Croft Nostalgia Weekend

[MikeT66]

Heading up to Darlington this coming weekend for the Nostalgia Weekend at the Croft circuit. Not been to the circuit before - just wondered if anyone had any useful info - is there any decent food, good view-points, etc?

[Drumroll]

My own feeling is for circuit food, Croft isn't too bad. As for viewing most of the areas where you can watch are OK. The area just round from the Grandstand is quite popular and you are near to the displays or go to the other end of the paddock (behind race control etc) and watch from the banking there.

[Chocmonster]

This will be the 5th time I've have a trade stand at Croft for the Nostalgia meeting, always great fun.

The track is easy to walk around, you have access to all the paddocks and the place will be packed with classic cars and WW2 re-enactors/vehicles. Plus on Sunday afternoon (fingers crossed) we'll be getting a display from the Vulcan.

A great place to get very close to the action is the stretch between the Chicaine and Tower.



Can't comment on the food as I bring my own but they do usually have a decent selection and have opened a cafe in the pits complex.

http://www.croftnostalgia.co.uk/

[MikeT66]

Thanks for the info, chaps. What is the trade-stand, Chocmonster? I'll say 'Hi' if I see you there.

[coppice]

I have been a regular at Croft since 70s and its current iteration is the best so far.

Where to watch ? You may need to squeeze round some transporters but especially for qualifying the entry into first bend (Clervaux ) is excellent.There is also a grandstand (made of Meccano and Lego ) at Clervaux which is normally free. Moving round 100m to Hawthorn you get a very good idea of how hard cars are being driven and how they handle; lots of high grass banking here to watch from . Chicane is a misnomer really as it is a fast right left flick . Cars often slide off , especially in the wet about 50m beyond chicane when they drift on to grass and get into tankslappers .

Beyond chicane you can cross track (between races !) and watch from middle- this gives a fair view of start and exit from hairpin and also down towards Tower, where most overtaking happens. (You used to be able to watch from inside of Tower- fabulous if scary ).

Back to behind the pits walk up to entry to hairpin and then up the grass bank to entry to Complex. Here you see Jim Clark Esses , Barcroft and Sunny(overtaking hot spot ) on far side of track and then lots of overtaking into Complex. This corner is best place on track to watch a race, Hawthorns best place to watch qualifying .

Food is not outstanding but Nostalgia meeting may have better choice than usual fare.

Very friendly meeting and lots to see. My advice is take waterproofs(good to sit on even if it stays dry) and keep on the move - it is rarely so busy you find a spot and keep it.

[AndyAlfa18]

Coppice - long shot. But I'm racing up at Croft next month in the Alfa Romeo championship, and we want to pop into the town to have a team meal on the Saturday night. Any recommendations you can make - Italian, chinese, Indian etc.

thanks
Andy

[coppice]

Darlington has the standard selection of usual suspects but nowhere to get especially excited about; ditto Northalleron. For top quality pub food try the pub at Kirkby Fleetham (about 20 m from Croft ) which is excellent. Or if you are feeling flush the Black Bull at Moulton (near Croft and is excellent).

[AndyAlfa18]

Many thanks!

[Chocmonster]

MikeT66 said:

Thanks for the info, chaps. What is the trade-stand, Chocmonster? I'll say 'Hi' if I see you there.

We sell vintage magazines, books, etc. will have a white gala tent with a red Volvo estate hiding somewhere near. Check my profile for the our company website. Usual place for the trade stands are on the grass area between the pits & the Complex banking.

Have been going to Croft since the 1970's too, seen it through lots of changes and at one point when it was Rallycross only I worked as part of the track staff, just a pity I don't get to go more often due to work commitments.

[MikeT66]

Chocmonster said:

MikeT66 said:

Thanks for the info, chaps. What is the trade-stand, Chocmonster? I'll say 'Hi' if I see you there.

We sell vintage magazines, books, etc. will have a white gala tent with a red Volvo estate hiding somewhere near. Check my profile for the our company website. Usual place for the trade stands are on the grass area between the pits & the Complex banking.

Have been going to Croft since the 1970's too, seen it through lots of changes and at one point when it was Rallycross only I worked as part of the track staff, just a pity I don't get to go more often due to work commitments.

Sounds good - I'll definitely keep a look out for your stand. Great info on here chaps - thank you all.

[Sevo]

A few photo's from the Saturday, mainly my dad's as I was "working". If anyone was racing and wants photographs I have about 600 shots between us from the day, reasonable chance you were in there!

20150808-_H5A9033 by James Beck, on Flickr

20150808-_H5A8969 by James Beck, on Flickr

20150808-_H5A8956 by James Beck, on Flickr

20150808-_H5A8930 by James Beck, on Flickr

20150808-_H5A8806 by James Beck, on Flickr

20150808-_MG_8628 by James Beck, on Flickr

20150808-_MG_8581 by James Beck, on Flickr

20150808-_MG_8648 by James Beck, on Flickr

20150808-_MG_8550 by James Beck, on Flickr

20150808-_MG_8576 by James Beck, on Flickr

20150808-_MG_8616 by James Beck, on Flickr

20150808-_MG_8644 by James Beck, on Flickr

20150808-_MG_8645 by James Beck, on Flickr

[kevski321]

Excellent weekend and so glad the weather on Sunday was good enough for the Vulcan.

The racing was good and worth the 5 hour drive each way.

Just sent you an email re my son and I in the FF1600s (nos 20 & 70)

[Sevo]

kevski321 said:

Just sent you an email re my son and I in the FF1600s (nos 20 & 70)

No email came through.

Displaying poor motorsport knowledge I know (in my defense I'm pretty new to this side of cars!) but is that one of you in images 8628 and 8648? To the untrained eye there are so many body options that google images is not helping me clarify it.

[Chocmonster]

We had a wonderful weekend at Croft, amazing weather.

Was great to meet you and your wife MikeT66, just spotted this photo of her on the Nostalgia Facebook page!



These are probably the best photos I grabbed of the Vulcan:





Sadly I didn't get to see alot of the racing but that's how it is when you're supposed to be working!

[kevski321]

Sevo said:

No email came through.

Displaying poor motorsport knowledge I know (in my defense I'm pretty new to this side of cars!) but is that one of you in images 8628 and 8648? To the untrained eye there are so many body options that google images is not helping me clarify it.

Hi Sevo/James, as email seems broken, probably the best option if you have any more pic is to upload them to flickr and I can get them from there.

My car
20150808-_MG_8648 by James Beck, on Flickr

My son's car
Formula Ford Single Seat Race Car 70 by Paul Bennett, on Flickr

If you are at any more HSCC meetings come and say hi.

Cheers

Kev

[Sevo]

kevski321 said:

Hi Sevo/James, as email seems broken, probably the best option if you have any more pic is to upload them to flickr and I can get them from there.

....

If you are at any more HSCC meetings come and say hi.

Cheers

Kev

Yeah, I tried to email you too. Here are what I've got -

20150808-_MG_8648 by James Beck, on Flickr

20150808-_MG_8629 by James Beck, on Flickr

20150808-_MG_8628 by James Beck, on Flickr

20150808-_MG_8626 by James Beck, on Flickr

20150808-_MG_8624 by James Beck, on Flickr

20150808-_MG_8549 by James Beck, on Flickr

Sorry there aren't any better ones, clearly walked right past you at one point! Will definitely say hi if I see the cars at another meeting.

[kevski321]

Excellent and thanks for the Photos.


Kev

[footsoldier]

Sevo said:

A few photo's from the Saturday, mainly my dad's as I was "working". If anyone was racing and wants photographs I have about 600 shots between us from the day, reasonable chance you were in there!


20150808-_MG_8628 by James Beck, on Flickr


20150808-_MG_8645 by James Beck, on Flickr

Didn't see this thread before...that's me in #79 HFF. First single seater race in 15 years. Oulton Park next week...

[MikeT66]

Chocmonster said:

We had a wonderful weekend at Croft, amazing weather.

Was great to meet you and your wife MikeT66, just spotted this photo of her on the Nostalgia Facebook page!



These are probably the best photos I grabbed of the Vulcan:





Sadly I didn't get to see alot of the racing but that's how it is when you're supposed to be working!

Hi Chocmonster,

It was lovely (but brief) to meet you, too. Hope you had a successful weekend. We had a great time, met plenty of lovely and friendly people and saw some fantastic racing - particularly the historic saloon cars. I should really get around to posting some photos up.

We saw the photo on the Facebook website - Mrs.T66 was a bit hot in the wool suit as the weather was hotter than we expected, but she received lots of compliments on the day, so I think it was worth it. It's a shame we couldn't stay over on the Sunday as we missed the Vulcan, and I'm not sure I'll see it fly again before it's grounded permanently.

If you venture south to Oulton Park at any point we'll see you there, no doubt!!