-glo jackets trying to stop me from driving my support vehicle over to Dunlop to collect wheels and tyres !

However, the racing itself was great with some fantastic kit out there. I particularly enjoyed the pre 63 and Gentleman Driver races.

Mark

[zakeriath]

Originally Posted by Zola

If the driver of 31 wants his rear bumber back, its next to post 25

[Moosehead]

Excellent reports from Mike Bell and Teddinton Ted.

Couldn't make it so resigned to recording the Motors TV. I did notice after the first DL race some of the cars taking a rather convoluted route through the paddock. Was it like this for all races?

Nothing changes with officialdom then

[Mike Bell]

Originally Posted by Moosehead

I did notice after the first DL race some of the cars taking a rather convoluted route through the paddock. Was it like this for all races?

Nothing changes with officialdom then

Thanks Moose- sorry to couldn't make it to S'stone. I think the idea was that only races where cars were in pit garages would exit circuit the normal route, and others would leave at Priory and drive through the crowds, Jaguar courtesy cars and sundry others to find a way back (thought of taking sat-nav for 2nd race!). In reality at end of 1st GD race on sat we came in though pitlane and straight to our tents and it worked perfectly. Sun race we exited at Priory! Complaints were made by some DL drivers to a CoC after practice but......

IMO the Officials last year were better clued up than this. The parking for support vehicles was OK for some races who had big space behind their tents, but others like DL and GD had none. In original plan the above spaces were for any support vehicle but on arrival it was 'not in this race, you ain't parking here'. My van was parked up from fri morn neatly & out of the way but was suddenly towed away sunday lunchtime- no attempt over 2.5 days to phone me and ask for it to be moved! If this year's Classic is eventually deemed a success I fear it will be at the expense of the competitors who pay an awful lot of money in entry fees.....

Racing was great, entry list was great. Company was great. I'll leave it at that!

[p261brm]

Will make an effort to be constructive; power points in the camp site first class [Lord March take note]. Water/showers/toilets, whilst excelent no where near enough for the numbers in situ. Security OTT threatened by one member [numpty] to remove my wristband from my person when if I did not comply with his instruction to wear it on my wrist. Wrist bands are dangerous, plain and simple along with ties loose clothing passes etc, when deployed in and around cars whilst working on them. They probably break every health and safety law written, but probably no where near as dangerous as the antics of one birdcage driver leaving the pits during the Woodcote race, how the other two cars missed and avoided a coming together pure luck of the Gods! plus camel herder laying oil from Woodcote to Copse helped with the ability of other competitors to stay on the 'back stuff'. Eligibility scrutineers stuck their cameras into certain engines, found them to be contary to the rules, and still they raced! The HGPCA race on Sunday was an example of how it should be done. There seemed an awfal lot of space not put to good use whilst cramped in some areas. I agree with others the 'Classic' has a bit to learn, if the good old days of Coy's etc are to return, one mans inclusion in the team will most certainly help but unlike a former 'turbulent priest' he is at least still available.

[Andrew Kitson]

Sorry to have missed most of you, I was only there Saturday until about 3pm.
I enjoyed what I saw and a fine tussle between Roger & Simon in the Masters F1 race!
Anyway some pics from my brief visit:
http://andrewkitson1.fotopic.net/c1732600_1.html

[Peter Horsman]

Quiet meeting for me. Arrived 0930 Friday to be told by Man In Uniform that Legends parking lot was full and (despite proper passes) I had to go elsewhere. Complained and argued a bit, let in after all ('have it your own way') and found plenty of spare parking slots. Not a good start. Why oh why? After that, a relaxed meeting with Duncan's troops and rations, plus some HGPCA coffee and beer (at least they welcome me in to their hospitality as a paid-up member even tho' not racing with them that weekend - so much more informal, relaxed and friendly).

Seemed well organised at sharp end - signing-on, in-garage scrutineering, electricity supplies, tents, marshalling (as per) etc. HSCC deserve considerable credit, I think. I estimate bigger crowds Friday/Sat, but not Sun maybe? Not sure why organisers sought to interfere with the standard grid selection processes of the Clubs.

Some of the History Boards around the cars were interesting - but whether worth the £10k prize I am not sure. Was it actually awarded? Multi-preparers made the effort and generally displayed their cars rather than stuffed them under the awning. Commentary team so much better than Motors' TV (rescued only by Marcus when he donned the mike).

Weather was jolly fortunate.

[delta]

Come on Peter tell us about the extra pit stops you made.I could not stop laughing but poor old Neil was extremely worried.

[Peter Horsman]

Well, I confess to have had a couple of lucky class wins. In John Clarke's pre-war Mog, I think we are as surprised to get a class win as Whizzo was (in AVD Kroft's leading similar-ish Mog) to end up with three wheels. In the BRDC 50s Sports race, I was reasonably well-up (in P5 I think) but was rather too keen to get my pit-stop completed under the safety car. That put us almost last (Jamie Mac and I exchanging mutual frustrations and commiserations going down Hanger Straight after we drove out again whilst catching up the snake). But when Jac got in next time around, he somehow overtook everyone bar David Cooke's Eleven (even did you Iain, unless I am mistaken) and finished 5 secs behind them. But apparently they come in too early as well and actually changed driver, so were penalised so we leap-frogged them. All rather odd.

Jamie did well to finish up on the podium.

[Tim the Grey]

Rick? I have several shots of Luffield/Priory gravel trap from race 2...

Many thanks for that, Jeff Bloxham missed it!

I'll email some proofs over?

Meanwhile, The first of many images are on http://www.flickr.com/photos/sandfish_imagining/

Any specific requests for anything, please ask? I reckon I got MOST things, except open wheel stuff.

It IS a fantastic event, but they could use the LMC idea of 'race' paddocks? That makes sense to me, where I got lost in the paddock several times. I never did find the Delta truck, and Roger Wills cars I found Sunday PM...

If I said I'd see you later, and didn't, I apologise, but there was just too much to see and do!

Meantime, here's Roger in his T51 for your entertainment.



P.S. Zola? I reckon we must have been standing very near to one another for the Pre 63 Aston spin?

[Zola]

It was my other half, posts on here as Pretty Vacant.....