Monday 20th June 2011

Cholmondeley Pageant of Power Preview

It's not at all grim 'oop North' when CPOP kicks off*

---

Bentley Speed 8 racer is promised

The Goodwood Festival of Speed may be less than a fortnight away, but we thought we'd slip in a timely mention of its 'Northern rival' CPOP, especially as the organisers invited us to a fun-filled press day last week.

The Cholmondeley Pageant of Power started-out as a stage of the Tour Britannia, but is now becoming an increasingly significant event in its own right. Visitor numbers are expected to top 75,000 this year, when CPOP will be held over three days for the first time in its history.

15th-17th July are the days in question, and having attended the aforementioned press day we can confirm that there will be some prime PH fodder for all tastes. What's more, this is a timed, competitive event, so the machinery there will be run in anger with FoS-style 'demonstration' runs kept to a minimum.

As is Jaguar's new XK R-S

So what of the machinery? Well from the pre-war era there will be some splendidly over-engined monsters like the 47 litre 'Brutus', the 42 litre 'Mavis' and the 24 litre Napier Bentley.

If you prefer your racing cars a little more up to date there will be the famously/controversially rebuilt Lindner-Nocker low-drag E-type, which is reportedly worth anything up to £4,000,000 and whose stunning restoration can be seen here.

Also being given 'what for' over the 1.2 mile course will be the Le Mans-winning 1959 Aston Martin, an ex-Sir Stirling Moss Grand Prix Lotus, a Bentley Speed Eight, the Bentley 'Ice Speed Record' Continental, a Gallardo Performante, Noble M600, Jaguar XKR-S, Ariel V8 Atom, and maybe a McLaren MP4 along with a load of other performance and racing cars of all vintages. Each will be trying to beat Nikki Faulkner's record which he set in a Gallardo last year, but there might be two new cars there which could pose an even bigger threat.

One is the 200mph, 100mpg, 2000 miles-on-a-tankful, 6.6 V8 turbodiesel Trident Iceni (manufacturer claims, not ours!), and the other is the much-anticipated 520bhp/ton BAC Mono. With some very experienced drivers seemingly determined to get their name at the top of the time sheet, expect some fierce competition in each category.

Lots of Group B - and other - rally action

There will be just as much PH interest away from the main track - and we're not just referring to the wing-walkers, the aerobatic display, the 'copter rides, the motorbikes, the tank display, or even the seven classes of powerboat competing on the lake. Because this year there is a ¾ mile tarmac rally stage adjacent to the main track featuring that old PistonHeads favourite - Group B rally cars - as well as some rather tasty non-Group B stuff. We only got to witness a Quattro, an ex-Bjorn Waldegaard MkII Escort, an RS200, and an ex-Miki Biasion Delta Integrale on the preview day being launched off the line, but it was worth turning up just for that. There will be around 20 other iconic rally cars being driven hard at the event proper.

Despite being limited to just a 'brisk' pace we snapped-up the chance to drive around the CPOP road course in a borrowed Bentley Continental Supersports, and can confirm that it's a challenge. Much of it is flanked by some particularly stout-looking trees for starters, and apart from the chicane on the Polo straight none of the heavy braking is done in a straight line.

The fun starts here - literally.

One or two braking areas also show evidence of some cars 'tobogganing' - where surface undulation causes the braking wheels to skip along the surface and leave those tell-tale intermittent black marks. Aside from the tricky braking the course is a decent blend of fast straights, tight bends, and sections of Armco which bear testament to the fact that the drivers of the rare and valuable cars at the event aren't afraid to find out where eleven-tenths is...

Oh and if you've watched the Faulkner video, the answer is 'no, we didn't get the two-and-a-quarter-ton, £170,000 Bentley airborne over the bridge before the finish line.'

*The North is not necessarily grim at other times.

[shaun1275]

That's a group A Delta

[Fartgalen]

I heard of that for the first time last year, but didn't get time to go.
Don't think I'm going to have time this year either Which is a shame.
Next year maybe.

[QED87]

Looking forward to a dry and sunny event this year

We'll be there driving in the red Fulvia and yellow Stratos, we can't guarantee air over the bridge nor a top time but I guarantee we'll be trying!

[Stevie Mojo]

Sounds brill.

[dxbtiger]

Isn't this the event that the photo of the Gallardo with all four wheels off the ground came from last year?

[HUW JONES]

CPOP reminded me of Goodwood FOS in the good old early days.

[grahamw48]

So, after reading all through that and going to a couple of links...I gather it's in Cheshire.

Sounds fantastic, but please cut the crap about the 'grim' North.

- Second thoughts...as you were...don't want the secret getting out about the brilliant and deserted driving roads up here, and much better quality of life in every respect.

Of course I live on the correct (dry) side of the hills.

[QED87]

grahamw48 said:

Of course I live on the correct (dry) side of the hills.

Where abouts in Lancs are you? Must be the Ribble valley from the description

[grahamw48]

[MPWR321BHP]

YUP Its in sunny Cheshire, and it's a really good event, get a bigger and bigger following every year. I’ve been for the last 2 years and its great, you can get close to the cars, there’s lots of stalls and other things to look at, and quite good club stands too.

I’m sure last year people were paying to go out in hyper cars for charity, even had a Veyron there.

Well Worth a punt ;0)

http://www.mym3.co.uk/cpop.htm For some pics of Last Years cars, on and off track..... Enjoy.

You Tube fooage of a lap of the cucuit from my friends Audi 80 Quattro Turbo 91's Touring Car ;0)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QwXn0uzXQq0

Edited by MPWR321BHP on Monday 20th June 16:15

[SportingBearsMax]

This event is growing year on year but has always wanted to have the best cars on track from across the eras, the Charity Rides mentioned are offered by the volunteers at Sporting Bears who bring their pride and joy full of petrol to take the public out on the roads all for Charity, every penny donated this year (plesae note this is EVERY PENNY....not "the profits" as we have no expenses at all!) will go to help disabled children who visit the Wingate Centre for holiday and gymnasium activities.

Last year we had star cars from a 911 Rally car, Jaguar XJ220, Lola T70, Ultima GTR and the rarist of rare RHD Ferrari 275GTB Alloy, one of only 6 RHD built! hese were complimented by 911GT3s, Ferrari Testarosa, 355, 360, Masas, Astons, Marcos, AMG, Atom,Corvettes plus more. Each day this year we will have these cars again and also a couple of Lambos will join with a Noble M12 and a 1932 Bentley LeMans 8litre with the big squeeky horn.

Check us out past the Army display on Lodge corner and if you want a taste of what Dream Rides is all about come along to Liverpool One on 2nd July between 10 and 4 and see some of the cars there, inluding the Porsche 911 Rally Car and Audi R8 Spyder that you can donate to go out in plus cars displayed by Porsche, Abarth, Aston Martin and Audi plus more.

[Bonefish Blues]

HUW JONES said:

CPOP reminded me of Goodwood FOS in the good old early days.

...and on that basis I'm going to go along this year,I think. FOS just too big these days, for me at least.

[No Guts No Glory]

Our 445 bhp twin v6 205 Dimma will be there! It will be its first show since its completion, I'm so looking forward to it!!

[Zletsgo]

Great day or even days out - something for everyone including the bikers!

Some top cars there to gawp at but there's nothing better than seeing them go and smelling the action up close



PS watch out for James Martin on his moped in the pits, nearly wiped me out last year!

[Mark Smith]

I'll be there on the friday and sunday doing my bit with the rest of the orange overall brigade. This event is turning into a huge extravaganza of all types of motorsport. Last year was awesome. I went to the first event and thought to myself that it had the potential to become something huge and I was right. The Marquis of Cholmondeley is a massive Motorsport enthusiast and has done so much to turn his estate into an MSA approved event. It can only become bigger and better every year. It has definitely become the Goodwood of the North.

[lord summerisle]

And to keep the entertainment going there is also the 'proms' event on the Saturday evening, with the Manchester Camerata Orchestra, military bands, and the Royal Artillery providing accompaniment for the 1812 overture.

[dave stew]

MPWR321BHP said:

YUP Its in sunny Cheshire, and it's a really good event, get a bigger and bigger following every year. I’ve been for the last 2 years and its great, you can get close to the cars, there’s lots of stalls and other things to look at, and quite good club stands too.

I’m sure last year people were paying to go out in hyper cars for charity, even had a Veyron there.

Well Worth a punt ;0)

http://www.mym3.co.uk/cpop.htm For some pics of Last Years cars, on and off track..... Enjoy.

You Tube fooage of a lap of the cucuit from my friends Audi 80 Quattro Turbo 91's Touring Car ;0)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QwXn0uzXQq0

Edited by MPWR321BHP on Monday 20th June 16:15

Great pictures - some real eighties classics in there. I was a big Ford RD Owner's club member back then - Mk2RS2000 and all that.

Really into the quattros and that Rothmans Manta 400. Would love to go!

[SportingBearsMax]

Sporting Bears again are offering the chance to go out in ......

Porsche 911 Rally Car - this is a current car rallied by the owner of Chester Porsche!
Jaguar XJ220 - BRITISH SUPERCAR, really the car that started todays Hypercars.
Ferrari 275GTB Alloy - 1 of only 6 RHD Alloy Bodied made and purchased at auction for £1m!
Jaguar SS100 (Rep) - the car that started the change in name to Jaguar
Porsche GT3
Marcos Mantara Spyder - British V8 with great lines
Aston Martin 1958 2/4 MkIII
Aston Martin V8 Vantage
Aston Martin DB7 V12
Ferrari Testarosa
Ferrari Dino
Jaguar XK convertable
Jaguar XFR - 4 people at Ferrari speed
Lola T70 Spyder
Ultima GTR
Westfield
Porsche 997 Twin Turbo
Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder
Lamborghini Murciélago
Nissan GT35
KTM X-Bow

come along to Lodge Corner after the tank battles and donate where ALL (not the profits but 100% of donations) the money donated will go to hep children at the Wingate Centre. A donation will get you out for 20minutes on the open roads with the owner of the car and he pays his own petrol.

see you there, Max

[snotrag]

Can anyone tell me as I stuggled to work out from the site -

I'm going to struggle to go on the Sunday.

If I go on the Saturday, am I missing the 'main event'?

Or do the cars run the same both days? And same displays etc going on?

[Adz The Rat]

Im going to this on the Sunday, first time Ive been so really looking forward to it.