Croft Nostalgia

[gary396]

Jonathan Hughes won the first Formula Junior race quite comfortably with a gap of about 18 seconds - although the next FJ race the following day proved to be a lot closer - same winner but by less than a second.

[gary396]

A few from the Guards Trophy race won by Hugh Colman in a Chevron B8 - I think the gap was about 10 seconds so not a close battle but there were some good battles lower down the order.

I think it ended a little early under a red flag - tyre wall damage possibly judging from the state of the TVR in the final photo (I couldn't hear Marcus Pye's commentary - as excellent as always - from where I was at the time).

[gary396]

The last race on Saturday was the second FF race and again very good - won by Callum Grant in a Merlyn.

So it was a slightly early race finish as this was followed by two qualifying sessions for FF 2000, Classic Clubmans and Spridgets (not shown). Sorry all a bit rushed - will try and post a few from Sunday's races tomorrow.

[Cliff Ryan]

Great photos Gary!

[Malcolm Smith]

Had a great time at sunny Croft on Saturday. Excellent racing with good grids and lots of fabulous road cars in the display areas.
Enjoyed meeting Delta and Compte and learning about the Britannia FJ.
Some photos from saloons, road sports and FJ below.

[Malcolm Smith]

Photos2.

[Malcolm Smith]

Photos 3.

[Malcolm Smith]

Photos 4.

[Derwent Motorsp]

Some great driving all round, only one bent car I think? Tow very quick sixteen year olds one in an FF and James Clarke in a Lotus Cortina, driving it like his namesake! A couple of lads to watch I think!

[apriliadriver]

Malcolm,
Thanks for the picture of the Chevrolet at Croft. Saturday was dry, warm, sunny, Sunday was extreme windy and dry. I managed a rank start in the first race, reasonably crowded grid as the pre-69 Historics were combined with the pre-79 Road Sports. Concentrated on my start for Race 2 on Sunday and did a corker - off like a Russian athlete on stanolozl, made up several places and had a great race only to throw it away on the penultimate lap with a real Novice's mistake. Ah well...

There is a great atmosphere at Croft on the Nostalgia weekend what with the folks dressing up, big crowds, loads of car clubs and a Bristol Hercules aero-engine firing up every half-hour in amongst all the military stuff. All hugely entertaining and wonderful fun. It may be a bit of a drag for us Southerners to get to, but well worth the effort.
Nick

[gary396]

How's this for a lucky escape - in one of the Formula Ford races. I was just waiting for the crunch which thankfully didn't come - if it had it could have been quite nasty.

[ralt-racer]

Originally Posted by gary396

How's this for a lucky escape - in one of the Formula Ford races. I was just waiting for the crunch which thankfully didn't come - if it had it could have been quite nasty.

Perti Managed to hit me in the first championship race at the chicane fortunately no harm done to my car but his needed a little massaging.

great weekend all in a good battle throughout in both ff1600 races for me

Benn Simms

[coppice]

One bizarre thing caught my attention;the fuel truck was parked virtually touching the catch fencing on the entry to Clervaux instead of being located mid paddock somewhere. Call me Mr Pessimistic but given that shunts at Clervaux are not unknown,and that whilst fires are mercifullly rare they still happen, that the truck is next to the paddock assembly area with up to 25 drivers strapped in their cars , and that area is next to the legendary Croft grandstand ...not quiet the smartest piece of risk assessment I have ever seen...

[Heightswitch]

One of the formula ford lads had a very lucky escape coming out of Sunny Out… I think he rode up the wheels of a car in front and it catapulted him skyward…It came down very close to the barriers and could have been very nasty

He walked away unhurt but visibly shaken. Hope he is OK and not feeling too bruised.