Castle Combe Autumn Classic Oct 3rd.

[Pete]

I'd like to take my car back to Castle Combe (where it did most of it's racing) for the first time since 1967, wondered if this event is good?

http://www.castlecombeautumnclassic.co.uk/

featuring..

http://www.castlecombeautumnclassic.co. ... 20Saloons/

Or the Miniworld Action Day, which I've never been to. Any good?

http://www.castlecombecircuit.co.uk/eve ... ventID=833

[rich@minispares.com]

I

Or the Miniworld Action Day, which I've never been to. Any good?

http://www.castlecombecircuit.co.uk/eve ... ventID=833

the miniworld action day is the opposite of blyton.

i.e

pay a fortune for a few laps

queue for ages to get on track

join track

red flags due to some idiot crashing, going off

leave track

join back of queue for track

queue for ages

repeat.....


its one of the aspects of blyton that so many people where amazed at, in that there was no queues, no red flags (occasional black one.... )


I know a lot of people who go (tims a big fan), and its pretty busy - im not sure id risk the unipower on the track though........

[surfblue63]

The do have a couple of special sessions for certain types of car but I have no idea who organises that. Tim does a lot of organisation for the Mighty Minis charity rides.
I usually go to have a look round and plonk my car on the MCR stand but I have never taken part in any track session 'cos as Rich says, the talent of some drivers runs out quite quickly. I've seen a few near misses at the chicanes, but thankfully no contact.
There is always a good selection of cars with the occasional rarity showing up, and the trunk traders area is as big as Stanford Hall.

I've not been to the Autumn Classic, looks like a good do.

[Pete]

I had stories like that, and to be honest the Autumn Classic does look good. I think the Marcos boys are planning something at the MW Action Day though to commemorate the first appearance of Geoff Mabbs' prototype Mini Marcos at Combe , when he won his GT race outright in the wet in September '65. That car got smashed up in '66 (not before he won the 1600 class again in it at Combe in May), not sure they'll be commmorating that next year! Janspeed did run another Marcos though (1071) for Ralph Wilding, with both of their cars racing against the likes of Trickett's Minisprint and Lalonde's Marcos til the rules got changed.

Not been to Combe for about twenty years so a trip is long overdue.

[surfblue63]

The Mini Marcos boys always have a large display at Combe

[mk1coopers]

I wouldn't do the Miniworld day again, far to many test pilots out there trying to alter the laws of physics, what about the MCR Coopers at Coombe Pete?, 5 cars out on track and you can normally set up getting 5 Mini's / derivatives ect out as a session

[mab01uk]

Miniworld Action day Crash 2009
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9fMevdBXm54

[Pete]

I wouldn't do the Miniworld day again, far to many test pilots out there trying to alter the laws of physics, what about the MCR Coopers at Coombe Pete?, 5 cars out on track and you can normally set up getting 5 Mini's / derivatives ect out as a session

Though getting on track is nice I actually get much more of a buzz from meeting the old boys who remember or even knew Mabbs and the car, Janspeed or Unipowers generally so I think I'll go for the race meet. I did Coopers at Combe a few times in the 90's with a few different cars but not been for a good long while. It's great value though! I think this was about '94?.....

[cookie1071]

Did quite a few action days when they first started way back when, good fun but bit of a free for all, especially at quarry , and limited to just a few laps. Niall.

[almond cooper]

Does anyone know if the MCR will be having a club stand at the Action Day this year?

[YMJ]

I've written out my entry form for Combe but have yet to send it.
Love the circuit but even more, the spectators who are the best in the country!
Hopefully Steve Jones will be there and a few others like Bill Ward and/or Brian Johnson??

[almond cooper]

I hope to be there, be nice if there was a stand again this year

[1963'S']

Re MCR stand at Combe this year
I ran it last year at short notice and quite a few members of here attended, I think we had twenty odd cars in the end.
Unfortunately I am out of the country this year so can't do it.
I contacted the MCR and informed them and Justin Rydyard said there was a new region close to Combe who would probably run it but I have not seen anything about this.
It is awfully close to the event to get a good spot now and send out all the passes.
Steve

[Pete]

I approached the organisers as they are putting on a display in the paddock of cars that raced at Combe in period so my Unipower is part of that and I've invited the Davies family to bring along Jack's old Downton racer. Gary's probably also taking his race Marcos to celebrate the 50th anniversary of that famous Geoff Mabbs win in the Janspeed prototype Mini Marcos. There's enough time to sort a Mk1 P stand out possibly if anyone wants to do one or MCR for that matter but you'd have to be quick!

[rpb203]

Hello Pete,
Yes doing what I can to get it there, hopefully running, (the first time since 1969), but not going to hang my hat on that.
Probably the first time that its been outside since Stef Jones of the MMOC had it at Donington Park in the early '90's.
Regards
Gary

[YMJ]

Steve Jones and Bill Ward at Dijon on the same weekend .......blimey, if no one else turns up and it rains, I actually might win a race, unless Harber turns up!

[Pete]

Latest News:

Castle Combe announce the 'Star Cars' and the 'DANCO Dream Garage' at the Autumn Classic
Castle Combe Circuit are proud to announce that the 'star cars' of the Autumn Classic Historic Racing Festival on Saturday 3rd October will be housed in a Marquee provided by Danco PLC.
The 30m structure has been coined the 'Danco Dream Garage' providing a home for the day for some of the rarest and most exotic cars from the 'Golden Era' of Motorsport.

Adrian Dann, MD of Danco PLC commented: "As a family run company, Danco are always keen to support events and businesses in our local area. With this in mind I am very pleased to confirm that we will be supporting this year's Autumn Classic Historic Race Meeting at Castle Combe Circuit, an event marking the 60th anniversary of the last F1 race and a special one to be a part of. An event not to be missed!"


Visitors to the event can expect to see the following cars lined up in the Danco Dream Garage;

BRM Type 15 V16 from Beaulieu National Motor Museum, celebrating the 60th anniversary of the legendary V16's last ever race, at Castle Combe in 1955
Lotus 49 Cosworth DFV from Beaulieu National Motor Museum, sole surviving original 1967 car (chassis R3) raced by Graham Hill who competed at Castle Combe in one of his earliest ever races in 1955
Connaught B-type 'Syracuse', named after victory in the Syracuse GP in 1955 driven by Tony Brooks. Brooks' previous race to his famous Syracuse victory was at Castle Combe in the Avon Trophy F1 race in 1955 in a Connaught A-Type.
The actual Cooper-Bristol driven by Bob Gerard to third place in the 1955 Avon Trophy F1 race. The 3rd October also marks the 62nd anniversary (to the day!) of Gerard's victory in the Castle Combe Fry Trophy Race 1953.
The unique Formula 1 Kieft with Coventry-Climax 'Godiva' V8 engine, constructed by Swansea born industrialist Cyril Kieft in 1954 to challenge for Grand Prix honours, but unraced in period.
Cooper T51 raced by Ivor Bueb for Stirling Moss' British Racing Partnership team in Formula 2 in 1959, and the following year by future world champions Phil Hill and Denny Hulme in Formula 1.
1955 Cooper T39 'Bobtail' sports-racing car, similar to that used by Ivor Bueb to win the two sports car races at the 1955 Castle Combe International meeting.
1960 Formula One Scarab, ultra rare car built by Lance Reventlow in California and one of the last of the front-engined Grand Prix cars. The car is owned and very regularly and successfully raced by event sponsor Julian Bronson of Bristol Forklifts.
Rob Walker Racing Team Formula 1 Cooper-Climax raced in 1959 by Stirling Moss to win the Goodwood Glover Trophy and by Maurice Trintignant to podiums in the Monaco and United States Grands Prix.

Other 'Star Cars' featuring at the Autumn Classic:


Steam-powered 1905 White Flyer "Whistling Billy" replica
Formula 1 BRM P160 raced by Niki Lauda during 1973
1920 Sunbeam 350HP "Bluebird" that took Malcolm Campbell to the first of his nine land speed records
1960 BRM P48 raced by Graham Hill & Dan Gurney
Maserati 250F and Ferrari 250MM belonging to Pink Floyd drummer Nick Mason
1934 Riley Ulster Imp - ex Mike Hawthorn
BRM P167 'CanAm'



Well I'm not sure whether me and Gary with his Mk1 Mini Marcos racer will be in the posh tent or not but they have sent invites to go round the track which will be 48 years since mine did! Be great to celebrate 50 years since the Janspeed Marcos prototype won it's first race there too.


PS ANYONE WITH ANY CONNECTIONS TO GEOFF MABBS' FAMILY PLEASE DO GET IN TOUCH.

http://www.castlecombeautumnclassic.co.uk/races

[Pete]

Entry forms for the tin top race:

http://www.hscc.org.uk/images/Castle_Co ... y_Form.pdf

[rpb203]

Pete in the outside chance that I can get the Marcos running for the first time since '69, what sort of checks would they be doing to allow a lap of the track if any?
Everything on the car is pretty much as per '66/67/68, so maybe not up to todays safety levels etc.

[Pete]

No checks Gary I don't think other than wearing belts and not dropping oil!

Anyone identify the circuit Gary's car is on here? Is that Quarry?



Let's hope the weather isn't anything like this : (50 years ago exactly)



Janspeed ran two of these cars by the way, the other was a 998. As Michael Caine once said.."Not a lot of people know that!"