2 replies to this topic

[geordiecraig101]

So had a trip to Donington yesterday and left feeling a bit underwhelmed by the days racing. I'm not sure what to blame, but the decrease in grids is now starting to become a massive problem.

In the Endurance Masters, particular the second race was a real low point, only 7 cars! took the start and 4 of those were LMP3, not exactly historic! The new championship for older one make cup cars and GT4 could be good but needs a massive entry to make it work, again only 9 cars took the second race!

In the Sports Cars Legends, same problems as above, compared to a few years ago the grid was really thin, tho never get bored of listening to a T70 or 3 at full speed and driven hard.

The HCPCA races were great to watch, especial in the front engined race with Tony Smith and his Ferrari 246 Dino, that thing is just stunning to watch and listen too.

The final race of the day, Sam Tordoff in his Ford Falcon was on top from start to finish tho watching the hordes of Mustangs and Cortinas sliding and drifting never gets dull.

Any way, here's my vid of the days action for any one who interested:

 

https://youtu.be/wAIv0wnnGTc

[opplock]

Grids at last years Brands Hatch meeting were also sparse. Race Control even sent an apology to marshals posts. Putin was blamed for low entries in the Endurance Masters. The obligatory Michelin tyres were manufactured in a factory in Ukraine. Until it was destroyed.   

 

The poor Historic F1 grid was blamed on cars being damaged at Monaco. I had noticed a steady decline in Masters grids even pre Covid. Too many meetings or are the people wealthy enough to play with such expensive toys also feeling the pinch? I suspect the former.

[dwh43scale]

Similar feelings to the above - went Saturday - left underwhelmed especially given the ra ra ra of pre event publicity. Stopped going to the DHF when entries dropped off - on one occasion (pre-Covid IIRC) there was an "into the dusk' 3 hour 60/70 sports car race (oh, yes !) with very few entries.  The Gold Cup meeting, too, has seen challenging times of late. Now the sound of a T70 etc, etc is wonderful (whether original or continuation), but I want to see racing not extended demo runs.

 

Reasons ? Well last weekend there was a big meeting at Mugello, next weekend is the Members Meeting, etc etc. When you have done lots of laps round Donington - beautiful and challenging as it is - perhaps you fancy something different.  Not sure I buy the economic argument - the days of an impecunious enthusiast turning up with his classic on a trailer are long gone by the look of many historic paddocks ...

 

So, will probably need to look to the Spa Classic / Six Hours type events to see decent size grids of historic cars (I don't include Goodwood these days for various reasons).

 

Anyhow, there's a few photos here .... https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjAz7SH