An ambitious programme by the Club
to provide a spectacular day of sights & sounds was hampered
by the dismal weather, raining in varying degrees of intensity
throughout most of the day. The Paddock was no place to
linger and soak in the atmosphere that day, rather a different
kind of soaking.
The Racing Car Revue at the start end of
the paddock displayed a fascinating array of all ages of
racing machinery ranging from early Sunbeam and Vauxhall
racer to modern Formula 1 cars including the ex-Rob Walker
Lotus 49B as raced by Jo Siffert, The 1980 Alan Jones FWO7B,
A 1992 Bennetton B192 (Ex - Schumacher ?) One of this year's
Jordan team cars had been produced to bring the collection
right up to date. The Lotus was demonstrated around the
circuit by long time circuit racer Geoff Farmer in the wet,
but the rest of the collection stayed put.
The planned fly-in of World War 2 aircraft
to commemorate 60 years since the Battle of Britain was
quite understandably limited. A North American Mustang bravely
took on the elements to give an aerial display as did a
Sea Fury. Both planes, I believe, loaned by Paul Morgan
of Ilmor Engineering fame.
Everything has its compensations and one
aspect of the appalling weather was the exciting driving
as a direct result of the hazardous conditions. There appeared
to be a very real balance between the benefit of experience
adding a little caution into the equation and the exuberance
of youth refusing to be intimidated by the circumstances,
this made for some very interesting battles.
There were notable highlights of the day.
Julian Bronson's spirited driving of his Blue Streak Special
Riley, taking most of the Pit Straight to correct the car
after taking Woodcote broadside time after time thrilled
the rain soaked crowd, he went on to win Race 1, The Bill
Phillips Trophy Race. Barry Cannell came in a creditable
second in the Alvis special. Duncan Ricketts, whose patience
and effort with the 'E' type E.R.A. are finally paying off.
He drove a very good race in the Hawthorn Memorial Spanish
Trophy to win from Jost Wildbolz in E.R.A. R4A. A battle
royal developed in race 2, a 10 lap scratch race which incorporated
the Boulogne Trophy Race between Chris Williams in the mighty
Napier Bentley and Charles Dean in his T51 Bugatti. The
pair ding-donged their way round the circuit for several
laps prior to the Napier Bentley at last taking charge of
the driver, no disgrace since this must be one of the most
fearsome machines to drive in the wet. Dean was left to
collect the honours from second placed man Barry Baxter
in his 4CM Maserati. An amusing incident in race 2 when
Stanley Mann came limping into the pit lane with a cone
firmly wedged under the Bentley. Naturally a few wags asked
if he had made a detour via the motorway!
Click here for results of the day!
|
