SILVERSTONE PAYS TRIBUTE TO JAMES HUNT Special celebrations to mark 40th anniversary of title-winning campaign   Hunt cars on show and racing on the famous Grand Prix circuit Trophies and memorabilia from the epic 1976 season on display Freddie Hunt drives championship-winning McLaren for Channel 4 F1 show       The 40th anniversary of swashbuckling James Hunt’s world championship-winning season will be celebrated in fantastic style later this month at the Silverstone Classic (29-31 July).   Hunt’s short but epic life – the charismatic Englishman died of a heart attack in 1993 aged just 45 – will be hailed with a very special public display of cars and memorabilia from his title-winning 1976 campaign curated by his two sons Tom and Freddie, both of whom will be at Silverstone throughout the spectacular three-day event.   “It was a no-brainer to choose the Silverstone Classic to celebrate my father’s landmark anniversary,” enthused Freddie. “It’s the biggest classic racing event in the world and Silverstone, of course, was a very special circuit for him. His antics both on and off the track really caught the imagination of the patriotic home crowds and the superfast nature of Silverstone back in the seventies really seemed to suit his hard-charging driving style. It was where he notched up his first-ever Formula One win – the BRDC International Trophy in 1974 – and where he won the British Grand Prix as World Champion in 1977, starting from pole position and beating Niki Lauda’s Ferrari into second place.   “The Silverstone Classic was also the first race meeting I ever went to after my father died, so it’s quite special for me and I’ve been coming back regularly ever since. There are so many different types of cars – it’s really great for any enthusiast. I would say it’s the number one event of the year and thus the perfect place to be paying tribute to my father.”   As a curtain-raiser to the eagerly-anticipated 40th anniversary celebrations at the Classic, Freddie recently had the honour of driving his dad’s title-winning McLaren M23 at Silverstone for a television feature to be aired as part of Channel 4’s coverage of this weekend’s British Grand Prix.   “It was pretty emotional for me, and I had a lump in my throat just sitting behind the wheel in the pits,” admitted the 29-year-old, who bears more than a striking likeness to his father. “I’ve always wanted to drive that car on a circuit, so it was a great experience.”   That evocative McLaren M23 which Hunt used to win both the French and German Grands Prix in 1976 (and which starred in the film Rush) will be on show in Pit Box 16 within the International Paddock throughout the Classic, together with a collection of significant cars from Hunt’s heroic F1 career. It will line up alongside the Surtees TS9B in which he made his F1 debut in 1973 and the McLaren M26 in which he won the 1977 British Grand Prix at Silverstone, but only after a monumental dice with John Watson’s red Brabham-Alfa.   As well as putting the spotlight on Hunt’s most notable road and racing cars, the tribute collection will also feature rarely seen trophies and memorabilia from the historic 1976 season.   Adding yet further to the sense of occasion, two of James’s most legendary race cars will be competing in the FIA Masters Historic Formula One Championship, a grid that stars more than 35 evocative DFV-powered F1 cars from the much-loved Hunt era.   James Hagan will be racing the very Hesketh 308/1 which provided Hunt with his maiden F1 victory in the non-championship BRDC International Trophy at Silverstone in 1974, as well as his first three GP podiums later that season.   The same Masters grid will also see Rick Carlino racing the following year’s Hesketh 308B – the car in which Hunt claimed his first-ever Grand Prix victory at Zandvoort in Holland in 1975.   “It’s a tremendous privilege to have the Hunt family so involved in this year’s Classic, exactly 40 years after James famously overcame all the odds to lift the title in 1976,” said Nick Wigley, CEO of event organiser Goose Live Events. “Silverstone is the perfect place to honour this historic milestone and we are delighted that we will celebrating this anniversary in style with what’s going to be a fitting showcase of Hunt cars and personal memorabilia including his title winning trophies, race suit and helmet plus the original steering wheel from the M23 he raced in the dramatic season finale in Japan. To have James’ two race winning Heskeths still racing is just the icing on the cake.”       Fans not wanting to miss these special James Hunt celebrations must buy their tickets in advance. Adult prices start from £42 and full details of all tickets – as well as hospitality packages and weekend festival camping – can be found on the event website at: www.silverstoneclassic.com. 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.   Photo captions: Above: Freddie Hunt driving his father’s title winning McLaren M23 (credit Jayson Fong) Below top row: James Hunt winning his maiden F1 race after duelling with Ronnie Peterson’s JPS Lotus at Silverstone in 1974 (credit: LAT Photographic) Below middle row: James Hunt winning his first GP with Hesketh in 1975 and the British GP with McLaren in 1977. Both cars will be at this month’s Silverstone Classic (credit: LAT Photographic) Below bottom row: James Hunt memorabilia will be on show at the Classic in a display curated by his sons Tom and Freddie (photo right) Share Tweet Forward to Friend +1 Read Later

LAST CHANCE TO SNAP UP REMAINING CARFEST TICKETS • Final few Friday tickets for Carfest North still available  • Chart-toppers Travis announced for Friday, opening night show at Bolesworth  • All weekend and camping tickets now completely sold-out  • CarFests have raised over £6m for BBC Children in Need to date   Going, going and almost gone… there are just a few remaining tickets available for the opening day of CarFest North (29-31 July) – but hurry! These tickets are expected to be snapped up swiftly now that chart-toppers Travis (below top left) have been added to the star-studded evening music line-up that already includes ABC, Faithless, Kim Wilde, The Lionels, Texas (below top right) plus Paul Heaton and Jacqui Abbott. Tickets for the Friday are priced at £64 for adults and £12 for children aged between six and 16-years-old and are available via the official http://www.bbc.co.uk/pudsey website. A minimum of 25 per cent of the ticket price will go directly to BBC Children in Need, adding to the £6.7m already raised for the charity by previous CarFests. While the drumroll of bands performing on the Friday evening is impressive on its own, the live music is just the culmination of a magical day’s entertainment for all the family. Indeed, the move to a new home at Bolesworth near Tattenhall in Cheshire means this year’s CarFest North will be the biggest and best yet, with more action and activities for all ages than ever before. For starters, Bolesworth offers a unique driving experience around the house and beautiful gardens, which those attending on the Friday will be the first to experience. As ever, a dazzling array of performing cars is right at the heart of the daytime CarFest excitement and, ringing in the changes, this year’s high-octane track sprint show will be split into two equally unmissable sections. First up, the ‘Time Tunnel’ will take festival-goers on a magical evolutionary journey of motoring history from Bugattis and Hispano-Suizas, through AC Cobras and Lamborghini Countachs right up to the latest Porsches and McLarens. Radio 2 Breakfast Show Host Chris Evans’ own Famous Five collection will also be on show. Spectators will be treated to the ‘Extreme’ phase of the track show as it roars into ear-splitting action. Those revving up include the Red Bull Racing Formula One team, Japspeed Drift Team, Top Gear Live Stunt Team plus an eye-catching assortment of today’s finest supercars, some driven by Top Gear’s very own tame racing driver The Stig. And the petrolhead enjoyment doesn’t stop there Honda returns with its own selection of interactive experiences including mini bikes, ATVs and lawnmower challenges, Jaguar is bringing its new ‘F-Pace Experience’ with live 4x4 demos while BMW is joining CarFest for the first time to celebrate its centenary. For those wanting a soupcon of nostalgia, car clubs will be turning back the clock with special displays in the Vintage Village. And visitors will be treated to much, much more than glorious riffs and revs – those are just two mouthwatering ingredients of what is an amazing line-up of fun-filled activities and attractions. There will be dance tips and demos from TV dancing stars Kevin and Karen Clifton, Jo Clifton and Natalie Lowe; cooking demos by Rachel Allen and Michelin-starred chef Tom Kerridge; an adventure club; a culture club; a drive-in cinema; camel racing; BMX stunt shows; diggers and dump trucks from JCB; raft-building on the Bolesworth lake; fitness sessions with Mr. Motivator; Cheshire cheese-rolling; an army assault course; welly-wangling; a funfair; a celebrity cake sale while 15 families will be going head-to-head racing to create their own ‘dream sheds’. With so much wonderful stuff to see and do, it’s no surprise that the few remaining tickets for the opening Friday at CarFest North are selling fast. It really is a case of book now to avoid disappointment! All the latest festival news can be found on the Festival’s official website (www.carfest.org), Twitter and Facebook platforms.

SILVERSTONE CLASSIC - THE BEAST IS BACK!

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

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

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.

        

-Ends-