Story and photos by Jonathan Sharp
Silverstone Classic, July 20-22, 2018
This year at Siverstone, there were 100,000 spectators, 1000 plus entrants spread over 21 races from F1 to endurance legends of the 2000s; a host of tin tops from hulking great American V8s to Mini Coopers. There were celebrations and parades to mark the 70th Anniversary of the first Grand Prix at the circuit, 60 years of the British Touring Car championship (or as it was once called the British Saloon car Championship), and two 54 car grids made up of 32 different marques to mark the 60th anniversary of Formula Junior. Car club displays in the infield, track parades, a fun fair for the kids, rock concerts each night, a retail village made for three full days of action. It seems hot on the heels of Goodwood in the super event stakes.
Alas I could only attend for one day. How to cover it all? Impossible, so what follows is just a selection from what was on offer on Sunday, and I know that our Editor has struggled to whittle the selection down to the manageable size you see below.
Pre 1966 Grand Prix
Lotus-18 of Charles McCabe
Maserati A6 GCM Julia De Baldanza
Scarab-Offy, Eddie McGuire
Talbot Lago, Luc Brandts
Tec Mech, Tony Wood
Gordini 16 Marc Valvekens Maserati 250 F and the Gordini of Graham Adelman
1950s-60 Sports Racers
1957 AC Ace Bristol of Kevin Kivlochan
The Simon Hadfield/Wolfgang Friedrich’s 1954 Aston Martin DB3S
The 1954 Connaught ALSR of Paul Griffin
John Ure and Nich Wigley’s 1953 Cooper Bristol T24/25
David and James Cottingham’s well known 1956 Ferrari 500 TRC
Jason Yates and Ben Mitchell’s 1957 Ferrari 500TRC
The 1951 Frazer Nash Mille Miglia of Phillip Champion and Sam Stretton
1954 HWM Cadillac, shared between Richard Woolmer and James Cottingham.
Friedrich’s 1953 Jaguar C Type
Gary Pearson’s 1955 Jaguar D Type passes John Cleland’s 1955 Lotus VI
The 1955 Lister Bristol Flat Iron of Steven Bond
Nick Riley’s 1956 Lister Maserati
Formula Junior
Robert Barrie’s 1959 1098cc Stanguellini Formula Junior
Martin McHugh’s unique 1961 1100cc North Star MK1 Formula Junior
Mike Gregory’s 1086cc 1959 De Tomaso ISIS Formula Junior
Roger Dexter’s 1960 1100cc Elva DKW Formula Junior
Historic Touring
The Minis and the Alfas always put on a good show in the Touring class.
Andrew and Maxim Banks’ 1965 1600cc Alfa Romeo GTA
Bernado Hartog’s 1965 Alfa Romeo 1600 GTA
Ian and Frank Guest’s 1985 Alfa Romeo GTV6
Astin Kane’s three wheeling 1293cc 1964 Austin Mini Cooper S
1989 BMW E30 M3 of Mark Smith and Arran Moulton Smith
Robert Crofton’s 1971 Datsun 240Z
The Ford Capri of Ric Wood and Adam Morgan
John Spier’s 1965 Lotus Cortina
Endurance
Audi R8 LMP1 Travis Engen
Courage LC75, Mike Furness and Sir Chris Hoy
Dallara SP1, Martin Short
Ferrari 430, James Thorpe
Ferrari 550 James Cottingham
Ferrari F40 GTE Steven Read
David Porter, Peugeot 908
FIA Masters Historic Formula One
The 1979 Ligier JS11 of Matteo Ferrer Aza
Chris Atkinson’s Hesketh 308/1