HSCC Historic Festival

[Moosehead]

Busy as in spectators or busy for you guys with incidents?

[TheNewBob]

Great day out, some nice touches, just a shame about the cold. The Ferrari 512 and unexpected Matra 650 in the pre-72 sportscar race made the freezing winds worth it though! Liked the historic karting on the GP loop too.

Some lovely cars around pretty much everywhere you looked, when they finally sort out the infield at Donington this could be a real gem of an event. I wonder if the competitors found it as pleasing as this spectator did?

[Greem]

Originally Posted by Moosehead

Busy as in spectators or busy for you guys with incidents?

Busy for me... was flying solo today so needed three sets of arms and at least one extra pair of eyes! Still, nothing happened on my post apart from a bunch of overtaking under yellow flags and some flying bodywork. The fun and games were at Coppice and the Esses

[chunterer]

Shame we didn't meet newbob! Glad I went yesterday too. So many wonderful cars to see in the Paddock and on track.

Seeing and hearing the XJS and Rovers in anger again for the first time since the mid 80's was fantastic. I'm looking forward to seeing this series grow as more lovely cars appear.

Was lovely to finally meet and chat to Ken and Bert, saw Simon Arron for first time in over 10years and thanks also to an off duty marshall called Richard who lives nearby who i chatted to for a while during Group C qualy. Great to see and chat to all.

[andrewn]

Just back from today and can't say how much I enjoyed it. Great grids and fantastic, hard but fair racing all the way. Looked like quite a serious accident that caused the e-type race to be stopped after lubricants were spilled. Didn't hear how the driver(s) were, but hoping it was nothing more serious than wallet damage.

Group C/GTP was one of the best individual races I've seen in 30 yrs spectating. I could have watched Andy Meyrick vs Mike Donovan all day!

Really think the "new" layout gives Donington something that others places don't have; fast and flowing, a bit like Goodwood in some ways.

Weather was great as well so a good day had by all!

[The Flagman]

A very special weekend. Very cold and wet Saturday and we ran into twilight finishing just short of 8pm - but none of it mattered when you have the privilege to be allowed to get close to a field of Chevrons, Lola T70s, 12cyl Matra screamer, Ferrari 512 screamer and various other cars. They were awesome. Thinking about the monsters that were created in their heyday- pre-sanitised racetracks - they must have been quite a show. They are very very quick still. Shame on you Mr Hadfield for colliding with your friend Leo and finishing things a little prematurely!

Other races equally spectacular. E-Types on Sat put up a real fight until the last lap when the two leaders came together and wrecked their race. Best wishes to the driver who hit the pitwall on Sun and had his car chopped apart to free him.

Some activity at the Esses but nothing more than we needed for a bit of a warm up. Thank you to the Austin Healey that broke a driveshaft and had to be pushed away and commiserations to Willie Green for a very expensive dowsing in oil from his Maserati.

Sunday's weather kinder - racing just as interesting. Well done to James for his efforts on flags on P23. From a reluctant conscript to keen flaggie in a short space of time. Very impressive.

Good idea to put a proper race at the end of the day instead of the customary anti-climax. Touring cars can race properly and produce a race with interest all the way through the field. Non-stop action for an hour.

Scary moment for the running folk in Group C when Mr Meyrick spun through 180 degrees and promptly headed for the tractor compound. Amazing how quickly you can move when chased by an errant car!

Congratulations to Post Chief - Rob Ledbury - for his award for intervention beyond the call of duty so that a chap could escape the infield to reach his wife who had gone into labour. A world first we understand.

Good crew on P23. Great racing. Memorable weekend. Thanks all.
Can it be that good in 2013?

[Greem]

Originally Posted by The Flagman

A very special weekend.

Absolutely right.

It's far too late and I should be asleep now but... OH ME OH MY THE GROUP C RACE WAS AWESOME.

I have a lot more I could write but that'll do pig, that'll do.

[St00ge]

will there be any footage available of the group C race? A mate was over with the Veskanda and would love some video of it over there, Started 8th and he ended up 5th and 3rd in class...

[brands]

Spent a great day at Donington yesterday. Wandering the paddock there were stunning cars around every corner. The track action from the inside of the Craners was very good and it was some of the best racing I've seen in years.
The speed and sound of the Group C cars down the hill and into the old hairpin was amazing. The battles for the lead in the Stirling Moss Trophy, Group C and U2TC races were also riveting for their hour long durations. The weather staying dry was also a bonus.

The only disappointment was the lack of any progress in sorting out the infield mess over the past year.

[ascarracinguk]

Originally Posted by St00ge

will there be any footage available of the group C race? A mate was over with the Veskanda and would love some video of it over there, Started 8th and he ended up 5th and 3rd in class...

I loved that little car, very consistent and reliable

[Colin McKay]

Has anyone heard how Peter Sugden is? (E-type>>pit wall)

[Greem]

Originally Posted by brands

The only disappointment was the lack of any progress in sorting out the infield mess over the past year.

There's been a surprising amount of work done there but the nuts and bolts can't be seen. There's a planning application in with NW Leicestershire DC to fill in and re-landscape the affected area which is worth a look - it details the quantity of material involved, which is impressive in itself. If granted then the results should be fantastic.

[gary396]

Managed to attend the Saturday only so will post a few photos. First couple of sets from the Mad Jack race:

[gary396]

Mad Jack:

[gary396]

Couple of sets from the Formula Two:

[gary396]

Formula Two:

[gary396]

A few sets from Race 3 the Woodcote Trophy:

[gary396]

Second set from the Woodcote Trophy:

[gary396]

Last set from the Woodcote Trophy:

[gary396]

A couple of sets from the E-type Challenge:

[gary396]

A few more of the E-types:

[gary396]

A couple of sets from the JD Classics Challenge.

These include qualifying photos as I walking from infield to outfield for part of the race. (One simple thing Donington could do for spectators is to allow a crossing point e.g. Craner Curves area rather than having to walk all the way round through the tunnel).

[gary396]

Another set from the JD Classics:

[gary396]

Final race of the day in failing light (and by then quite cold for May even for a Northener!) was the Pre-72 Sports Racing Cars:

[gary396]

Final set of photos from me (again of the Pre-72s) as I didn't go on the Sunday.

Just a note about the marshals who once again did a great job in cold and occasionally damp conditions. I did a fair bit of walking and wore quite a few layers of clothing (being dressed like a Michelin-man made photo panning quite awkward ) so I was relatively warm for most of the day. But standing on-post all day must have been unpleasant (weather-wise). So well done to them.

And also well done to drivers and officials for putting on another good Festival.