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Revamped Oulton Park Gold Cup 2022


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#1 foxyracer

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Posted 04 August 2022 - 22:20

So, what did everyone think?

 

I was there for all three days of this so called "signature event".  The car park between Deer Leap and Old Hall seemed much less busy than usual on all three days. In the past I have had to park near the campsite on at least one day.  There seemed plenty of spectator cars in the centre but to me it didn't seem that busy.

 

The two Historic Grand Prix Car Association races were a great addition with some iconic machinery and good racing.  Formula Junior is a regular at the Gold Cup and there was a good field but a dominant winner (well done Horatio!).  The Aurora field was a bit thin.

 

The VSCC contingent seemed a bit out of place.

 

I didn't see any on track displays or demos and there wasn't much in the way of "star" drivers from the world of F.1 and WEC. 

 

I shouldn't say this but the entry fee for spectators was much cheaper than Goodwood or the Classic maybe leading people to think it wasn't as good.  I understand entry fees were high and I know of a few potential competitors who didn't bother. 

 

Maybe part of the problem is lack of promotion. Everyone has heard of Goodwood. The Classic is quite well known. The Oulton Gold Cup needs promoting, no-one outside the enthusiast sector has heard of it!! 

 

I was planning to go to Oulton on Saturday 6th Aug to see the HSCC classes that didn't feature at the Gold Cup. But there is no FF2000 or Historic F.3 "screamers" and the entry list is very disappointing e.g. only three Classic F.3s and very few "regulars" in Historic Formula Ford 1600.

 

In summary, it was much cheaper than Goodwood or Classic but not as good.  Some things were better than before, others didn't work so well.  I enjoyed it though and will go next year - it is held on the best UK circuit after all! 

 



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#2 john aston

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Posted 05 August 2022 - 06:14

Good in parts. I thought the crowd was actually bigger than recent events, and Oulton has always had its own strong   local attendance . I went on Sunday , meaning no track action until noon , leaving lots of time to wander the pits. I enjoyed the day , but just like Donington Historic Festival , Croft Nostalgia etc , I came away slightly unsated . The second league events like Oulton will never rival the blue riband  elite of Goodwood and Silverstone Classic and the Gold Cup is a shadow of what it once was , but still a good day at a great circuit . 

 

Thoughts - 

 

- I liked the guest Supersaloon/Modsports  races from CSCC - big grids , great cars and good racing 

- VSCC stuff was ok , but needed far more cars 

- Historic F1 was first rate and seeing a big field of cars such as Lotus 25 was magic . as was F2 (my main reason for going ) 

- An hour long saloon race for a small grid was silly  

- I missed having a FF1600/FF2000 race

- Bin the Derek Bell Trophy if a tiny grid is all that is possible 

 

Saturday had some great cars - Chevrons , TVRs  etc and if it were possible to combine all qualifying to Saturday(or Friday )   but have a packed race programme on Sunday (or Saturday ) it would suit me better. As ever the real problem is that  so many race clubs and circuits are fishing in the same pond . We have a huge amount of historic racing cars in the UK but too many competing organisers, meaning only Goodwood and SIlverstone - maybe Brands  Historic too ? - have packed grids. 

 

Best circuit ? Excellent though it is , my top 4 are Cadwell Park , Goodwood , Brands GP and Anglesey   


Edited by john aston, 05 August 2022 - 06:15.


#3 dwh43scale

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Posted 05 August 2022 - 08:18

https://www.flickr.c...os/dwh38/albums

 

My photos from the weekend here. Oulton remains (despite the misgivings of some over what is a relatively small amount of fencing), a really good circuit to shoot at.

 

Recent Gold Cups have been a little thin (as have some other HSCC meetings) in terms of entries and the "best of" historic series idea has some merit. Bear in mind also that their traditional Bank Holiday weekend date appears to have been nicked by Silverstone to meet MotoGP requirements.

 

HGPCA, F2, FJ and Modsports were highlights. Long saloon car races for small grids and the Aurora less so.

 

2023 ? Perhaps it needs a couple of years to develop the new format and date. Gold Cup tends to be a weekend away for me (otherwise its a 5/6 hour round trip in the day) - so it depends when it is and what's on.



#4 Steve99

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Posted 05 August 2022 - 09:57


My favourite meeting of the year is the Cadwell Wolds Trophy, at the REAL: best circuit in the UK....