The first of these annual races was held at Silverstone in 1951. It was the brainchild of Holland Birkett a veterinary surgeon who was a founder member of the 750 Motor Club and an active competitor with a very fast Austin 7 "Ulster". Because there were so many entries a circuit was needed between the club and grand prix length. It became known as the "Birkett Circuit".

The original idea was to enable club drivers to experience the excitement of long distance racing and the formula holds good today. Teams of up to six cars are handicapped by being allocated credit laps behind the fastest team who occupy pole position on the grid. The winning team is the one which completes the most laps in the six hour period.

This is a race where tactics as well as speed and reliability are equally important and the managers of each of the 42 teams have a very important role. The pole position today is occupied by the "Hart Attacks" with a team of Mallocks. The back markers were " Furnell's Tramfare Racers" with a team of Austin 7s.

This race has always attracted a wide variety of sports cars and the speed differential between the teams makes for some interesting situations. The slower drivers are constantly having to look in their rear view mirrors to avoid being shunted by the faster cars which also have to judge the speed differential.

There are few long distance races for club drivers and so there is always a good deal of paddock repair work to be undertaken by those whose cars are normally only driven for 10 lap sprints. It is always surprising what can fall off after an hour on a race track. A Jaguar lost half the rear suspension and an Austin 7 had an independently suspended distributor whilst a Caterham 7 had brake problems.