15 replies to this topic

[Alan Cox]

The HSCC are to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Brands GP circuit at the HSCC Historic Superprix on 4/5 July. Here is their latest press release:

HSCC to celebrate 50th anniversary of Brands Hatch GP circuit

The Historic Sports Car Club will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Grand Prix circuit at Brands Hatch during the annual HSCC Historic Superprix over the weekend of 3/4 July.

Widely regarded as one of the most challenging and spectacular sections of race track in the world, the Grand Prix loop at the Kent track was completed in 1960 and was first used for car racing over the August Bank Holiday weekend. The feature event was the non-championship Formula 1 race for the Silver City Trophy, which was won by Jack Brabham (Cooper T53) from Graham Hill (BRM) and Bruce McLaren (Cooper T51).

Now, in a fitting celebration of half a century of international racing on the Grand Prix circuit, the type of cars that contested the Silver City Trophy will be back in action as races for the Historic Grand Prix Car Association feature prominently. There is every probability that the grid will include a Cooper T53 alongside many other classic Grand Prix cars from the pre '66 era.

For three decades, the British Grand Prix was held regularly at Brands Hatch and the Formula 1 cars that raced there in the 1970s and early 1980s will be back in July for a round of the sensational FIA Historic Formula One Championship. Other major races include rounds of the Historic Formula 2 Trophy, the FIA Lurani Trophy for Formula Junior and there is a full programme of HSCC categories spanning single-seaters, sports and GT cars and saloon cars.

"The Brands Hatch Grand Prix circuit has to be the finest drivers' track in Britain," said Grahame White, CEO of the HSCC. "We are very pleased to mark this important anniversary with our Historic Superprix. Not only do we have a great line-up of some of the most significant international historic racing categories, but we also have rounds of all of our own championships. The chance for our members to race on the Grand Prix circuit ensures that this is one of our biggest events of the season."

Jonathan Palmer, Chief Executive of MotorSport Vision, said: "We're delighted that Grahame White and his team at the HSCC have chosen such a special anniversary as the theme for this year's Superprix. The Brands Hatch Grand Prix circuit is regarded by many F1 Grand Prix legends as one of the most challenging in the world, which makes it all the more satisfying to race on. With its dramatic sweeping undulations and the unique nature of every corner, it is one of those circuits that as a driver you just know at the end of every lap that there is a bit more time that can be found on the next - and that is so rare and exciting."

Other race winners in August 1960 included F1 driver Roy Salvadori, who won the Kingsdown Trophy for saloon cars in a Jaguar and the Raffles Trophy for un-limited sports cars in a Cooper Climax. Jack Sears won the Wrotham Trophy for GT cars in an Aston Martin DB4, while the 24-year old Jim Clark won the John Davy Trophy for Formula Juniors in a Lotus 18. Even though he had already started his Grand Prix career for Team Lotus, Clark still contested some Formula Junior races for the team through the 1960 season. The club is hoping to re-use some of these trophy names for suitable races in July.

For more details about the HSCC, please visit www.hscc.org.uk

[Pink Snail]

Looks like it`s going to be a great meeting . Although it clashes with the Goodwood Festival of Speed , the Superprix is definately worth putting in the diary folks . The F1 machinery (HFO Championship) is amazing and offers so many different types of F1 cars from the late 60s through early 80s . The big banger F5000 is also not to be missed and the meeting normally attracts a few cars from down under !! I have booked my plot at a campsite near Brands from Thursday until Monday already for my 3rd Annual trip `down south` - see you there guys!!!

[David McKinney]

So us old folks go to Goodwood, and you youngsters go to Brands

[Pink Snail]

So us old folks go to Goodwood, and you youngsters go to Brands

Hey slow down!!! I may be a young 46 , but really enjoy the buzz of the Superprix . And considering most of the competitors are a lot older than me doesn`t make me feel too bad age wise David !!! The FoS may be an attractive pull, but as for a great alternative and being able to pay as you enter and wander all over the place (pits included) not a bad return for your dosh. A bigger bonus is that it is normally free entry on the Friday and you get to see the first practise sessions..

[Rob Ryder]

So us old folks go to Goodwood, and you youngsters go to Brands

Aaaah.. so you prefer to see Jenson, Lewis et al

[fuzzi]

Shame about the date, but you can't be everywhere.

I'll be at Shelsley Walsh (and Brands Hatch is less than an hour away by Austin Seven)

[philhitchings]

As one of Brands' highlight events it's already on my calendar.

[Tim Murray]

So we have the Festival of Speed, the Historic Superprix and the Vintage Shelsley meeting all on the same weekend. I appreciate that to a certain extent they cover different sectors of historic motor sport, but there is still a significant overlap, and the quality of entry for all three meetings must be reduced. Why was this triple clash allowed to happen?

[Andrew Kitson]

It always happens Tim, but at Brands, racing cars will actually be racing.

[sterling49]

An awful long way to travel, but....................

[Alan Cox]

An awful long way to travel, but....................

When did you move, sterling?

[Eric Dunsdon]

I cycled down to Brands for that meeting, but after seeing the front engined Ferrari-Dino's of Phil Hill and Ritchie Ginther being humbled by Cooper's and Loti' (BRM's were okay!) I decided that enough was enough. I didnt attend another race meeting until 1965 when 250F's began appearing in historic races!. Sadly, historic racing has now gone full circle and once again I have to watch 250F's and the like, being humbled by Cooper and Lotus. and it still matters to me somehow. I cant see myself attending any anniversary meeting!.

[sterling49]

When did you move, sterling?

..........I didn't Alan, I can actually hear the cars this morning, as I type...........................

[D-Type]

So we have the Festival of Speed, the Historic Superprix and the Vintage Shelsley meeting all on the same weekend. I appreciate that to a certain extent they cover different sectors of historic motor sport, but there is still a significant overlap, and the quality of entry for all three meetings must be reduced. Why was this triple clash allowed to happen?

I totally agree. Surely it can't make commercial sense!
The competitor base may well be different with precious few cars being eligible for or invited to more than one event. This doesn't apply to the spectators - I am sure there are many people sufficiently interested in "old cars" to want to attend more than one meeting. And as for the traders - I am sure that Simon Lewis, Ted Walker, Sholto Models etc would like to have a stand at more than one meeting.
OK, there are only so many weekends in a summer, but ...

[Giraffe]

Maybe they could have a re-run of this amazing car-less race from 1969..... (That's how I remember Tony Lanfranchi preparing for every race I saw him in! )

http://www.britishpa...rd.php?id=45624

[philhitchings]

I thought as it's only a few weeks away, this thread might benefit from a small attempt to generate some additional interest.

Link to the Brands Hatch site

Though the line up for this bank holiday weekend looks very impressive as well! (it's a shame I'm missing all the fun)

Grand Prix Masters entry list:
Jim Clark Class - 1966-1968 Pre-wing F1 cars
44 Simon Diffey GB Brabham BT24 1968 3000

Jackie Stewart Class - 1969 to 1971 Winged F1 cars
7 Ron Maydon GB Matra MS80 1969 3000
30 Mike Wrigley GB March 711 1971 3000
31 John Delane USA Tyrrell 002 1971 3000

Emerson Fittipaldi Class - 1972 to 1974 Winged F1 cars
10 Manfredo Rossi di Montelera I Brabham BT42 1974 3000
17 Richard Meins GB McLaren M23/4 1973 3000
20 Rob Hall GB Matra MS120C 1974 3000
27 Paul Grant BE Trojan 103 1974 3000
84 James Hanson GB Williams FW03 1974 3000

Niki Lauda Class - 1975 to 1977 Winged F1 cars
6 Nico Bindels LU Lotus 77 1976 3000
16 Richard Barber GB Fittipaldi F5A 1978 3000
19 Rob Austin GB S urtees TS 19 1976 3000
21 Roger Wills N Z Williams FW05 1976 3000
34 John Grant GB Shadow DN 9A 1978 3000
91 Peter Meyrick GB March 761 1976 3000

Patrick Head Class - Post 1978-1985 Ground Effect and Flat-Bottomed F1 cars
3 Ian Simmonds GB Tyrrell 012 1983 3000
18 David Coplowe GB Lotus 87 1981 3000
32 Steve Hartley GB Arrows A4 1982 3000
33 Bill Coombs GB Tyrrell 009 1979 3000
35 Steve Allen GB Arrows A1 1978 3000
36 Frank Lyons GB Osella FA1 1981 3000
60 David Abbott GB Arrows A4 1982 3000
80 Sid Hoole GB Lotus 80 1979 3000

World Sports Car Masters Entry List
Rodriguez Trophy
2 Roger Wills NZ McLaren M1C 1967 5000
5 David Hart NL Ferrari 512 M 1969 4993
6 Leo Voyazides GR Lola T70 Mk3B 1968 5000
14 Oliver Bryant/Grahame Bryant GB/GB Lola T70 Mk3B 1969 5000
17 Richard Meins GB Lola T70 Mk3B 1968 5000
21 Steve Tandy GB Lola T70 Mk3B © 1969 5000
33 Jon Minshaw GB Lola T70 Mk3B 1969 5000
45 David Coplowe GB Lola T70 Mk3b © 1969 5000
58 Shaun Lynn GB Lola T70 Mk3B 1969 5000
68 Jose Segimon E Lola T70 Mk3B 5000
77 Justin Maeers GB Lola T70 Mk3B © 1968 5000
81 Chris Beighton/Jon Finnemore GB/GB Lola T70 Mk3B 1969 5000

Siffert Trophy
8 Irvine Laidlaw/Simon Hadfield GB/GB Chevron B16 1970 1930
25 Roberto Farneti I Chevron B16 © 1969 2000
36 Alain Schlesinger F Chevron B19 1971 1800
51 Tim Cousins GB Chevron B23 1973 1790
72 Jamie Boot GB Chevron B16 1970 2000
75 Martin Angle/Hugh Angle GB/GB Chevron B16 1970 1790
85 Andrew Middleton GB Taydec MK3 1970 1800

Pescarolo Trophy
12 Peter Hallford/Tony Crudgington CDN /GB ChevroletCorvette 1968 7500
60 David Betts GB Porsche 911 RSR 1974 3000
74 Paul Howells GB Porsche 911 RSR 1974 3000
86 Jeremy Cooke GB Porsche 911 RSR 1974 3000

Marko Trophy
18 Bob Houghton GB Lola T210 1970 1790
40 John Crowson/Richard Evans GB/GB Abarth PA01 1973 1996
44 Roderick Smith GB Lola T290 1972 2000