HSCC finals, Silverstone
Tense touring car battles and lots of sideways sports car drama bring another year of the HSCC’s classic car races to a spectacular close
The Historic Sports Car Club’s season-ender is a refreshing change from the big ticket event, with plenty of room to wander round the paddock and friendly competitors happy to chat with classic fans.
The racing was also brilliant, fair but competitive and at times very exciting. The on-track classic action included a field of MGs, TVRs, Lotus Elans, Turners and Morgans dicing through the corners for the 25-minute ‘70s Road Sports Race. It initially looked like being a battle between the Elans of championship Peter Shaw and challenger John Davison. However, Davison spun on the entry to Brooklands, rejoined in sixth place then proceeded to claw his way back to threaten leader William Plant’s Morgan Plus 8, while Shaw had dropped to fourth. He didn’t quite get past but provided great entertainment in a race that featured many battles across the widely spread field.
The pre-66 Historic Touring Cars also provided great battles between Minis and Lotus Cortinas, but both races were won convincingly by the Mustang of Peter Hallford. He just missed out on clinching the overall championship, which went to Singer Chamois-driving RAF computer technician Steve Platts. Just as in the old British Saloon Car Championship, the overall champion is the person with the most points over all classes, so it’s quite possible for an Imp or Mini driver to clinch the big title despite the bigger, faster Mustangs winning races overall.
Despite the bitterly cold ( but mercifully dry) conditions this event was well supported, and is definitely worth visiting next year if you love the thrill of classics being driven hard at historic motor sport races.