Castle Combe Autumn Classic - 23rd September 2023

[John Turner]

FISCAR's final race of the season is at Castle Combe next Saturday.

We have an entry approaching 30 cars so far, the best of the season. The meeting has a fairly strong 50s flavour as HSCC also has two 20 minute Griffiths Haig races and I imagine that there will be some pre60 front engine FJ cars in the FJHRA Silverline Trophy race, as well.

Timetable here:-

https://castlecombecircuit.co.uk/sho...cing-timetable

[delta]

See you there John

[John Turner]

Originally Posted by delta

See you there John

Yes, Iain, hope to catch up!

[Mike Crow]

Entries now on CCRC website. Good numbers all round. This meeting is a favourite for me and has a unique feel to it with a lot of emphasis on cars from the fifties. A day of real, not invented, nostalgia in a relaxed atmosphere, grass paddocks and all. Big Healys round Camp. What could be better.

[GCCheddaris]

Larger grids, bigger crowd and more of a buzz about Castle Combe today. Unfortunately (and unusually for the Autumn Classic) a couple of red flags in the first four races.

[GCCheddaris]

Great looking FISCAR grid with a few tenthers taking part.

[Mike Crow]

Loved today. Huge crowd. An undefinable but joyous atmosphere in the paddock. The Elans around Camp were amazing as were the Healys. And the silver Ace. And the Cobras . And the rest. Not a new build Cortina or Mustang or continuation Shelby Cobra in sight. Marcus on commentary hit the mark “ Much of historic racing is pure theatre. Great, but theatre. This feels real” Thank you Castle Combe

[Belmondo]

Brilliant meeting as always – proper historic club racing.

[delta]

Yes it truly was a brilliant meeting . Team Delta had three cars to run so I opted not to race myself . As it was most of my helpers came and I had very little to do .HRTR5 had brilliant Griffis Hayes race . I had a good old natter with JT and introduced him to Mary Bell. Hopefully Mary will drive Gilbert next year in his race. All in all lovely day .

[Peter Mallett]

Good to hear this. Yes, Mary would enjoy that race.

[John Turner]

Yes, Gilbert is not FISCAR compliant because it has the MGB engine but a very welcome invitation car. I decided a while back to take on a board a single example of one or two cars that drifted into the 1960s and this was one of them. Besides, it's a gentle series for Mary and she will be among a lovely variety of cars. Of course, there is also the emotional pull for some of us who knew Mike, so all good!

It was great meeting, and I think we had the second biggest grid of the day (stand to be corrected of course) and probably the best we have had for some years, and unusually, did so without a single Austin Healey 100 on the grid. Weather held up well and there were some great cars across the board. I actually got to see another race and was rather taken by the Fisk Opel which got a one second penalty that pushed him down to 2nd!

Will try to get some pics up in due course.

[HRSTR5]

Great day at Combe on Saturday ... running the Elva Mk5 in Griffiths Haig races. I have really enjoyed this series, every time i go out I get proper racing, wheel to wheel stuff, with dissimilar machinery that just happens to run similar lap times ... in particular i seem to attract Frazer-Nashes, including frequent sparring partner, Cliff Gray - great fun.

Qualified in 4th, but lots of bigger engines around and behind me, so as expected, i was swallowed up off the startline both times, which just meant i had some fun trying to get them back!

Race 1 will probably go down as my most enjoyable race ever, a right old gaggle, FNs, Cooper-Bristols, Allards - close quarters, sliding about, no contact, full respect. Race 2 was fun too, but neutralized half way through after an 'off', and we finished behind Safety car, which was a bit disappointing.

Great day out, thanks to Delta and crew, particularly Paul, for prepping and running the car.

One day i'll work out how to get round Quarry quickly, combination of frequent lock-ups and understeer made me look pretty average through there, honestly I was better round the rest of the circuit!

[John Turner]

Hi James. As a 50s sports car nut it's a real pain that I never get to see the Griffiths Haig and it would have been good to see the front engine FJ cars as well. Managed to get out to Dean Straight in preparation for our cars but as there were a couple of stoppages, saw a bit of the CMMC Classic Challenge/Norman Dewis Trophy cars beforehand.:-

[VIVA GT]

Originally Posted by HRSTR5

One day i'll work out how to get round Quarry quickly, combination of frequent lock-ups and understeer made me look pretty average through there, honestly I was better round the rest of the circuit!

Combe was my second ever race circuit experience and after a couple of laps in practice I 'realised' that I was a much more thoughtful racer than everyone else. They were clearly doing it wrong by taking the left-hander before Quarry wide. I decided to take a 'proper' racing line through the corner, clipping the apex which would not only be quicker because it was shorter, plus I would then be turning into Quarry from the outside of the circuit which would again be far more effective. This all went well until I hit the huge bump (that everyone else was avoiding) on the inside of the left hander, arriving at Quarry facing the outside of the circuit at a 45° angle to the track! Somehow I still managed to keep the Mini out of the barriers, but learned a valuable lesson!

[HRSTR5]

Originally Posted by VIVA GT

Combe was my second ever race circuit experience and after a couple of laps in practice I 'realised' that I was a much more thoughtful racer than everyone else. They were clearly doing it wrong by taking the left-hander before Quarry wide. I decided to take a 'proper' racing line through the corner, clipping the apex which would not only be quicker because it was shorter, plus I would then be turning into Quarry from the outside of the circuit which would again be far more effective. This all went well until I hit the huge bump (that everyone else was avoiding) on the inside of the left hander, arriving at Quarry facing the outside of the circuit at a 45° angle to the track! Somehow I still managed to keep the Mini out of the barriers, but learned a valuable lesson!

Haha! On Saturday i tried all sorts of different lines, some of which enforced by the competition ... i muddled through on every occasion, but not once did it feel right/quick. Maybe next time ... guess that's the reason we keep coming back anyway!!

[delta]

Viv I have been a victim of that bump . Blooming hurts .

[VIVA GT]

Originally Posted by delta

Viv I have been a victim of that bump . Blooming hurts .

It caught me by surprise Iain I must admit. I was at about that time that I realised I maybe wasn't going to be the next British World Champion!

[John Turner]

A few from FISCAR's morning qualifying!:-

[GCCheddaris]

Great shame the RGS Atalanta (48) didn't make the race. Seem to recall that they had problems when they raced in the Griffiths Haig Trophy last year at Castle Combe.

[delta]

Just been back to Combe for track day with our DrBob Marcos . Ready for him to race at Sillystone this weekend .

[John Turner]

Originally Posted by GCCheddaris

Great shame the RGS Atalanta (48) didn't make the race. Seem to recall that they had problems when they raced in the Griffiths Haig Trophy last year at Castle Combe.

Yes,this is a well driven car, quick in its class. Having started the engine the day before with no problems, come qualifying and the starter motor played up. Finally, got the car going and out for practice, but before long, gear selection problems manifested themselves, identified as a worn out thrust bearing. Unable to find a replacement in the paddock, the car was sadly withdrawn.

[Peter Mallett]

Originally Posted by delta

Just been back to Combe for track day with our DrBob Marcos . Ready for him to race at Sillystone this weekend .

Whats at Sillystone this weekend? MRL is next week isn't it?

[Peter Mallett]

Originally Posted by John Turner

A few from FISCAR's morning qualifying!:-

Good pics there John.

[Mike Crow]

Originally Posted by Peter Mallett

Whats at Sillystone this weekend? MRL is next week isn't it?

HSCC finals

[Peter Mallett]

Ah ok thanks.