There was something for everyone at the Silverstone Classic festival over the July 28–30 weekend. Two Masters Grand Prix races and a one-hour World Sportscar Masters round were highlights for many (see below), but racing was fast and furious among 800 competitors across 22 races on the Silverstone Historic circuit, which follows the old route at Abbey corner and has a less tight chicane at Club. This provides a more flowing lap than the Formula One boys currently enjoy and allows the historic machines their head without undue strain on the brakes.
Aston Martin was the featured marque this year, with a stunning 37-car entry for the Roy Salvadori Trophy race, which included no fewer than three DBR1s. Nick Leventis and his DBR1 and Darren McWhirter’s unique Lagonda V-12 locked in battle before the latter was forced to retire. Sir Stirling Moss evoked memories of his first World Sportscar championship win at the 1954 Sebring 12 Hours when he shared Gavin Pickering’s OSCA MT4 in the two-driver RAC Woodcote Trophy race. The pair ran strongly, in the second half of the field, against much more powerful machinery that included the winning Pearson/Webb Jaguar D-Type and the 5th-placed 1955 Kellison J4R Corvette, making an impressive debut in the hands of Mike Windsor-Price. Simon Hadfield dominated both Derek Bell Trophy races with his immaculate Lola T300 F5000.
David Mercer in a Spice SE90C clinched both Group C/GTP rounds after a challenging Justin Law in a Jaguar XJR12 encountered problems. Henry Pearman made a welcome appearance in his Jaguar XJR9 and the Mazda 757 of Jim Loftis from the U.S. entertained the crowd with its flame-spitting exhausts. Michael Schyver’s Lotus 18 fended off a hard-charging Barrie Williams with the smaller-engined Cooper-Maserati T51 until unavoidable involvement in another driver’s incident saw Williams roll his car, fortunately without harm. Simon Diffey in a Lotus 20 narrowly beat Michael Hibberd Lotus 27 for Formula Junior honors, while American John Delane/Lotus 18 had a strong run to 11th at the flag.
By Keith Booker
