NEWS

Oulton Park set to welcome back the Vintage Sports-Car Club tomorrow

Friday 17 July 2015

The Vintage Sports-Car Club will celebrate its highly-anticipated return to racing at Oulton Park this weekend with the prestigious Hawthorn Memorial Trophies Meeting tomorrow, Saturday 18 July, to be followed by Sunday’s Vintage Club Day. Read the full preview...
Hawthorn Memorial Trophies Race Meeting (Saturday)
 
Five years since the Club’s last visit to the celebrated Cheshire venue, a strong crowd of Spectators is expected to attend, with a fantastic line-up of Pre- and Post-war machinery signed up to take part in the day’s 10-Race Programme for Vintage and Historic Racing and Sports-Cars for Saturday’ track action.
 
Once again ERAs play a feature role, with a trio of the revered voiturettes competing across the day’s headline events. With Dick Skipworth’s front-running R3A sadly ‘hors de combat’ following mechanical issues suffered at the recent Chateau Impney Hill Climb, there will be a new face on the top step of the podium. Paddins Dowling makes his 2015 VSCC bow in R10B, the ex-Peter Whitehead 1938 Australian Grand Prix winner and will challenge Nick Topliss, who will be eager to take a second victory in the Club’s Premier Cru Racing series of races in R4A following his Silverstone success, and Ben Fidler, also a Trophy winner at the Club’s Cadwell Park event in AJM 1 last month.
 
Also determined to continue his run of good form this season will be Fred Harper, who looks to repeat his 2010 Hawthorn Memorial Trophy victory in the mighty 1957 Kurtis Indy-Roadster, whilst Tony Lees will hope to evoke the spirit of VSCC Racing legend Ron Footitt, who enjoyed much success with the AC/GN ‘Cognac’ at Oulton Park in the 1970s and ‘80s. He will face a stern test amongst the Pre-1931 Vintage ranks from the likes of Tom Walker’s 1930 Hispano-engined Amilcar Special, victor of the John Holland Trophy last time out at Cadwell.
 
Not to be outshone, a fantastic turnout of Pre-war Sports-Cars will be on hand to contest many of the day’s Trophy and Handicap Races, culminating in a thrilling line-up for the Club’s much-loved annual Team Relay Race. The 90 minutes endurance event will play host to 18 teams of three cars as friendly Intermarque rivalry takes centre stage, with Riley, Frazer Nash, MG, Austin, Lagonda, Talbot and Alvis badges amongst those represented.

Away from the thrilling track action, there will be plenty else on offer to keep the whole family entertained, including Trade Stands, lunchtime Air Display, Cream Tea & Pimm’s Tent, Live Music and a Fun Fair for the younger audience, as well as MSV’s popular Rally SuperRides and YoungDrive experiences available throughout the weekend.
 
To bring the day to a fitting finale after the end to the track activity, a BBQ hosted by the circuit (payable on the day) will give all Competitors, Marshals and Spectators a chance to unwind ahead of Sunday’s Vintage Club Day, with Live Music and VSCC Archive Films providing some additional entertainment.
 
Vintage Club Day (Sunday)
 
The following day, the Club joins forces with MSV to host a very special Vintage Club Day at the circuit on Sunday to complement Saturday’s Vintage and Historic Race Meeting. With free entry to all, the day will offer a full programme of Vintage motoring and other entertainment in a relaxed ‘Garden Party’ atmosphere with plenty of activities for the whole family.
 
Long associated with the Club’s events at the Cheshire venue since the 1960s, the Cheshire Life Concours will be a headline feature on the day including the traditional Parade laps, whilst we are delighted to welcome Louise Taylor, Editor of Cheshire Life and Amanda Milling MP – daughter of the late Humphrey Milling, local VSCC Member and stalwart of the Club’s Oulton events for many years – to present the prestigious silverware.
 
An eclectic line-up of Pre-war machinery is scheduled to take part from the Italian exotica of Roland Duce’s stunning Alfa Romeo 8C to the Vintage Americana of Nigel Plant’s Paige Daytona, the Montlhery-inspired racing MG Midget of Duncan Potter to the British grandeur of Brian Shilton’s Vauxhall 14/40 Princeton Tourer and much more besides.
 
Although no racing will be allowed due to noise restrictions, a 40+ strong entry of road-going Pre-war Sports-Cars will take to Oulton Park’s Rally Stage to put on an exciting spectacle in our AutoSolo. A relatively new motorsport discipline, the event comprises a collection of ‘all-forwards’ Driving Tests, more suitable for the older car and driver, saving wear and tear on both transmissions and creaking necks!
 
Expect to see some fierce competition as our Club Members charge around the bollard-marked course in their Vintage machinery with the Frazer Nashes, in particular, sure to put on an exciting display of sliding, ‘sideways’ action.
 
Also offering a taste of some of the other motorsport the VSCC host throughout the year, we welcome a band of the Club’s Trials Competitors, who will be demonstrating the much-loved, historic discipline on the circuit’s 4x4 Stage. Enjoy watching these ‘mud-pluggers’ in action as they show off their off-roading skills in their 80-year old machinery. 
 
Celebrating 120 years since the production of the first car, Members of the Wolseley Register will take to the track in their historic machinery to attempt to complete a total 120 miles between them. There will also be further opportunity for Spectators to take to the track with the Morning Bicycle Rides (‘period’ contraptions encourage – don’t forget your helmets), Car Club Parade Laps and also Vintage Bus Rides scheduled throughout the day.
 
Carrying over from Saturday, we welcome back the variety of off-track entertainment in our Trade Stands, Pimm’s & Cream Tea Tent, Live Music, Fun Fair and more to ensure an enjoyable day out for all.
 
 
Spectator Information
 
Tickets (Advance Sales are now closed; tickets will be available on the gate):
 
Saturday Race Meeting: £23.00 per person
 
Sunday Vintage Club Day: Free (see below for cost of various activities on the day)

Children Under 13 go free all weekend!
 
 
Timetable (all times are approximate and subject to change)
 
Saturday
9.15 – 11.35am              Official Practice Sessions
 
11.45 – 12.45pm            Lunch Break
(featuring ‘Wildcat Aerobatics’ Air Display at 12.15pm – see www.wildcataerobatics.com for more information)
 
From 12.45pm               Racing Commences
 
Approx 6.30pm             Racing Ends
 
From 7.30pm                BBQ and Evening Entertainment
(£10pp pay on day at Chequers Restaurant – all welcome!)
 
Sunday
8.30am                         Gates Open
 
9.00 – 10.00am              Bicycle Races
There will races for various age groups depending on who turns up. Signing-On will be at the VSCC Club Display near Chequers from 8.00am. Vintage machinery is encouraged – please remember to bring your helmets!
 
10.00 – 12.00pm           Oulton Park AutoSolo (on the circuit’s Rally Stage)
 
11.15 – 12.15pm           Wolseley Register Parade
 
12.30 – 1.30pm             VSCC Trials Demonstrations (at the 4x4 course on the outside of the circuit near Deer Leap)
 
1.30 – 2.30pm               Cheshire Life Concours Parade & Presentation
Late entries will be accepted from VSCC Members in Pre-war Cars until 11.00am
 
 
Additional Activities
 
MSV YoungDrive and Rally SuperRide Experiences
Available throughout the weekend onsite at the following Special Rates:
 
Saturday:       Rally Passenger SuperRides (£25*) in a brand new Toyota GT86
and YoungDrive Experience (£30) in our MINIs
 
Sunday:          YoungDrive Experience (£30)
 
Book in advance online (CLICK HERE) or purchase on the day at Chequers Restaurant.

*For the Rally Passenger SuperRides on Saturday, MSV are offering a discounted price of £20 to VSCC Members ('On the Day' purchases only on production of a 2015 VSCC Membership Card).
 
Vintage Bus Rides (Sunday – 10.00am / 11.00am / 12.15pm)
£5 per person (buy your tickets on the day at Chequers Restaurant)
 
Car Club Parade Laps (Sunday – 10.15am)
£5 per car (all Drivers and Passengers are required to sign-on & pay at the VSCC Club Display from 8.00am - a full Driving Licence will need to be shown)
 
Directions
 
Oulton Park Situated next to Little Budworth and is best accessed from the A54 or the A49. From the north take junction 19 off the M6 and follow the A556 through Northwich towards Chester, from the south leave the M6 at junction 18 and follow the A54.

For maps and directions from where you live, please click here
                            
                                               
VSCC Oulton Park 2015_Public Flyer