British Grand Prix support race won by HSCC

[simon drabble]

I presume everyone now knows that HSCC will be running teh support races ta this years British Grand Prix. Two races with one catering for 1950-60 and teh other for 1960-70 are a split not dissimilar to that. Fantastic news for Guards Trophy cars - it has been a bumper season from HSCC for sports racers especially after the disappointment of The Masters deciding to drop the twin cam engined sports racers from teh 90 minute evening race at Silverstone Classic.
Personally speaking I feel a 3 hour race and then the BGP support far outweigh Silverstone Classic! Well done HSCC giving the clubbie racer great races yet again!

[john ruston]

Agree,although I am not so sure about the Silverstone race as you will really know what its like to be a second class person.The Masters have not got it together and HSCC will step in as they have a proper MOTOR RACING man in charge that know what people want.Best of luck in that valuable Merlyn!

[simon drabble]

I do know what you mean having done it a few years ago when BRDC ran it, but its still the British Grand Prix and if Lewis wins and I am doing the support race I will be pretty revved up by that!
Re the Masters to be fair Chris Tate has a good racing pedigree but the difference is that HSCC is a 41 year old club run by and for its members whereas Masters is a concept designed ultimately to make a profit.
I think there is no doubt that the combination of Chris Sharples new energy at HSCC and the threat of Masters has made HSCC elevate their game and I think the fact that FJ and BRDC Historic Sportscar Championship operate under their umbrella speaks volumes....
Guards Trophy is a master stroke and if they run 2 or 3 3 Hour races next season Masters etc will struggle IMHO...
However just to make sure we dont agree too much I also think Goodwood is fantastic ;-)

[john ruston]

I know you think Goodwoods wonderful and even I like the Yorkshire Pudding.Any chance of HSCC running Goodwood,now there's an idea

[White flag man]

Great news. Will be there and with Hamilton mania the place will be packed and the atmosphere will be fantastic, especially after Lewis wins the GP at they've got some great support races to watch. Well done HSCC.

[simon drabble]

Originally Posted by john ruston

I know you think Goodwoods wonderful and even I like the Yorkshire Pudding.Any chance of HSCC running Goodwood,now there's an idea

haha - now there's a thought! You are going to get Julius and the rest of the Masters' posse very paranoid!!

[john ruston]

The boy will win it,its good for biz .Good old Bernie

[zefarelly]

What I dislike is the fact that something has to be 'won' to be involved in the same breath as F1, I'd like to think the HSCC got the gig because of who thay are, what they do and the way they do it, and for their continued involvment and support from the ground up within motorsport, whilst they are a historic cmotorsport club and historics may not necessarily breed future F1 stars plenty of us start and only drive historics, its a healthy business and provides exceptionally popular spectator events, so a worthy recipient of the support races

imagine the demand for a grid slot if historic saloons got the invite . . . . it would be worse than Goodwood which seems to generate a queue of grown men grovelling, begging and praying !!!

[MGDavid]

Originally Posted by simon drabble

.......HSCC is a 41 year old club run by and for its members whereas Masters is a concept designed ultimately to make a profit.......

hear hear, point very well made - you cannot remind people of this too often...

[Ian Sowman]

Interesting that Historics are again supporting the GP - it seems a little bit uninspired. In its fortieth anniversary season, why not a running of the Jim Walsh Trophy for FF1600?

[simon drabble]

I think GT's and sports racers have a greater spectator appeal than FF. The alternatives included 50's saloon cars which given the same series could have offered Group 4 cars was a surprising choice....

[kipper]

I have to admit that I think a Grand Prix supporting FF1600 race would be fantastic. However, I suspect that the type of car that would be eligible for the Historic race would perhaps be a more marketable support race.

[terence]

Where will the Padock for the historics be,in Silverstone Village?

[zefarelly]

interesting points, for me personally FF isn't the greatest spectator sport, but I bet its great to participate, and one has to remember F1 fans are most likely to want easy on the eye bling, not a load of unrecognisable cars racing!

[Ian Sowman]

Originally Posted by zefarelly

F1 fans are most likely to want easy on the eye bling, not a load of unrecognisable cars racing!

I'm trying to work out whether that comment is ironic or not!

Actually, for me FF1600 is a far *better* spectator sport than Historic sports cars - but then it is rather different strokes for different folks, and for me the racing is far more important than the vehicles doing it. You'd probably find you got an awful lot more actual racing in your average FFord race...

[john ruston]

The year we did it the Paddock was just over the road bridge in Tents.Well away from the important people.The F1 crowd at the time were completely different from the Historic crowd and as long as the cars look a bit different who cares what cars race.I would think Bernie's idea is to have no other races apart from those that pay lots of money.Its always interesting to watch the Paddock Club stand that fills up 2 mins before the F1 race and is empty 1 min after.Do not watch any other race and someone has paid the 2 Grand a seat.Thats Bernies and Paddy's ideal customer,

[terence]

Poseur,s and Groupies then !!

[zefarelly]

Originally Posted by Ian Sowman

I'm trying to work out whether that comment is ironic or not!...

well as John just posted, BErnie doesn't much care for any other races as long as he gets the money, and the corporate seats filled, F1 is business, nothing more.

Whilst everyone would want to race as support of an F1 meeting, having attended one a few years ago, theres no doubt your quite some way down the ladder in every respect, the funny thing is there was probably a few cars there as valuable, and historically, far more important than any F1 car there!

a support race for the Belgian GP would be good !

[Redneck Rocket]

Originally Posted by terence bower

Where will the Padock for the historics be,in Silverstone Village?

Actually, that could be fantastic. Just like the good old days at Le Mans when the drivers pitched up outside a brasserie in their race cars. I wouldn't mind getting passed at high speed on the A43 on my way into the circuit by a parade of racers!!! And can you imagine if one of them tripped a speed camera on the way in!

[terence]

I raced at LM,we had to drive the car,s from the Circuit into the city centre,get scrutineered and drive back again. Red light,s,no problem,Police escort there and back!!

[john ruston]

Do the same thing for Le Mans Classic .To the square and back to the circuit.

[terence]

I somehow can,t see that happening over here John!

[esper]

Originally Posted by zefarelly

interesting points, for me personally FF isn't the greatest spectator sport, but I bet its great to participate, and one has to remember F1 fans are most likely to want easy on the eye bling, not a load of unrecognisable cars racing!

I don't think these spectators will recognize any of the cars either historic FF or historic sports racers. Most only care for banging and heavy racing so...........

[daj]

Originally Posted by esper

I don't think these spectators will recognize any of the cars either historic FF or historic sports racers. Most only care for banging and heavy racing so...........

Yep totally agree with that, I have only been to the GP once and in a party of around 30 people, I wouldnt say any of them had any real interest in clubman motorsport never mind historics, Really wound me up that weekend, I would of said that there was more people at the fair on the Saturday evening than a average spectator capacity at a Silverstone national event!!!

[simon drabble]

I did it 2 years ago and yes you are down by the team trucks but would happily do it again! For a humble clubbie to be in the same programme as the F1 race I think is pretty damn cool!