NEWS
Two-Day Vintage Sports-Car Club ‘Spring Start’ Race Meeting Sets New Early-Season Benchmark
Monday 22 April 2013
The sun-baked paddock at Silverstone last weekend was a sea of smiles as competitors got their 2013 Vintage and Historic Racing seasons off on the right track with the VSCC ‘Spring Start’ providing the perfect launch platform. Many competitors drove in three of four races over the weekend as the programme of 22 races catered for a wide variety of tastes.
Club Secretary, Mike Stripe commented, “Demand for grid space from other historic series at the ‘Spring Start’ has always been high and it seemed the right time to expand this flagship meeting to a full weekend event. The meeting saw record grids in many races, confirming that competitors want to exercise many cars from their collections at one event. The key element, however, was the usual relaxed ‘Club’ racing atmosphere that the VSCC excels at. No too much red tape, happy competitors, fulfilled spectators and a paddock full of top quality machinery”.
Notable highlights include two full grids of exquisite Pre-1961 historic racers which Philip Walker dominated with his Lotus 16, and epic battles between the Lotus, Julian Bronson’s rare Scarab and Tony Wood’s exotic ‘Tec Mec’ Maserati. A new, longer format, two-driver, 1950s Sports Racing Cars event attracted another capacity grid and was the perfect duration to maintain spectators attention with the thrilling action on track which saw a British versus Canadian contest. Philip Walker netted a hat-trick with his Lotus 15 in this race after an early race tussle with Peter Horsmann in a similar car, forced out by a leaking diff, and the Sadler Mk3 of Julian Majzub which was shared by Mercedes F1 technical genius, Robin Tuluie.
The (F3) 500 Owners Association attracted a record breaking turnout of over 40 cars for their two part ‘Commander Yorke Trophy Race’ whilst Formula Junior ace, Stuart Roach asserted his early season dominance in his Alexis Mk2. Sunday afternoon was packed with nostalgia with the Historic Racing Drivers’ Club ‘Allstars’ race dominated by Bill Shepherd’s huge Ford Galaxie 500, and Wolfgang Friedrich’s unique Project 214 Aston Martin.
The Historic Grand Prix Cars Association were in buoyant mood after two spectacular early season races for their Pre-1966 Grand Prix Cars, won by John Harper in his Brabham (Saturday) and Jonathan Hughes in his Cooper T53 (Sunday).
History was also made, and remembered, with an exotic grid of sports-cars to commemorate the centenary of George Abecassis’s birth in a race organised by his son, David and Fiscar’s John Turner. The VSCC also marked Aston Martin’s centenary year with a valuable grid of Pre-war racers with Tony Armstrong’s 1933 Le Mans coming out on top.
VSCC Principal Associate, Bonhams, brought a display of seven cars, representing several million pounds, which will feature in their 2013 summer sales including an exquisite Maserati 300S and the unique Aston Martin Bertone ‘Jet’.
The meeting was enjoyed by a large crowd. The VSCC will be racing again on 8 June at Cadwell Park which will feature a host of Bugattis as well as many the cars seen at Silverstone.
Full race results and report to follow soon.
Notable highlights include two full grids of exquisite Pre-1961 historic racers which Philip Walker dominated with his Lotus 16, and epic battles between the Lotus, Julian Bronson’s rare Scarab and Tony Wood’s exotic ‘Tec Mec’ Maserati. A new, longer format, two-driver, 1950s Sports Racing Cars event attracted another capacity grid and was the perfect duration to maintain spectators attention with the thrilling action on track which saw a British versus Canadian contest. Philip Walker netted a hat-trick with his Lotus 15 in this race after an early race tussle with Peter Horsmann in a similar car, forced out by a leaking diff, and the Sadler Mk3 of Julian Majzub which was shared by Mercedes F1 technical genius, Robin Tuluie.
The (F3) 500 Owners Association attracted a record breaking turnout of over 40 cars for their two part ‘Commander Yorke Trophy Race’ whilst Formula Junior ace, Stuart Roach asserted his early season dominance in his Alexis Mk2. Sunday afternoon was packed with nostalgia with the Historic Racing Drivers’ Club ‘Allstars’ race dominated by Bill Shepherd’s huge Ford Galaxie 500, and Wolfgang Friedrich’s unique Project 214 Aston Martin.
The Historic Grand Prix Cars Association were in buoyant mood after two spectacular early season races for their Pre-1966 Grand Prix Cars, won by John Harper in his Brabham (Saturday) and Jonathan Hughes in his Cooper T53 (Sunday).
History was also made, and remembered, with an exotic grid of sports-cars to commemorate the centenary of George Abecassis’s birth in a race organised by his son, David and Fiscar’s John Turner. The VSCC also marked Aston Martin’s centenary year with a valuable grid of Pre-war racers with Tony Armstrong’s 1933 Le Mans coming out on top.
VSCC Principal Associate, Bonhams, brought a display of seven cars, representing several million pounds, which will feature in their 2013 summer sales including an exquisite Maserati 300S and the unique Aston Martin Bertone ‘Jet’.
The meeting was enjoyed by a large crowd. The VSCC will be racing again on 8 June at Cadwell Park which will feature a host of Bugattis as well as many the cars seen at Silverstone.
Full race results and report to follow soon.
