Castle Combe, the SpecialSaloons (loads of pics)

[Speedman]

The jet stream has headed north and the sun has returned. Last time I was at Castle Combe was the Easter Monday races and I nearly drowned, this time sunblock and cold drinks were the order of the day. My brother decided to come along too so we cruised down in style



Combe were holding a weekender which included loads of classic racing and the circuits three championships. My main reason for going was the CSCC Special Saloon races, old silhouette and Thundersaloons from the 70-80s battling out again. Sadly it was a bit of a disappointment, the advertising for the series promised Mick Hills old V8 Beetle and Baby Bertha plus a host of V8 Escorts and many more. Barely a dozen cars turned out and non of the bigger names. Not to worry though as there were some very wide machines to make up for it. First up my usual trawl of the paddock.













;D

[Speedman]

CSCC had races for everything from Jaguars to future classics, there was retro tin everywhere.

















All action stopped for the lunch break so we nabbed a sarnie and awaited the first races.
;D

[Speedman]

First up was an all Jaguar affair, everything from a modified Mk2 to the XJS







Unfortunately the leaders clattered together a few laps from the end so the close battle for the win was lost as an XJS had several second of a lead.


Moving round the track a little it was tintop time, a host of Golfs, Pumas, Peugeots and MGs hurtled round. Door handles were bumped.







The winner.


It was getting hot so refreshment was in order!

[Speedman]

The Castle Combe saloons are much closer now the 4WD class has been banished to GTs.





This Fiesta driver lost it in the chicane and veered off into the corn.



The unusually title "Future Classics" was a race for any saloon, sportscar or GT from the 1970-1990s. It was lead from start to finish by a quick Esprit and the 5l 928.






;D

[Speedman]

The Combe GTs is becoming a Radical stylefest with a couple of saloons thrown in for good measure. The Orange Radical dropped to almost last place after a naff start but was in the lead and away within a couple of laps.



The mighty M6 has proved unreliable and ended the race early as it lost it, spun to the infield and blew up, no really we were watching from Quarry when it left in a cloud of tyre smoke and a fireball appeared over the top of it. Luckily I think it was only an oil line or similar that broke and was soon extinguished.




The little X1/9 bumbled round at the back.


Another refreshment stop before the last races.

;D

[Speedman]

On the home straight now. We stayed at Quarry for the Special Saloons. It may have lacked some of the big name cars promised and the action was a bit sparse due to the low numbers. It was brilliant to see some proper wide bodied racers on track again.

















Eventual winner Ian Hall in his Darrian Wildcat.




Chasing hard into Second place was Peter Stevens 6l Carlton. We had a chat to him in the paddock afterwards and it turns out he hasn't raced at Combe for almost 20yrs. The two chicanes were a surprise to him! But for a man in his 60s with a ton and a half rce car he did an amazing job.

[Speedman]

The last two races were for Formula Ford and German saloons and sportscars. We missed all the FF action while chatting in the paddock, the race stopped early for a chap who landed upside down.


The other race we watched from the car before heading home.






Battling hard till the end


And that was it, for once I came away from an event this year with a tan. There was the same again plus a few more races today, but the lawn isn't going to cut itself!

The rest of the photos can be found here

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Fantastic!

[benw456]

Carlton = Winner!!!

[Robinxr4i]

Great photos and write up, truly excellent post.

[MiataMark]

I was going to go to this but didn't, wish I had now... No Baby Bertha though?

[Seth]

Shame the big name cars didn't show. Looks like a good time was had anyway. Carlton still wearing its Goodwood oval sticker from a couple of weeks ago

[mdh]

Great pics Speedman.

Lots of Davrians/Darrians has cheered up my day :-)

[Speedman]

I think some of the cars were at Silverstone for the Classic. Shame really as they had three races for them over the weekend.

[bstardchild]

Brilliant photos and thundersaloons and mod prod cars are my favorite race cars

Hopefully the blue Monza in the pictures below will be finished for next year and be able to join the party





in later life it looked like this



It looks a lot different now but has been 3 years so far in restoration (not allowed to post pics of what it looks like now - hoping the owner will do a (re)build thread on here one day

[pondlive]

Very nice pics Mr Speedman.

I was there in my Sunbeam supporting the Bullet and Geoff Beales beast.

[Speedman]

That Monza looks means. This series has so much potential, it'll be good to see another round with more cars out.

[svt2888]

Awesome pics!

Can I use some of those pics on the CNCPics Facebook page?

[chaseracer]

Excellent pics

Is the Carlton not John Cleland's old ThunderSaloon from 1987-ish?

[Speedman]

Cleland Vince Woodman raced it in the late 80s then it was bought and raced by Peter Stevens in the 90s. There's some really good information about it here