Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

[Rick]

Not long to go until this year's Race Retro. A few updates on what should be attending:

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More motorsport rarities from the world of racing and rallying along with a list of legendary names have been to the line-up for this year’s Race Retro, at Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire, from 21-23 February.

As part of the show’s tribute to McLaren, three cars from the RofGo Collection will join the M23 already on display; the 1996 McLaren F1 GTR ‘Short Tail’ chassis no. 15R, which was built for GTC Motorsport to contest the 1996 BPR Global GT Series and the Le Mans 24 Hour race, the 1972 M16B-2 Can-Am, one of the all time great Indy cars, and the 1970 M8D chassis no. M8D/4, understood to be an M8E prototype rebuilt to M8D specifications and raced to victory by series winner Denny Hulme.

Group B and C rally cars including Rauno Aaltonen’s Mini Cooper, the Rothmans Audi Quattro, the Brookes Sapphire and ex-Auriol Ford Sierra Cosworths, the ex-McRae Lotus Cortina and the ex-Alister McRae Hyundai F2 Coupe will roar into action on the purpose built Live Rally Stage on Saturday and Sunday.

Also expect to see a raft of Metro 6R4s as part of the 30th anniversary celebrations as well as famous faces at the wheel including long time Race Retro supporter Russell Brookes, in the Sunbeam Talbot and Opel Manta, and John Price in the Renault 5 Maxi Turbo. The cars will be in the Parc Ferme area in Hall 4 before heading to the rally apron and onto the start line.

This will also be the starting point for two live events - The Retro Challenge that will head from the exhibition to Southampton and the Winter Challenge with around 20 drivers heading off on a five-day rally to Monte Carlo. Scrutineering for both events will take place in the Parc Ferme area and as soon as the flag is waved, both events head into the first tests, which will take place on the Live Rally Stage for Race Retro visitors to enjoy.

Meanwhile back in the halls on the live Interview Stage, hosted by motorsport presenter Gemma Scott, there is a line-up of racing and rally legends throughout the three days. Saturday sees the appearance of racing icon Sir Stirling Moss who will not only be answering Gemma’s questions but also visitor questions in an open mic session.

Sir Stirling will be joined by motoring TV presenter and campaigner Quentin Willson, who will be talking about the revival of Lister Cars as well as his own classic collection, and triple British Rally Champion and Hollywood stunt driver Mark Higgins.

There will also be plenty of Race Retro favourites including ex-Top Gear presenters Tony Mason and Steve Berry, multi-championship winner Barry Lee, Touring Car’s Win Percy, Jaguar test driver Norman Dewis, and infamous racing legend Barrie ‘Whizzo’ Williams.

Rally driver Peter Clarke and co-driver Phil Boland will make their Race Retro debuts. Peter won 1978 British Group 1 rally championship in a RS2000 that will be on display at the show as well as driving the Escort Mk1 with Tony Mason that crashed out of the 1971 RAC Rally resulting in Mason sitting on the roof of the Escort in the lake.

As well as co-driving with Peter, Phil Boland was also the co driver for the late Henri Toivonen in 1979 when Henri drove for the PCA/Total Oil motorsport Team.

Driver Terry Hunter, one of the original drivers of Triumph Spitfire ADU7B in the 1960s will also appear alongside Tony Southgate, a famous British engineer, race car designer, and President of the International Guild of Specialist Engineers.

With hundreds of traders offering everything you need for the coming season – be it driver or armchair enthusiast – from racing suits to motorsport memorabilia, Race Retro is the perfect start to the motorsport season.

Adult tickets for Race Retro, sponsored by Peter James Insurance and Stewart Miller Insurance, start at £20 in advance with children’s tickets at £5 for Friday and Saturday and free on Sunday. Car parking is free. The show is open from 9.30am each day and closes at 5.30pm on Friday and Saturday and 4.30pm on Sunday. To book tickets and for the latest updates, visit www.raceretro.com.
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[Rick]

I had hoped to get down there, but alas it didn't happen. Here's the post-event report as received via email yesterday.

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SUNSHINES ON RACE RETRO 2014 AS
RALLY DRIVERS AND RACERS ROAR INTO ACTION

The sun shone over Race Retro this weekend (21-23 Feb) as 29,101* historic motorsport fans made the trip to Stoneleigh Park to see rally drivers and racers spanning over 80 years on display and in action on the live stage.

Visitors were greeted by James Hunt’s McLaren M23 Formula One car on arrival before heading towards the popular ‘Speed Street’, passing a superb line-up of McLarens on the way including the centerpiece of the 50th anniversary celebrations – Emerson Fittipaldi’s 1974 double championship winning M23.

In the Rally Hall, there was a stunning collection of Metro 6R4s marking 30 years of rally action but it was out on the purpose built rally stage where these iconic cars came to life. They performed alongside Group B and C rally cars including Rauno Aaltonen’s Mini Cooper, the Rothmans Audi Quattro, the Brookes Sapphire and ex-Auriol Ford Sierra Cosworths, and the ex-McRae Lotus Cortina.

Back in the halls, and the crowds were delighted to find British motor racing legend Sir Stirling Moss on the interview stage with host Gemma Scott and the queues for the autograph signings on sponsor Peter James Insurance stand crossed into two halls.

Other motorsport greats including Touring Cars’ Win Percy, World-renowned navigator Willy Cave, Jaguar test driver Norman Dewis, multi-championship titleholder Barry Lee, World Sidecar champ Stan Dibben and the ever-popular Barrie Whizzo Williams also made appearances. Visitors were also treated to interviews with triple British Rally Champion turned Hollywood stunt driver Mark Higgins, and TV motoring presenters Quentin Willson, Wheeler Dealer Mike Brewer and Classic Car SOS’ Fuzz Townshend.

On Sunday afternoon it was all go as the competitors on the Retro Challenge, heading to the South of the UK, and the Winter Challenge five-day rally to Monte Carlo drove off the start line into their first test on the rally stage before hitting the open road.

Silverstone Auctions was also busy as its Retro and Classic Sale came to a close with 65% of the lots sold for £1.6million, including Senna’s Honda NSX, which sold for £85,000.

Jigsaw Racing pulled out all the stops to get the Triumph Spitfire replica built in just three days. By 4.30pm on Sunday, the engine fired up and the completed car was driven out of the halls.

Around 300 traders offered everything needed for the coming season, from racing suits to motorsport memorabilia, will initial feedback of a successful weekend.

Race Retro, sponsored by Peter James Insurance and Stewart Miller Insurance, returns to Stoneleigh Park from 20th to 22nd February 2015.
_________________
Rick - Admin
Home:https://www.oldclassiccar.co.uk
Videos:https://www.youtube.com/user/oldclassiccarRJ/videos
OCC & classic car merchandise (Austin, Ford ++):
https://www.redbubble.com/people/OldClassicCar/shop