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Castle Combe 60th Anniversary meeting

Started by Giraffe , Aug 01 2010 20:45

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24 replies to this topic

#1 Giraffe

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Posted 01 August 2010 - 20:45

Due to a latechange of plan, I found myself at Castle Coombe today...........

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By giraffe138 at 2010-08-01

I'd forgotten what a great little circuit it is, and fantastic for the spectator........

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By giraffe138 at 2010-08-01

The only TNFers I spotted today were Ted Walker & Simons Drabble & Hadfield! I walked a lap of the perimeter looking for all of you S.W. TNFers! :well:

I hardly ever see Lotus 30's and then along comes another one, this being Andy Bradshaw's splendid version...........

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By giraffe138 at 2010-08-01
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By giraffe138 at 2010-08-01

It's always great to see the JCB Chevron B8 driven by Andy Newall, and it scored a last gasp victory in the Guards Trophy race today,when Ed Lovett's ex-John Lepp B8 stepped off the track at Tower on the last lap.........

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By giraffe138 at 2010-08-01
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By giraffe138 at 2010-08-01

Great to see George Douglas' Martin BM9/10 again....

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By giraffe138 at 2010-08-01

.... who also ran a Ginetta G16 today..........

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By giraffe138 at 2010-08-01

But I did like this wacky Warwick GT3500 Buick in the Guards Trophy..............

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By giraffe138 at 2010-08-01
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By giraffe138 at 2010-08-01

I will post more tomorrow..........

Edited by Giraffe, 01 August 2010 - 21:00.

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#2 David Lawson

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Posted 01 August 2010 - 21:00

The only TNFers I spotted today were Ted Walker & Simons Drabble & Hadfield! I walked a lap of the perimeter looking for all of you S.W. TNFers!

I was watching Juniors and Group C at Brands Hatch.

David

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#3 bradbury west

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Posted 01 August 2010 - 21:08

Tony, I think the Warwick Buick is THE Warwick Buick, only one being built AFAIK. George Douglas, of course, raced a super little G12 T/C for many years.
Roger Lund

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#4 Giraffe

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Posted 01 August 2010 - 21:12

Tony, I think the Warwick Buick is THE Warwick Buick, only one being built AFAIK. George Douglas, of course, raced a super little G12 T/C for many years.
Roger Lund

And a very nice chap he is, Roger!

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#5 Gary C

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Posted 01 August 2010 - 21:20

That Lotus 30 is bluddy georgeous!

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#6 MCS

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Posted 01 August 2010 - 21:46

Lovely pictures, as ever - thanks Giraffe! (I sincerely hope you realise how much pleasure a lot of us derive from your efforts and enthusiasm).

Oddly enough, I was talking to a friend the other day about Brian Martin's brief foray into single-seaters (as opposed to sportscars). Do we know what he's doing these days...?

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#7 arttidesco

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Posted 01 August 2010 - 21:53

Dang ! Been working most of the day :-(

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#8 Giraffe

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Posted 01 August 2010 - 22:14

Lovely pictures, as ever - thanks Giraffe! (I sincerely hope you realise how much pleasure a lot of us derive from your efforts and enthusiasm).

That's very kind of you Mark! It's odd that people PM me, or collar me at race meetings but are reticent to post on the forum.I just hope I encourage TNFers to get out more, as today was a splendid and convivial day out as many family groups I saw recognise!

Lovely Healey Silverstone..

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By giraffe138 at 2010-08-01
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By giraffe138 at 2010-08-01

The Adams / Drabble Garage at Castle Coombe today..........

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By giraffe138 at 2010-08-01

Edited by Giraffe, 02 August 2010 - 06:29.

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#9 Giraffe

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Posted 02 August 2010 - 07:10

From the very first meeting 60 years ago, the F3 Iota (Milliunion) that was driven by Gerry Millington

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By giraffe138 at 2010-08-01

From France, the Turner of Patrice Wattinne

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By giraffe138 at 2010-08-01

The ex-Jackie Oliver Lotus 26R of Paul Goldfinch

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By giraffe138 at 2010-08-01
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By giraffe138 at 2010-08-01

Cobra of Gavin Henderson

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By giraffe138 at 2010-08-01

Nigel Williams Alfa TZ & Andrew Garside's Lotus 23B

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By giraffe138 at 2010-08-01

Lotus 23B of Johns Rees & Hutchinson

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By giraffe138 at 2010-08-01

& also of Martin Halliday

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By giraffe138 at 2010-08-01

The Austin Healey of Gavin Henderson & Ted Williams

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By giraffe138 at 2010-08-01

Graeme Dodd's Ginetta G16

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By giraffe138 at 2010-08-02

Clive Wilson's Elva Mk7

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By giraffe138 at 2010-08-02

Paddock scenes from yesterday's meeting...

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By giraffe138 at 2010-08-01
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By giraffe138 at 2010-08-01

The 3.4-Litre powerplant of Castle Coombe regular Vince Woodman's 'Cologne' Capri. Vince who debuted at the circuit in 1965 will be 72 next week!

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By giraffe138 at 2010-08-02

Edited by Giraffe, 02 August 2010 - 07:19.

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#10 simon drabble

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Posted 02 August 2010 - 08:32

Great photo's as ever - I love this meeting and try and do it each year (although being the 60th it was extra special!). Combe has the knack of being a genuine clubbie circuit where they can mix modern and old and it somehow works.

Guards and the Celebration races were fantastic fun and frantic from start to finish. We had two solid finishes and more importantly my son got his second signature in the Merlyn in the Guards. Although I had a personal best lap time yesterday (and quickest twinkie s/racer of the day) it is a circuit that you know you could always lap quicker if you were just a little braver!

The Healey ended up in the corn infield and set the field on fire -car was relativelty undamaged I believe but maybe Ted can confirm.

I was surprised to see the Cologne Capri and Escort in the 50's and 60's race but as I love Cologne Capri's I will forgive them. It gave my wife quite a start seeing the John Lepp B8 - she was at school with his sister and remebers well going out with them on Sundays in thier Rolls Royce formerly owned by a member of Mud!

Roll on next year's Combe Historic weekend and why cant Thruxton have one???!!

Edited by simon drabble, 02 August 2010 - 08:34.

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#11 Giraffe

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Posted 02 August 2010 - 20:29

Lotus 30 on the parade lap

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By giraffe138 at 2010-08-02

An eclectic mix in the 50s & 60's Anniversary Trophy .....

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By giraffe138 at 2010-08-02

Edited by Giraffe, 02 August 2010 - 20:29.

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#12 Giraffe

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Posted 02 August 2010 - 20:39

Vince Woodman driving on to his 72nd birthday this week.......

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By giraffe138 at 2010-08-02

The gap infront of Andy Newall's locked-up JCB Chevron B8 had been left for Ed Lovett's similar car, which had been there when I looked over my shoulder a split second earlier..... :eek:

By giraffe138 at 2010-08-02

Fast & flat & flat-out.............

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By giraffe138 at 2010-08-02

Edited by Giraffe, 02 August 2010 - 20:43.

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#13 arttidesco

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Posted 03 August 2010 - 11:19

Top pics Tony :up:

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#14 RTH

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Posted 03 August 2010 - 11:28

Great set of quite unusual pictures Tony :up:

Have not been to Castle Combe for a long time.

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#15 Giraffe

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Posted 03 August 2010 - 12:08

Great set of quite unusual pictures Tony

Have not been to Castle Combe for a long time.

Thanks Richard; I wish I'd spelled the circuit's name correctly on the title tho'! :blush:

By giraffe138 at 2010-08-03

Exiting Tower Corner.

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#16 simon drabble

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Posted 03 August 2010 - 12:16

great photo's - the one above includes my son in my Merlyn coming up to lap my old Turner!! Is the 26R behind your mate Chris Rea's old car?

Tower from this angle doesn't look that threatening but let me assure you when you approach it head on the bank directly infront of you looks very close!!!

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#17 F3Wrench

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Posted 03 August 2010 - 17:58

Hi Simon, Giraffe... I was there with my good lady on Sunday too! I've been trying to spot myself in your pics Giraffe, but we were obviously in different parts of the circuit.

I live only half an hour away from Castle Combe and I just love that curcuit - reminds me of my F3 days back at Brands and Lydden, with spectators sitting on grass banks overlooking the circuit, having picnics and just soaking up the atmosphere. Made such a relaxing change from the Silverstone HSCC meeting the weekend before, at least we could get from Quarry to the paddock and up to Camp without feeling like we'd been on a route-march.

You haven't mentioned the Superkarts; they are something else, aren't they? Talk about pocket rockets - the mechanic I was chatting to said they were good for 130 mph, and had lap times faster than most anything else out that day. My pics are really rubbish, especially compared to the superb photos of yours Giraffe, but I'll try and put a couple of the Superkarts on Flickr and post a link.

Simon mentioned the Austin Healey that caught fire and ended up in the corn-field. I was watching just before Cap Corner, and although quite a drama it was handled superbly by the marshals; and I was so impressed by the fact the apart from the yellow flags they didn't immediately chuck a Safety Car onto the track. despite the Ambulance being right alongside the track, they trusted the good sense of the drivers to keep it down and avoid any danger. Good to see.

So a big thank-you to Howard and Pat Strawford and all the team at CC, a really well-run meeting. Good facilities, races started on time, clear and humourous commentary, exciting racing; what's not to like?

Hope to see you there again Giraffe, let me know when you're next visiting CC and I'll be there (season ticket of couse). Pics to follow...

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#18 Alan Cox

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Posted 03 August 2010 - 18:45

great photo's - the one above includes my son in my Merlyn coming up to lap my old Turner!! Is the 26R behind your mate Chris Rea's old car?

No, Simon, it's the ex-Oliver car which features in Giraffe's earlier post

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#19 MCS

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Posted 03 August 2010 - 18:50

By giraffe138 at 2010-08-02

They've put a chicane in...why?

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#20 Geoff E

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Posted 03 August 2010 - 18:55

They've put a chicane in...why?

Two ... back in 1999 http://www.castlecom.../circuitmap.asp

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#21 Giraffe

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Posted 03 August 2010 - 21:25

They've put a chicane in...why?

It would be dangerously fast without them, Mark!

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By giraffe138 at 2010-08-03
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By giraffe138 at 2010-08-03

Sorry to miss you F3Wrench. I did a lap of the outfield on foot around 1pm, so logically I must have passed you at some point! It most certainly is a super circuit for both driver and spectator, and there really was a great clubbie feel to things on Sunday, the grassy paddock and neat fit contributing to it. Quarry Corner makes stunning close-up viewing! :up:

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#22 Pete Stowe

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Posted 04 August 2010 - 16:42

Tony, I have some very similar assembly area pics to you from Sunday morning, so probably we crossed paths.
(BTW I’m sure if you asked Twinny nicely he’d correct the spelling in the title)

A few shots that might be of interest to TNFers:

The gent examining the Lotus 30 in post 1 above is Brian Owens, who raced a Frazer Nash in the very first Castle Combe meeting 8th July 1950, and drove his Austin Ulster Replica in the lunchtime parade on Sunday.
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Also in the parade was this 1946 HRG, which ran in the first ever car race at Combe; on the Saturday it was re-united with its original owner John Skinner
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The reconstructed Iota MilliUnion
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Nigel Williams’ lovely Alfa Romeo TZ
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The Alfa, Nick Fleming’s B8, et al, exit the Esses
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Nick Thompson’s Chevron B6
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Andy Newall’s “Tank Tape Special” B8 at Quarry
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David Erwin’s 2000GTV Alfa at Hammerdown
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And a couple from Saturday’s Ron Fry Trophy race (awards presentation was by Joan Fry, Ron’s widow, her first visit to the circuit for over 40 years.)

The Gavin Henderson/Ted Williams Cobra at Bobbies
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and Henry Mann’s Lotus Cortina with Peter Adams' Turner-Climax
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Edited by Pete Stowe, 04 August 2010 - 17:00.

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#23 Giraffe

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Posted 05 August 2010 - 09:52

I have discovered that I photographed three of the E-types in the paddock, but can only find one of them listed in the programme, that being car #16 of Anthony Galliers-Pratt / Patrick Blakeney-Edwards. The results are not as yet posted on the HSCC website, so can anyone give me a clue as to whom cars #42 & #15 belong to?

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