Pic Of The Week: Donington's Glory Days
A classic shot of a vintage Silver Arrow
This week's news that the revitalised Donington is to host an annual historic festival to rival those held at Goodwood, Silverstone and Oulton Park has had us inevitably dreaming about Donny's pre-war days.
Donington Park was only the second purpose-built circuit in the UK, and the first 'parkland' track (Brooklands was more of a 'sspeedway' affair). After a couple of seasons of bike racing, Donington held its first four-wheeled motor race in 1933.
It held its first GP in 1935, which was won by a chap who we have to mention solely because of his fantastic nickname - Richard 'Mad Jack' Shuttleworth in an Alfa Romeo.
Later in the 1930s the crowds at Donington (60,000 spectators came to cheer on Dick Seaman in the 1937 event) also bore witness to some epic battles between the mighty German 'Silver Arrows' of Mercedes-Benz and Auto Union, before the track was requisitioned as a military transport base in 1939, destined not to re-open for another forty years.
We reckon this shot of a Mercedes-Benz W125 in full flight is a fitting reminder of Donington's history. We're not sure wheter it's Seaman, Carraciola or Manfred von Brauchitsch at the wheel, but we do know that launching 595bhp's-worth of Mercedes into the air is a feat of damned amazing driving. Oddly, the chap waving the flag doesn't seem so impressed...
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kypLpmrb9CU&NR=...
It's a great circuit to spectate as well as drive. A bit too wet at this year's VSCC See Red though - I took cover in the car between races!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kypLpmrb9CU&NR=...
Only in rallying can you get near enough to feel the speed these days.
And I agree that racing drivers then were balls out mantalists - knowing that if you crashed you WILL die, whereas now if you crash you will more than likely walk away from it. Not saying that's a bad thing though.
~ Craig
The VSCC meeting was dry on the Saturday this year but saw photos from the Sunday and it looked a right wash-out! At See Red a couple of years back Tony Dron demonstrated a W154. Admittedly, maybe a fraction less fearsome than the W125 featured above, but to hear the noise rolling across the circuit and see Dron all arms and elbows out of Goddards was very special indeed.
I once read some speculation about what would've happened if M-B and AU had called in at Brooklands on their way back to Germany and had a crack at the Outer Circuit lap record. Makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end just imagining it...
A fair few from Donington.
More will come in time, still going through 1929.
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