NEWS
The VSCC are off to Pembrey.... are you?
Friday 16 August 2013
The VSCC are headed to Pembrey Circuit in South Wales this weekend for the Club’s annual Welsh Speed Weekend, comprising not one, not two but three exciting events over the two days at the welcoming venue.
Saturday sees the 3rd running of our Pembrey Sprint event with 90 Pre-war and Historic cars battling the clock for four runs (2 practice, 2 competitive) over ¾ of the technical course. With last year’s winner of the ‘Fastest Time of Day’ title, Mac Hulbert returning to defend his crown in ERA R4D, competition is sure to be fierce as his adversaries will be trying their utmost to top the experienced racer. Equally important will be the inter-Class battles throughout the day’s 8 classes as familiar foes will be battling hard for Vintage, Handicap and Overall awards against similarly-powered machinery, with all-important points towards the Club’s prestigious Annual Aggregate Trophies up for grabs.
Many of the Pre-war Sports-Car drivers in the day’s earlier Sprint will then take to track on Saturday afternoon for the VSCC’s annual 90 minute Pre-war Team Relay Race, with vital track knowledge safely banked. No less than a dozen teams of three drivers in two or three cars (one may be shared!) will be taking part with a full array of celebrated Pre-war marques on display – in fact an added element to proceedings is the intense Inter-marque rivalries the event brings, with this year’s expected Riley vs. Frazer Nash skirmish the headline act for Race Victory. However, with the race’s key handicap element, don’t discount some of the lesser-powered teams finding themselves in the Winners’ enclosure too, with Austin 7s and MG cars aplenty whilst a duo of ‘mixed’ teams will be eager to upset the ‘Factory Team’ apple cart. With its endurance element, camaraderie and the pit lane a hive of activity, this is truly a unique event and an annual highlight of the season for many.
We hope drivers, marshals and spectators alike have kept something in the tank as Sunday’s Hawthorn Memorial Trophies Race Meeting offers a full programme of 11 races for Pre-war, Historic and Modern Racing and Sports-Cars. The VSCC season has provided some truly memorable racing already this year at Silverstone, Cadwell and Mallory, and with a number of the key players on show here at Pembrey this weekend, expect to see some more thrilling track action.
Charles Gillett will be looking to continue a stellar campaign with his Frazer Nash Super Sports; look for his exuberant ‘sideways style’ in the Bill Phillips Trophy Race against stalwarts Andrew Mitchell in the HRG and reigning Trophy Winner Sue Darbyshire in her Morgan Three Wheeler. Gillett will later strip his car of its wings and lights and join the Vintage Racing Cars for 10 laps of wheel-to-wheel action. This ‘Set’ has produced some incredible displays this year, not least at our last meeting at Mallory where GN-based machined of Justin Maeers (GN Parker) and Robert Carr (AC/GN) enjoyed a race-long battle, the latter triumphant by a mere five hundredths of a second – let’s hope for more of the same. Our 1950s Sports Car Race for the Hawthorn International Trophy, while not the day’s biggest grid, oozes quality with Philip Walker’s rapid Lotus 15 a hot favourite for the win; the grid’s other competitors are more equally matched though and we look forward to seeing the two 3-litre machines, the Alfa Romeo Disco Volante of Chris Mann and the Aston Martin DB3S of Steve Brooks, lock horns. Walker is likely to be on the podium again, this time in his Lotus 16 for the day’s title race, the prestigious Hawthorn Memorial and Spanish Trophies for Pre-1961 Racing Cars. Whilst his 1959 machine holds a steady advantage of the later cars, eyes will be on the epic ERA duel as three of the celebrated voiturettes vie for the Pre-war spoils; Mac Hulbert (R4D) will hope his valuable track time in the Sprint will give him an advantage over ever-present Terry Crabb (R12C) and Mark Gillies, who gives a rare outing to R2A ahead of next month’s Goodwood Revival. Don’t discount the other Class runners spoiling the party for the Lincolnshire machines, however, with Pete Candy and Robert Cobden regular challengers in their Riley Specials. In addition, expect to see a Riley Sports-Car ‘Battle Royale’ in the Hawthorn Brighton Trophy, with many of Saturday’s Team Race friends turning adversaries for individual honours whilst we also welcome the Welsh Sports & Saloon Car Championship for two rounds of their series – their modern racers are sure to provide an eclectic change of pace but equally exciting spectacle to the day’s proceedings.
The circuit is located adjacent to the Pembrey Forest and the Irish Sea just south of Kidwelly. It is only twelve miles from Junction 48 of the M4 Motorway and a total of 90 miles, (therefore under 2 hours) from the Severn Bridge. Pendine Sands, including the Museum of Speed where ‘Babs’ is housed is only 30 miles away to the west.
Tickets for spectators cost £10 on the gate on Saturday and £12 on Sunday. Children under 16 go free.
Timetable (all times approx.)
Saturday (Sprint & Team Race)
Sprint Practice Runs start at 0900hrs with Competitive Runs starting at 1245hrs (after Lunch Break). The Team Race will follow the conclusion of the Sprint with the Race scheduled to start 1615hrs.
Sunday (Hawthorn Memorial Trophies Race Meeting)
Racing gets underway after Lunch Break from 1300hrs following morning Practice Sessions (from 0930hrs).
Many of the Pre-war Sports-Car drivers in the day’s earlier Sprint will then take to track on Saturday afternoon for the VSCC’s annual 90 minute Pre-war Team Relay Race, with vital track knowledge safely banked. No less than a dozen teams of three drivers in two or three cars (one may be shared!) will be taking part with a full array of celebrated Pre-war marques on display – in fact an added element to proceedings is the intense Inter-marque rivalries the event brings, with this year’s expected Riley vs. Frazer Nash skirmish the headline act for Race Victory. However, with the race’s key handicap element, don’t discount some of the lesser-powered teams finding themselves in the Winners’ enclosure too, with Austin 7s and MG cars aplenty whilst a duo of ‘mixed’ teams will be eager to upset the ‘Factory Team’ apple cart. With its endurance element, camaraderie and the pit lane a hive of activity, this is truly a unique event and an annual highlight of the season for many.
We hope drivers, marshals and spectators alike have kept something in the tank as Sunday’s Hawthorn Memorial Trophies Race Meeting offers a full programme of 11 races for Pre-war, Historic and Modern Racing and Sports-Cars. The VSCC season has provided some truly memorable racing already this year at Silverstone, Cadwell and Mallory, and with a number of the key players on show here at Pembrey this weekend, expect to see some more thrilling track action.
Charles Gillett will be looking to continue a stellar campaign with his Frazer Nash Super Sports; look for his exuberant ‘sideways style’ in the Bill Phillips Trophy Race against stalwarts Andrew Mitchell in the HRG and reigning Trophy Winner Sue Darbyshire in her Morgan Three Wheeler. Gillett will later strip his car of its wings and lights and join the Vintage Racing Cars for 10 laps of wheel-to-wheel action. This ‘Set’ has produced some incredible displays this year, not least at our last meeting at Mallory where GN-based machined of Justin Maeers (GN Parker) and Robert Carr (AC/GN) enjoyed a race-long battle, the latter triumphant by a mere five hundredths of a second – let’s hope for more of the same. Our 1950s Sports Car Race for the Hawthorn International Trophy, while not the day’s biggest grid, oozes quality with Philip Walker’s rapid Lotus 15 a hot favourite for the win; the grid’s other competitors are more equally matched though and we look forward to seeing the two 3-litre machines, the Alfa Romeo Disco Volante of Chris Mann and the Aston Martin DB3S of Steve Brooks, lock horns. Walker is likely to be on the podium again, this time in his Lotus 16 for the day’s title race, the prestigious Hawthorn Memorial and Spanish Trophies for Pre-1961 Racing Cars. Whilst his 1959 machine holds a steady advantage of the later cars, eyes will be on the epic ERA duel as three of the celebrated voiturettes vie for the Pre-war spoils; Mac Hulbert (R4D) will hope his valuable track time in the Sprint will give him an advantage over ever-present Terry Crabb (R12C) and Mark Gillies, who gives a rare outing to R2A ahead of next month’s Goodwood Revival. Don’t discount the other Class runners spoiling the party for the Lincolnshire machines, however, with Pete Candy and Robert Cobden regular challengers in their Riley Specials. In addition, expect to see a Riley Sports-Car ‘Battle Royale’ in the Hawthorn Brighton Trophy, with many of Saturday’s Team Race friends turning adversaries for individual honours whilst we also welcome the Welsh Sports & Saloon Car Championship for two rounds of their series – their modern racers are sure to provide an eclectic change of pace but equally exciting spectacle to the day’s proceedings.
The circuit is located adjacent to the Pembrey Forest and the Irish Sea just south of Kidwelly. It is only twelve miles from Junction 48 of the M4 Motorway and a total of 90 miles, (therefore under 2 hours) from the Severn Bridge. Pendine Sands, including the Museum of Speed where ‘Babs’ is housed is only 30 miles away to the west.
Tickets for spectators cost £10 on the gate on Saturday and £12 on Sunday. Children under 16 go free.
Timetable (all times approx.)
Saturday (Sprint & Team Race)
Sprint Practice Runs start at 0900hrs with Competitive Runs starting at 1245hrs (after Lunch Break). The Team Race will follow the conclusion of the Sprint with the Race scheduled to start 1615hrs.
Sunday (Hawthorn Memorial Trophies Race Meeting)
Racing gets underway after Lunch Break from 1300hrs following morning Practice Sessions (from 0930hrs).
