DATES: THURSDAY 25 TO MONDAY 29 AUGUST 2022 INCL.
This is another race meeting that has been off my calendar for a while. The last time I went was in 2018. For those that don’t know, as it suggests, it features all sorts of classic race cars from many different categories, from Formula Ford, through to Classic F1 cars and loads of Touring Cars – “tin tops” to you and me….
The BEST thing about the Classic is that you can get really near to the cars in the paddock (and elsewhere), which is always a very attractive aspect for me – I like to look at the machinery, especially as I remember most of it the first time around ! It’s also a lot less crowded than the full Grand Prix meeting. Most of the time, most of the guys are quite happy to talk about their machines – if they’re not in the middle of a gearbox changing crisis that is !
So (as usual – boring, boring…….) it was the 4 days on-site camping package for me, at the Woodlands Campsite. This time I went posh and had the electric hook up option – no expense spared…… I travelled up on the Thursday, ready for the “proper” first day on the Friday. The Woodlands Campsite is ideal, as it’s only a quick stroll to the nearest circuit entry point. They also organised a fleet of buses to take people around the perimeter road, so it was easy to get from one viewpoint to another.
This time, there seemed to be a bit more of a “carnival” atmosphere as it had moved to the August Bank Holiday weekend, I guess as means of getting more punters through the doors. Apart from the actual racing, there was plenty of other stuff to see, including displays of all sorts of cars from various car clubs, stuff for the kids, stalls to buy memorabilia, etc, etc.
An added attraction for me was the evening entertainment featuring Bjorn Again, Sister Sledge ( oh yes, definitely my era) and Rick Astley.
So I stuck to my “usual” plan of spending Friday my looking round the paddock ( less busy than on the actual weekend, obs) and watching some of the practice/qualifying sessions as well, a choose a few to races on the Saturday and Sunday to watch (some cars being more attractive for me than others….) and then have a general schmooze around the displays, etc in between times. No change this year, why fix it, etc, etc.
So here’s a few notes on some of the stuff that caught my eye – in no particular order……….there was lots more, this is but a sample.
WARNING: LIKE MY EARLIER GOODWOOD FESTIVAL OF SPEED AND SILVERSTONE POSTS, THERE ARE PAGES AND PAGES OF CARS IN THIS POST….. JUST SAYING…….
One great thing about getting there early – you get your choice of pitch. It certainly filled up later in the afternoon !
Friday morning mist……all ready for a cracking day
If you know me well, you know I have an ENORMOUS soft spot for saloon/touring cars, especially ones from “my” era…….
There’s always one joker……..Many years ago I had one of these RS2000 Mk 1’s , in black/gold. Wish I’d still got it, would be worth a small fortune now…….
Whatever, whatever, the Sierra Cossy RS500 still remains on of the most iconic touring cars of ALL TIME, IMHO anyway. Just look at that engine……
Dolly Sprints were pretty good for their time as well.
Another machine close to my heart. Very nearly the same as the one I used to speed hill climb, many years ago.
Not really my “bag”, but these little 1 lite Formula Junior cars are fun to watch, as they are driven flat out ALL the time- especially on a flowing circuit like Silverstone . Sound like a swarm of bees !
More classic saloon cars……
Then on to the sports car garage. I’m a sucker for a well turned out Austin Healey, beautiful machine
It wasn’t ALL racing cars……..
Beautiful Lotus 15, an ex-works car by the look of it. Still looks good, originally built in 1958. NOt quite sure it should be racing with axle stands as passengers……
Yes, more saloons, I’m afraid. Here’s a nice simple facia, as per RS500. The current cars are much, much more complex.
The Historic Formula Junior’s put on a bit of a display inside and outside their garages. Also there was a certain Mr Ray Mallock, obviously driving a family created Mallock, bucking the trend in still being front engined.
The next garage along was a mixture of Masters Endurance Legend cars ( eg the sort of machines that raced in the Le Mans 24 hour race in France) and 1990’s
Ligier LMP2, built on 2016, 4 litre engine. A very typical Le Mans style car, all carbon fibre and big wings.
Despite all of the electronic and other gadgets, the suspension is adjusted using MECHANICAL shims ! Extraordinary !!!!
Towo of my all time favourite LM cars are the screaming Peugeot 90X machines from 2011. Essentially an F1 engined machine with 3.7 litres of V10 in the back. Unfortunately. not allowed to get near them today, but I’ve seen them close up before at the Le Mans Classic. Even the bodywork is sexy !!!!
Here’s a 2009, 6 litre Aston Martin DBR1-2. Somebody with a sense of humour obviously allocated the race numbers……
A few more for you to feast your eyes upon
One of my all time favourite LM cars is the screaming Peugeot 90X machine from 2011. Essentially an F1 engined machine with 3.7 litres of V10 in the back. Unfortunately not allowed to get near them today, but I’ve seen them close up before at the Le Mans Classic. Even the bodywork is sexy !!!!
In the historic GP car garage, these two Lotusssssss caught my eye, a 25 and an 18. Still looking remarkably pretty.
And a Maserati 250 f from 1995. OOOF !
Just off the main paddock was a display of Group C cars, mainly the sort that dominated the Le Mans scene for many years. God knows how much money was sitting there. They did get some period drivers to give them a whizz round. I got the impression that they would have been quite happy to have given them a bit more of a blast, rather than pootling round……Lots of Jaaaaaags and a clutch of Porsche’s . Some pretty useful driver names on many of them.
They look the same, but each one slightly different………
In the Village, a star attraction was a pavillion featuring ALL seven of Lewis Hamilton’s title winning cars. from 2008 up to and including 2020. A mixture of McLaren and Mercedes machines
Interesting to see some of the detail close up, especially all the complexity of the suspension and aerodynamics. Got more fiddly as the years progressed.
Also there was a sort of rally special stage/demonstration, with some rather fine classic machinery, including a Sunbeam Talbot Lotus and various Fords Escorts, amongst others.
Another big feature of the Classic is the collection of car clubs that gather at the circuit, from the Abarth Owners Club, all the way through to one called Zroadster.org ( which seems to be a club featuring the BMW Z roadsters). CArs everywhere !
One of my favourites ( for sentimental reasons, I guess ) was the Austin 7 club site. A couple of beautiful examples on show. In my youth I had an example of each – but not in this condition !!!!!
I was intrigued how they were able to stuff so much into a Fiat 500 Abarth engine bay – such a tiny car !
Another intriging vehicle was this old Morris JE van that had been converted to battery power. I think this is the on that featured on the BBC Travel Show programme at some time.
So there we are, another Silverstone Classic review completed. Roll on 2023 !
Oh, by the way Sister Sledge were FANTASTIC !!!!!!!! Can’t believe they are now in their 60’s – such energy……..