Stoneleigh Park welcomed almost 25,000 visitors to Race Retro, the International Historic Motorsport Show, on March 23–25—20% up on last year’s attendance. “We’re delighted with this evidence of the show’s growing popularity, particularly in the current tough market,” said Event Director Ian Williamson.
The range of cars of all types including race, rally, trial machines and historic karts was extensive and impressive. The 1953 and 1954 Alpine Rally cars displayed by the Sunbeam Talbot Alpine Register—with Stirling Moss’s MKV 21 in pride of place; and on the British Rallycross Drivers Association stand, the Porsche 911 in which Vic Elford won the very first 1967 Rallycross, 40 years ago. Vic Elford himself was also at the show, signing copies of his new book. On the outdoor arena, legends of the sport such as Michèle Mouton, Stig Blomqvist, Bjorn Waldegard, Russell Brookes and Pentti Airikkala thrilled the crowds driving Group B rally cars on the tarmac stage.
Photo: Peter Austin
There was a parade of celebrities over the three days of the show. Pentti Airikkala, Richard Attwood, Derek Bell, Gordon Blakeway, Stig Blomqvist, Johnny Brittain, Russell Brookes, Willy Cave, John ‘Moon Eyes’ Cooper, Andrew Cowan, Vic Elford, Tony Fall, John Giles, Mick Grant, Paddy Hopkirk, Gordon Jackson, Tony Mason, Sammy Miller, Chas Mortimer, Michèle Mouton, Frank Perris, Phil Read, Jim Redman, Jack Sears, Colin Seeley, Rosemary Smith, Stuart Turner, Bjorn Waldegard, Barrie ‘Whizzo’ Williams, Charlie Williams, Mike Wood… these were just some of the famous names to be seen at the show this year.
The race organizers came along in force—The Masters Racing Series, Motor Racing Legends, the HGPCA, HSCC, U2TC and many more, displaying some rare and valuable machinery on their stands. Exhibits included the 1955 Ferrari 500 Mondial on the Motor Racing Legends stand, loaned for the occasion by Gregor Fisken, and on the Masters Series stand, a fabulous pair of Ferraris: a 1970 Formula 1 Ferrari 312B and a 1972 World Sportscar Ferrari 312PB, both with 3-liter, 12-cylinder engines—and both ex-Jacky Ickx.
One of the exhibits attracting enormous attention was a pre-war Alfa Romeo on Jim Stokes stand with the rear end looking very tank-like as it was track driven! No one present claimed to have ever seen one before!
By Ed McDonough
