NEWS

Silverstone ‘Spring Start’ to herald the start of the VSCC’s 80th Anniversary Race Season

Friday 04 April 2014

2014 marks a special milestone for the Vintage Sports-Car Club as we celebrate our 80th Anniversary and what better way to start our racing festivities than with our ‘Spring Start’ at Silverstone on 12/13 April, the traditional season opener for Pre-war and Historic Racers. After the success of last year’s inaugural running, the meeting will again be a two-day spectacle, where the on-track action will undoubtedly be the main attraction for most enthusiasts.....
However, there is more to this meeting than watching the 300 Pre-war and Historic cars take over 500 grid starts to battle for the spoils in the weekend’s 20 races.

Free Paddock Access
All visitors are welcome to wander freely around the Competitor Paddock, with no entry fee or pass required. This allows you to get up close to the cars which have been performing on the track and talk to owners who are only too happy to share the history and their knowledge of their machines. This is a truly rare and wonderful opportunity to immerse yourself in the sights, sounds and smells of Historic Racing.

Dedicated Pre-war Car Park
As always, the Club has organised a Pre-war Car Park placed in a new, larger car park this year, and adjacent to the bustling Paddock Area. Here, you can show-off or admire your favourite Pre-war machines. Frequently a highlight of the meeting, it’s worth a visit whether or not you own a Pre-war car.

Trade Village
With over 30 Trade Stands booked for the weekend, we welcome an eclectic mix of retailers to our Trade Village. With everything from cross-ply tyres to designer handbags there is something on offer for most tastes.

ERA 80th Anniversary Trophy Race & Exhibition
Revered in Historic Racing circles, few marques can boast as colourful a history as ERA, with whom the VSCC has shared a close association since its inception and who also celebrate their 80th Anniversary in 2014. Founded by Raymond Mays and Peter Berthon in 1933, English Racing Automobiles Ltd led the way for Britain in International Road Racing in the immediate Pre- and Post-war period. Whilst somewhat overshadowed by the powerful state-funded German manufacturers of Mercedes and Auto Union at Grand Prix level, ERAs enjoyed much success across the majority of disciplines and continue to be one of the headline acts in VSCC Race and Speed events to this day. To mark the occasion, we welcome a dozen of the original cars and their close derivatives for a Special All-ERA Race on Sunday, whilst they will also be joined by a further five as part of an exhibition over the full weekend. It is so rare to see so many of these wonderful machines together in one place, let alone a dedicated grid in action on track so do not miss the chance to see it for yourself.
 
VSCC Associates
Auction specialists Bonhams will be joining us with a dedicated display within the Paddock, bringing with them a wonderful array of cars from their upcoming sales. Routen Chaplin, who administer the VSCC Insurance Scheme will be welcoming drivers to the Pre-war Car Park and offering advice and guidance on any insurance related queries. St James’s Place representatives will also be available at the Meeting should any members wish to speak to them.

VSCC Meeting Point & Regalia
Near to the bottom of Race Control you will find the VSCC Club Meeting Point, where you can join the Club, chat with friends or speak with our Directors and Volunteer Members about our great Club. We also launch our brand new range of Regalia at Silverstone over the weekend, including polo shirts, sweatshirts,  heavy/lightweight coats and more, available in adult and children’s sizes at the Club Meeting Point in the paddock.  In celebration of the Club’s 80th Anniversary this year, items are embroidered with a high-quality 80th Logo badge (standard logo and other colours/sizes are also available to order directly through our suppliers JTL Embroidery).

In addition, following her star turn as Guest Speaker at the Club’s Marshals’ Dinner last month, the VSCC welcome Joy Rainey to ‘Spring Start’. She brings her 1904 Curved Dash Oldsmobile on Saturday, in which she recently completed her epic 2,903 mile journey across the USA, a story retold in her new book ‘Joy Across America’, launched at this year’s Race Retro Show. Visit Joy and the Oldsmobile in the Paddock next to the VSCC Club Meeting Point on Saturday, where she will be selling signed copies of her book.
 
Where to Watch
If all of this isn’t enough to keep you busy, then why not watch the action from the grass banks on the inside of Copse all the way up to Becketts, or for VSCC Members who can show their Membership Cards, the BRDC Grandstand will be open.

Food and Drink
As usual, Silverstone will be opening the doors of its Paddock Diner, providing visitors with a vast choice of hot meals, sandwiches and drinks throughout the course of our meeting. For those visitors wishing to ‘eat on the move’ there is a sandwich and coffee outlet in the centre of the paddock area.
 

Advance Ticket Sales are now closed!

Tickets are available on the day at £15 per person (each day) and Children Under 16 go free


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