|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Thursday, 28 May 2015
RALLY ROUND NEWS
Wednesday, 27 May 2015
Over 600 Classic Cars at The South-West's largest festival of transport The 41st Annual Gloucestershire Vintage & Country Extravaganza
Over 600 Classic
Cars at The South-West's largest festival of transport
The 41st Annual Gloucestershire Vintage & Country Extravaganza
July 31st, 1st & 2nd August 2015
South Cerney Airfield, Cirencester
July 31st, August 1st & 2nd 2015 will
see the Stroud Vintage Transport & Engine Club (SVTEC) stage their
41st Annual Show at South
Cerney Airfield in Cirencester, Gloucestershire. The show
is widely regarded as one of the biggest and best Steam, Vintage and
Countryside events in the UK and attracts thousands of exhibitors and
visitors from across the county
and actively raises money for both national and regional charities.
This year the Gloucestershire Vintage and
Country Extravaganza will include the popular Steam Arena, with
non-stop steam demonstrations,
and the opportunity to drive a steam engine and see the spectacular
Showman’s Engines. The Main Arena which features parades and commentary
of all the vintage vehicles on site from classic cars, tractors,
commercial vehicles, vintage bus and coaches, motorcycles,
scooters, traction engines, miniature steam, industrial trucks,
military vehicles, caravans to emergency vehicles. Plus the Countryside
Arena featuring dog agility, ferret racing, rare breeds, animal
conservation, alpaca’s, shire horses, horse logging, falconry
displays and children’s pony rides.
The
classic car section alone has over 600 vehicles represented, from the
dawn of the motoring era, to pre-war, post-war, Pre 72 American to
modern
classics. The oldest vehicles entered are
1904 CGV Talbot (only 50 were ever built, with only 2 left in
existence) and a 1904 Talbot that has been lovingly restored by a family
in Cheltenham, and often
competes in the world famous London to Brighton Veteran Car Run. To the
opposite end of the spectrum, there are supercars such as Rolls-Royce,
Bentley, Bugatti to mass produced run-abouts such as Morris, Austin, and
Ford marques – we often hear people saying
‘my Dad had one of those’. This year the show will play host to the largest amount of visiting car clubs in its event history, we
welcome the return of the likes of Atwell Wilson Motor Museum, Gentry Register, Mini Rebels and
Fairford Classic Car Club and all our regular clubs and are
delighted to welcome the Bond Bug Register, Classic Ford and Citroën
Traction Avant Club as show newbies. On Sunday 2 August the Citroën
Traction Avant Club
will hold a Concourse, featuring 40 their best vehicles from around the world.
The American section alone has 46 Pre-72 American cars booked in already including a
completely restored
1929 Cadillac
considered to be one of the best American classics in the UK,
plus a rare 1959 Galaxie Skyliner with retractable hardtop and a 1970 Chevrolet Camaro. This
Camero is a beast with a 455 ci big block engine fitted with a supercharger, twin 750cmf carburettors and nitrous oxide and 1100 BHP.
Alongside regular exhibits are remarkable stories of barn finds, restoration projects and histories to be told,
such as the gentleman in
Malmesbury, Wiltshire, who had a great deal back in the 1960s
when he swapped his camera for a 1935 Austin 10. He has since purchased a
similar camera back in a charity shop for £2! The Austin 10 came
complete with original letters from its previous
owner, along with its history. The vehicle was borrowed in the Second
World War as a private defence vehicle for the army and at the time had
its headlights covered so it could not be seen by enemy aircraft.
Other vehicles include:
·
A 1933 Stanford 9 which has remained in the same family from
Swindon since new
·
A 1980 very rare factory built Panther Lima and 1960 Jensen 541R (Owner from Yate)
·
A
record-breaking Jensen 541 Prototype, chassis number 1 - holder of the
London to Paris record, entered by owner Malcolm Bristow from
Tetbury who has a vast collection of Jensen’s
Aside
from all the vehicles, there are literally thousands of exhibits,
curiosity stalls, trade stands, models tents, craft marques to keep the
whole family entertained. Children
always love the vintage fairground with the popular Fairground Organs,
'electric yachts',
waltzers, big wheel, steam-driven 'gallopers' and
traditional penny arcade games, and this year they can even have a ride
on a model stream train.
The showground site is sprawling, with plenty of food and drink ‘pit stops’, a firm favourite is the vintage tea room with regular music and entertainment from 1940s inspired Lindy Hopper dancers, this year you can even get your hair done at the vintage hair salon!
Taking to the skies above, will be a thrilling aerobatic display by local Oaksey pilot, Lauren Richardson (Sat) and the return of Richard Goodwin (Sun) with the Muscle Biplane Air Display, both will puts their Pits Special biplanes through its paces in an aerobatic display (weather permitting).Plus Jump4Heroes - The Royal British Legion Extreme Human Flight Team, will skydive into the arena to see us.
Chairman of the Stroud Vintage Transport and Engine Club (S.V.T.E.C) Martyn Slater, said: “Our goal has always been to give the best value for money family day out in Gloucestershire, with something for all of the family to enjoy, whilst providing a safe environment for people to celebrate our unique transport history and the preservation of historical vehicles. We actively encourage interaction between exhibitors and visitors, and have recently instated a nifty on-site Wi-Fi which enables visitors to find out more history and information about specific vehicles displayed. The dedicated Wi-Fi code can be obtained from the show program and available for use on phones, tablets and laptops”.
The Extravaganza is organised by the Stroud Vintage Transport and Engine Club. This non-profit making organisation raises money for national and local charities and up to 30 will be represented on site raising money and awareness of their respective causes. The rally is one of the largest events of its kind run entirely by volunteers. All section leaders strive to bring something different to this year’s event.
All the owners are
knowledgeable and proud to show off their splendid vehicles. With so
much to see and do, one day just isn’t long enough.
For further information or to purchase advance tickets please visit:
CASTLE COMBE - A month to go until the Classic, Kit and Retro!
|
||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||
|
Silverstone Classic - SENNA INSPIRED SUPERCAR JOINS SILVER JUBILEE CELEBRATIONS
|
SENNA INSPIRED SUPERCAR
JOINS SILVER JUBILEE CELEBRATIONS
JOINS SILVER JUBILEE CELEBRATIONS
• Honda NSX turns 25 with massive Silverstone parade
• The mid-engined two-seater that redefined the supercar
• Record number of NSXs to mark quarter century
• Japanese cavalcade also marks key Mazda, Nissan and Toyota milestones
It’s not
just the Silverstone Classic that will be celebrating its Silver Jubilee
at this summer’s special staging of the World’s Biggest Classic Motor
Racing Festival (24-26 July) – it is also 25 years since Honda launched
its game-changing NSX.• The mid-engined two-seater that redefined the supercar
• Record number of NSXs to mark quarter century
• Japanese cavalcade also marks key Mazda, Nissan and Toyota milestones
Back in 1990, two-seater mid-engined sports cars typically were Italian, highly-tuned and temperamental. The NSX, though, refined what a supercar could be – it was user-friendly, ultra-reliable and didn’t cost a small fortune to service.
Taking its name from the words New, Sportscar and eXperimental, the revolutionary NSX was technically advanced, too. It was the first production car to feature a weight-saving all-aluminium monocoque body and was propelled by a high-revving VTEC V6 all-aluminium engine mounted amidships and powering the rear wheels as the genre demanded.
While the Honda badge may not quite have had the same lustre as those of Ferrari and Lamborghini, the Japanese company was running rings around both of its Italian rivals in F1 at that time.
Turn the clocks back 25 years and Ayrton Senna was en route to the second of his three World Championship titles – all secured with McLaren-Honda. Indeed, the legendary Brazilian was also involved in the initial testing of the NSX at the Suzuka GP circuit in Japan and later in working with the company’s engineers on the finalisation of the suspension and handling set-up.
The late triple champion’s nephew, Bruno Senna (below top left), has strong memories of his uncle’s involvement in the project. Speaking after reacquainting himself with an NSX at last year’s CarFest, he enthused: “It is special for many reasons. It’s the car that Ayrton helped Honda to develop, so it’s always a real pleasure to drive something that he played such a major role in.
“It’s also the first fast road car I ever drove, in Portugal sitting on Ayrton’s lap when I was just a kid; he was controlling the pedals and gears while I was steering! It was just great fun and the first time I’d ever had a thrill like that, so the NSX always brings back some fantastic memories.”
Boasting such an incredible pedigree – and with Honda poised to launch an all-new NSX – the original has become a bona-fide classic, so it’s no surprise that the NSX Club Britain is expecting a record turn-out of more than 60 models for its special Silver Jubilee track parade at the Silverstone Classic.
Indeed, the Saturday lunchtime cavalcades will be given over to Japanese sports cars. As well as the notable NSX celebrations, there will be 300 MX-5s celebrating the 25th anniversary of the UK launch of the iconic Mazda two-seater plus parades marking important milestones for the Toyota MR2 Mk 1 (30 years), Nissan Skyline GTR and Nissan Sunny/Pulsar GTI-R (both 25 years).
These anniversaries are just three of more than 30 that will be honoured at this year’s Silverstone Classic. A record number of 120 clubs have already registered for dedicated in-field displays, suggesting last year’s record of 9000 privately-owned classics on show will be surpassed in July.
Additional clubs – representing both classic cars and bikes – have until 31 May to be part of this massive festival. Registration is via an official form that can be found at: http://www.silverstoneclassic.
General admission tickets give access to all pits, paddock and infield displays as well as trackside grandstands and the majority of the family entertainment including funfair rides and the live music concerts. Full ticket details (which must be purchased in advance) – together with hospitality packages and weekend festival camping – can be found on the official www.silverstoneclassic.com website.
Wednesday, 20 May 2015
SILVERSTONE TO SPARKLE WITH SILVER DREAM MACHINE
|
SILVERSTONE TO SPARKLE
WITH SILVER DREAM MACHINES
WITH SILVER DREAM MACHINES
• Amazing array of cars for special 25th anniversary parade
• Nine decades of motoring history take to the track
• ‘Silver Sunday’ marks Classic’s quarter century in glittering style
• Nine decades of motoring history take to the track
• ‘Silver Sunday’ marks Classic’s quarter century in glittering style
Whether it’s rocking to Status Quo or revelling in the widest ever spectrum of motor sport history, this summer’s Silverstone Classic (24-26 July) will mark its 25th anniversary in glittering style.
The biggest celebration, though, will be the special Silver Jubilee parade – one of the many highlights on ‘Super Sunday’, which will see hundreds of silver cars taking to the famous Silverstone Grand Prix track.
The spectacular parade is open to everyone with a silver car – old or new – and has already attracted an amazing array ranging from a 1934 Austin Seven Special to the latest creations from legendary marques such as Land Rover and Aston Martin.
In-between, the silvery cavalcade will feature a magical mix putting the spotlight on at least nine decades of automotive history. As you’d expect at an event that showcases close to 10,000 privately-owned classic cars, the parade includes numerous iconic models from esteemed brands such as Alfa Romeo, BMW, Caterham, Ginetta, Jaguar, Lotus, Marcos, Mercedes, MG, Porsche and TVR.
However, the huge gathering also comprises a sizeable number of today’s mainstream models like Ford Fiestas, Honda Accords and Vauxhall Astras – all united by their sparkling silver bodywork and by owners not only keen to join the celebrations but also to take full advantage of this rare opportunity to savour a memorable lap on Silverstone’s hallowed asphalt.
“Right from the very first event in 1990, the Classic has always set out to commemorate important motoring anniversaries with track parades but this is something a little bit different,” explained event director Nick Wigley. “For once it’s not limited to those lucky enough to own an E-type, 911 or F40 – it’s open to all those millions of motorists who simply have a silver car. We want as many people as possible to participate in our 25-year celebrations and this is the perfect way to allow lots more to join the party.”
Perhaps the anniversary parade’s popularity is of no surprise: the Classic is expecting its first 100,000 attendance in July and almost 25 per cent of all licensed cars in the UK are silver-coloured. The DVLA’s latest vehicle statistics reveal that there are 7,250,300 silver cars on our roads – more than 440,000 of those alone being Mercedes models.
While the organisers are thrilled both by the huge numbers and by the notable variety of the striking silver machines already entered into the Silver Jubilee parade, it’s not too late for others to grasp the opportunity. It costs owners of silver cars just £25 – appropriately – on top of general admission tickets to be part of this milestone occasion. Moreover, they also benefit from parking in a special infield ‘Silver Zone’ and receive a special 25th anniversary car sticker.
While the track pageant will be a major attraction, it’s only one of the many mouth-watering ingredients that contribute to Silver Sunday at the Silverstone Classic. Other highlights include the popular RetroRun parade plus two of the festival’s most prestigious races: the Royal Automobile Club Tourist Trophy for Historic Cars for Pre ’63 GTs and the Royal Automobile Club Woodcote Trophy for Pre ’56 Sports Cars. The former features a wonderful grid of priceless E-type Jaguars and Ferraris; the latter is packed with Le Mans winning D-type Jaguars and Aston Martins.
As ever at the Classic, Sunday’s non-stop entertainment continues all over the massive venue – and, indeed, above it! TV personality Mike Brewer will host his car clinics live from the main stage, Caterham’s dramatic Drift Experience will spin its tyre-smoking wheels, the 40m giant wheel will offer panoramic views, the new Adrenaline Zone will wow the more adventurous, the Off-Road Zone will be in full swing and the purr of magical Merlin engines will resonate from a Spitfire and Hurricane air display.
Adult admission tickets for Sunday are priced at £52 (or £77 for the Silver Sunday ticket) and include booking fees, access to paddocks, grandstands and the vast majority of the numerous attractions. All tickets – including those for the Silver Sunday parade – must be purchased in advance. Full details – together with hospitality packages and weekend festival camping – can be found on the official website: www.SilverstoneClassic.com.
Saturday, 16 May 2015
Ken Block adds more star power to FOS
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)