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Classic cars back at Combe
From the Swindon Advertiser, first published Friday 4th Aug 2000.
MOTOR RACING
LOVERS of traditional motor sport will have plenty to enjoy at the Castle Combe circuit's annual Classic Raceday tomorrow, when no fewer than seven of the day's ten races are devoted to classic motor sport.
The Historic Sports Car Club's championships make up the majority of the races, with a varied programme catering for single seaters and sports cars of all ages.
Supporting the event is Classic Cars For Sale, the only fortnightly publication for classic car enthusiasts. Magazine editor Jerome Mouat and publishing team will be in the paddock at Castle Combe to cover the event and will bring along a display of Alfa Romeos and free copies of the magazine.
Alfa Romeo is celebrating its 90th anniversary and will display current and classic Alfa Romeos, including members' cars from the Alfa Romeo Owners' Club. There will be a lunchtime circuit parade.
Topping the racing bill is the HSCC RJB Thundersports Championship, catering for some of the loveliest sports racing cars of the modern era.
Former Grand Prix driver Mike Wilds will be aboard his Chevron B19 and will be very quick, while in the invitation class are locals Robert Nash (Cirencester), in a Lola T594 Hart, and Jonathan Loader (Brinkworth), in a Tiga SC84.
The Chris Alford Historic Formula Ford Championship race has its usual bountiful entry, with local interest from Bath's Nick Lott in his Merlyn MK11A/Connaught and Salisbury's Nick Sheppard in an Alexis Mk15.
The HSCC Historic Road Sports Championship will bring back the memories of those who were into open top motoring in the 1960s. The rarer entries include a Lancia Aurelia, Porsche 912, Turner, and an extremely unusual Bolwell.
Better known marques include Lotus, Alfa Romeo, and TR. A Lotus 6, with rare Coventry Climax 1.5 litre engine, will be driven by Marlborough's Hugo Shipley in Class A.
The 70s Road Sports has a similar variety of machinery, including a Lotus Eclat and Esprit, Ferrari 308 GTB and VW 914, though it is the TVRs and Datsun 240Zs which could be front runners.
The HSCC Classic Formula 3 Championship has life company chief executive Keith Baldwin, from Devizes, in a March 733/Holbay, and the HSCC Classic Racing Car Championship has some gorgeous machinery, including single seaters such as Brabham, Nike, Jamun, Merlyn and Palliser.
Saloon enthusiasts are catered for by the HSCC/HRSR Historic Racing Saloon Championship, with Mustangs and Jaguars contrasting sharply with the 845cc Renault Dauphine Gordini of Arthur Smith-Fitchet.
The Jaguar Enthusiasts' Club XK Challenge features a plethora of XK120s and 140s.
The circuit's home championships provide the contrast to the classic part of the day.
The Pagid Performance Braking Saloon Car Championship has Charles Atherton, from Backwell, with a healthy seven point overall lead in his 1.4 litre Corsa, but out at the front of the field is Mark Wyatt from Bristol, now on top form in his super-quick Astra. Other Astra pilots include Duncan Rickards, from Shepton Mallet, while from slightly further afield is Keith MacAskill, all the way from Aberdeen.
Tim Hanlon, from Holt, near Trowbridge, is currently the fastest Class B contender in his Peugeot 205 Gti, but Jonny Webb, from Devizes, is the points leader in his Fiesta.
Tony Dolley, from Bridgwater, would be right at the top of the chart were it not for mechanical maladies at the last three meetings with his very fast Corsa. Midsomer Norton's David Mears should be smooth and consistent in his more modestly tune Peugeot 205.
Salisbury's Robin Parsons is in an unrepresentative third place in the National Mobile Windscreens Formula Ford 1600 Championship, but just six points separates him from John Hutchinson at the head of the field.
Chippenham's Tim Reynolds is fifth in his Vector despite non scoring with engine failure at the last round.
Hugh Elliott, from Bradford on Avon, is in third place in Class B despite only contesting (and winning) two rounds in his Van Diemen RF89. Dursley's Wayne Poole is second, some 11 points behind leader Barry Wort, from Southampton, with Nick Jones, from Bradley Stoke, looking to score some points this time.
The smartone.co.uk Special GTs is looking strong for Bob Light in his omnipotent B6 Sport, now with a two point lead overall and an almost unassailable one in his class.
Local interest includes Peter Bragg, from Stroud, in a Sylva Phoenix Nemesis, Tetbury's David Krayem, in a Chevrolet engined Royale Sports, Bath's Chris Farrell, in his Caterham GTC R/1, Bristol's Jeremy Irwin, in his Quest Rawlson GT and Dodington's Derek Gore, who is LM3000 mounted.
Saturday's action starts at 8.30am with qualifying, racing getting under way from 1.30pm.
Admission prices are £8 for adults and £2.50 for children, OAPs and Paddock transfer.
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