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I attended the 2023 Castle Combe Autumn Classic.
For this years event, I would be joined by my Father in Law Gareth and my Brother in Law Steve for a boys day out with our cameras.
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| Steve, myself and Gareth. |
Neither Gareth or Steve have attended a race meeting before so having attended this on my own in the wet in 2018, I was hoping that we would all be in for a treat with some historic racing.
The morning would see all of the qualifying and the first race of the day and the afternoon would see the remaining seven races.
The days racing would line upas below:
Superformance Ferrari Club Classic,
HSCC/FJHRA Silverline Historic Formula Junior Championship.
HSCC Griffiths Haig Trophy.
CMMC Classic Challenge.
FISCAR 50's Intermarque.
GT and Sports Car Cup.
Away from the track there were plenty of car clubs displaying vehicles at Camp Corner, There were lots of trade stands. In the paddock there is a hive of activity as cars are being prepared to race or being fixed after a race.
The Autumn Classic this year had a wide ranging display to celebrate the 75th anniversary of Lotus.
Star drivers were also being celebrated. These were:
Nick Adams
David Brodie
David Da Costa
Ian Flux
David Franklin
Roger Orgee
Each of these have drivers have had very colourful careers and are worth looking up.
Ian Flux was signing copies of his book outside the Strawford Centre.
Brian James was signing posters of the event artwork seen at the top of this blog post.
I bumped into Grant Williams while walking around the paddock. Grant was telling me that the Jaguar felt good to drive and that qualified on pole position and that he was looking forward to the race.
Below are my photos from the event and most are taken from Quarry Corner.
Around the paddock.
AC Cobra. This Cobra was used in the Elvis Presley film Viva Las Vegas.
Ferrari F40
Ferrari 328 GTB.
Ferrari Owners Club.
Ferrari 488 Spider.
Ferrari F12 Berlinetta
Ferrari 360 Modena.
Ferrari 360 Modena.
Lotus 78th Anniversary.
Lotus GS Europa.
Lotus Cortina.
Graham Hill's Lotus 49
Lotus Esprit.
The ex Ronnie Petersen Lotus 77.
Autumn Classic Racing Cars
AC Cobra
Jaguar MK I.
E-Type Jaguar.
TVR Grantura.
Aston Martin DB2.
Ferrari 328 GTB.
D-Type Jaguar.
Lola MK I.
Frazer Nash Le Mans Replica.
Maserati 250.
Me with Ian Flux and a copy of his book For Flux Sake. Ian signed a copy for me that I will be reading as soon as possible.
Bentley Mk VI
Allard J2X Le Mans.
Racing Photo's
Superformance Ferrari Club Classic.
Robert Greaves driving the No.67 Ferrari 328 GTB.
William Moorwood driving the No.29 Ferrari 308 GT4.
Ray Fergusson driving the No.27 Ferrari F335 Berlinetta.
Peter Everingham driving the No.12 Ferrari 328 GTB.
William Moorwood coming around Quarry corner in front of Nick Taylor in the No.57 Ferrari Mondial T.
Nigel Jenkins driving the number 54 Ferrari 355 Challenge. This car was runner up and race 1 and the winner of race 2. Nigel also had the fastest lap in both races.
Gary Culver driving the No.34 Ferrari 328 GTB. After fierce battles in both races, Gary would win race 1 and was runner up in race 2.
Timothy Shearman driving the No.22 Ferrari 328 GTB.
James Cartwright driving the No 72 Ferrari 328 GTB. Race 1 wound end quickly for James as he came to blows with the barrier at Quarry Corner. Thankfully not much damage was done to the car and James was unhurt. In Race 2, James came 3rd.
Nick Taylor driving the No.57 Ferrari Mondial T.
Nick Whittaker driving the No.48 Ferrari 308 GT4 with Ray Fergusson following.
Gary Culver being followed by Timothy Shearman around Quarry corner.
George Macfarlane driving the No.71 Ferrari 328 GTB.
Colin Sowter driving the No.26 Ferrari 348 Challenge. Nick Taylor and George Macfarlane are battling in the background.
Charlie Ugo driving the No.38 Ferrari 328 GTB.
Robin Biesbroek driving the No.21 Ferrari 348 Challenge.
First lap video.
HSCC Griffiths Haig Trophy.
Richard Wilson driving the Maserati 250S. Richard was dominant from qualifying to winning both races and posting the fastest laps in both races.
Toni Bianchi driving the No.7 Ferrelac-Allard Mk II. This car had the best sounding engine of the Autumn Classic.
Theo Hunt driving the No.4 Frazer Nash Le Mans Replica. Theo enjoyed sliding this car around as seen below.
Cliff Grey driving the No.132 Frazer Nash Le Mans Mk II
Malcolm Harrison driving the No.55 Cooper Bristol T25.
Scott Quattlebaum driving the No.117 Leco Sport goes in the inside of Scott Goodfellow driving the No.27 Terrier MkII.
Arne Soedal driving the Lola Mk I.
Jeff Moyes driving the No.62 Porsche 356A Speedster.
Alistair Pugh driving the No.6 Cooper Bristol.
James Owen driving the Elva Mk V.
Richard Wilson in the Maserati putting a lap on Arne Soedal in the Lola.
Oliver Llewellyn driving the No.32 Allard J2.
Peter Baker in the No.56 Aston Martin DB2 chasing Michael Scott in the No.2 Frazer Nash Le Mans Replica around Quarry Corner.
Simon Evams in the No.2 Allard XJ Le Mans being hounded by Jeff Moyes in the Porsche.
Stephen Bond driving the No.85 Lister Bristol.
Most of the field racing around Quarry.
And onwards towards The Esses.
Race 1 first lap video. .
Race 2 first lap video.
HSCC/FJHRA Silverline Historic Formula Junior Championship.
Horatio Fitz-Simon driving the No.68 Lotus 22.
Stuart Roach driving the No.69 Alexis Mk IV.
Alex Morton driving the No.8 Condor S II.
Alan Schmidt driving the No.182 Lotus 22.
And getting it vey wrong into Quarry Corner.
Peter Fenichel in the No.16 Stanguellini FJ defending his position from Robert Goodwin driving the No.36 Keift FJ.
Andrew Hibberd driving the No.51 Lola MkII.
Nic Carlton-Smith in the No.39 Keift FJ on the inside of Robin Longdon in the No.5 Lola Mk3.
John Hutchison Jr driving the No.35 Envoy Mk I.......
And spinning while Crispian Besley in the No.14 Cooper T56 passes safely.
Andrea Guarino driving the No.121 Elva 100.
Peter Edbrooke in the No.31 Lotus 18 taking a wide line through Quarry with Graham Baron in the No.4 Gemini Mk II goes on the inside.
Andrea Guarino chasing the sister Elva 100, the No.119 driven by Edoardo Guarino.
Edoardo Guarino loses control and scuffs the nose along the barrier. This would bring the red flags out and halt the time.
Robin Longdon looking concerned after losing control of his Lola Mk III.
Simon Hughes driving the No.48 Lotus 18.
Christopher Drake in the No.55 Elva 300 chasing Martin Sheppard in the No.37 De Tomaso FJ.
Geoff Underwood driving the No.166 Brabham BT2.
Justin Fleming driving the No.3 Lola Mk II.
Graham Baron in the No.4 Gemini Mk II.
Christopher Drake driving the Elva 300.
Mark Carter driving the Brabham BT6. Mark would go on to win this race.
Anna Wilson driving the No.91 Brabham BT6.
Dave Wall driving the No.131 Gemini Mk II.
First lap video.
CMMC Classic Challenge with Norman Dewis Trophy for Jaguar & Ecurie Classic Racing.
Geoff Ottley driving the No.65 Jaguar XK120.
Grant Williams driving the No.12 Jaguar Mk I. After taking an early mandatory pit stop, Grant made his way through the field and would be the overall winner of the race.
Mike Lamplough driving the No.21 Gilbern GT.
Nigel Webb and Rob Newall took turns driving the No.124 Jaguar Mk II.
John Young driving the Jaguar Mk II.
Tom Smith diving the No 120 Jaguar Mk II.
Roland Stoate driving the No.23 S-Type Jaguar.
Marc Gordon driving the No.68 Jaguar XK150.
Simon Seath in the No.110 Jaguar Mk I being followed by Martin Stowe in the No.678 TVR Grantura Mk III and Richard Ibrahim driving the No.41 Alfa Romeo Sudsprint.
Clive Gimson driving the No.156 Triumph GT6 MkII.
Marwan Andon driving the No.4 MGA.
David Alexander and Richard Fores driving the No.56 Alfa Romeo Sprint GT leading Simon Seath in the Jaguar Mk I.
Peter Fisk in the No.30 Opel Commodore GS/E. Peter had a great battle with Grant Williams. On the last lap, Grant overtook Peter to take the win.
Graham Love in the No.123 Jaguar Mk VII leads Geoff Ottley in the Jaguar XK120.
Lee Williams in the No.105 Jaguar MK I leads Richard Ibrahim driving the No.41 Alfa Romeo Sudsprint.
Richard Ibrahim driving the No.41 Alfa Romeo Sudsprint.
Tom Harris driving the No.22 Jaguar Mk VII.
Martin Stowe in the No.678 TVR Grantura Mk III.
Chris Edmunds driving the No.155 Mini Cooper S.
Richard Ibrahim spinning through Quarry
and recovering onwards to The Esses.
Grant Williams hounding Tom Smith
David Churchill driving the No.144 Alfa Romeo Guilia.
Clive Gimson leading Martin Stowe and Nigel Webb/Rob Newhall.
Grant Williams and Peter Fisk on the last lap battle heading toward The Esses.
Grant Williams waving to the crowd.
First lap video.
FISCAR 50's Intermarque.
Glenn Brackenridge driving the No.34 Sunbeam Harrington.
Tristian Bradfield driving the No.33 Sunbeam Alpine LM.
Zaheer Shah driving the No.51 driving the Elva Courier.
Richard Tyzack and Nick Taylor diving the No.55 Kellison. This car would have the overall fastest lap.
David Reed driving the No.53 Aston Martin DBII.
Simon Jefferies driving the No.47 Aston Martin DB Mk III.
Mark Gordon driving the No.68 Jaguar XK150. Mark would be the overall winner of this race.
Shaun Bromley driving the No.156 MGA.
Andrew Davenall driving the No.176 Austin A105/6.
Justin Beckett driving the No.212 AC Ace.
Andy Shepherd/Murray Shepherd driving the No.11 AC Ace
Alistair Pugh driving the No.6 Cooper Bristol.
Shaun Bromley driving the No.156 MGA.
Peter Baker driving the No.56 Aston Martin DBII.
First lap video.
GT and Sports Car Cup.
This race was the longest of the day lasting 90 minutes, all of the cars would require pit stops and most of them have more than one driver.
Joe Ward and Piers Ward driving the TVR Grantura Mk III.
Chris Chiles and Chris Chiles Jnr driving the No.74 AC Cobra.
Going deep into Quarry with a wheel on the grass on it's way to taking the fastest lap and overall win in this race.
Heading towards The Esses.
Daniel Picket, Den Picket and David Brise driving the No.126 MGB.
Martin Melling and Jason Minshaw driving the No.155 Jaguar E-Type.
Guy Grant and Mark Hales driving the No.153 TVR Grantura Mk III.
Mark Williams driving the No.75 AC Cobra.
Alex Thistlethwayte and John Bussell driving the No.65 AC Cobra.
Ben Adams and Peter Adams driving the No.10 Jaguar E-Type.
Nick Finburgh and Ollie Crosthwaite driving the No.122. Lola Mk I.
Rob Newall and Nick Finburgh driving the No.134 Jaguar XK120.
Rhea Sautter and Andy Newall driving the No.52 Jaguar E-Type.
Malcolm Paul and Rick Bourne in the No.47 TVR Grantura Mk III.
Graham Ridgway and Tom Smith driving the No.54 Lotus Elan 26R leading Marc Gordon and Nick Finburgh driving the No.68 Lotus Elite. Nick Finburgh has been busy in this race!
This time, the Gordon and Finburgh Lotus Elite are chasing the David Smithies and Chris Clarkson driven No.50 Austin Healey 3000.
Nick Thompson and Chris Thompson driving the No.60 MGB.
Steve Jones and Ben Tinkler driving the No.84 Lotus Elan 26R.
Mike Thorne and Sarah Bennett-Baggs driving the No.100 Austin Healey 100M
The Adams/Adams Jaguar E-Type giving chase to the Thislethwayte/Bussell AC Cobra towards The Esses.
Christiaen van Lanschot and Jeremy Welch driving the Austin Healey 3000.
Stephen Bond and Cliff Grey driving the No.85 Lotus Elan 26R.
Arabella Welch and Emily Welch driving the No.56 MGB.
Mark Williams in the AC Cobra leading the charge with the Adams/Adams Jaguar E-Type and the Thistlethwayte/Bussell AC Cobra in pursuit.
Ellie Birchendough and Nick Topliss driving the No.22 Mini Cooper S.
Doug Muirhead and Jeremy Welch driving the Austin Healey 3000.
First lap video.
This was a fantastic event that was very well put together and priced very reasonably at £20 if you book in advance.
For not really being into motorsport Gareth and Steve enjoyed themselves watching some close wheel to wheel racing and both said they would happily return to watch more, que more boys days out.
It was great to finally meet Ian Flux, we've been friends on Facebook for years and he was very happy to take time with people and chat to them.
It was also good to catch up with Grant Williams again.
My thanks to Gareth for organising the day out and to Gareth and Steve for their company.
For further information about Castle Combe, please visit
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