Castle Combe Autumn Calssic (Astons, Healey's, BRMs, Jags..)

[MiataMark]

My 1,000th post and hopefully a good one.

Inspired by the great event picture reports, particularity luckyseven, this a report of the Castle Combe Autumn Class, last wee - 3:Oct:15. I've already posted some images of the Aston Martin accident but I thought I'd start a new thread for the event as a whole. This will be a selection of images an some hopefully informative and even maybe humorous words, I even bought a programme so I know which cars are which although I didn't make notes of who won.

So enough preamble...

So Castle Combe Autumn Classic, think of a scaled down Goodwood revival, there were even some spectators dressed up obviously gone to the revival and wanted to get more use out of their costumes. Pre-war to ’60’s single seaters, sports cars and saloons as well as demo runs by a selection of BRM’s and race winners doing a victory lap on a Bristol (the make) open topped bus.

We (SWMBO and myself) went by Discovery, she won’t go in the MX5 Parking up we were a couple of cars down from an immaculate white Aston Martin DB9/Vanquish/DBS (much as I like Aston Martins without looking at the badge I can’t tell them apart). As we parked a well used Sunbeam Alpine drove along except it was a Tiger, don’t see many of them, which parked up next to a Austin Healey 3000. Other notable car park spots were a Mini Ogle, TWR Jaguar XJS, pre war Rolls Royce, an immaculate Carlton GSi 3000, a silver Aston Martin Vanquish (it was parked nose in), a silver ’04 plate Morgan that was spotless and from a distance what I think was an AC Ace Brooklands (thanks google images) which is pretty rare. Quite a few 911s of every vintage, Stag's MGB's etc.

Anyway after parking up we watched some F3 500’s practice, we were walking down towards the static displays, I’d even changed lens to the 24-70, when we heard a Mustang, Galaxie and Lotus Cortina on the track so we went back to Quarry corner and sat down to watch. Ended up we didn’t move, so all photos are from Quarry and nothing of the static displays as there was track action pretty much all the time.

Rather than show the photos chronologically I’ll do it by class and combine the qualifying and race shots.

First up Historic Aston Martins,
Good mix of pre and post war Aston’s, the pre-war Ulster and mono sport looked good but the show was stolen by the DBR1/300 and the DB3S.

Aston Martin DBR1/300 (see other thread but in summary this is chassis DBR1/4 that came 2nd at Le Mans in 1959 and is worth ~£4M) and just has to be about the most beautiful sports car ever.


combe031015_3202 by Mark Palmer, on Flickr


combe031015_3373 by Mark Palmer, on Flickr

Aston Martin DB3S, the DBR1's predecessor, beautiful but not quite as good as the DBR1, although I'd settle for one if I can't find a DBR1 when my lottery numbers come up. Pity about the modern roll hoop, and the modern wing mirrors on the DBR1.


combe031015_3197 by Mark Palmer, on Flickr

Love this shot of the DBR1/300 leading the Ulster


combe031015_3197 by Mark Palmer, on Flickr

and the DR1/300 and DB3S mixing it up, DB2/4 & "Speed Model '38"


combe031015_3215 by Mark Palmer, on Flickr

Pre-war cars;

Aston Martin Ulster 1934 (a favourite pre-war car looks great in the Eurie Bertelli colours), actually this is worth a few bob as well... One day I'll build the Matchbox plastic kit I've got of one, and paint it red.


combe031015_3210 by Mark Palmer, on Flickr

Aston Martin 15/98 (1936) they've discovered aerodynamics...


combe031015_3200 by Mark Palmer, on Flickr

Aston Martin Monoposta Speed Model (1939) built for Brooklands (sold in 2011 fro £319K)


combe031015_3199 by Mark Palmer, on Flickr

running together, the Jaguar must have been running as a invitation or this image should be in the Inter-Marque race section...


combe031015_3214 by Mark Palmer, on Flickr

Considering the value of these cars, not just the DBR1, the drivers were certainly giving it their all and it was great to see (and hear). But must stop going on about value and concentrate on the racing. Suffice to say it's great to see cars like this being used and not stuffed in a museum with the occasional run out to a concours event...

Next time Healey's, or maybe Jags...

Mark

[MiataMark]

Austin Healey's.

There were 2 races for Austin Healeys plus some were also entered in the Inter-Marque race. I've never really thought much about Austin Healeys sure the 3000's are true British sports car of the traditional kind but they've never appealed perhaps I'm too much of a Triumph fan. I struggle to tell the difference between a 100/4 and a 3000 let alone understand the different models. But a grid full of Healey's is pretty impressive, and they looked more at home than when I saw them at Gurston Down hill climb few weeks ago.


combe031015_3194 by Mark Palmer, on Flickr

There were a few Sprites of the Lenham and Sebring (the yellow car is a Sebring) kind running as well, they were going very well with some very committed driving. Speaking of which look at the angle of the rear car...

The driver of car #1 was trying particularly hard, obviously keeping up with the new trend of drifting...


combe031015_3310 by Mark Palmer, on Flickr

That is tyre smoke not exhaust, if you look closely you can see flame from the exhausts. He was using all of the track as well, great car control I think all the spectators were waiting for him to come off. The sound from the side exhaust was great.


combe031015_3193 by Mark Palmer, on Flickr

Just to prove that I can tell a 3000 from a 100/4 (and to get my moneys worth from the programme).

Austin Healey 100/4, pity about the modern roll bar.


combe031015_3172 by Mark Palmer, on Flickr

Austin Healey 3000Mk1, in classic red with white roof as used on the works rally cars.


combe031015_3182 by Mark Palmer, on Flickr

Although I think I'd prefer one with a V8 and sharks teeth graphics...


Demo runs;

There were some BRM demo runs although I managed to miss the V16 F1 car which was a bit stupid of me.

Given some cursory searching I think this is a BRM P261 as driven by Graham Hill in 1965 (but I could be wrong). Fantastic shape, looks very delicate (and fragile).


combe031015_3326 by Mark Palmer, on Flickr

and I think this is a 1969 P160


combe031015_3331 by Mark Palmer, on Flickr

and this a P160E from 1973


combe031015_3361 by Mark Palmer, on Flickr

What ever they looked and sounded great, what F1 cars should look, and sound, like. Interesting that this was probably some of Marlboro's first F1 sponsorship and they're still sponsoring Ferrari.

As epic as the F1 cars were they weren't as epic as this!


combe031015_3339 by Mark Palmer, on Flickr

BRM Can-Am racer (P167), with a 8 litre Chevy V8 not much in the way of silencers, if any, and huge intake trumpets. The noise was, and I don't use this word much, awesome. How they got around Castle Combe's noise limits is anybodies guess.


combe031015_3352 by Mark Palmer, on Flickr

There is an article in the October issue of Classic Cars on it's restoration, it was basically restored this year for the Goodwood festival. Theyu used to race this at the Nurburgring, in the wet... The same edition also has a feature on the Aston Martin Monoposto as shown in the first post.

Just to finish of the demos,

Cooper T51, the car (not this actual one, this is a Rob Walker car driven by Stirling Moss) that won the F1 championship in 1959 and makes up a pair for me with the Aston DBR1/300 (1959 was when I was born).


combe031015_3320 by Mark Palmer, on Flickr

and to finish off another car that is one of my favourites, Lotus 49 (not the later be-spoilered and Gold Leaf liveried 49B), I'm a great fan of Graham Hill.


combe031015_3341 by Mark Palmer, on Flickr




Saloon cars next..... this takes a long time sorting out images bit of post production, cursory research and typing it all in, even more kudos to those that do reports regularly and much much better than this.

[georgeb]

Good stuff there, please keep it coming.

Any more Can-Ams?

[MiataMark]

Oct 11, 2015 22:05:20 GMT georgeb said:

Good stuff there, please keep it coming.

Any more Can-Ams?

No, the BRM Can-Am was a single 'high-speed' demo run. I'd love to see some, and hear, more though. Silverstone classic would probably be best event or Goodwood to see more in action.

[luckyseven]

Oct 10, 2015 22:30:57 GMT MiataMark said:

My 1,000th post and hopefully a good one.

Works for me

Oct 10, 2015 22:30:57 GMT MiataMark said:

Aston Martin 15/98 (1936) they've discovered aerodynamics...


combe031015_3200 by Mark Palmer, on Flickr

Looks a lot like they'd just discovered BMW 328s as well

Oct 11, 2015 14:32:59 GMT MiataMark said:

Given some cursory searching I think this is a BRM P261 as driven by Graham Hill in 1965 (but I could be wrong). Fantastic shape, looks very delicate (and fragile).


combe031015_3326 by Mark Palmer, on Flickr

Exactly the problem with all BRMs sadly... fragile as a glass hammer

Oct 11, 2015 14:32:59 GMT MiataMark said:

BRM Can-Am racer (P167), with a 8 litre Chevy V8 not much in the way of silencers, if any, and huge intake trumpets. The noise was, and I don't use this word much, awesome. How they got around Castle Combe's noise limits is anybodies guess.


combe031015_3352 by Mark Palmer, on Flickr

Bloody marvellous, that. I bet most of the noise was induction, not exhaust, too

Oct 11, 2015 14:32:59 GMT MiataMark said:

this takes a long time sorting out images bit of post production, cursory research and typing it all in

Feel your pain, lol.

I enjoyed that a lot, looking forward to the next instalment

[MiataMark]

Right tin-tops...

Let's start with Jaguars...

pre-’66 Jaguars

I’ll admit it up front I can’t tell a MK1 saloon from a MKII or a S Type and only just the difference between an XK120 and a XK150, but I do know that they put on a great show. The winner by a long way was was an E-Type light-weight, don’t know if it was real or a replica build but it was fast and fairly undramatic so no photos (sorry if you're an E-Type fan).

Mid field battle, this was probably the first lap, and is a mixed bag of mainly XK120's


combe031015_3251 by Mark Palmer, on Flickr

The main enjoyment came from the battling saloons, my wife kept going on about Inspector Morse cars (Morse's car is a 2.4 MK2) I though it was more The Sweeny opening credits (S type). One of the cars, a Mk2, was driven by Andy Wallace who even I know was a Jaguar Le Mans driver and won in 1988 driving a XJR-9LM, he retired from this race after running in 3rd, behind 2 E-Types.

Car 12, a Coombes MK1, must have a quite a history given the list of drivers on its front wing. Apologies for blurry picture but the drivers include Roy Salvadori (his autobiography is a good read) & Derek Bell. The registration, BUY 1, is fairly famous as well, it was used by John Coombes initially on a series 1 E-Type, before being used on the MK1, a great case of "race on Sunday sell on Monday".


combe031015_3262 by Mark Palmer, on Flickr

and if you didn't think they were trying hard check out the front wheel, or more pertinently the disc, not just Carlos Sainz that has overheating brake issues.


combe031015_3280 by Mark Palmer, on Flickr

Most entertainment was provided by car 15, a 1961 MK2;


combe031015_3283 by Mark Palmer, on Flickr

A race long battle with car 48, a Mk1, they were battling it out all of the race with some synchronised drifting and lots of tail out action around Quarry, how he didn’t take out #48 I don't know.

Into Quarry, learning hard;


combe031015_3258 by Mark Palmer, on Flickr

getting a bit lairy...


combe031015_3259 by Mark Palmer, on Flickr

sideways on


combe031015_3260 by Mark Palmer, on Flickr

and just to show it wasn't just #12 giving it sideways action


combe031015_3273 by Mark Palmer, on Flickr


Historic Touring car (pre '66).

Watching qualifying the Lotus Cortina seemed to be doing well and lined up 2nd behind a Mustang, at the start it was blown off by the V8s of the Mustang and Falcon. The lead Mustang #22 ,a  4.7ltr, ran away with the race followed by the Falcon with the Cortina and Anglia fighting behind.

I thought back in the 60'si t was Camaros and Galaxies not Mustangs that raced in UK Touring cars, could be wrong though (I am quick check on the BTCC website and Mustang's raced, winning the championship in '65).


combe031015_3468 by Mark Palmer, on Flickr

Falcon (I admit it I thought it was a Galaxie, and having checked some Galaxie 500 images that's pretty inexcusable) and Mustang running together this must have been qualifying as they weren't that close in the race.


combe031015_3465 by Mark Palmer, on Flickr

Flame spitting Mustang, I tried very hard to get this shot but it’s the approach to Quarry and I was on the exit. With only a 70-200 lens on a FF body, I’ve had to crop it down a lot and some definition's been lost. Should go back to using a crop sensor for action photography, or save up and buy a big white telephoto lens. You can just about see it's spitting flames from both sides.


combe031015_3546 by Mark Palmer, on Flickr

Further down the order a Hillman Imp was leading a 'gaggle' of Minis, lifting it's front inside wheel for ages through and out of Quarry. The Minis drifted through the bend.

This is probably my favourite image of the day and will be used for a camera cub competition entry (even thought up a more original title for it), pity about the dust from the Aston accident though.


Impish behaviour by Mark Palmer, on Flickr

or maybe this one (what do you think?) yeah the horizontal has gone awry... but that can be fixed.


combe031015_3598 by Mark Palmer, on Flickr

Meanwhile the Falcon/Cortina/Anglia battle was going on, the Cortina swapped places a few times with the Anglia but couldn't get past the Falcon. I don't think that turning on the headlights was going to intimidate a driver of 4.7ltr 'muscle car', is a Falcon a muscle car?


combe031015_3589 by Mark Palmer, on Flickr

Don't quite know what's gone on with the horizontal on these images I was using Lightroom to straighten things out from camera info.

Despite being way in front the Mustang wasn't exactly hanging about.


combe031015_3531 by Mark Palmer, on Flickr

and was certainly keeping the crowd entertained.


combe031015_3520 by Mark Palmer, on Flickr

and finally we all like an underdog, at the back was this Austin A105 Westminster, good for the British cafe racer thread though. A Westminsiter actually won the Championship in '58 driven by Jack Sears.


combe031015_3508 by Mark Palmer, on Flickr


Only single-seaters left now and the Inter-Marque race and we know how badly that ended.

[bazzateer]

That Hillman Imp is driven by Simon Benoy who has just won this years Historic Touring Car Championship. It's his second win and the sixth time by an Imp in recent years. Of course, the Bevan Imp driven by Bill McGovern dominated the British Saloon Car Championship in the early 70s winning it 3 years in a row (70-72).

[georgeb]

Some cracking shots there. Thanks.

[luckyseven]

Opposite lock Jaaaags, sideways Minis, Mustang flamage, tripod Imps...

....so much win

Excellent pics, nice to see a load of action shots in addition to the more usual static pic threads

[igor]

Easy to see why that Falcon got mistaken for a Galaxie. Must be a Yankee spec Falcon. The rear half, along with the sculpted sides, does indeed look a lot like a slightly shrunken Galaxie while the front grille is only marginally reminiscent of the late '60s Australian made Falcons that were only ever available as a sedan.

[luckyseven]

Yep, it's the first year of the second-gen American Falcon... 1964, the same year Ford purloined the Falcon unitary underpinnings to produce the Mustang which they could aim at a true youth/sports market. Up till then the poor ol' Falcon had to cope with all jobs from a straight six for Granny to go shopping in to a 260V8 for performance gear heads. The '64 went all the way up to 302 Windsors and was a regular track performer. They used to race in Europe a fair bit under the loose intentions of the touring (sedan) car rules, just like Galaxies

[MiataMark]

Oct 14, 2015 22:20:38 GMT luckyseven said:

Excellent pics, nice to see a load of action shots in addition to the more usual static pic threads

There was so much track action that I didn't get the chance to look at the static exhibits, lots of clubs there, or visit the paddock. A great event for action and Castle Combe is pretty good for viewing. Thoroughly recommend it and not bad value at £20 a ticket, should have a RR meet-up there next year (sorry George a bit of a trip for you).