Castle Combe classic gets bigger and bigger

SATURDAY MORNING’S MISERABLE WEATHER FAILED to dampen the enthusiasm of Castle Combe Autumn Classic goers, who turned out in their thousands to be part of the venue’s sixth annual historic-themed event. Circumstances prevented me touring the marque club displays, but those who did inform me that there were hundreds of collectors’ cars in the dedicated parking areas, including many rarities.

Once again a mouthwatering selection of racing cars spanning the 1950s to the ’70s filled a large paddock marquee. Three demonstration sessions showcased the ‘runners’. Matthew Wurr (driving Mark Longmore’s Sid Taylor Racing Mclaren M10B) evoked memories of Peter Gethin’s Formula 5000 win at Combe in ’70. The unique Racing Team VDS Chevron B37 and a Lola T330/332 illustrated the stock-block category’s rapid evolution, with Neil Glover and outright pre-chicane lap-record holder Nigel Greensall up respectively.

Among the sports-prototypes, Mark Hales exercised Nick Mason’s Ferrari 512S and former Combe GT ace Tony Sinclair drove Grant Reid’s ex-john Surtees Lola T70 Spyder. Longtime event sponsor Julian Bronson of Bristol Forklifts ran his Scarab GP car alongside a period Cooper. Andrew Wareing’s BRM P261 moved F1’s story into the 1960s, while Mark Martin brought his ex-james Hunt Hesketh 308C from ’75 and the ex-quique Mansilla RT3 in which Ayrton Senna won on his F3 debut at Thruxton, 40 miles away, on November 13 1982.

The GT & Sports Car Cup race – new on the card this year – lived up to its billing with a field long on quality and quantity. The GT battle between the AC Cobras of local man Mark Williams (whose father Ted raced an ex-superspeed Ford Anglia at Combe in the early 1960s) and Chris Wilson was spectacular. Second overall was a fantastic result for

Ben Adams, third time out in the Lola Mk1 that Dickie Le Strange Metcalfe raced there in the ’60s.

Entries were up in some regular races, notably the Vintage Sports-car Club’s Owner-driver-mechanic showcase for standard and modified pre-war cars. That one of Archie Frazer Nash’s Super Sports cars won for the fourth time (Patrick Blakeney-edwards equalled team-mate Fred Wakeman’s second success) was entirely appropriate since the marque’s parent company AFN Ltd owned the circuit in the 1960s.

Thanks to sponsorship, the organisers were able to present a case of champagne to each pole qualifier this year, a touch appreciated by successful competitors. John Chisholm related that the bubbly was enjoyed by his fellow 500cc F3 racers – a smaller turnout this year following a drama-beset Angouleme meeting – post-race, although the exertion of his Arnottjap’s achievement resulted in a holed piston while trying to stay with the more powerful Nortons in a dry race.

More surprises were in store. Having first spectated there in 1967, and eagerly returned as marshal, journalist, competitor and commentator, I was gobsmacked to be presented with a tankard commemorating ‘50 years of loyalty to Castle Combe’ by circuit matriarch Pat Strawford before racing commenced. I’d not stood on the top step of the podium there before – second in a Jade Trackstar in 2007 was my best finish – so my thanks to Pat, CCRC chairman Ken Davies and the circuit team for a much appreciated gesture. I can’t make Saturday’s championship finals but look forward to returning in 2018.