Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

[Rick]

Hi all, news regarding the 2017 Race Retro as it arrives ...

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TICKETS FOR RACE RETRO 2017 NOW ON SALE.

Tickets are now on sale for Race Retro 2017, the International Historic Motorsport Show. The must-attend pre-season motorsport event for racing drivers, preparers, trade and public enthusiasts will be taking place 24-26 February at Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire.

Race Retro is one of the most diverse motorsport events on the calendar, comprising stunning displays, high-octane live action, and – courtesy of HERO events – the opportunity for you to become a rally hero and drive a classic car of your choice on a specially designed route within the grounds of Stoneleigh Park.

New for 2017 is the Motor Sport Hall of Fame; a whole hall dedicated to past and present inductees, also featuring the Motor Sport Live Stage with interviews and a panel of racing heroes and industry experts.

Event Director Dan Nwaokolo, heading up the new organising team from Clarion Events, said: “We’re really excited about Race Retro for 2017. We hope to make the event even bigger and better than before, with something for everyone. We’re also excited to be able to let the public have their say as to who should be the next inductees into the Motor Sport Hall of Fame during 2017, as well as to having some Hall of Fame members and nominees at the show.”

Alongside the Hall of Fame, the Live Rally Stage is set to bring more high-powered action to Stoneleigh. Group B and C cars such as the Peugeot 205 T16 and MG Metro 6R4 will join more traditional rally heroes including the Ford Escort and Mini Cooper on the specially created stage circuit.

If you have an itchy bidding finger you’re in luck too; Silverstone Auctions will be holding two auctions during the Race Retro weekend. The first, on Friday 24 February, is aimed toward competition cars. The second spans the Saturday 25th and Sunday 26th February and will feature classic cars, motorcycles and automobilia.

Adult tickets cost £20 when ordered in advance, with child tickets at £5, weekend passes at £34, and under-5s going free. For more information visit www.raceretro.com
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Rick - Admin
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[Rick]

RACE RETRO LOOKS TO THE FUTURE OF HISTORIC MOTORSPORT
WITH ‘TEENAGE KICKS’ DISPLAY.

Race Retro, the international historic motorsport show, will look to the future of Historic Motorsport with a brand new feature celebrating young hot-shoes who are competing in Historic race series with their eye on becoming professional racing drivers.

‘Teenage Kicks’ will feature the three youngest drivers currently competing within the Historic Sports Car Club’s race series for Historic saloons and Historic Formula Ford 1600, which celebrates the 50th anniversary of Formula Ford in 2017.

16-year-olds James Clarke and Ed Thurston along with Benn Tilley, aged 17, while not yet legally allowed to drive solo on a public road have all been involved in motorsport since they were nine-years-old, cutting their teeth in both modern and historic karting before moving into cars. James has entered into Historic Saloons, while Ed and Benn have turned to Historic Formula Ford 1600, which is perhaps the most competitive club race series in existence.

Grahame White, CEO of the Historic Sports Car Club, said: “This is a great idea because we have had more young drivers with us in recent years, providing some very close and exciting racing and we would like to encourage more to join them.”

Historic Formula Ford often attracts grids of 40 plus cars and, with less than a second separating the top ten drivers, is hugely competitive. Because of this, top drivers such as TV presenter Tiff Needell and ex-Formula Palmer Audi Champion Richard Tarling still use it as a way to keep their racing skills sharp.

Daniel Nwaokolo, Race Retro’s Event Director, said: “At a time in their lives when other boys their age are looking to learn to drive or buy their first moped, these youngsters are up there going tyre to tyre in a seriously competitive arena. They are dedicated to a future in motorsport and historic motorsport in particular. We want to celebrate that commitment and give them a platform where they can encourage support from the industry to help them in their careers.”
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[Rick]

FYI folks ...

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FLYING FINNS ARI VATANEN AND MARKKU ALÉN DRIVE ON THE LIVE RALLY STAGE AS RACE RETRO LINES UP CLASH OF THE TITANS.

Race Retro, the international historic motorsport show, has lined up a ‘clash of the titans’ as Finnish rally legends Ari Vatanen and Markku Alén join the show’s 15th anniversary celebrations by getting back behind the wheel on the bespoke Live Rally Stage.

Acting Show Director Lee Masters said: “Vatanen and Alén are larger than life characters who are guaranteed to delight the crowds. To have them with us at the show is one thing but to have them in action, driving these amazing Group B cars on our Rally Stage is something you won’t see anywhere else. We are thrilled to have them as part of our 15th ‘Super Show.”

Appearing on Saturday 25th and Sunday 26th February at Stoneleigh Park, Vatanen won the British Championship in 1976 and by 1977 was a regular competitor in the World Rally Championship at the wheel of a Ford Escort RS1800. Signed to the Rothmans Ford team in 1979, Vatanen and new co-driver David Richards took their first WRC win at the 1980 Acropolis.

After winning the WRC drivers title in 1981, Vatanen joined Peugeot at the wheel of a 205 T16, and was on course to win the 1985 World Championship until a near-fatal accident in Argentina ended his season and nearly his life.

The Finn recovered to return to the sport winning four Paris-Dakar Rallies in 1987, 1989, 90 and 91, as well as smashing the record for the Pikes Peak Hill climb in a 600bhp Peugeot 405 T16 in 1988.

Vatanen said: “I am very much looking forward to joining Race Retro and seeing all the rally fans over the weekend. To get to drive these fantastic cars again is an honour and I can’t wait!”

Surprisingly Alén, known for his catchphrase “now maximum attack,” never won a WRC title but he did hold the record for the most stage wins at 801 until the record was taken by Sébastien Loeb in the 2011 Rally Catalunya.

However, he did win the FIA Cup for Drivers in 1978, the precursor to the World Championship for Drivers established in 1979, and held the WRC title for eleven days in 1986 until a successful appeal by Peugeot meant his win was annulled.

After starting his career in earnest with seven years at Fiat, Alén moved to Lancia where he became a familiar face alongside the iconic Martini livery of the Delta HF. He then moved to Subaru and Toyota before swapping rallying for Touring Cars for a season.

In 2010, Alén joined Ferrari as a test driver starting with snow tests on the Ferrari 458 Italia. Ironic considering his passion for motorsport came from his father who was the 1963 Finnish champion in ice racing.

Alén, who appears on the afternoon of Friday 24th and will be in action on Saturday 25th February, said: “I am delighted to be invited to this great event and look forward to driving on the Rally Stage with my old friend Ari. It will be a great weekend and I look forward to meeting fellow enthusiasts.”

The Live Rally Stage will be in action on Saturday and Sunday with around 70-80 Group B and C cars taking to the stage under the watchful eye of Rallying with Group B and the Falcon Motor Club. The live action will be held over two sessions, morning and afternoon, with the British Historic Kart Club acting as a warm up for the rally action.

Tickets are now on sale for Race Retro, held from 24th to 26th February 2017 at Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire, with free parking and a free show guide for all visitors.
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[Rick]

Not far off now.

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£10 MILLION LE MANS BENTLEY SPEED 8 TO BE REUNITED
WITH TOM KRISTENSEN AT RACE RETRO.

· Bentley Speed 8, believed to be valued at £10million and raced by Tom Kristensen to secure the win in the 2003 24hrs of Le Mans at Race Retro

· Motor Sport hall of Fame Live display features £25million of motoring heritage

· John Surtees’ TS7 and TS14 amongst the DFV 50th anniversary display

· Jim Clark’s Lotus 33 R11 gets first public outing in over 40 years

The Bentley Speed 8, raced by Tom Kristensen to secure the win in the 2003 24hrs of Le Mans, will be reunited with the legendary racer at Race Retro, the international historic motorsport show held at Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire, from 24-26 February.

With an estimated value of £10million, the Bentley was an evolution of the prototype designed by Peter Elleray. It has a strong resemblance to and shares some of the technology with the Audi R8C, a manufacturer Kristensen had a long and successful career with.

Kristensen will be reunited with the car in the Motor Sport Hall of Fame, the centre piece of Race Retro, with over £25 million of motorsport heritage on display around the live interview stage alone.

Other vehicles of note include the John Surtees’ DFV powered racers, TS7 and TS14. TS7 was Team Surtees’ first Formula One car introduced for the British Grand Prix at Brands Hatch in 1970 driven by John Surtees running in the top six when it retired with engine problems. It won the Gold Cup against an international field at Oulton Park.

The TS14 was the first car to be introduced to the new safety regulations in 1972 and was driven by Mike Hailwood and Carlos Pace setting lap records in the German and Austrian Grand Prix. Hailwood took second place at the Italian Grand Prix. The team finished fifth in the World Championship (one place behind Ferrari).

Adding to the DFV 50th anniversary celebrations is James Hunt’s McLaren M23, the Williams FW08 raced to Championship victory by Keko Rosberg, and the Lotus 49B R10, along with the Cosworth 4-wheel and 6-wheel Tyrell.

Lotus will also have a Jim Clark tribute with the first public viewing of the Lotus 33 R11 in over 40 years, complete with Clark memorabilia from the Jim Clark Trust and Museum in Duns.

Celebrating the Hall of Fame inductees, the 1957 Vanwall which Sir Stirling Moss and Tony Brooks drove to success in the British Grand Prix will be on show. This was the first British car piloted by British drivers to win a World Championship race on its home ground.

There will also feature a 1950s D-Type Jaguar which has raced at the Sebring 12-hr, Aston Martin Racing’s endurance racer the V8 Vantage GTE, and a British Touring Cars Championship ex-works Rover 3500 SD1, driven in period by the likes of Steve Soper and Tom Walkinshaw.

Rally legends Markku Alén and Ari Vatanen are also represented with an ex-works Fiat 131 Abarth, and a Ford Escort 1700T, both driven by the drivers in period, displayed respectfully. They will also be reunited with period cars out on the Live Rally Stage, with both getting behind the wheel of the Subaru Legacy they drove in the early 1990s. Vatanen will also drive the iconic Rothmans Escort as well as the BMW M3.

Acting Show Director Lee Masters said: “We would like to thank all the owners who have supported Race Retro by loaning their cars and are so grateful in their efforts to make our 15th anniversary ‘’Super Show’ a huge success.”

The 2017 outing of Race Retro will have more cars than ever before on static display as well as around 80 cars in action on the Live Rally Stage including the Andrews Heat for Hire Opel Manta 400, Ford Escort RS1800, and Sierra Cosworth, Dai Llewellyn’s Subaru Impreza 555, and the late Colin McRae’s Ford Focus WRC.
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Rick - Admin
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[Rick]

Any OCCers planning on attending RR next weekend?

RJ
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Rick - Admin
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[MikeEdwards]

Yes, but I'm not sure which day. My mate has arranged the tickets, we generally just try to fill his car to spread the diesel costs. I'll find out later in the week what day we're going, but, like the NEC show, we tend to do the autojumble first and then look around the rest in whatever time is left.

[Riley Blue]

Not this year unfortunately. My legs aren't too good at the moment so I'm a bit slow and unsteady; a pity as I always enjoy the show and see quite a few people I know there.
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David

1963 Riley 1.5
1965 Riley 1.5

[Rick]

Well, I tried ... I got within a few miles of Stoneleigh but the roads were gridlocked, with a few people out of their cars and walking around to stretch their legs. I gave up after a while and went to the British Motor Museum at Gaydon instead. I'd not been since the re-work of the museum, and it proved to be a good alternative choice for a day out, photos to follow ...

RJ
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[MikeEdwards]

We got there, but it took us about half an hour from getting to the back of the queue on the A46, to getting out of the car. That included a scenic detour as we approached from the other side, as we didn't fancy sitting at the back of a queue on a dual carriageway. As we'd bought the tickets up front, we didn't really fancy wasting them.

I'd say it was a bit quieter than last year, quite a few "usual" traders missing and heard a few moaning about lack of sales. Clashing with the London show will probably contribute to that in some part.

[Riley Blue]

I read that the organisers of the London show wanted to buy Race Retro but were rebuffed so they deliberately arranged the clash of dates in a fit of pique.
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David

1963 Riley 1.5
1965 Riley 1.5

[MikeEdwards]

I wondered if it was something like that. It's daft, it dilutes everything - the pool of available display and action vehicles, the pool of other exhibitors, and (most importantly for the organisers) the pool of paying visitors. Perhaps they'll have grown up by next year.

They even called the new competition side of the London show "The International Historic Motorsport Show", which if I recall correctly is what Race Retro was called before "Retro" was the in word.

[Riley Blue]

Good news - I've read that there's to be a week between the two events next year.
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David

1963 Riley 1.5
1965 Riley 1.5

[Rick]

Post-event PR report:

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RACE RETRO ENTERS A NEW ERA WITH RECORD TURNOUT
FOR 15TH ANNIVERSARY SUPER SHOW.

Race Retro, the international historic motorsport show, opened its doors for 2017 with a fresh new look, exciting new features, and more cars than ever before to celebrate its 15th anniversary at Stoneleigh Park, resulting in a record turnout over the three-day event.

With plenty of motorsport action, both inside the halls and out on the Live Rally Stage, 21,000 attendees joined the party with special guests including rally legend Ari Vatanen, Le Mans endurance hero Tom Kristensen, and former Motorcycle World Champion ‘Fast’ Freddie Spencer.

One of the show’s many highlights was the new Motor Sport Hall of Fame Live, featuring around £30million of stunning motoring history from the 1957 British Grand Prix winning Vanwall, raced to victory by Sir Stirling Moss and Tony Brooks, to the latest Bentley GT3 racer that had come straight from pre-season testing.

Hall of Fame inductee Tom Kristensen thrilled the crowds as he climbed back into his Bentley overalls and the Speed 8 in which he won the Le Mans 24-hour race in 2013, before taking to the Motor Sport Live Stage to be interviewed and taking questions from a packed audience.

A huge crowd gathered as Jim Clark’s Lotus 33 R11 was unveiled for the first time in public for over 40 years as part of a launch for the Jim Clark Trust’s crowdfunding appeal. Jim’s cousin Doug Niven spoke of the plans to open a new Jim Clark Museum in 2018, asking for support to make the fantastic new development a reality.

Race Retro’s 50th anniversary celebration of the Cosworth DFV certainly turn heads with a display curated by engine designer Mike Costin, who founded Cosworth with Keith Duckworth, both Hall of Fame nominees for 2017. Cars featured in the tribute included the incredibly rare Tyrell P34 six-wheeler, the Cosworth 4WD, the Lotus 49B, and James Hunt’s McLaren M23.

Out on the Live Rally Stage, under the watchful eye of the team from Rallying with Group B, around 80 Group A, B and C cars provided spectators with thrill after thrill especially when former World Rally Champion Ari Vatanen got back behind the wheel of the Rothmans Ford Escort and Subaru Legacy he drove in period.

It was a huge weekend for Silverstone Auctions with its best Race Retro sale ever as 76 per cent of the lots were hammered away to the tune of £5.7million, over £1 million more than 2016. Notable Competition Car sales included the 1989 Aston Martin AMR1 Group C race car that went to a new home for £530,000, and the 1961 Emeryson F1 Climax FPF that saw the hammer down at £174,380.

There were also big numbers being spent in the Classic Car sale with a 1974 Ferrari Dino 246GT selling at £439,875, Jensen Button’s 2005 Ford GT at £264,375, and a 1983 Lamborghini Countach LP500S at £378,950.

Motorcycle racing fans were entertained by Fast Freddie Spencer, also a Hall of Fame nominee for 2017, who gave a preview of his forthcoming book in his interviews as well as announcing the winners of the Retro & Café Racer competition. Ken Perch and his 1964 Aermacchi Ala D’Oro was the runner up to Phil Knapton’s 1974 Suzuki GT750 two-stroke Café Racer.

The winner of the inaugural Pride of the Paddock award couldn’t have been more fitting, given it was presented by Ari Vatanen. Ian Thompson’s exceptional replica of the Peugeot 205 T16 rally car that Vatanen drove in period was chosen by the visitors and even signed by the man himself. The runner up was Marcus Ridley’s 1966 Ford Mustang.

Lee Masters, Acting Show Director of Race Retro said: “We have had incredible feedback from visitors with a tremendous response to our new elements, especially the stunning display in the Motor Sport Hall of Fame Live. Exhibitors also reported strong trading with 60 per cent rebooking for 2018 already. Planning for next year starts now!”

The next Race Retro will be held on 23-25 February 2018.
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