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I'll leave the professionals to post pics of the racing, as my phone camera isnt really up to the job. But here are a few pics from the campsite to give people a feel for what it was like over in woodlands...
MR2MK1 HQ - the site of drunken musings, acoustic guitar, ghost stories and international conspiracy theories until 1am Thurs, 2am Fri & 4am Saturday!:
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And some photos I've taken from Woodlands campsite facebook page to share with you:
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To anyone who hasn't been to the classic: get your arse there next year!
It was great to meet some of you at the stand, although I was only there briefly as there was so much to see and do. Had a good chat with Bill and Gary, and a couple of others who's names escape me! Apologies to Tom for only briefly saying hello but I was rushing to watch the Historic F1! My intention was to come back to the stand to chat more but I got sucked into the racing and didn't leave leave the trackside until about 2130 after the Group C race - which was immense! I couldn't find the MR2 Mk1 HQ either! Next time you need a bloody great flag like some of the other clubs had!
All in all though it was THE best motorsport event I've ever been to. The racing is fantastic - millions of pounds worth of beautiful classics being driven flat out. The static displays were the best I've ever seen. The Ferrari owner club stand was just incredible, as was the Maserati, Aston, Jaguar, Lotus, BMW etc etc. More car porn than I've ever seen before!
Definitely will be going next year. We need to get as many Mk1s as we can for the parade lap!
I'll upload some of my photos later. I'll have to be selective though as I have about 3GB worth of photos!
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We did have a flag up but we forgot to put it up until Friday night I think. We are easy to find though especially at night as we are always the last to go to bed :-)
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Sorry you couldn't track us down in woodlands dylbie.Aswell as remembering to put the flag up, we need to make sure to share some phone numbers by pm next time :-)
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Media release for immediate distribution: 27/07/14
SIR STIRLING MOSS LEADS DOUBLE CELEBRATION AT THE SILVERSTONE CLASSIC
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- Record number of Grand Prix cars take to the Silverstone Circuit to celebrate 50 years of racing at Silverstone
- Moss re-united with stunning Maserati 250F for two amazing cavalcades
- Classic wishes Maserati a 'happy 100' with another glittering parade
Racing legend Stirling Moss OBE led two dazzling parades earlier today (27 July) as the 50th Grand Prix to be held at Silverstone and Maserati’s centenary were celebrated in fine style at the Silverstone Classic.
Silverstone staged its 50th Grand Prix earlier this month in a race won by Lewis Hamilton, and to mark that magical milestone the largest collection of Grand Prix cars ever assembled – 84 in total – took to the famous Northamptonshire track.
Moss led the parade in a Maserati 250F, and was joined at the front by David Brabham, son of three-time World Champion Jack who was also celebrated at this year's Classic. The Australian passed away earlier this year and remains the only man to take the ultimate F1 title in a car bearing his own name, and fittingly David was driving a Brabham BT24 today.
A quite incredible array of Grand Prix cars followed the two racing legends. These included several pre-WW2 machines from the Brooklands era right up to Lotuses and Williams from the more modern DFV era. The parade also featured the Talbot-Lago T26C that was entered into the first Silverstone Grand Prix for Lord Selsdon and the Cooper of inaugural BTCC champion Jack Sears who was back behind the wheel in 2014 more than 50 years after he first raced the car.
As the glorious Grand Prix machinery pitted Sir Stirling continued in the 250F and was joined by a huge collection of Maseratis. The Italian manufacturer is the award-winning event’s official ‘Celebration Marque’ for 2014 and celebrating its first 100 years with a special parade of its finest road and competition cars. It was a fitting reunion for Moss, now aged 84, as he won two Grand Prix in the 250F back in 1956.
Alfieri Maserati – son of Ernesto, one of the founding brothers – took to the track alongside Moss' 250F, and the variety of Italian exotica on-track was quite astonishing. From the latest luxury Ghibli to rarely-seen Maserati motorcycles from the 1950s, every period in the manufacturer's glittering history was represented on the iconic Silverstone Circuit.
Today's two impressive parades followed more anniversary celebrations yesterday, as the Ford Mustang celebrated its 50th birthday with its own parade of 175 stunning examples of American muscle.
Sir Stirling Moss said: "The Silverstone Classic is an absolutely terrific event – what's so wonderful is that people can actually see all these glorious cars and talk to the mechanics and drivers. The 250F is such a fabulous car – absolutely beautiful. What a wonderful occasion – to be driving a car like this is just magic and reminds me just how fabulous the Maserati was. I guess it shows just how good it was if you can win a race like Monaco in one. I still have pretty vivid memories of the first Grand Prix here at Silverstone which was back in 1948 when I was racing a 500cc in the support race. I also remember the 1950 race as I met the King and Queen which was a bit special. In fact I have got lots of happy memories of Silverstone, I think it was one of the circuits I didn’t crash on! It's just been an astonishing day."
David Brabham said: "It's been an incredibly special day at the Silverstone Classic. It was a really fantasic feeling to be in the parade at all, but to be alongside Sir Stirling Moss was really amazing. We were chatting away before we went out, and to see so many beautiful cars behind us on track made it a brilliant day not just for me but for everyone here. I remember talking to my dad about who was the best and he had no hesitation in saying Stirling Moss – whatever he drove he was fast in. The crowds really appreciated the parade, and with Stirling up front in the Maserati 250F was very cool."
Alfieri Maserati said: "Where better than Silverstone to celebrate the Centenary of the 'Officine Alfieri Maserati'. Maseratis were built for racing and after 100 years is undergoing a great renaissance. It has been a joy to participate in the parade of over 200 Maseratis from years gone by."
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SILVERSTONE CLASSIC
GETS OFF TO A SCORCHER
• World's Biggest Classic Motor Racing Festival is go, go, go!
• Former BTCC Champion Gordon Shedden grabs debut pole
• BBC MasterChef finalist Jodie Kidd joins 90s GT Legends line-up
• Scene set for epic weekend of races, parades and top class family entertainment
The 2014 Silverstone Classic soared into action today (25 July) as the qualifying sessions were completed in sizzling conditions at the world famous Northamptonshire venue.
With more than 1100 cars on the bill – from pre-war Grand Prix machines to 1990s GT Legends – the Silverstone Classic is firmly cemented as the World’s Biggest Classic Motor Racing Festival.
Sensational cars spanning the full spectrum of motor sport wowed the crowds ahead of a packed weekend schedule of 22 races, glittering parades, dazzling displays of classic cars and a whole host of further family entertainment.
2012 British Touring Car Champion and Silvertstone Classic debutant Gordon Shedden proved to be one of the stars of the show as he secured a pole position and a third place in his Ford Lotus Cortina, which he’ll share over the weekend with his regular BTCC team-mate and triple champion Matt Neal.
Scotsman Shedden set the pace in the Sir John Whitmore Trophy for Under 2 Litre Touring Cars and will line-up on row two for the Mustang Celebration Trophy Presented by Pure Michigan – a session that was topped by Mike Gardener’s Ford Falcon.
These were not the only tin top stars and cars on show, however, as the hugely popular Jet Super Touring Car Trophy boasts an entry of more than 40 cars from the 70s, 80s and 90s. The Honda Accord of James Dodd took the honours ahead of former World Touring Car Champion Rob Huff, who was piloting one of the legendary Prodrive-built Ford Mondeos. The #1 Accord of Stewart Whyte was third, whilst old BTCC rivals Patrick Watts and John Cleland will start the race from fourth and fifth respectively.
The FIA Masters Historic Formula One is always one of the highlights of an umissable weekend and it was Michael Lyons – the youngest ever winner of an F1 race – who stole the show in qualifying with a blistering lap of 1:54.303s in the Hesketh 308E. A packed grid of DFV-powered Lotuses, McLarens, Tyrrells, Marches and Williams’ will contest two races during the event and represent the most modern era of F1 on show.
Single-seater action came thick and fast with the Peter Arundell Trophy for Historic Formula Juniors kicking off proceedings this morning. David Methley set the fastest lap with a last gasp effort, pipping Sam Wilson’s Lotus to the first coveted pole position. The father and son combination of Michael and Andrew Hibberd led the way early on before having to settle for fifth and third respectively. The Cooper T59 of Jonathan Milicevic was sandwiched between them in fourth.
Formula 3 cars are making their Classic bow in 2014 and it was Nick Padmore who took the honours in a March 783. A 1962 Brabham BT4, driven by Jason Minshaw, fittingly topped the Jack Brabham Memorial Trophy for HGPCA Pre ‘66 GP Cars, whilst the Lotus 16 of Philip Walker claimed pole position in the Maserati Centenary Trophy for HGPCA Pre ‘61 GP Cars.
The quite stunning yellow Ferrari 250 GT Berlinetta SWB of Gary Pearson and Le Mans winner Jackie Oliver claimed the sports car headlines, edging out its rivals for pole position in the Royal Automobile Club Tourist Trophy for Pre ’63 GT cars after trading blows with the Jaguar E-type of Jon Minshaw for much of the session. Times were close at the head of the field, with the top five all covered by less than 0.7s. Derek Hood and Chris Ward cruised to a pole position in their Cooper Jaguar T33 in the RAC Woodcote Trophy for Pre ’56 Sports Cars.
The blast for 90s GT Legends came to a dramatic and premature end when a Jaguar XJ220 GT set on fire following an engine problem. Supermodel Jodie Kidd – runner-up in the recent BBC Celebrity MasterChef *– ran in the shortened session but will get a further chance to showcase the sensational Jaguar XJ220 in the remaining high-speed demonstrations over the weekend.
Phil Keen kept his powder dry until it really mattered in the Stirling Moss Trophy for Pre ’61 Sports Cars qualifying session as he claimed pole position on his final tour in the glorious Lister Jaguar Knobbly. The car was already running well in the hands of team-mate Jon Minshaw but it was Keen’s lap that eventually relegated the Lotus 15 of the McIntyres down to second. Chris Ward’s Lister will line-up alongside the Ferrari of Bobby Verdon-Roe and Nick Leventis on row two.
Chief Silverstone instructor Chris Ward set the pace in the Royal Automobile Club Woodcote Trophy for pre-’56 Sports Cars. The Cooper T33 pilot saw off the challenge from the Cooper T38 of Patrick Blakeney-Edwards and Frederic Wakeman, whilst last year’s winners – the Pearson brothers – had to settle for third in the beautiful Jaguar D-type.
The TVR Griffith of Sean and Michael McInerney snatched pole in the Chopard International Trophy For Pre ’66 GT Cars by just 0.252s from the Jaguar E-type of Chris Scragg and Matt Nicoll-Jones.
FIA Masters Historic Sports Cars and Group C Endurance rounded out the opening day action in enthralling fashion, with the famous cars from Le Mans covering nearly four decades of history.
The Lola T70 topped the former with Simon Hadfield and Leo Voyazides sharing driver duties. The session also featured former FIA GT Champion Jamie Campbell-Walter piloting the spectacular Ferrari 512, the model in which starred in the Steve McQueen blockbuster movie Le Mans.
Group C ran into the sunset and was dominated by Bob Berridge in the Silver Arrows Mercedes C11. The chasing pack included an evocative line-up of Jaguars, Nissans and Porsches.
There were the first of the weekend’s many celebratory on-track parades during the day, most notably for the Mazda MX-5 Owners Club, with further cavalcades planned over the weekend for Maserati’s centenary celebrations, Ford Mustang’s 50th anniversary and a record procession of Grand Prix cars.
Silverstone Classic’s ‘Rocking and Racing’ mantra will see live music concerts on both Friday and Saturday evenings. Canned Heat headline the action this evening, whilst Bonnie Tyler will be performing tomorrow.
The BRDC Silverstone Classic Dinner presented by Hattingley Valley, which is honouring the unique career achievements of John Surtees, is also on Friday evening’s menu.
The busy schedule of classic car races kick off first thing on Saturday morning and will run until dusk with the highly anticipated Group C Endurance.
All of this plus a fun fair, air displays and a whole host of further family entertainment on offer suggests we’re in for a spectacular and successful 2014 Silverstone Classic.
2014 Silverstone Classic - Qualifying Final Classification:
Peter Arundell Trophy for Historic Formula Junior
1) David Methley (Brabham BT6): 2:20.499
2) Sam Wilson (Lotus 20/22): +0.259
3) Andrew Hibberd (Lotus 22): +1.039
Stirling Moss Trophy For Pre ’61 Sports Cars
1) Jon Minshaw/Phil Keen (Lister Jaguar Knobbly): 2:22.922
2) Ewan McIntyre (Lotus 15): +0.881
3) Chris Ward (Lister Jaguar Costin): +1.621
Brian Henton Trophy for Classic Formula 3 Cars
1) Nick Padmore (March 783): 2:08.005
2) Martin Stretton (Martini MK39): +1.660
3) Richard Trott (Chevron B43): +2.669
Sir John Whitmore Trophy for Unter 2 Litre Touring Cars
1) Gordon Shedden (Ford Lotus Cortina): 2:32.115
2) Grant Tromans/Richard Meaden (Ford Lotus Cortina): +0.889
3) Alex Furiani (Alfa Romeo Giulia Sprint GTA): +1.329
Royal Automobile Club Woodcote Trophy for Pre-’56 Sports Cars
1) Derek Hood/Chris Ward (Cooper Jaguar T33): 2:30.827
2) Frederic Wakeman/Patrick Blakeney-Edwards (Cooper T38): +0.815
3) Gary Pearson/John Pearson (Jaguar D-type): +1.735
Royal Automobile Club Tourist Trophy For Historic Cars (Pre ’63 GT)
1) Jackie Oliver/Gary Pearson (Ferrari 250 GT Berlinetta SWB): 2:33.378
2) Jon Minshaw (Jaguar E-type): +0.322
3) Wolfgang Friedrichs/Simon Hadfield (Aston Martin DB4GT): +0.469
FIA Masters Historic Formula One
1) Michael Lyons (Hesketh 308E): 1:54.303
2) Gregory Thornton (Lotus 91/5): +2.452
3) Martin Stretton (Tyrrell 012): +2.453
Jet Super Touring Car Trophy
1) James Dodd (Honda Accord): 2:12.639
2) Richard Meins/Rob Huff (Ford Mondeo): +0.191
3) Stewart Whyte (Honda Accord): +1.421
Mustang Celebration Trophy Proudly Presented by Pure Michigan
1) Mike Gardiner (Ford Falcon): 2:31.859
2) Leo Voyazides (Ford Falcon): +0.387
3) Gordon Shedden (Ford Lotus Cortina): +0.788
Jack Brabham Memorial Trophy for HGPCA Pre ’66 Grand Prix Cars
1) Jason Minshaw (Brabham BT4): 2:19.405
2) Miles Griffiths (Cooper T51): +2.255
3) Andy Middlehurst (Lotus 25 R4): +3.359
Chopard International Trophy for Pre ’66 GT Cars
1) Sean McInerney (TVR Griffith): 2:23.606
2) Chris Scragg/Matt Nicoll Jones (Jaguar E-type): +0.252
3) Mike Whitaker (TVR Griffith): +1.607
Maserati Centenary Trophy for HGPCA Pre ’61 Grand Prix Cars
1) Philip Walker (Lotus 16): 2:25.514
2) Julian Bronson (Scarab Offenhauser): +0.814
3) Tony Wood (TecMec Maserati F415): +3.498
FIA Masters Historic Sports Cars
1) Leo Voyazides/Simon Hadfield (Lola T70 MK3B): 2:07.598
2) Sandy Watson/Martin O’Connell (Chevron B19): +1.672
3) Jason Wright/Andy Wolfe (Lola T70 MK3B): +1.798
Group C Endurance
1) Bob Berridge (Mercedes C11): 1:49.257
2) Steve Tandy (Nissan R90): +3.429
3) Katsu Kubota/Joaquin Folch (Nissan R90CK): +4.133
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1 Attachment(s)
This is my photo of the XJ220 which went up in practice on Friday! Driver fine. Car not. Attachment 1905
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1 Attachment(s)
And this is the little article that Jaguar Magazine are publishing about it!
Attachment 1922
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Hi all,
In case you're not aware, there's going to be a special one hour TV programme on the Silverstone Classic! It's being aired on ITV4 at the following dates and times:
21:00hrs on Thursday 14 August
19:00hrs on Saturday 16 August
13:05hrs on Sunday 17 August
Definitely worth watching/recording!
Cheers,
Tom
