JANUARY SCRAMBLE SHIMMERS
Through the fog of a chilly January morning, thousands scrambled to an early landmark in the 2022 motoring calendar. Now in its eighth year, Bicester’s Sunday Scramble attracted 5500 attendees on 16 January, making it a sell-out event. With many arriving for an early start, traffic built up quickly but was distributed just as promptly around the airfield and, even in the standard parking area, there was a satisfying density of old and interesting cars.
On show around the restored WW2 RAF base was an intriguing mixture of classics, from the pre-war austerity of Austin Sevens to the digital age of Japan in the 1980s. The scream of the continuation BRM P15 V16 drew onlookers like moths to a flame as it was fired up in public for the first time since Goodwood, and could be heard from all around the paddock. Meanwhile, Jaguar Classic’s Lynx Eventer, a Unipower GT (C&SC, January), and the first public outing for the Ecurie Ecosse LM-C all attracted attention. Regulars chatted and a remarkable number of youngsters rushed around taking photos of everything from a rare Ford Cortina Super Speed V6 to a Mercedes-benz T123 Team Campagnolo Tour de France support vehicle.
As well as the 45 industry specialists on site, there was a new clubroom for the Bicester Heritage Scramblers membership and a social media competition requiring participants to take a bobble-hat-wearing selfie next to one of the selection of rally machines. Those enjoying a pint at Wriggly Monkey soon found themselves surrounded by classic Porsches from neighbour Sports Purpose, including a 550 Spyder.
Coffees, exhaust fumes, sunshine and chat made for a memorable day, and tickets for the next Scramble on 24 April are already sold out.