Massive day of WIN at Race Retro

[Speedman]

I'd get a drink, some snacks and a comfy chair because it was a full on day out and I can't chose between all the photos. There must be something for everyone in this lot.



I've not been for a few years now but was tempted back by the chance to see a couple of Le Mans 962 and the chance to drive some old rally cars on a stage. We rolled up early and grabbed a program and coffee to plan the day. Our rally session was 11-12, the GrpB rally stage was 2-4. That left a few hours in between all that to see the four halls so it was into Hall one, the rally area.







Unusual aero fronted MG


Blast from the BT past


T16


104 rallye


Rare RX7


I believe its a replica, but its still brutal. Delta S4




037s




And to finish off the hall, a very rare early Lightweight E Type


;D

[Speedman]

With the time ticking away we headed outside to the Historic Endurance Rallying Organisations stand. HERO were running an arrive and drive session where for £20 you got a run in a couple of different road rally cars. There were a few to choose from and our group picked from the heart. My mate who works for BMW opted for the 1602 and an MG





My brother picked the MG and the Mini





And I went for the Mini and the brutal Alfa GTV. I've never driven a Mini and the Alfa just sounded awesome and had to be driven.





The course was a simple one that ran up a straight through some cones and stopping at a gate, circle the cone and anther straight circle a second cone and back the way you came before diving right and down to the finish. Each run was about a minute but it was money well spent. We played musical cameras between the three of us so I'm still waiting for some shots back from the others.

[Speedman]

With some much needed grub and drink inside us courtesy of the Fire Engine bar and Diner truck from the Haynes Gathering we were set for the next three halls. Bikes and some club racing in the first one.









The next hall was autojumble, I didn't buy anything despite there being mountains of tat around. But at the back of the jumble the GrpB rally club had its garages.





Visa Rallye



;D

[Speedman]

The last hall was the sportscar and single seaters. The Yardley BRM was hidden away in a corner.



Wide De Tomasa


Porsche 908s, you wait ages to see one and get two.




The new Super Saloon series looks interesting and its coming to Castle Combe too!








962s are like buses, you wait around all day and three turn up at once.






;D

[Speedman]

With all the halls completed (we could have done with a whole day just for them without the action outside!) It was on to the rally stage. 30 cars from various ages were lined up for a couple of hours of hooning around the 1.5 mile course.





Star of the day was Jay Kays 914-6 driven by Bjorn Waldegard. It sounded divine.


The course was a series of straights with tight 90° bends at each end, not too tricky but it enabled lots of people to watch the three cars running at each time.

Porsches












;D

[Speedman]

More action.

[Speedman]

Even more action.
























And that was it, awesome day out, some stunning cars, amazing car control on the stage and a great experience for us on the HERO stage too. I'll just leave a final parting shot of one of my cars of the day.



The rest of the photos are here

[akku]

Awesome day and awesome photos. I'll link mine when I've managed to get them off my CF card

[cairyhunt]

Great photos. I used to marshal rally's and a lot of historic rally's so have a big soft spot for historic rally cars.

Nothing sounds better than a 6R4 on full chat!

[kram]

Great pics thanks for posting ....

[BenzBoy]

It was a really good show I thought! I'm full of inspiration. Great photos

[hairnet]

must get to this next year

missed last two cos work

the spanish reg samba mid engined?

that green bus ooof

[MiataMark]

Great pics, the Metro kicking up the grass is my favourite.

[Seth]

Excellent report and photos Sppedman Love that 6R4 clod chucking shot ;D

[markxe]

Thanks for posting looks a fantastic day out.

[PistonBroker]

Great photos, but I knew that would be the case. ;-)

Thanks for sharing - reminds me I've really got to get along there one year. Worked round the corner for the best part of 4 years, never made it, and now I find myself down here.

[clint]

brilliant pictures thanks for sharing them

[messenjah]

Feb 26, 2012 21:38:09 GMT Seth said:

Excellent report and photos Sppedman Love that 6R4 clod chucking shot ;D

its more of a 4r4 s2000 lump in that one

[elmotheewokking]

There's a Dolly, I have to comment. Appears to have a side exit too, interesting, maybe my plans aren't all that outlandish after all.
Plus I'm trying to get the troll of the main page.
Thanks for the pics Speedy!

[Speedman]

Thanks for all the comments chaps

Feb 26, 2012 21:27:51 GMT hairnet said:

the spanish reg samba mid engined?

that green bus ooof

The Samba/104 was sadly front engined. It was a GrpB stop gap before the 205 T16 came out

The big green bus is the fantastic BRM Leyland Royal Tiger Worldmaster race transporter from 1959. Its a shame there weren't more transporters. First year we went there were four or five old trucks out front.

Feb 26, 2012 21:38:09 GMT Seth said:

Excellent report and photos Speedman Love that 6R4 clod chucking shot ;D

ta, right place, right time......






.... luckily thats the only three shots as I was swinging round to line up on the R5 that was next up so I only got a slight pelting with debris!

Feb 27, 2012 6:38:00 GMT elmotheewokking said:

There's a Dolly, I have to comment. Appears to have a side exit too, interesting, maybe my plans aren't all that outlandish after all.
Plus I'm trying to get the troll of the main page.
Thanks for the pics Speedy!

That Dolly was quiet a handful, sounded good too!






;D