52 replies to this topic

[LittleChris]

Surely somewhere a lot of us have spent time especially during the Easter Monday F2 years but hasn't had a dedicated thread to my knowledge.

 

Actually the reason I started this is that whilst mooching around there today during the practice sessions for this weekends British Superbike meeting ( 8 hours of practice with full paddock access for £5 !!!) I came across a gentleman who lived nearby and used to marshal during the late 60's through to the late 70's. He mentioned that someone had just bought the site ( thought the first name was Alex / Alec ) with the intention of making it some sort of hub for the rich and their planes but it's not clear what the impact might be. He also told me that he and one other marshal rescued Rindt from his upside down car at Church at some point and Jochen arranged for the two of them to receive watches as thanks. Delivered to the control building but never reached the intended recipients.......   I had to leave a long time before I wanted to today as he had plenty of tales to relate many of which involved Gerry and Tony in the old 'rather small' Thruxton bar. Dunno what brought the memories on given that all I said to him was that Supersport rider Luke Stapleford had lost any tow so might struggle to pull in a decent time. Needless to say Stapleford plonked it on pole 

[Collombin]

He also told me that he and one other marshal rescued Rindt from his upside down car at Church at some point

Did he say anything about when this might have been? It's not an incident I had previously heard of.

[LittleChris]

Nor me and to be fair he himself said he struggled to remember stuff ( eg he remembered Ronnie and Alberto Colombo getting together at Club in 1975 but thought Ronnie had his accident in Italy later that year. )  I did ask him whether it happened during practice and pre race testing and he thought it was the former but couldn't be sure. That aside it was a really nice and too short conversation .

[Rupertlt1]

Rindt missed the Monaco Grand Prix in 1969 through injury.

Could there be some connection?

Update: No, crash in Spanish Grand Prix.

RGDS RLT

Edited by Rupertlt1, 10 August 2024 - 06:27.

[Stephen W]

My first visit to Thruxton was in 1973. I returned in 1976 and every year after that until my final visit in 1986. I have never been back.

 

One vivid memory is during the Saturday practice being huddled in the grandstand at the 'complex' during a violent snow storm.

[john aston]

I only went for the first time in 2018 and 19, it was one of only two mainland UK circuits I'd not been to before. As I was in a vaguely official capacity I was given a trip round in the CoC's Audi . I am still not sure if Thruxton  is one long straight with the odd kink or one long and very fast corner . I spent some time with Marcus  Pye in the wonderful commentary box (I was in  a non speaking role thank God ) and absolutely loved the track - I really must revisit .  

[wheadon1985]

My office is under one of the grandstands at Thruxton, spend most of my time there.

Alex who has bought it very much wants to safeguard the circuit. He's a historic racer, regular at Goodwood/Thruxton Historic/MRL etc. and really has the circuits interests at heart. He isn't a threat and only good things can come from his owning of the venue.

It really is the best circuit in the UK, I love racing it, you're always on it as hard an possible no matter what part of the track you're at.

[BRG]

I used to go to the Easter Monday meets but I haven't been for decades since.  I really MUST make an effort to get there again!

[opplock]

I only went for the first time in 2018 and 19, it was one of only two mainland UK circuits I'd not been to before. As I was in a vaguely official capacity I was given a trip round in the CoC's Audi . I am still not sure if Thruxton  is one long straight with the odd kink or one long and very fast corner . I spent some time with Marcus  Pye in the wonderful commentary box (I was in  a non speaking role thank God ) and absolutely loved the track - I really must revisit .  

 

I raced there once in a Caterham. There were two corners, the complex and the chicane. The rest of the circuit was a flat out kink. It may be different in something with more power and aerodynamics.     

[Rupertlt1]

I visited the B.A.R.C. archives at Thruxton in 2016.

I found a filing cabinet full of rare photographs in an unheated shed.

The staff showed no interest in preserving them.

I also saw a collection of the B.A.R.C. Gazette.

I suggested they could be digitised.

Again they could only think of the difficulties.

The B.A.R.C. Gazette is a priceless source of race results etc.

See also: https://library.revs...arch/Thruxton/1

RGDS RLT

Edited by Rupertlt1, 10 August 2024 - 08:48.

[FastReader]

I miss the old Easter Monday F2 International at Thruxton. Gone, the same as so many other international race meetings in the UK.

Edited by FastReader, 10 August 2024 - 09:20.

[68targa]

I always enjoyed the Easter Monday meetings at Thruxton. I went to the re-opening F2 event in 1968 and many others but have not been since the mid 1990s. The circuit was quite basic in the early years but then no worse than Silverstone. There were no pits to speak of just a corrugated roof and some wooden planks and the paddock was open with nothing hidden away so full access. I expect it has improved now.

I can't resist posting a few of my photos just to remind us what we seem to miss now with the variety of cars and calibre of drivers at a non-F1 meeting

 

 

The basic pits and and even more basic grandstands.

 

 1971

1980 - Warwick and Henton .. best of mates !

 

1982

[trw999]

I used to visit when I was stationed at nearby Assaye Barracks in Tidworth. I even took a few flying lessons there. All in the mid 1970s.

 

 

Tim

[LittleChris]

Chap I spoke to mentioned that the current pits are due to be demolished and new ones built. Hopefully the only Wing at Thruxton will be on the aircraft 

[Sterzo]

Another one here who went to the 1968 opening (or re-opening) meeting. You could spectate from Village and Church. A friend's cigarette set fire to the grass and the marshals put it out, but I don't think that's why they closed the spectator area. This century, a friend placed his Caterham in second at the start of a last lap, enabling him to slipstream to a win. I congatulated him for his tactics, but he said he had no idea it was the last lap.

 

A wonderful circuit, one of several on our easily-traversed small island.

[BRG]

Thinking about it again, I reckon my last visit to Thruxton for a race meeting would have been 7 April 1985 (which was Easter Sunday, not Monday) when  the second round of the first ever season of F3000 was held there.  Race won by Mike Thackwell (Ralt) from Christian Danner and Emanuele Pirro (both March 85B).  

 

Just less than 40 years ago, so that's OK.... 

[GazChed]

I went to every Easter Monday International at Thruxton from 1976 to 1986 (when the Interserie sportscars replaced Formula Two/3000) and I am pretty sure that qualifying was held on Easter Saturday with racing on Easter Monday. Some sources list the race as being held on April 7th but I am pretty sure it was held on Monday 8th April.

I am delighted that Thruxton has been purchased by Alex Thistlethwayte who races a wonderful collection of cars (I have seen him race Ford Mustang, Chevrolet Camaro, Aston Martin DB4 and a Bastos liveried Group One Ford Capri) so hopefully the old Hampshire Speedbowl is in good hands.

Edited by GazChed, 10 August 2024 - 15:22.

[FastReader]

Thinking about it again, I reckon my last visit to Thruxton for a race meeting would have been 7 April 1985 (which was Easter Sunday, not Monday) when  the second round of the first ever season of F3000 was held there.  Race won by Mike Thackwell (Ralt) from Christian Danner and Emanuele Pirro (both March 85B).  

 

Just less than 40 years ago, so that's OK.... 

Actually, the race was won by Pirro with Thackwell a closing second after an early pitstop for a new nosecone and Michel Ferte was third. Danner finished in sixth.

 

My last visit to Thruxton was sadly the day that Marcel Albers was killed in 1992. We were spectating at the complex so had no idea what had happened at the chicane until the news slowly filtered through. Not a happy memory unfortunately.

[GazChed]

Actually, the race was won by Pirro with Thackwell a closing second after an early pitstop for a new nosecone and Michel Ferte was third. Danner finished in sixth.

My last visit to Thruxton was sadly the day that Marcel Albers was killed in 1992. We were spectating at the complex so had no idea what had happened at the chicane until the news slowly filtered through. Not a happy memory unfortunately.

The only International Formula 3000 race held at Thruxton was held in very mixed conditions. Every other Easter Monday International I went to was dry, sometimes bitterly cold but always dry. However Easter Monday 1985 was an all seasons in one day kind of day and one car (Claudio Langes in a Tyrrell 012 I think) left the grid for the warming up lap with a mixture of wet and dry tyres fitted. The ever changing conditions saw many pit stops with, as FastReader mentioned, Pirro coming out on top.

The following year Formula 3000 was replaced by a rather feeble double header event for the Interserie sportscars (also wet) and so ended the Easter Monday Internationals at Thruxton. (Although there may have been a Truck racing International some years later).

Regarding Marcel Albers' accident, I was sat in the Chicane Grandstand and remember watching in horror as poor Albers somersaulted towards the spectator mound overlooking the Chicane. Thankfully, as far as I am aware, no spectators were seriously injured and certainly there were no fatalities amongst the spectators.

[LittleChris]

Just watched a brilliant BSB race at Thruxton

[68targa]

Thruxton ran meetings in 1952 and 1953, three meetings for cars plus several motorcyle meetings.

This is the track layout in 1952.

and in 1953 it was lengthened.

 

Does anyone know if Motorcycles ran the same layout or maybe used the outer perimeter road that is familiar today ?

[d j fox]

Another one here who went to the 1968 opening (or re-opening) meeting. You could spectate from Village and Church. A friend's cigarette set fire to the grass and the marshals put it out, but I don't think that's why they closed the spectator area. This century, a friend placed his Caterham in second at the start of a last lap, enabling him to slipstream to a win. I congatulated him for his tactics, but he said he had no idea it was the last lap.

A wonderful circuit, one of several on our easily-traversed small island.

[d j fox]

I was there at the opening meeting in 1968 Remember very little about the F2 races (2 heats+ final) but vividly recall the Saloon car race with Muir and Hobbs battling in their Falcons and especially the 2&3 wheel antics of Ab Goedemans and Toine Hezemans in their amazing Fiat Abarths. Was a regular visitor to the Easter Monday F2 races over the years

[wheadon1985]

I visited the B.A.R.C. archives at Thruxton in 2016.
I found a filing cabinet full of rare photographs in an unheated shed.
The staff showed no interest in preserving them.
I also saw a collection of the B.A.R.C. Gazette.
I suggested they could be digitised.
Again they could only think of the difficulties.
The B.A.R.C. Gazette is a priceless source of race results etc.
See also: https://library.revs...arch/Thruxton/1
RGDS RLT

Everything in the archive is being digitally scanned and catalogued at the moment. About 30,000 photos have been processed and we still have many more to do. I can assure you the archive is in very good hands at the moment.

[Rupertlt1]

Everything in the archive is being digitally scanned and catalogued at the moment. About 30,000 photos have been processed and we still have many more to do. I can assure you the archive is in very good hands at the moment.

 

This is good news. So often stuff is lost. I had no idea there were so many photographs.

I would have done more in 2016 but I was living in Canada at the time.

Presumably Goodwood etc? I seem to recall some shots at Brunton Hill Climb?

Sounds like a treasure trove.

If you need help with cataloguing/metadata let me know?

(I have form with Revs in Florida, IMRRC in Watkins Glen, and the Canadian Motorsport Historical Society.)

RGDS RLT

Edited by Rupertlt1, 11 August 2024 - 06:15.

[LittleChris]

Apparently the previously un-named left hander between Allard and Campbell is now called Green, presumably after Andy Green. Don't remember hearing of this.

[bsc]

Apparently the previously un-named left hander between Allard and Campbell is now called Green, presumably after Andy Green. Don't remember hearing of this.

It is named after Andy Green - there was a campaign in Motoring News in, about 2006, to keep the tradition of naming corners after speed record holders. I recollect attending a club meeting in early October '06 where the commentators made several references to Green corner. However, in the most part, it has been quietly forgotten - not helped, alas, by many circuit maps still not including the corner name.

Edited by bsc, 11 August 2024 - 09:18.

[pete53]

A programme for a 1952 meeting. The racing was for 500s and sports cars of varying capacity. 

 

[marksixman]

Apparently the previously un-named left hander between Allard and Campbell is now called Green, presumably after Andy Green. Don't remember hearing of this.

That would be Turn Two then ?!!!!!!

 

Now I am going to be murdered by those who have read, and contibuted to, the NEWSPEAK thread !!

 

Seriously, Green is good !

[JonnyA]

I was there for (I think) the Easter meeting in the F3 ground effect era when overtaking was nigh-on impossible. Johnnie Dumfries on pole, Perry McCarthy on the back row. Interviewed before the start, Perry said it would be podium or hospital. He overtook about half a dozen cars on lap 1, on lap 2 he went straight on into the chicane catch fencing right in front of us. Dumfries won and I don't recall seeing a single overtake, except Perry, all race.

At least, that's the way I remember it and I refuse to look the results up and be proved wrong

[BRG]

Actually, the race was won by Pirro with Thackwell a closing second after an early pitstop for a new nosecone and Michel Ferte was third. Danner finished in sixth

.

Yes, I had to refresh my memory and I misread the qualifying results on Sunday for the race results on Monday!

[GazChed]

Yes, I had to refresh my memory and I misread the qualifying results on Sunday for the race results on Monday!

Qualifying for the Easter Monday International was always on Saturday, the BARC respecting that Easter Sunday is the holiest day in the Christian Calendar in the same way that Sunday meetings feature a Church Break to allow the local Church to hold their Sunday service in peace and quiet. So qualifying would have been held on Saturday 6th April and race day was Monday 8th April.

[marksixman]

I was there for (I think) the Easter meeting in the F3 ground effect era when overtaking was nigh-on impossible. Johnnie Dumfries on pole, Perry McCarthy on the back row. Interviewed before the start, Perry said it would be podium or hospital. He overtook about half a dozen cars on lap 1, on lap 2 he went straight on into the chicane catch fencing right in front of us. Dumfries won and I don't recall seeing a single overtake, except Perry, all race.

At least, that's the way I remember it and I refuse to look the results up and be proved wrong

Rememberences are always best relied upon !

[BRG]

Qualifying for the Easter Monday International was always on Saturday, the BARC respecting that Easter Sunday is the holiest day in the Christian Calendar in the same way that Sunday meetings feature a Church Break to allow the local Church to hold their Sunday service in peace and quiet. So qualifying would have been held on Saturday 6th April and race day was Monday 8th April.

I blame the internet.

[GazChed]

I blame the internet.

Now if you had been a saddo like me and kept all of your programmes...

[BRG]

Now if you had been a saddo like me and kept all of your programmes...

I have never troubled the programme sellers to be honest.  I have about two which were probably free anyway!

[68targa]

Qualifying for the Easter Monday International was always on Saturday, the BARC respecting that Easter Sunday is the holiest day in the Christian Calendar in the same way that Sunday meetings feature a Church Break to allow the local Church to hold their Sunday service in peace and quiet. So qualifying would have been held on Saturday 6th April and race day was Monday 8th April.

Practice on Saturday was very helpful as it meant I could take in Snetterton on Good Friday for the Guards International Sports Cars (in 1969) and then go to Thruxton on the Saturday and again on Monday.  That year also had the first F5000 meeting at Brands on the Monday.  Happy days.

[d j fox]

For me in the early 7Os Easter meant Transatlantic Match races ( bikes)at Brands on Good Friday and Mallory on Easter Sunday and then Thruxton F2 on Easter Monday!
Happy days indeed

Edited by d j fox, 12 August 2024 - 20:54.

[BRG]

Whatever happened to Bank Holiday Monday racing?  Once, there would be major events on many BHMs, now there are none, although still some minor meetings.

[GazChed]

Whatever happened to Bank Holiday Monday racing? Once, there would be major events on many BHMs, now there are none, although still some minor meetings.

Castle Combe still holds meetings on Spring and Summer Bank Holiday Mondays, but as you say they are relatively small meetings.

It's incredible to think the last International Formula Two meeting at Thruxton was forty years ago and sadly Formula 3000 lasted just one year at Thruxton before the BARC decided they couldn't justify the expense.

[LittleChris]

Different for the bikes, BSB and it's support series raced at Oulton on the 1st May Bank Holiday and will be at Cadwell on 26th Aug doubtless to very large crowds  

[Sterzo]

I think British-based forum members of a certain vintage are incredibly lucky. We lived through half a century when a disproportionate number of international races took place at UK circuits. Competitors from Tasmania to Finland and Japan to Brazil would come here to make a name, and we were treated to a feast of fabulous single-seater racing. When the European F3 series finally eclipsed the British F3 championship, I recall making grumpy-old-man comments, until my daughter said: "Er, Dad..."

[opplock]

Whatever happened to Bank Holiday Monday racing?  Once, there would be major events on many BHMs, now there are none, although still some minor meetings.

 

Two big influences are the TOCA package and the capture of the single seater ladder by the F1 circus. MSV's GB3 series is the only current model single seater racing in UK other than the entry level Formula Four. 

 

There are no major meetings other than TOCA, the British GT package and the various historic festivals. Almost everything else is club racing. 

 

We were incredibly lucky. Even those of us not UK based at the time.    

[bsc]

Two big influences are the TOCA package and the capture of the single seater ladder by the F1 circus. MSV's GB3 series is the only current model single seater racing in UK other than the entry level Formula Four. 

 

There are no major meetings other than TOCA, the British GT package and the various historic festivals. Almost everything else is club racing. 

 

We were incredibly lucky. Even those of us not UK based at the time.    

Added to that, the fact that FIA F3 and F2 only race at F1 meetings further reduces the need for 'big' meetings. Some years, Britain had three European F2 championship meetings - that would never happen now.

 

However, trying to balance that with some non-nostalgic optimism, some countries have things far worse - no contemporary single seater championships currently race in Germany outside of club racing. 

[john winfield]

Practice on Saturday was very helpful as it meant I could take in Snetterton on Good Friday for the Guards International Sports Cars (in 1969) and then go to Thruxton on the Saturday and again on Monday. That year also had the first F5000 meeting at Brands on the Monday. Happy days.

It may have been the first one at Brands, Targa, but the first F5000 race in Britain was at Oulton, while you were at Snetterton. We were at Oulton on Friday then Thruxton on Monday. Lots of good racing that weekend!

[Rupertlt1]

BRSCC GUARDS 5000 GUINEAS CAR RACES, OULTON PARK, Friday 4th April 1969, sponsored by the Daily Express.

Guards Formula 5000 Championship Race, 37 laps, 102 miles.

https://www.oldracin...rk/good-friday/

RGDS RLT

Edited by Rupertlt1, 13 August 2024 - 17:04.

[68targa]

It may have been the first one at Brands, Targa, but the first F5000 race in Britain was at Oulton, while you were at Snetterton. We were at Oulton on Friday then Thruxton on Monday. Lots of good racing that weekend!

Ah, my mistake, I had forgotten about Oulton Park. It just goes to show what a vast and varied weekend of racing was on offer at that time.

[john aston]

And I was a 16 year old marshal at Knickerbrook on that day .  I remember virtually no overtaking but a pleasingly thunderous soundtrack  from a field of ...err. ,very varied talent .

[Stephen W]

It may have been the first one at Brands, Targa, but the first F5000 race in Britain was at Oulton, while you were at Snetterton. We were at Oulton on Friday then Thruxton on Monday. Lots of good racing that weekend!

 

I also did the Oulton Park & Thruxton double one year but after that always did just Thruxton as I liked the leisurely pace and the spare day betwixt practice & the races.

[MCS]

I think British-based forum members of a certain vintage are incredibly lucky. We lived through half a century when a disproportionate number of international races took place at UK circuits. Competitors from Tasmania to Finland and Japan to Brazil would come here to make a name, and we were treated to a feast of fabulous single-seater racing. When the European F3 series finally eclipsed the British F3 championship, I recall making grumpy-old-man comments, until my daughter said: "Er, Dad..."

 

Yes, once upon a time.  How lucky we were.

 

A few Thruxton memories - not all good - as follows;

 

Late seventies F2 races, especially Rad Dougall winning in a year-old Toleman March 782 in 1979 against the works March team.  Mind you, he'd finished third the year before in the same car.  Circuit specialist, perhaps?

 

Chris Craft grabbing Stuart Graham by the throat (!) after a British Touring Car Championship round as the Cheshire man drove his BRUT Capri back to his transporter. Very quickly a sizeable crowd had gathered to see what was going on. Stuart survived and Chris eventually calmed down.  It was all about a shove going into the first corner he told me afterwards.

 

Bumping into Jim Crawford, rather slowly wandering back to his van after an early season Formula Three race in 1978.  Covered in mud, I asked what had happened: “Effing rolled it! Not sure what I’m going to do now!!” He subsequently replaced the B38 with a new B43, but it never matched the speed of the Ralts, sadly.

 

Many Formula Three finals meetings - used to drive down from Chiswick, when I used to only do the Formula Ford Festival and the last Thruxton meeting (not including the BBC televised thing). Never bothered with anything else all year!  Senna, Brundle, Dumfries, etc.

 

And, like others, the last time I went there was in 1992.  Thankfully having chosen to watch the proceedings from the Complex, didn't see what happened to poor Marcel Albers.  I was with my wife, returning from a short break in the West Country when we bumped into Mark Hughes making his way to the footbridge.  He told us what had happened and we left.

 

Like so many circuits, good and bad memories. Need to focus and remember the good ones...