24 replies to this topic

[Tim Murray]

This year's running of this friendly and informal event is just over a week away, on Saturday 7th October:

http://autumnclassic.co.uk

Those who've come along in past years will know how good an event it is. If you haven't been before, do give it a go - I think you'll enjoy it.

I'll be spending a lot of my time on the Bristol Pegasus MC club stand which will be in its usual place just beyond the paddock on the road down to Quarry corner. If you're passing, please stop by and say hello. We'll have a variety of interesting vehicles on our stand, including Terry Clarke's Cummins Railton and a 9-litre drag racing Hillman Imp.

[GazChed]

Last year's Castle Combe Autumn Classic was rather wet . Mrs GazChed seems to be thinking 'when I said I fancied a dirty weekend away , this wasn't what I had in mind !

Edited by GazChed, 04 October 2017 - 22:37.

[GazChed]

Sam Stretton sends the turf flying at Bobbies as he spins the Alta Sports during the Aston Martin race at the 2016 Castle Combe Autumn Classic.

Edited by GazChed, 04 October 2017 - 22:36.

[GazChed]

The nights draw in as trees give up their leaves to Mother Earth . Autumn sun glints on endless rows of Solar Panels . Yes ! As Tim says it's time for the Castle Combe Autumn Classic .

The sixth edition features not just the regular races including VSCC Sports Cars , Aston Martins , Jags , Fiscar , Formula Junior and 500 cc Formula Three but they are joined this year by the jetsetting GT & Sports Car Cup (okay so their first two races were at Silverstone and Donington but they are off to the Algarve in a few weeks time) .

Add in a multitude of displays in the paddock , demonstrations of spectacular machinery on the track and the chance to meet Tim and it all adds up to possibly the best one day meeting of the season . If your idea of historic motorsport begins with Good and ends with wood , treat yourself to a trip down the M4 to Castle Combe for a great day out with like minded enthusiasts .

P.S. It's on this Saturday the 7th of October .

[Tim Murray]

... and the chance to meet Tim ...

... and, I hope, the chance for Tim to meet Gaz (and Mrs Gaz?)

Plus the chance to view the only BRM P261 on the planet ever to have been fitted with a V12 engine (as discussed recently in the Quiz thread) and, as Gaz says, lots of other exciting stuff.

Any other TNFers planning to be there?

[ratkinso]

Certainly am - bought tickets months ago! Look forward to dropping in on the Pegasus tent, and meeting any TNFers.

[Tim Murray]

Excellent Richard - I hope we can meet up.

[Charles Helps]

I'm planning to be there with my 1954 Lotus on the Historic Lotus Register stand between the paddock and Quarry - looking forward to it.

[RobMk2a]

I should be there, I'll try to say hello. 

 

Whilst we are talking about Castle Combe does anybody have any programmes say 1959-1962 to help with my TVR research.

 

Thanks

 

Rob Pennington 

[GazChed]

Should be there on Saturday Tim , looking forward to meeting you and other tnfers , GazChed .

[GazChed]

Nice to see a forty car entry for the GTSCC race including Mike Bell and his Morgan SLR which raced at the Hungaroring Classic last weekend ! As of Wednesday Mike was still travelling back from Hungary....

Most of the other races are in the twenties with the VSCC race garnering thirty entries including Christopher Mann's 1924 Alfa Romeo RL Targa Florio .

Just seen weather forecast - don't forget your waterproofs !

Edited by GazChed, 06 October 2017 - 08:34.

[Eric Dunsdon]

It all sounds great. Would like to be there. Hope you all have a  wonderful day.

[Tim Murray]

It was a most enjoyable day, Eric - sorry you couldn't have been there. The nasty mizzly drizzly rain was a pain in the morning, but fortunately it was gone by lunchtime. A fine collection of TNFers was present - I met Mr & Mrs GazChed, Pete Stowe, Rob Mk2a, Ron54, Charles Helps and Simon Arron on his natty folding bicycle. I have it on good authority that Arttidesco was there but I never saw him (which is surprising as he's difficult to miss).

Photos to follow (preferably from a decent photographer, otherwise I'll put some of mine up).

[GazChed]

Another wonderful Castle Combe Autumn Classic ! Every year I wonder if it will be a disappointment but every year the organisers improve on the previous year's edition .

Among the highlights were the wonderful early dice between Ben Adams in his tiny Lola Mk1 and Mark Williams in his somewhat larger AC Cobra in the GTSCC race , Barry Dye's Lotus Elite going wheel to wheel with Steve Boultbee Brooks' Aston Martin DB3S in the closing FISCAR race , several wonderful cars being demonstrated (of which Nick Mason's Ferrari 512S was a particular favourite) and last but by no means least catching up with Tim and meeting Pete .

I wouldn't call myself a decent photographer but I took hundreds of happy snappies and I will try to select a few to post here presently .

I also caught up with Mike Bell yesterday who I erroneously said was racing his Morgan at the Hungaroring last weekend . He was at the Hungaroring but not racing as he looking after other peoples cars at the Peter Auto organised meeting . Nevertheless the journey took over three days either way including a day in Germany for a National Holiday last week ! And I thought Weymouth to Castle Combe was a trek !

[Eric Dunsdon]

Thank you Tim. I am pleased to hear that it all went well. I'm afraid that Castle Combe is a bit out of my comfort zone these days but I have fond memories of 'The Combe' where  my change for a ten bob admission ticket once included a five pound note. I pointed out the error of course after resisting the temptation to regard it as 'appearance money!'.

[Tim Murray]

Did you get there on your bicycle, Eric? If so, I think you'd have deserved the 'bonus'.

[Simon Arron]

A few snaps to offer a flavour of the event...

 

2015 Le Mans LMP2 winner-cum-VSCC racer Richard Bradley (Aston Martin Ulster).

 

Peter de la Roche (BMC Mk2) and Benn Tilley (Lotus 22) head the Formula Junior armada into Quarry.

 

Marc Gordon (XK150) leads a group during soggy practice for the all-Jaguar Norman Dewis Trophy.

 

Snapshot from the Jon Gross Memorial Trophy for Aston Martins and selected invitees, with Chris Woodgate (DB MkIII) to the fore.

[ron54]

All in all a good day....met up with some familiar faces met a few new ones..walked along " millionaires row" and chatted with Ted Walker and Spencer Elton..

 

The demo cars put on an impressive display despite the noise limitations.

 

Thank you organisers and entrants for all your efforts.

[arttidesco]

Thanks to everyone who made the Bristol Aeroplane Company Motor Sports Club Challenge Race run by The 500 Owners Association happen at Castle Combe yesterday, more next year please ! Above the Staride Duel, Darrell Woods makes the winning move passing Xavier Kingsland on the outside coming out of Bobbies.



Nigel Greensall Lola T332 and Neil Glover Chevron B37 give us a demonstration of what might be at Castle Combe if it were not surrounded by aggressive enviromental silence warriors...



Nigel Greensall again, this time toasting Chris Milner's E-type front brakes while trying to beat his own outright lap record in the GT and Sportscar Cup race at Castle Combe Classic

[RobMk2a]

lI should be there, I'll try to say hello. 

 

Whilst we are talking about Castle Combe does anybody have any programmes say 1959-1962 to help with my TVR research.

 

Thanks

 

Rob Pennington 

I met with Tim Murray & Pete Stowe, Pete has been very helpful compiling a list of TVR entries at Castle Combe- thank you Rob

 

As a result it was interesting to see that a TVR Grantura Mk3  - PWC 600 raced on Saturday by Malcolm Paul was also raced by Ivor Thacker at Castle Combe on 15th August 1964. So its good to see it back after 53 years.

Edited by RobMk2a, 09 October 2017 - 11:49.

[arttidesco]

I met with Tim Murray & Pete Stowe, Pete has been very helpful compiling a list of TVR entries at Castle Combe- thank you Rob

 

As a result it was interesting to see that a TVR Grantura Mk3  - PWC 600 raced on Saturday by Malcolm Paul was also raced by Ivor Thacker at Castle Combe on 15th August 1964. So its good to see it back after 53 years.

 

As seen below recovering from a spin at The Esses ahead of the blue example shared by Joe Ward and Hugh Colman.

 

Edited by arttidesco, 10 October 2017 - 00:07.

[ron54]

As seen below recovering from a spin at The Esses ahead of the blue example shared by Joe Ward and Hugh Colman.

 

Ralph.....As a long time supporter/sponsor  of Dom Lopresti's  finest iced products I am glad to see you managed to include the van in shot as well..

[nigelgreensall]

Great pictures, it was such a wonderful event, the folk at Castle Combe are doing a great job. Let's hope we can race the F5000's there next year !

[GazChed]

Wouldn't it be great if they could get dispensation for even one day a year !

Edited by GazChed, 10 October 2017 - 12:47.

[ron54]

Great pictures, it was such a wonderful event, the folk at Castle Combe are doing a great job. Let's hope we can race the F5000's there next year !

 

 

And thank you indeed for your sterling efforts both in the race and in the demo......