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Chateau Impney Hillclimb - 11th-12th July 2015


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#1 Alan Cox

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Posted 07 July 2015 - 18:42

Surprised to see that there has been no reference to this coming weekend's Chateau Impney Revival meeting. I'm sure that a number of TNFers will have pencilled it into their diaries.

With the prospect of up to ten ERAs appearing on track or as static exhibits, and other classes dating from the Edwardian era up to the 1960s, it should be an entertaining weekend

 

http://www.chateauimpneyhillclimb.com/



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#2 Derwent Motorsport

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Posted 07 July 2015 - 18:54

It seems to be blatantly commercial event, entry fee was £200 and there are corporate packages costing into many £k. Some excellent cars entered but why not do what Goodwood does and give them free entry as they are the entertainment. Another case of the clowns paying to perform!

Having said that, there were many folk willing to fork out the £200 and some that did not get an entry including a friend of mine who was a class record holder there and entered the same car - there can't be many others who can do that!

I do wonder in the long run how many of these "nostalgia festivals" can survive. The organisers have to ring the changes each year and do owners want to go back to the same event year after year if there are others to chose from?



#3 john ruston

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Posted 07 July 2015 - 20:30

Goodwood is not really free.
You have your car there for 5/6 days

It's the best show and extremely well organised but costs and it allows the organisers to have full control which is what's needed in an operation that big.

This new event will be interesting and 200 pounds these days is not bad when the Silverstone costs are 1000 plus and LMC 4500 plus.

We will have a Pre War Sports Csr doing the run and note that The venue is included in next weeks RAC 1000 mile trial in which we also have a car.

Don't knock it until we see what's happening.

#4 Tuboscocca

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Posted 07 July 2015 - 21:11

Surprised to see that there has been no reference to this coming weekend's Chateau Impney Revival meeting. I'm sure that a number of TNFers will have pencilled it into their diaries.
With the prospect of up to ten ERAs appearing on track or as static exhibits, and other classes dating from the Edwardian era up to the 1960s, it should be an entertaining weekend

http://www.chateauimpneyhillclimb.com


Alan I mentioned it in the bookthread on May 3rd 2015. There will be a Guy Loveridge book launched on the hill climb...
But then --no reaction..


See notice of June 7th here: https://twitter.com/mikehawthorn58

Michael

#5 Rob29

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Posted 08 July 2015 - 07:31

Just scanned link provided for this event and relieved that £200 is entry fee for competitors not spectators.only £40 for us plebs.However one clause I have never seen before and Im sure will upset a few people-no alcohol may be brought into the site but you can buy it from promoters own bar :cry: Also would be interested to know how those of us without cars can reach the venue?



#6 fuzzi

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Posted 08 July 2015 - 08:07

I've got my ticket and only £18.00 too. with my share of the petrol money (split three ways) means that even travelling up from Surrey makes it cheaper than the FOS. 

 

Plus you don't get a pre-war field like the one at the Chateau at Goodwood these days. :clap:



#7 Derwent Motorsport

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Posted 08 July 2015 - 08:20

I think John, you and I are at the opposite end of the amount we have to spend on motorsport. The danger is that the sport, or at least historic motorsport will gradually lose it's grassroots folk who are often also organisers and marshals.

You quote the cost of the Silverstone Classic entries but they are effectively double what the MGCC charged for the same length of races on the same track last month. Given that the spectator and trade income will be many times greater at the Classic then it does smack of making a very large profit for the promoters. MGCC is a non profit making operation and aims to cover costs only.



#8 Allan Lupton

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Posted 08 July 2015 - 08:52

The danger is that the sport, or at least historic motorsport will gradually lose it's grassroots folk who are often also organisers and marshals.

 

The rise of the major "historic" events has left the formerly normal club motorsport promoters such as MGCC (and VSCC) struggling in many cases.

When the VSCC was the only Club to run events for out of date racing cars, we could often see several 250F Maseratis at a VSCC Silverstone, but nowadays those that are still raced go where the money is - as I very much doubt they have to pay an entry fee like that quoted above.


Edited by Allan Lupton, 08 July 2015 - 08:53.


#9 Stephen W

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Posted 08 July 2015 - 08:56

I did think about going but been too busy to arrange anything. Plus I have a busy three weeks coming up so will be doing a bit of gardening(weather permitting) and researching for my next gig.

 

:wave:



#10 Tuboscocca

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Posted 08 July 2015 - 10:03

Just scanned link provided for this event and relieved that £200 is entry fee for competitors not spectators.only £40 for us plebs.However one clause I have never seen before and Im sure will upset a few people-no alcohol may be brought into the site but you can buy it from promoters own bar :cry: Also would be interested to know how those of us without cars can reach the venue?

Rob,

 

''no alcohol may be brought into the site ''--for the cars or the spectators????? :clap: 

 

 

Michael



#11 Alan Cox

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Posted 08 July 2015 - 10:08

Also would be interested to know how those of us without cars can reach the venue?

Droitwich station is probably a brisk 20 minute walk from the site, Rob



#12 Roger Clark

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Posted 08 July 2015 - 14:00

In case anybody doesn't know, the people behind Chateau Impney are long time supporters of historic racing. I am sure that they are concerned about the long-term health of the Movement, as much as their own commercial interests.

#13 sabrejet

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Posted 08 July 2015 - 14:01

Just scanned link provided for this event and relieved that £200 is entry fee for competitors not spectators.only £40 for us plebs.However one clause I have never seen before and Im sure will upset a few people-no alcohol may be brought into the site but you can buy it from promoters own bar :cry: Also would be interested to know how those of us without cars can reach the venue?

£20 surely?



#14 john ruston

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Posted 08 July 2015 - 14:23

All the entry fees at Silverstone Classic are about 1000 pounds per hour/race.

We do the odd VSCC race and wish they were 20 min long rather than short races.

I understand the financial basics of racing and certainly clubs such as MG,VSCC and HSCC represent more miles per buck in the seat against the major events.

#15 Tim Murray

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Posted 13 July 2015 - 10:24

Arttidesco and I had a great time yesterday at Chateau Impney. The event itself was excellent and it was good to meet quite a few TNFers there. Duncan Pittaway's Fiat S76 was of course the centre of attention, spitting fire and smoke and creating a tremendous spectacle. I certainly intend to go back next year, and thoroughly recommend it.

Not long after I got there I found myself in conversation with a very friendly chap who was competing in a Delage D8, but at the time I didn't know who he was. Later I found out his name was Mike Hawley. Would this be the same Mike Hawley who was a leading hillclimber in the '60s?

#16 fyrth

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Posted 13 July 2015 - 10:55

Not the 60's Hawley. A farmer from Henley in Arden who will also be at the Shelsley Classic weekend in the Chapman Mercury.



#17 Tim Murray

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Posted 13 July 2015 - 11:22

Thanks Fyrth.

#18 nmansellfan

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Posted 13 July 2015 - 12:08

I thoroughly enjoyed the event yesterday - despite 1/2 an hour of heavy rain in the morning I still came back sunburnt!  We got to the top of the paddock just as the S76 came back from it's morning run and standing 6 feet away from the stub 'exhausts' as it belched flame was a sight and sound to behold (it was actually quieter than I thought it might be though!).

 

Good organisation overall, helped by the fact that the return run was around the back of the Chateau so only the starting straight had to be used in the opposite direction to get the next batch of cars to the starting line - it kept the flow of action moving well during the day.

 

As we were returning back to the car park after the final run of the day, the paddock was nearly empty during the prizegiving - how often do you get the chance to mill over a 250F, Scarab, Alfa 8C, Bugatti T35 etc in a virtually deserted paddock?

 

My personal favourite was the Kurtis Kraft, like a few of the cars, pretty unsuitable for a 1000 yard hillclimb, but impressive to watch nonetheless.  



#19 Alan Cox

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Posted 13 July 2015 - 14:44

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A panorama of nine ERAs, while R8C could be found lurking in the concours tent

 

I should like to add my vote of thanks to the whole Chateau Impney team, headed by Rod and Guy Spollon, and all those who contributed to make it a fabulous weekend's motor sport, and a most impressive debut event. The organisers were quick to react to comments and quickly implemented changes during the day to help with the smooth running of proceedings. Nice to go to a revival meeting which isn't flooded with modern supercars or TV 'personalities' vying for attention, but that is a keenly-fought competition run by enthusiasts for enthusiasts


Edited by Alan Cox, 14 July 2015 - 17:21.


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#20 SJWBallistic

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Posted 13 July 2015 - 17:36

I had a great day.
My 1st ever hillclimb and 2nd in class 10 for 500cc racing cars
The infrastucture to stage this event must have been massive and the organisers deserve huge congratulations for putting this event on.
I would return without doubt if they will have me.

If anybody has any photos of me car number 130 Cooper Mk XI that they would care to share I would be most grateful
Stuart Wright

#21 bradbury west

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Posted 25 August 2015 - 08:50

A 30 mins programme , which I missed, showing highlights of this event was on last Sunday at 7am, on Channel 4. This is being repeated at 02.20 on Wednesday morning, tomorrow, yes at 2.20 in the middle of the night, same channel, so set the recorders.
Roger Lund

#22 MCS

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Posted 25 August 2015 - 12:51

Roger is absolutely correct and it is also available on the Channel 4 OnDemand website (which is free to UK residents - not sure about those elsewhere) here: http://www.channel4....port/on-demand/

 

I had no idea there was even a hillclimb event held there, irrespective of it being contemporary, for historics or otherwise. 

 

Just can't believe that nobody on here has the course map for the Woburn hillclimb.  I keep asking...

 

Mark S



#23 bradbury west

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Posted 25 August 2015 - 13:09

Mark, if you get a copy of Woburn for either lengths, please let me know. I will do vice versa
Roger Lund

#24 Allan Lupton

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Posted 25 August 2015 - 14:23

I had no idea there was even a hillclimb event held there, irrespective of it being contemporary, for historics or otherwise.

Just can't believe that nobody on here has the course map for the Woburn hillclimb. I keep asking...

Motorsport Explorer is your friend, as so often. Chateau Impney p273 and Woburn (with course map) p 18