Silverstone Postcard - Ferrari Owners' Club

Postcard from Silverstone Classic
report & pics by Ed Brown

15.8.06

The 2nd Silverstone Classic was attended by over 38,000 enthusiasts over three days celebrating “7 Decades of Formula1” and 50 years of the Le Mans-winning Aston Martin DBR1 sports racer. With 22 races and 500+ competitors on the specially adapted 3.14 mile Historic Grand Prix Circuit combined with over 600 cars on display in the infield there was something of interest for everyone.

Racing celebrities abounded at this years event, all of whom were happy to sign autographs and chat adjacent to the popular Scarf and Goggles restaurant - three times World Champion Sir Jackie Stewart, Sir Stirling Moss (who raced a borrowed ’53 Osca), new BRDC President and 1996 World Champion Damon Hill, winner of the 1967 Kyalami 9 Hours and Ferrari F2 driver Florida-based Lancastrian Brian Redman (on track in a BRM P160), ’89 British F3 Champion and current Aston GT racer David Brabham, long-time Touring Car racer turned commentator David Leslie and British Touring Car Champion in 1958 and 1963, our Club Chairman Jack Sears.


Italian styling with American power resulted in the Bizarrini 5300GT Stradale	US racing colours on the ex Gary Pearson 1959 Lister Jaguar Costin	Tony Smith's Alfa Romeo P3 - gorgeous even at rest!	Burkhard von Schenk's Cooper Maserati (m) was later inverted by "Whizzo"!


Former "Mr Demon Tweeks" Alan Minshaw's gorgeous Maserati T61 Birdcage	The"fly in" was a popular attraction at this year's event	Vin Malkie's team readies Richard Piper's McLaren M8F Can Am for action	Manfredo Rossi's Grand Prix Masters Brabham BT42

The National Straight was given over to the 200 strong participants of the Silverstone Retro Run (a one-day classic car tour through the Chiltern countryside) and the Prodrive Aston Martin DBR9 team who entertained the crowds with simulated pit stops and, when not doing spin turns and resolving a clutch issue, were on track as part of a weekend feature – an all Aston Martin pursuit sprint. Saturday had historic regulars Peter Hardman (DBR1), Gillian Goldsmith (DB4GT) and ALMS driver David Brabham in the DBRS9 club racer whilst on Sunday Prodrive boss Dave Richards replaced Brabham who drove the repaired DBR9.

If you needed a grommet for your wiring loom, a complete brake drum for your rebuild or a ready to go Jaguar C Type replica the market had everything you required which also included an excess of models and Piercarlo Ghinzani’s Osella F1 overalls (!) which not surprisingly remained unsold. Adjacent, the art gallery showcased the talents of the UK’s foremost motoring artists with the most evocative being the action style of John Ketchell and his rear view of the 1970 Ferrari 512S sports racer.

Many were drawn to the fly-in and display of vintage aircraft adjacent to the Becketts complex. Close by, associate sponsor Bonhams was promoting its forthcoming sales with further lots from the disposal of the Rosso-Bianco collection (Cooper-Maserati and Maserati 8CM at Goodwood Revival) and what is likely to be the most expensive motorbike ever sold to date at auction (est. £375k) six times World and Manx TT Champion Jim Redman’s uniquely original Honda 6.

As a devout petrol-head, with over 600 cars and vehicles on display the unusual always catches the eye:

Bristol 400 – just one of two coachbuilt dropheads built by Farina in 1948.
Facel Vega Facellia – in 1960 Facel tried a desperate attempt to revive its terminal decline and produced almost 1500 of this 2 seater with a self developed 1.6 litre engine - it didn’t work!
BMC Transporter – a faithful recreation of BMC’s vehicle for moving works competition cars in the early ‘60s.
Steyr Allard – winner of the 1949 British Hillclimb championship. Air cooled, 140bhp and self built by trials specialist and later drag racer Sydney Allard.
Kellison J4R – Chevy Corvette power mated to a crude chassis and fibreglass bodywork – a rugged and reliable’50’s Stateside sports racer brought to the UK by arch enthusiast Dean Butler.
Kurtis 500S – five times Indy 500 winner, American Frank Kurtis built this Cadillac powered sports racer in 1953 which was imported to the UK over a decade ago by ex powerboat racer Don Shead.
Anglia Allardette – Sydney Allard (that man again!) built a go-faster kit for the Ford Anglia105E from 1960 -1964….supercharged for the RAC!
Monteverdi375L – bespoke, Fissore designed, 1969 Swiss built 426 hemi-powered GT car with one example even supplied with a Cosworth F1 engine! Would have been car of the weekend but for one exception…..
BMW 328 – found in rural Scotland and not driven for over 60 + years, now awaiting sympathetic restoration. They’re still out there!

The FOC had a wide ranging 100 + car display over the weekend with Nigel Chiltern Hunt’s ex Pozzi 512BBLM (fresh from the Club track-day held two days earlier) centre stage flanked by three F40s , a 250 Lusso and a 288GTO.

Sadly missing from the club's area were both Lancia and Bugatti but this was made up for by a large contingent of Allards of all shapes and sizes and a superb display by the Historic Section of the BMW Car Club to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the BMW328. Interestingly with around 40 examples of this pre-war jewel resident in the UK it was fitting that over 75% (the majority in long term ownership) were at Silverstone including an example owned by ex hill-climber Ken MacMaster for 49 years and raced over the weekend by David Franklin and Gary Pearson.

Much reported elsewhere the track action was fast and furious, the highlights of which were:

Simon Hadfield and Graeme Dodd in 1959 Cooper Monacos split by 0.151 sec at flag fall.
Two dominant wins by 1988 Le Mans Class winner Richard Piper in the ground-shaking 900bhp McLaren M8F.
Manfredo Rossi (of Martini Rossi drinks fame) driving his ex Carlos Reutemann Brabham BT42 superbly, to overcome German classic car dealer Peter Wuensch (Wolf WR1).

In a crowded August the historic racing movement continues at unabated speed making its annual trip to the Nürburgring for the Oldtimer meeting and then crosses the pond for the madness that is Monterey.

Will the 1958 Ferrari 412S become the most expensive example of the Prancing Horse ever sold at auction on August 18/19?.........place your bets please!


Jonathan Baker's winning Lola T70 was superbly prepared	This BMW 328 has lain unused in Scotland for over 60 years	Big entry of F5000 cars - this was the ex Team VDS March	March 707 Can Am with 8.4 litres and nearly 900 bhp - no wonder the ground shakes!


Orwell Supersports Cup double header was won by Richard Piper and his mighty McLaren M8F	Historic Group C movement is gathering momentum this Mazda rotary sounded superb	The Classic Motorcycle racers club enjoyed two great races over the weekend	Wot is it mister? - even knowledgeable enthusiasts were unsure! Excellent Monteverdi 375L


FOC club display had over 100+ cars over the weekend including an example of the rare 288GTO...	...hiding Chris Drake's 250/330 replica - a regular in the Club's classic race series	Three F40s and Nigel Chiltern Hunt's 512BBLM were the centre of the Club display	The 1956 pontoon fendered Testa Rossa is one of Ferrari's immortal sports racers