Lovely Garage @ Silverstone Classic
Discussion
I was there for qualifying on Friday. Absolutely fantastic! I didn't know which way to turn next. You have access to everywhere, parked up infield with the Amoc. A good turn out of Astons for the Friday. I will definitely go for all three days next year. The car club parking is a motors how in itself!
George H said:
Looks a good event. Is it just me who cringes at the thought of such cars racing, therefore having such a high potential for crashing?
I cringe more at people that wrap them in cotton wool and never race them like intended 
It was brilliant watching them all go round yesterday
George H said:
I cherish the idea that they will always be around for everyone to enjoy instead of potentially making it an even rarer car.
I believe 4 of the cars in the picture belong to one person (Wolfgang), it seems he has enough money to fix them if the have a dink? The 5th car he was racing that weekend (single seater?) isn't in the pic.IIRC, 212 had a big crash at the Goodwood Revival and had to be rebuilt?
Good job he doesn't feel like you about them really so the rest of us can enjoy them for the purpose they were intended
George H said:
Looks a good event. Is it just me who cringes at the thought of such cars racing, therefore having such a high potential for crashing?
Yes, it is a risk. But equally, they are race cars. You could put them in a museum and prevent them from turning a wheel in anger again. People could walk past and look at them, but wouldn't be able to have the experience of seeing them in their natural element. Will they last forever in a museum, or will they still age?I'm a firm believer that cars are there to be driven and I'm pleased that the owners of these cars share my opinion.
As one of the 'nutters' who do race their aston, although it's not in the same value numbers as Wolfgang's are, in the 30 years that we've been racing them, we've (thankfully) only had 2 incidents more than a bit of 'minor' panel beating.
The fun, adrenoline pumping excitement of the racing and pleasure of speaking to other drivers, spectators and marshals who come into the garage outweight the concern that we will bend it.
Having said that, we are currently trying to put the car back together for Donington, following the start line incident at Silverstone at the MG Live, when a car on the grid stalled 2 rows ahead of David. Front axle is in 3 pieces! Not looking good at the moment to get there....
Anne
The fun, adrenoline pumping excitement of the racing and pleasure of speaking to other drivers, spectators and marshals who come into the garage outweight the concern that we will bend it.
Having said that, we are currently trying to put the car back together for Donington, following the start line incident at Silverstone at the MG Live, when a car on the grid stalled 2 rows ahead of David. Front axle is in 3 pieces! Not looking good at the moment to get there....
Anne
Don't get me wrong, I absolutely love motorsport and attend many different events worldwide each year, I just always get worried about what could happen when racing such rare, irreplaceable cars. I know many have been crashed before and will be repaired, I just still find it cringeworthy!
Its a bit chicken and egg really.
A lot of these cars have such high value because of their history and heritage which may include racing history. To own a historic racing car and not race it because it is now too valuable seems perverse to me.
I take my hat off to all who use them for their intended purpose, and I most certainly include Anne and David in that group and echo Lewis' best wishes for getting the car ready for the next event.
A lot of these cars have such high value because of their history and heritage which may include racing history. To own a historic racing car and not race it because it is now too valuable seems perverse to me.
I take my hat off to all who use them for their intended purpose, and I most certainly include Anne and David in that group and echo Lewis' best wishes for getting the car ready for the next event.
yeti said:
Wow... just wow!
Amazing shot Stuart, thanks for posting!
I still have never been the Silverstone Classic, seem to be a Goodwood man
I used to work for MotorSport and later C&SC and spent a lot of time hanging around at these events. Also have a friend who races his MGA Twin cam and was part of his volunteer pit crew so I've seen them all. As much as the Revival is killer for its film set feel and the sheer agglomeration of rare & interesting cars, there's something very appealing about some of the other meets. You can really get a lot closer to the cars and the action, althought I suppose Silverstone Classic is getting pretty big too, may have changed in the couple of years since I attended.Amazing shot Stuart, thanks for posting!
I still have never been the Silverstone Classic, seem to be a Goodwood man
Actually, come to think of it, one of the best meetings on the calendar in my humble opinion was always the Bentley Driver's Club @ Silverstone. No drama, less behemoth transporters in the paddock, just a proper dirty old race car meet. You'd even see some of the pre-war cars being driven to the circuit, and IIRC they also run(or ran) the BRDC historic sportscars at that meeting - so D & C types, the early Aston DB race cars, Lotus XI's, Lister Jags, Birdcase Maserati, Coopers...
I highly recommend attending some of the less commercial meetings as well as the big ones!
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