Silverstone Classic, 23 - 25 July 2010
The Silverstone Classic is back to the prominence in classic
motoring circles once enjoyed by the Coys Historic Festival at the
same venue a few years ago. The 2010 running was a bumper
edition, with full and sometimes oversubscribed grids, a vast array
of one make car club displays, expansive vendor areas, rock
bands in the evenings, and a large funfair for the young in mind
and body if interest in the on track activity waned, making it a
great event for the whole family. As a bonus, the meeting was
blessed with beautiful weather over the whole three days, making
the experience even more enjoyable, as Silverstone can be an
inhospitable place in inclement weather.
The gathering also heralded the return to racing of Sir Stirling
Moss after the fall at his home earlier in the year, when he broke
his ankles. His return was celebrated by a photo call with a bevy
of RAC beauties on the Friday, and he raced his OSCA in the
RAC Woodcote Trophy race, unfortunately ending in retirement
whilst leading its class with co-driver Ian Nuthall, when it stuck in
4th gear with only ten minutes of the one hour race remaining.
Another returning driver, Willie Green, who was making his racing
return after his horrendous crash at the Goodwood Revival
Meeting in 2005, was more fortunate. Co-driving with Carlo
Vogele, owner of the 4 litre GTO in which they competed, he won
the Royal Automobile Club Tourist Trophy for Historic Cars, after
a great battle with the Aston Martin DB4 GT driven by Richard
Attwood and Stuart Graham. The Aston Martin had held the
advantage for most of the race on the track, but a slicker driver
change pit stop saw the Ferrari emerge ahead and go on to take
victory.
There was also plenty of single seater action, with grids for Pre -
’61 GP Cars, Pre - ’66 GP Cars, Formula Juniors and Pre - ’85
GP Cars, in the first of these Gary Pearson completed a double,
winning on both occasions from Tony Smith’s Ferrari Dino 246.
There was a double win for John Chisholm’s Lotus 18 in the Pre -
’66 GP Car race, whilst in the Formula Juniors it was a double
victory for Jon Milicevic, victory in the second race being by a
scant 0.03sec! In the Pre - ‘85 GP Car races, race one win went
to the Arrows A4 of Steve Hartley, who was just beaten to the flag
in race two by the Tyrrell 009 of Bill Coombs, after the former
dislodged his front wing in his efforts to pass. With other races for
sports racing cars and “big banger” saloon cars, Trofeo Abarth
500 races and a racing motorcycle display parade, there was a
great mix to keep the fans enthralled throughout the weekend.
David O’Neill
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