My Blog...trackside with the cameras
TVR Car Clubs & Lancaster Dambusters Celebration Flyover - Brooklands Museum
You can't fail to admire the exotic colours and paintwork of TVR's but there is much more to these Beauties than just a pretty face. The sound of the engines as they entered the Brooklands Museum site was one that once heard would be instantly recognisable in the future.
The cars were owned and driven from car clubs all over the UK to participate in the meet at Brooklands.
On display over in the aircraft area a group of Austin Healy's were on display.
Walking around the site I found a few 'rogue' cars including this fabulous XJS. I didn't know until afterwards that the XJS was a 'model' in a photographic course which was being held. I could resist photographing it whilst no one was looking!
At 11.30 am everything stopped for a ver special celebration. To mark the Dambusters 70th anniversary a Lancaster circled the Brooklands site no less than three times. Everyone held their breath as the Lancaster appeared from over the Brooklands Banking for the flyover.
After lunch the Test Hill opened. I didn't go to the Drivers briefing but I would imagine they had bee told to take their foot off the pedal at the summit and new warning signs had been place towards the top of the hill telling drivers to 'slow down'
A brilliant day for club members and the weather held out until after the Test Hill runs.
Auto Italia - Brooklands Museum and Mercedes Benz World
Undoubtedly one of the most exotic Motor Shows on the Calender, Auto Italia is always very heavily supported and never fails to wow the spectators.
The cars arrived on the Brooklands Museum site early and parked in the appropriate area for each specific marque.
Visitors gathered at the bottom of the Campbell Gate as one by one the cars descended the hill.
A familiar site...the sea of red Ferraris!
Following a mid morning Drivers Briefing the event moved over to the Mercedes Benz Test circuit. The cars we split into groups and followed the Pace car in an elegant parade. Definitely NO overtaking or wheelies allowed!!
The lovely Michelle proved the glamour over on the Performance Direct stand and was very willing to pose whilst the cameras clicked!
Concorde, as usual, looked magnificent and visitors were able to take tours to experience the wonders of the mighty airplane
The Test Hill opened after lunch and the cars waited at the bottom to make the ascent. much to the anticipation and excitement of the crowd who had braved the steep climb.
There were a few surprises which caused a few gasps!
Time to go home. Such a diverse selection of Italian cars and so well attended. We look forward to Auto Italia 2014...a definite date for the diaries!
Soft Top Sunday - Goodwood Breakfast Club - Goodwood Motor Circuit
Very early starts did not deter owners of Soft Tops to be at the gates of Goodwood Motor Circuit when they opened at around 7.00 am.
One ofn the first in was this beautiful Alfa Romeo replica...despite the cold start to the day the roof was down.
Soft Top Sunday is one of the most popular Breakfast Club meets. Hardly surprising when you see the stunning examples lined up under the Clock Tower.
There was a diverse selection of cars and they continued to arrive throughout the morning.
The event catered for everyone...even those with four legs!
A little unfair really...a brilliant white McLaren was one of the stars of the meet. Hardly surprising really!
Even Lord March arrived topless and gave a perfect demonstration on how to park a car when surrounded by people you don't know and who are all gawping at you. Well done Sir!
By around 10.00 am the circuit was packed and the delicious smell of the bacon sizzling lured people over to the food bars.
A few enthusiasts were missed out by not downloading the parking voucher from the Goodwood website and so had to park in the adjacent field. Worth remembering to do if participating in a theme breakfast meet.
The Marshals and Stewards did an excellent job getting everyone on and off site. There just one or two casualties but immediate help was provided.
As always the visitors are very well behaved and after breakfast and a good old chat merry leave the circuit to either head back home for lunch or stop at one of the delightful pubs in the surrounding areas.
Silverstone Classic Media Day
The organisers of Silverstone Classic announced a record turnout for Media Day. The pre-event Media Day was at the iconin Silverstone Circuit home of the Silverstone Classic. There were certainly a large number of photographers muscling in for the best shots of the day.
Media Day was held in the Silverstone Wing complex and Event Director Launched the event and outlined the huge programme and activities lined up both on track and off track. Silverstone Classic is on course to break it's own record as the World's biggest classic racing festival.
VSCC Spring Start - Silverstone
Silverstone was bathed in warm, bright glorious sunshine for the first day of the Spring Start. In previous years the 'Spring Start' has been a one day event but as enthusiasm for the VSCC extended the event to two days. This was the first live televised race meeting in the history of the VSCC (broadcast on Motors TV)
We arrived early before the crowds. Early am on the first day of an event is always very exciting. The cars and drivers have arrived fresh and enthusiastic about the racing ahead of them. There was a lot of activity with greetings exchanged and last minute adjustments being made. A bonus with the VSCC events are that spectators are free to wonder around the pits to see, experience and photograph what is going on before and after each race. They are made to feel part of the event and there prevails a very friendly and fun atmosphere.
The racing was exciting and it was quite a site to see the Vintage Cars battling it out around the track.
Participating were several categories including Pre-War Sports-Cars, Pre 61 Racing Cars, Vintage Racing Cars, Standard and Modified Pre-War Cars all racing in the appropriate categories. Not too many spins and breakdowns. The fastest lap recorded over the weekend was 93.54 MPH in a Cooper T53 driven by Jonathan Hughes in Sunday's HGPCA-1966 Grand Prix Cars.
Looking forward to seeing the VSCC competing again at the Double Twelve Motorsport Festival at Brooklands in June.
