Wednesday 29 June 2016

SILVERSTONE CLASSIC - THE BEAST IS BACK!

Silverstone Classic
 

THE BEAST IS BACK!

  • 40 years on, the mighty AMC Javelin is ready to roar again
  • Return of the iconic US muscle car from the seventies
  • Another great addition to sparkling Tin Top Sunday line-up   
 
After an absence of more than 40 years, the mighty muscle car once known as ‘The Beast’ is ready to make a thunderous racing return at this summer’s Silverstone Classic (29-31 July).
 
Back in the early seventies, the awesome 6.4-litre AMC Javelin was a real crowd favourite when competing in the British Saloon Car Championship (as the BTCC was known then) and Special Saloons series. But then, after an impressive victory at Silverstone in August 1975, its intrepid owner/driver David Howes suffered a badly broken leg in a road accident and, as a result, ‘The Beast’ has never again turned a wheel in anger.
 
For the following four decades, the brutish Javelin remained spotless, sparkling and silent under wraps in Howes’ garage and was even declared as ‘lost’ or ‘missing’ on internet forums. It was, however, only biding its time until the moment Howes could let go, and that hour finally arrived at the end of 2015.
 
The iconic and intriguing car’s new owner is well-known historic car collector and racer Marc Devis, and the Belgian fanatic is thrilled at the prospect of bringing the much-loved ‘big-banger’ back to life at next month’s Classic.     
 
“I have something of a reputation for special projects like this, and the fact the Javelin had been sitting with the same owner since the seventies – and had lots of great period history ­– certainly appealed to me,” enthused Devis.
 
“We collected the car together with a huge number of spares, original parts and documents,” he continued. “Having been laid up for so long, both the engine and mechanicals were in need of a full rebuild and overhaul, but I was adamant those now overseeing the project at WDK Motorsport were sympathetic and didn’t do anything to change the appearance of the original car – it must look exactly like it did before being parked in the garage in the mid-seventies.
 
“I’m pleased to report that even though it has been tricky to track down some of the AMC engine parts from the States, it’s all coming together now and our fingers are firmly crossed for the Classic. The plan is to get David Howes back to Silverstone next month and reunite him with the car – that would be really special.”
 
The phenomenal Javelin will also be reunited with some of its old adversaries when Devis takes to the track for the packed Historic Touring Car Challenge race on Tin-Top Sunday. Several Capris and BMWs from the same glorious era are similarly among the 50+ grid for what promises to be one of the weekend’s many, many highlights. It’s a 40-minute, two-driver, pit-stop race and Devis will be sharing the amazing Javelin’s hot-seat with former Formula Palmer Audi single-seater champion Jonathan Kennard. Together they will be rolling back the years and stirring up many memories.
 
Introduced in the late sixties, the two-door Javelin was AMC’s challenger in the US ‘ponycar’ sector as epitomised by the rival Mustangs and Camaros. This particular model was originally imported into the United Kingdom as a road car by John Burke, a US serviceman posted to these shores.
 
Seeing the huge success being enjoyed by big-engined American muscle cars in saloon car racing, experienced tin-top racer Howes bought the Javelin from Burke in early 1971 and set about rebuilding it to the Group 2 specifications then required to race in the premier British and European Championships. He spent the next 12 months painting it white (from its original yellow), fitting a bigger 6.4-litre engine plus a manual competition gearbox, adding racing suspension and making all the other upgrades needed to go racing.
 
Although perhaps lacking the development to challenge for outright BSCC victories, Howes did notch up several top ten finishes and win two Special Saloons races at Silverstone in 1972 – enough, it seems, to secure some factory support direct from American Motors in Detroit for the following season.
 
Reflecting this official backing, the Javelin reappeared in 1973 resplendent in AMC’s renowned red, white and blue racing livery as made famous by drivers such as George Follmer and Mark Donohue when lifting Trans-Am titles on the far side of the Atlantic. While always a stand-out favourite with the fans, results were mixed; a second place in the British Grand Prix support race to Frank Gardner’s Camaro was probably the highlight.
 
With the BSCC regulations replacing Group 2 with a new breed of less powerful Group 1 cars for 1974, Howes and the unique Javelin were thereafter somewhat restricted to limited appearances in various Special Saloons series before David’s unfortunate road accident in summer 1975.
 
Now, though, The Beast is sharpening its claws and getting ready to roar once again. The revival of such an esteemed seventies icon is certain to add yet more high-octane excitement to Tin Top Sunday at the Silverstone Classic.
 
Adult admission for Tin Top Sunday is priced at £54, with £6 admission for accompanied children aged between six and 16 years old. A wide range of weekend, camping, VIP hospitality and Family Tickets – all of which must be purchased in advance – are also available. Adding to the festival’s immense appeal, tickets include free entrance to both racing paddocks and pit complexes, trackside grandstands and live music concerts on Friday and Saturday evenings. Full details can be found on the official www.silverstoneclassic.com website.  

[Ends]


Photo captions: 

Main: The Beast is back! The 6.4-litre AMC Javelin will be real crowd favourite at the Silverstone Classic
Below left: Marc Devis (left) and David Howes (right) with The Beast
Below right: AMC Javelin racing at Silverstone in 1972

Photo credit for main and below right: MikeHaywardCollection.com



Thursday 23 June 2016

BIKE LEGENDS ADD TO CLASSIC SHOWCASE

Silverstone Classic

 

BIKE LEGENDS ADD TO CLASSIC SHOWCASE

 
  • World GP Bike Legends makes its UK debut at Silverstone Classic
  • World Champions including Wayne Gardner, Freddie Spencer, and Phil Read
 
Already firmly established as the premier event on the global historic motor racing calendar, this summer’s Silverstone Classic (29-31 July) will – for the very first time – feature top class bike track action with a dazzling array of past World Champions to the fore.
 
Attending superstars from the two-wheeled realm will include 1987 500cc World Champion Wayne Gardner, triple GP World Champion ‘Fast Freddie’ Spencer and seven-time GP World Champion Phil Read.
 
“We are thrilled to be broadening the Classic’s appeal still further via the addition of these amazing bikes plus their legendary riders,” said Nick Wigley, CEO of organisers, Goose Live Events. “It’s the first time the Classic has ever served up high-quality two- and four-wheeled racers and to have heroes such as Wayne, Freddie and Phil at Silverstone is going to be just fantastic.”
 
In total, around ten top bikes from the golden era of GP motorcycle racing will wow the crowds when lapping the full Silverstone Grand Prix circuit on the Saturday and Sunday. Moreover, the Classic’s widely-praised open paddock policy will also enable visitors to meet and greet the star riders and see their amazing machinery up close.
 
The impressive motorcycle grid comes from World GP Bike Legends, an organisation set up last year with Gardner as Rider Ambassador to provide fans – both new and old – with an unparalleled experience of watching former Grand Prix stars riding original screaming 2-strokes which were so popular in the eighties and nineties.
 
“It’s an honour for the bikes to be invited to such an unbelievably successful car event,” admitted the Aussie ace. “We’re putting together a field of 500cc and GP bikes, and Freddie Spencer, Phil Read, Jim Redman, Didier de Radigues, Jose Cardoso have already signed up to be at Silverstone. These bikes will provide a spine-chilling spectacle when they start up and roar past on the straights – it will be an absolutely fantastic show.”
 
As another crowd-pleaser for motorcycle fans, Triumph will be showcasing an impressive display in the busy infield area. Over the three-day festival, the infield is also home to more than 100 car clubs exhibiting in excess of 10,000 privately-owned classic machines.
 
General admission tickets give access to all pits, paddock and infield displays as well as an expanded number of trackside grandstands and the majority of the family entertainment including funfair rides and live music concerts from bands such as The Boomtown Rats, Reef and The Stranglers. All tickets must be purchased in advance, and full details – together with information about hospitality packages and weekend festival camping – can be found on the officialwww.silverstoneclassic.com website.


[Ends]

Photo Captions
Main: Wayne Gardner and Freddie Spencer lead an all star World GP Bike Legends line-up
Main below: Triple World Champion ‘Fast Freddie’ Spencer will be in action at the Silverstone Classic
First row: Jim Redman (left) and Phil Read (right) will take part in the first two-wheeled event at the Classic
Second row: Heroes Didier de Radigues (left), Wayne Gardner (middle) and Freddie Spencer (right) are to star
Third row: A wide range of two-wheeled machinery is set to rev-up the Silverstone Classic crowd 


ERA, Frazer Nash and Jaguar amongst the winners at the Brooklands Double Twelve Motorsport Festival

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The Double Twelve logo.jpg
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ERA, Frazer Nash and Jaguar amongst the winners at
the Brooklands Double Twelve Motorsport Festival


·         Trevor Wooding named overall Double Twelve Champion in the 1950 Jaguar XK 120
·         Nick Topliss sets new record in ERA R4D to claim FTD in Speed Trials
·         Frazer Nash/BMW of Tom Thornton triumphs in Driving Tests
·         2014 Champion, Alastair Pugh takes Concours honours for his 1932 Frazer Nash TT Rep
·         Test Hill Challenge, Vintage Mobile Cinema, Sopwith Camel engine runs and Hurricane fly-past lead other Vintage attractions


It was another triumphant Double Twelve Motorsport Festival this past weekend, the 18/19 June, where Edwardian, Vintage, PVT and Classic machinery gathered to take part in the prestigious competition co-hosted by Brooklands Museum and the Vintage Sports-Car Club.

The now well-established format of Speed Trials, Driving Tests and Concours elements, alongside the ever-entertaining Test Hill Challenge, Car Club displays, Hurricane fly-past, music and other appropriately Vintage entertainment attracted another fantastic audience of enthusiasts in a wonderful celebration of motoring across the historic Museum site and neighbouring Mercedes-Benz World circuit over the two days.

Saturday’s Speed Trials proved as popular as ever, accommodating another capacity entry of more than 100 VSCC Competitors in their Pre-war Racing and Sports-Cars, with the event comprising the fourth round of the Club’s inaugural Speed Championship; David Cranage was a welcome Post-war entry in his Lotus Mk VI. Crowds were also treated to a very special demonstration by three of the Museum’s prized racing assets ahead of the afternoon’s competition, including the Napier-Railton, Napier Bentley ‘Bluebird’ and Marker Bentley.

Competition was rife throughout the afternoon’s Timed Runs, with close contests across the classes. There was success for the Austin 7s of Joe Tisdall and Jeremy Flann, whilst Simon Blakeney-Edwards and Ian Bingham also delivered Class victories for Frazer Nash, alongside rival Riley-pilots Kevin Morton and Greg Lerigo, the leading Sports-Car in his 12/4 Special ‘Shifty’.

Peter Tierney’s Vintage Lea-Francis also led its respective Class, as did the Alvis Firebird/Speed 25 Special of David Lewis and the Railton of John Fack, despite a thrilling spin earlier in the day. A regular top performer since his debut last year, the 1917 Hudson Super Six of Hugh Mackintosh again headed the Edwardian classes.

Gary Clare’s 1928 Shelsley Special ‘Grannie’ led home the Austin 7-dominated small capacity Racing Car class, whilst Brooklands Trust Vice-Chairman, Julian Grimwade was victorious amongst the largest capacity machinery in his ever-competitive Frazer Nash Norris Special, claiming third overall.

Pre-war ‘royalty’ led the way, however, with sister ERA machinery atop the overall standings. Sharing R12C with son Jamie on the day, Terry Crabb overcame the challenge from Rob Cobden’s Riley Falcon Special, the AC/GN ‘Cognac’ of Tony Lees, the day’s top Vintage performer, and Sue Darbyshire , the Top Lady performer in her Morgan Three Wheeler, amongst others, to claim Class honours and runner-up spot.

The revered ‘Fastest Time of Day’ accolade went to Nick Topliss, seemingly untouchable in the imperious R4D, which he piloted on behalf of current custodian, Brian Fidler, setting a new track record of 39.22 secs in the process.

The following day saw several of the Speed Trials’ Sports-Car entrants take part in another entertaining Driving Tests competition alongside an eclectic gathering of other Edwardian, Pre-war and Post-war Sports-Cars, Tourers and Saloons.

Designed by VSCC Member and Brooklands Trust Secretary, Kevin Lee – Clerk of the Course for the VSCC’s annual New Year Driving Tests at the venue – it was assured to be an enjoyable day of motorsport, with five different challenges located across both MB World and the Museum site, including the Members’ Banking, Finishing Straight and, of course, Test Hill.

Amongst the ‘younger’ Classic machinery on display, there was Class success for regular Double Twelve contestants, including 2013 overall champion, David Bracey in his Austin Mini Super Deluxe, Jaguar D-Type and XK 120 of Roger Heard and Trevor Wooding respectively, Marc Hanson’s MG YB Saloon and Steven Taylor in his Ford Sierra XR4I. Geoff Davidson was also a winner on his Double Twelve debut in the Triumph Spitfire IV.

The Pre-war classes of course entertained, with David Biggins leading the Veteran and Edwardian cars in his 1916 Dodge Roadster, whilst Chris Leeper’s Riley Lynx topped the Touring car rankings. With eighteen entrants, the Pre-war Sports-Cars was the day’s best-supported Class, with Tom Thornton not only claiming Class but overall victory in his Frazer Nash/BMW 319/28 Special.

Busy on both days was the experienced Judging Team for the Concours d’Elegance element of the Festival, led by Jon Purser, with a number of Competitors of both the Speed Trials and Driving Tests also putting their prized machinery forward for assessment alongside a wonderful array of other fine motoring examples.

Each car was awarded marks on a range of familiar Concours criteria, including both originality and condition of bodywork, interior, engine and chassis whilst a more unique ‘Sprit of Brooklands’ score was also applied, taking into account patina, Brooklands and general historical interest and overall character, all in keeping with the ethos of the Double Twelve Festival.

Once again showing their dedication to the event, Neil Manley and family were named the Best Dressed Crew of the weekend with all adorned in 1960s styling.

In addition to the traditional classes, including both Pre- and Post-war ‘Grand Tour’ and ‘Spirit of Brooklands’ line-ups, Pre-1918 Great War Remembered and Historic Brooklands Cars of the 1920s and 30s – boasting actual Brooklands Competition history – was a special ‘All Things Silver’ category, celebrating 25 years since the re-opening of the Brooklands Museum in 1991. Fittingly, the Class was won by the Museum’s own cherished ‘ally-bodied’ Napier-Railton, ahead of a stunning example of the 1908 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost.

Other Class winners included the Lagonda LG45 of Tony Saunders, Ian Barclay’s Aston Martin DB4 Series 5 GT, John Dennis’s 1907/16 Berliet Curtiss, the period Brooklands Lea-Francis Hyper of Graham White, Trevor Wooding’s Jaguar XK 120 and the Frazer Nash/BMW 328 entered by Tim Jarrett on behalf of owner, Alastair Pugh. He himself claimed both Class and overall Concours victory in his stunning 1932 Frazer Nash TT Replica, another to boast actual competition history at Brooklands in period.

With the best scores in two of the three elements counting towards the prestigious overall Double Twelve competition, Trevor Wooding was crowned this year’s Champion in Sunday afternoon’s Winners’ Ceremony in front of the famed Brooklands Edwardian Clubhouse, with his 1950 Jaguar XK 120 the only car to claim Class victories in two events, ahead of Tom Thornton’s Frazer Nash/BMW and the Berliet Curtiss of John Dennis, who also gathered with several of the weekend’s other successful entrants, including Amelia Wooding, Top Lady Competitor for the second time in her MG Midget Roadster.     

The Club would like to thank Allan Winn and the Brooklands Museum team for again inviting us to co-host this magical weekend. We also thank all the Competitors and participants who supported all of the competitive elements organised by the VSCC and most of all, the many Officials, Marshals and other volunteers from both the Club and Brooklands organisations.

Please find attached Provisional Results from all three competitive elements of the weekend, as well as the Overall Double Twelve standings.

        
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Friday 17 June 2016

IGNITION BRINGS THE SOUND AND FURY OF FORMULA 1 TO SCOTLAND

Press Release For Immediate Distribution: 13/06/16 
IGNITION BRINGS THE SOUND

AND FURY OF FORMULA 1

TO SCOTLAND


 
• F1 cars old and new take to the streets of Glasgow
• See and hear Grand Prix cars in action
• Red Bull, Williams, Benetton, Lotus and BAR star

 
Formula 1 cars formally driven by champions including Sebastian Vettel, Michael Schumacher, Nelson Piquet, Keke Rosberg and Jenson Button, will form the centrepiece of a remarkable history of Grand Prix racing at Scotland’s brand new IGNITION Festival of Motoring.
 
But the Grand Prix greats from Red Bull, Williams, Benetton, Lotus and BAR Honda won't be mere static exhibits. Visitors to the Festival, which runs from 5-7 August, will be able to see and hear the cars in action… the first time F1 cars have been driven through the streets in Scotland.
 
At set times throughout the three days of the Festival they will be powered around a special street circuit laid out on roads between Glasgow’s Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre and the nearby SSE Hydro Arena.
 
Among the cars will be a Camel Lotus 101 (below bottom left), as driven by three times champion Nelson Piquet in 1989, as well as the car that put Michael Schumacher on the F1 map – the Benetton 193B from 1993 (below top left).
 
They will be joined by 2011’s Red Bull RB7, which will be driven by Scotland’s own David Coulthard on Saturday and Sunday 6 and 7 August – and by Sergio Sette Camara from the Red Bull Junior team on the opening Friday.
 
The unique grid will be completed by Jenson Button’s 2004 BAR Honda (Main), which took the Brit to third in that year’s drivers’ championship, and the Williams FW08 that helped Keke Rosberg to the title in 1982 (below top right).
 
F1 anoraks, meanwhile, will be drawn to one of the rarest Grand Prix machines ever produced, the Tec-Mec. Essentially a much-modified Maserati 250F, the Tec-Mec F415 took part in just one Grand Prix, the 1959 USA race, where it was driven by little-known Brazilian Fritz d’Orey. The car completed just six laps before retiring (below bottom right).
 
“There’s nothing quite like the sound of an F1 car in full flight so we are delighted not just to have gathered together such a collection of significant Grand Prix cars for IGNITION but also to have found owners more than happy to put these priceless cars through their paces for the fans,” said Jeremy Vaughan, Ignition’s Event Director. “To have all these wonderful heart-pounding V8, V10 and V12 racing engines all revving up on the streets of Scotland for the first time really is going to be something very, very special.”
 
IGNITION Festival of Motoring promises three days of all action excitement as well as hall after hall of new cars and classic cars, supercars and super bikes. Among the attractions will be The Top Gear Magazine Performance Grid, which will bring together an array of performance cars including the McLaren P1, Ariel Nomad and Aston Martin DB11 for a series of power laps… with Top Gear’s very own tame racing driver The Stig heading the driver line-up.

There will also be special displays paying tribute to Scotland’s world-beating motor sport heritage with Scottish motoring superstars to the fore. Alongside Grand Prix ace Coulthard, Jimmy McRae will be driving son Colin’s World Rally Championship winning Subaru.

And there’ll be more live action at the arena where displays will include regular performances by the Top Gear Live Stunt Team and a drifting extravaganza headed by Boyzone star and racer Shane Lynch.

IGNITION Festival of Motoring is staged by the team behind the globally successful Top Gear Live events, the London Classic Car Show, Top Gear Festivals and the Chris Evans-inspired CarFest North and South family shows.

Advance tickets, with prices to suit every budget, are now on sale via the show’s website:www.ignitionfestival.co.uk. The site has full details on all ticket offers, including special VIP entry to the show’s star-studded opening evening, as well as all the latest news and show newsletter.

British GP winners join F1 legends on-track at Silverstone Classic

Silverstone Classic

 

British GP winners join F1 legends on-track at Silverstone Classic

 

• See Jacques Villeneuve’s victorious Williams FW18 from 1996
• Hear Mika Hakkinen’s winning McLaren MP4-16A from 2001
• United Autosports entries enhance ‘Legends of Modern F1’ line-up
• Jackie Stewart’s 1970 March 701 makes racing return at the Classic


A trio of the most evocative and successful Grand Prix cars from recent Formula One history will add to the high-octane, on-track excitement at this summer’s Silverstone Classic (29-31 July). All three head-turners are proven winners, raced in period by World Champions.
 
Indeed, festival-goers can expect to experience a real assault on all of their senses, not least as two of these iconic, eye-catching machines are actual British Grand Prix winners. What’s more, adding to the fervour, both of these victors are powered by euphonic, high-revving V10 engines.
 
The first is the very Williams-Renault FW18 in which Jacques Villeneuve roared to victory at Silverstone exactly 20 years ago in 1996. A similar all-conquering FW18 took Villeneuve’s team-mate, Damon Hill, to the world title in the same season. 
 
The second British Grand Prix winner is Mika Hakkinen’s equally illustrious McLaren-Mercedes MP4-16A, which took the coveted chequered flag five years later in 2001.
 
Today, both these Adrian Newey-designed world-beaters are owned by United Autosports, the Leeds-based team headed by American sponsorship and marketing guru Zak Brown and erstwhile British racer Richard Dean. The two cars have recently been restored to their former glories by those at Williams and McLaren and will be making their eagerly-anticipated Silverstone Classic debuts in July. Not only will they be revving up on track alongside a number of other F1 cars from the similar Mansell, Senna and Schumacher epoch, but additionally they will be on prominent public display in the paddock, giving all visitors a rare chance to see them up close.
 
“What a fantastic treat for visitors!” enthused Nick Wigley CEO of event organiser Goose Live Events. “Just hearing these V10s revving to 20,000rpm is going to be something no F1 fan is going to want to miss. And that both cars have true Silverstone pedigree makes their presence even more special. I must thank Zak for sharing their wonderful excesses and amazing provenance with all of those coming to the Classic in July.”     
 
Brown will also be racing an evocative March 701 in the two FIA Masters Historic Formula One Championship showdowns. This particular chassis was the very car – run by the Ken Tyrrell Organisation – in which triple World Champion Jackie Stewart won the 1970 Race of Champions at Brands Hatch – the March marque’s maiden Formula 1 race win – and followed up with an equally significant victory a month later in the Spanish GP. This special milestone March has some interesting Silverstone history, too – a week after winning in Spain, Stewart drove it to second place in the BRDC International Trophy, a non-championship race staged at the super-fast Northamptonshire circuit.
 
“I've yet to compete in the Silverstone Classic, which I've heard is a world class event,” said Brown. “To be able to share three World Champion race cars – two of which won the British Grand Prix–  with the spectators and competitors is awesome. I can’t think of a better track to showcase these cars!"
 
While this trio of star attractions will certainly be high on the list of crowd-pleasers, they are among illustrious company at the annual Classic – a not-to-be-missed record-breaking event which sees unrivalled numbers of historic racing cars still competing today.
 
Adding to the festival’s immense appeal, all tickets include free entrance to both racing paddocks and pit complexes, trackside grandstands and live music concerts on Friday and Saturday evenings. Adult admission is from just £42 and considerable savings are on offer for those festival-goers spending the full weekend at Silverstone. This year, there is also a special Family Ticket. Full details can be found on the official www.silverstoneclassic.com website.  


Photo Captions:
Main and top row below: Jacques Villeneuve’s victorious Williams FW18 from 1996 returns to Silverstone 20 years on
Second row: Mika Hakkinen’s winning McLaren MP4-16A from 2001 will be back on track at the Silverstone Classic
Third row: Jackie Stewart’s 1970 March 701 makes racing revival

Photo Credit: LAT Photographic 

Records start tumbling on Tin Top Sunday


Silverstone Classic

Records start tumbling on Tin Top Sunday

• Biggest ever HTCC grid brings new dimension to 2016 Classic
• Rovers, Capris, CSLs, Camaros and Jaguars renew old rivalries 
• Star drivers include Rob Huff, Jeff Allam and Patrick Watts


The 2016 Silverstone Classic (29-31 July) is already confirmed as a record breaker with the flourishing Historic Touring Car Challenge fielding its biggest-ever grid on its debut at the world’s biggest classic motor racing festival.
 
More than 50 evocative cars as raced in European and British Touring Car Championships during the seventies and eighties will be reliving their glory days in a thrilling 40-minute showdown on Tin Top Sunday (31 July). Adding to the bumper-to-bumper excitement, the race will be for two drivers with compulsory pit-stops.
 
The unparalleled entry features no fewer than a dozen Ford Capris, eight Rover SD1s – including Andy Rouse’s 1984 BTCC title winner – plus a trio of giant-killing Metro Turbos. The amazing line-up also co-stars a host of other notable track classics from the same era such as BMW 3.0 CSLs and M3s, Triumph Dolomite Sprints, Alfa Romeo GTVs, Jaguar XJ12 and XJS, Ford Merkur XR4i, Datsun 240Z plus a pair of mighty V8 propelled Chevrolet Camaros.
 
There are some notable drivers renewing old rivalries, too. Multiple BTCC race winner Jeff Allam will be back behind the wheel of the BP sponsored Capri he first raced to victory in 1979. World Touring Car Champion Rob Huff is competing in another of the fastback Fords, while past BTCC favourite Patrick Watts is among those revving up in the trio of Metro Turbo pocket rockets.
 
The record HTCC grid is just one of four fabulous touring car races scheduled for the very special Tip Top Sunday at this year’s action-packed Silverstone Classic. With Under 2-Litre Touring Cars and Big Engined US muscle cars from the sixties as well as high-tech Super Tourers from the nineties also on the non-stop action bill, festival goers will be treated to the full spectrum of saloon/touring car racing history.
 
“No touring car fan will want to miss Tin Top Sunday at the Classic,” commented Nick Wigley, CEO of event organiser Goose Live Events. “We were delighted to add the HTCC to the bill for the very first time and they’ve responded in incredible style with a record grid that promises to be one of the event’s highlights. To see all these wonderful Rovers and Capris battling it out on the full Silverstone Grand Prix circuit will certainly add an exciting new dimension to this summer’s track action.”   
 
Duncan Wiltshire, Chairman of Motor Racing Legends, the organisation behind the HTCC, is equally excited. He said: “This will be by far the biggest HTCC grid ever seen and we’re thrilled by the incredible turn-out. The cars come from an era many of us remember clearly and so I’m sure our very first race at the Silverstone Classic is not only going to be a true crowd-pleaser but also a great occasion for us all to remember.”          
 
Adult admission for Tin Top Sunday is priced at £54 with £6 admission for accompanied children aged between six to 16 years old. A wide range of weekend, camping, VIP hospitality and Family Tickets – all of which must be purchased in advance – are also available. Adding to the festival’s immense appeal, tickets include free entrance to both racing paddocks and pit complexes, trackside grandstands and live music concerts on Friday and Saturday evenings. Full details can be found on the official www.silverstoneclassic.com websit 

Records start tumbling on Tin Top Sunday