Donington Park historics 30/4-1/5 2022

[Willmaz223]

Originally Posted by brands

13 Group C cars for qually, 1 had accident/breakage.

Seems to be more cars on Demo than actually racing.

The XJR11 broke on its outlap.

[geordiecriag101]

Only 13 Group C? Were the rest? If I hadn't bought my ticket n hotel for tonight I'd be tempted to switch to going to brands tomorrow. Rather disappointing

[Willmaz223]

The AMR1, C11 and XJR11 are display.

The XJR9, 12, NPT90 and 956 all not here.

[geordiecriag101]

10 finishers in the group C, now that's got me thinking if it's worth going tomorrow. Especially as the weather forecast not so great. How was it for people there?

[john ruston]

Seems Group C was a decent race

[percy]

Originally Posted by john ruston

Seems Group C was a decent race

The noise at the start of the race was fantastic!
A few pics...

[Willmaz223]

Top 3 cars covered by a second with one lap to go till the Minshaw/Keen Jag had a gearbox problem.

[john ruston]

Seems the Pre War race may be decent looking at qualifying times
PBE with Fred Wakeman in Nash on
Pole followed closely by Gareth Burnett in no supercharged Alta and Michael Birch in Talbot 105 with that colourful helmet!
Bit of a gap then ten cars close together led by Team Halusa

[midgetman]

Watching the race now. Sorry MB didn't take the start but GB ab-so-lutely flying and making the race his own.

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[john ruston]

Originally Posted by midgetman

Watching the race now. Sorry MB didn't take the start but GB ab-so-lutely flying and making the race his own.

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Michael’s car pulled out as could have been problem and more important to be saved for Le Mans.
Gareth and Alta went very well
Sorted the car over winter without touching engine , gearbox etc
It was still being effected by things that happened on Flying Scotsman so seems the Pace gang have got to bottom of that!
We should not be surprised that the rally effected the car?
Good job!

[midgetman]

One for Bauble and two for me [IMG[]

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[midgetman]

One person I have seen here is John Chatham. Rushing around on a mobility scooter, watching DD300.

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[john ruston]

It seemed to be going well in Elva in Pall Mall
One of those could have been a top four
Unfortunately the car was hit up the backside on first lap which led to
progressive damage of rear suspension but by the time Rich Bradley did a few quick laps he decided to stop
Turned out to be the correct decision and now to find a car in paddock with a bashed front end!

[midgetman]

I didn't realise the Elva was yours. Delightful car. There was a TVR came in bonnet less, maybe that was the culprit.

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[dwh43scale]

Perhaps not for the first time, the DHF has been something of a curate's egg. I guess it depends on what you are seeking from the event. If it is the broader idea of a place to drive your classic car to, chat to fellow enthusiasts against the backdrop of racing, then it probably meets your needs. If you are of a more purist nature (as I am) just wanting to see decent sized grids and good racing, it is perhaps less successful.
I fully appreciate that there are considerable challenges in setting up any public event
in the current climate and had I not had an MSV season ticket would probably have felt (from a racing perspective) a little short-changed by the lack of a GT40 race and the meagre (but enjoyable) Group C field.
Regardless, Group C did bring back some good memories - Flickr galleries can be found here - https://www.flickr.com/photos/dwh38/albums

[john ruston]

Elva is owned by Michael Birch and now I’m old and knackered we all run our cars as one team. He has been a mate for forty plus years and started being involved in Historics when him and I shared my Historic Rally cars then he started racing using my Talbots. From that interest got him to buy an Alfa which he used in Snetterton 10ths race and the Elva 160 GT which we found squirrelled away in a garage in Paul Ricard.
From that small beginning he’s now very involved as I bow out !

[brands]

Enjoyed today.
Tourers had some lovely cars and a decent race.
The Lola in the Group C race was a joy to listen to as it wailed around the circuit. From the inside of the Old Paddock you could keep track of it the whole way round the lap.
Thanks to live TSL timing we could understand and enjoy the 3 hour race.

I'm not sure 8 races over two days is the way forward and hope they revert to Friday qually and two full days of racing again.

[coppice]

Very taken with the Elva - it was very quick indeed at Goodwood MM . Each time I see it, my brain says 'Ligier'.

The TVR had its own accident at the entry to the chicane - which is now the only place at Donington I can be in the same postcode as the track

[midgetman]

Thanks for the info on the TVR incident, although I was only a few yards away I didn't realise what had happened!

I did enjoy the meeting. Yesterday the attendance seemed sparse which was a great shame it deserves more.

A highlight for me was Alex Brundle in the Capri, he was really on it. Nice to have a chat with Delta and to meet Percy.

It was my first car race for some time where I actually wished I was driving something. It was also my first visit to Donington since I watched Renault World Series there when they did the free entry, the circuit has improved so much under MSV.

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[percy]

A couple from the Pall Mall...

[geordiecriag101]

Having only been there on Sunday so can only go on what I seen, that will be last Donington Historic I attended unfortunately. Everything from the number of car clubs, race grids and races just felt tired and poor turn out. Maybe missing a year and re evaluation of the event needed

[Mike_Powell]

I think one of the problems is the plethora of Historic racing. This year's grids were disappointing but some of the racing was terrific. The sight and sound of the Lola was amazing, the Halusa's had a dreadful weekend and I'm sure this was the first Historic race meeting I've been to where there wasn't a Mini on track.
Maybe a revamp is needed, time to try something different perhaps but we still enjoyed our weekend's marshalling. Was it the best Historic Festival ? No Will we go back next year ? Yes.

[justracing]

Originally Posted by percy

A couple from the Pall Mall...

Beautiful Elva GT 160, seen it racing at Goodwood a couple of times and an equally beautiful if less rare Lotus Elite, always stunning in it's simplicity.

[Anyopenroad]

Originally Posted by Mike_Powell

I think one of the problems is the plethora of Historic racing.

I'd suggest more specifically a plethora of 1960s historic racing. That particular market is saturated in the UK, IMHO. I would like to see - would pay to see - more from the 80s, 90s, 00s. There's literally decades of motorsport history which is represented only by occasional grids at events primarily centred on the same handful of iconic marques from 60 years ago.

[midgetman]

Originally Posted by Anyopenroad

I'd suggest more specifically a plethora of 1960s historic racing. That particular market is saturated in the UK, IMHO. I would like to see - would pay to see - more from the 80s, 90s, 00s. There's literally decades of motorsport history which is represented only by occasional grids at events primarily centred on the same handful of iconic marques from 60 years ago.

This.

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