Sharp at the VSCC Silverstone

Lancia D50 recreation of Helmut Gassmann.

Whilst Graham Gauld was meeting and greeting at the VSCC Spring Start race meeting at Silverstone, Jonathan Sharp was there scooting around with his camera to bring you the following report:

Story and photos by Jonathan Sharp

My passion has always been for Italian cars but sometimes I like to go off script; so the idea of an ERA-only race to celebrate its 80th anniversary of the (which will be covered separately) plus various support races, plus a scattering of their period adversaries including a few Maserati’s and Bugattis, was simply too much to miss.

The wonderful thing about all of the VSCC meetings I have attended has been the openness of the paddocks. Within reason (safety) you can wander anywhere. You are literally falling over cars. No line up of cars hiding behind barriers, just open garages and cars liberally spread around the paddock; wonderful. The afternoon’s racing was spectacular with several stand-out performances. The most memorable for me being Mark Gillies driving ERA R3a on the limit, lap after lap, in the ERA trophy race and Tony Wood in his Maserati Tec Mec.

I hope the following photographs give you a taste of the event; remember that we’ll have ERAs vs the world in another special article.

Miss Alex Pilkington and her 1930 Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 taken during the race for standard and modified pre-war sports cars.

At any VSCC meeting you are likely to come across a great variety of race entries. Graham Paddick's 1930 McDowell Ford Track Racer entered into the VSCC short scratch race for pre-war cars.

And in the same race, Rod King’s 1038 Delage Special.

Mrs. Jane Varley and her Aston Martin 15/98 speed model of 1937 during the short scratch race for pre-war cars.

Richard Pugh's 1960 Stanguellini.

Martin Sheppard's 1958 Stanguellini.

In the first round of the FJHRA Front-engined Formula Junior championship, the victory went to Simon Goodliff in his Lola MK2.

Marc Valvekens' 1959 Aston Martin DBR4.

1959 Maserati powered JBW F1 of Tim Bailey, another rare car. This time entered into the HGPCA race for pre-1966 Grand Prix cars.

The JBM in the garage.

Tony Wood, Tec Mec, a fine winner with Marshall Bailey in a Lotus 16 finishing in second and Marc Valvekens in the DBR4 third.

Clive Wilson's Cooper Maserati T43.

Tony Bianchi's Farrellac Allard 6400cc V8 (car 7) and Julian Majzub's 5340cc Sadler fight it out in the race for 1950s Sports and Sports racing cars. The battle ended with the Sadler in the gravel and Tony Bianchi finished fourth, victory going to the more nimble Lotus 15.

Mark Jeffries/Julian Majzub's 1959 Lister Chevrolet Knobbly as raced in the 1950 Sports and Sports Racing cars race. A two-driver race, which is why Julian Majzub was also driving the Sadler.