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Lotuses of old... |
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Fifty years after the late, great, Colin Chapman, scored the first ever win
for a racing Lotus at Castle Combe, the Wiltshire circuit celebrates with the
Caterham Tour, featuring vehicles directly derived from that car. Chapman was
the brilliant founder, engineer and driving force behind Lotus, the marque which
went on to dominate Grand Prix racing at various stages over more than three
decades.
The original Lotus Mark 3, which was the first Lotus to be designed for
circuit racing, evolved over the years through the Lotus 6 to the Lotus 7, which
in due course became the Caterham 7. Caterhams will abound at Castle Combe's Lux
Traffic Controls Raceday on Bank Holiday Monday (August 27th).
Like many of Chapman's designs, the Mark 3 was a trend setting machine.
Despite being based on an Austin Seven, including using its diminutive 750 cc
engine, the car lapped Castle Combe at an average speed of over 60 mph, an
astonishing feat at the time. On Bank Holiday Monday, the fastest Caterham
Superlights will lap at an average of over 90 mph, powered as they are by Rover
VHPD 1.8 litre engines.
The four Caterham formulae provide a ladder of success for aspiring drivers,
with novices starting in the Caterham Graduates class, moving on to the Super
Graduates, followed by the highly competitive and closely fought Roadsports and
culminating in the awesomely fast, Superlights.
Local involvement is centred on the Graduates which has Bristolians, Nick
Parsons and Pete Cannard making their debuts in the 1.6 litre Vauxhall powered
machines.
The programme is supported as usual by Castle Combe's own three
championships. The 'Moonraker Forklifts with Stealth Cars' Special GT
championship was stunned at the last meeting with the performance of Michael
Vergers in the diminutive 1.5 litre Radical Supersport. Despite competing in the
smallest class (C), the Dutchman managed to not only beat all the Class A and B
cars to win the race outright, but also broke the lap record, previously held by
the mighty Chevrolet powered B6 Sport of reigning champion, Bob Light.
Local runners this time should include Bath's John Barnard and Dodington's
Derek Gore in LM3000s and Tetbury's David Krayem in his powerful Royale Chevy
Sports GT.
The circuit's Saloon Car Championship with Grant Motorsport features two
races on this occasion, with Bridgwater's Tony Dolley from class B on equal
points with Backwell's Charles Atherton in his C class 1.4 litre Corsa.
Monmouth's Lloyd Allard is just one point adrift having grabbed fastest B class
lap from Dolley at the last round.
Bristol's Mark Wyatt is the top local runner in Class A, but had a lacklustre
race in the rain last time, so will be hoping for dry weather on Monday to
prevent Gary Prebble from running away with it in his superbly driven Rover
Turbo.
Salisbury driver, Robin Parsons, made the most of the wet conditions last
time to keep himself in contention for the National Mobile Windscreens Formula
Ford 1600 title after championship leader, John Hutchinson, lost his initial
lead and eventually finished 3rd. Gloucestershire driver Paul Barnes was as fast
as ever and finished second in his Swift SC92.
Class B for Pre '90 cars should be in the control of Matt Rivett from Calne
in his Van Diemen, with Castle Combe's Andrew Jones likely to be fast but
needing a little more consistency.
Monday's action starts at 8.30 am with qualifying, racing getting under way
from 1.15pm.
Admission prices are £12 for adults and £2-50 for children, OAPs and
Paddock transfer.
