Donington Historic Festival 4/5 May

[andy97]

It’s the Donington Historic festival this weekend; thought there might have been a thread about it already.
Anyone going, anyone racing?

Entry lists are here:
https://msvstatic.blob.core.windows....RY%20LISTS.pdf

Doesn’t look to be anywhere near a full grid in any of the races, sadly.

Time table is here:

https://msvstatic.blob.core.windows....0Timetable.pdf

Tickets for the weekend are £42 if booked online and £50 on gate.
Saturday/ Sunday one day tickets are £26/30.

I see that Nick Whale is entered in the Historic Touring Car/ Tony Dron race in a yellow Mk1 Escort; I assume this is Mike Bell’s car as it did not sell at auction recently.

Not sure whether I will pop up yet; depends on whether we are off to Norfolk or not.

ETA - of course it should be 4/5 May in title but I don’t seem to be able to change that!

[chunterer]

I might go on Saturday but as you say entries aren't great.

The HTCC seems to be strugglimg a bit over the last couple of years. A huge decline in Group A, Group 2 cars and the Group 1s have mainly turned to the Thurgood series instead.

Maybe time to think again about who or what certain series should be catering for.

[Mike Crow]

Too far away for me these days. The HRDC grids look pretty good to me - if we get anything like that at Combe in September I will be a very happy bunny.
Odd event at Silverstone this week. Don’t know what the circuit was hoping for but it really hasn’t worked.

[rbs]

Originally Posted by Mike Crow

Too far away for me these days. The HRDC grids look pretty good to me - if we get anything like that at Combe in September I will be a very happy bunny.
Odd event at Silverstone this week. Don’t know what the circuit was hoping for but it really hasn’t worked.

Entry list for the allcomers race has only 5 entries. 2xT70, 1 x B16 1x Ligier JSP3 & 1 other. That should be quite thrilling on the GP circuirt, FF1600 & DBT have reasonable but not stunning entries.

[Lancsbreaker]

Having been down to Oulton last Saturday, then to a soggy Alfa event at Yorkshire Wildlife Park on Sunday, I can't manage another weekend out, I'm afraid. Pity as there are a few Alfas in the Gerry Marshall, and a (somewhat depleted) Classic Alfa Challenge with the All-Stars - and of course Mr Mann bringing one his 8C Monza for the "Mad Jack". Overall not bulging fields, though.


At least it looks like the weather should be kind....

[Peter Mallett]

I've decided to go this weekend, will be good to see some old mates. Agreed the MRL grids are disappointing. The HTCC has been spoiled (IMO) by including M3s, Sierra Cosworths and the Godzillas. Now, even the Cosworths and M3s are staying away. A reflection of what happened to Group A in the day. Of course it will improve for Silverstone in August.

[Peter Mallett]

Just catching up with e mails I found this: https://mailchi.mp/147d005b0785/moto...l?e=ebc43cb2f6

If you can't read the link then in summary:

"Aythorpe Promotions Limited (APL) has this week acquired Motor Racing Legends (MRL), one of the world’s leading historic race promoters that participates in iconic events such as the Silverstone Festival, Spa Six Hours and Oulton Park Gold Cup. The agreement will also see APL acquire the Donington Historic Festival, which takes place this weekend (4-5 May) at Donington Park.

Aythorpe Promotions, the motorsport events business led by Shaun Lynn, one of the UK’s most notable historic racing participants and car collectors, is behind the initiative and commented: “It is a privilege to be taking the reins at Motor Racing Legends. Over two decades, Duncan Wiltshire and his team at MRL have built a unique series that covers some of the finest touring car, sports car and pre-war grids in Europe."

[flatlandsman]

Interesting they call the Classic the Festival, I think the crowds have waned a lot in recent years but I guess even a decent crowd looks poor there. Donington event could do with some variety, it needs the odd single seater class aswell, as there used to be, I loved watching F2 etc there as my earliest memory of Donington is watching F2 there in 79.

I decided against it, simply due to the grids being average and there being few exciting and interesting cars to see.

But hopefully people who know these events and these series can do better.

[ChrisA]

Any news on how this meeting panned out? No news on it yet.

[Peter Mallett]

Well, it was quiet but there were some quality races. Sadly the HTC was under subscribed but the HRDC Gerry Marshall Trophy was well supported and pretty spectacular IMO. Will be interesting to see how the new organisers change things.

[geordiecriag101]

Yep I'll agree with that from what i saw on Saturday. Definitely smaller grids across all races, felt like it needs a single seater race added to give a bit more variety. Bonus was seeing both the Bentley LMP's been given a good run out during the lunch break.

Anyway, here's my vid from Saturdays action for anyone who intersted:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BnfXCoUrNuc

[kartman24]

Really enjoyed the weekend, some cracking racing with close battles at the sharp end, each to their own but i prefer the events without single seaters.

[chunterer]

There were a lot more spectators than I was expecting on Saturday so that was good.

The HTCC race was even missimg some of the programme entries. It was back to how it was 10 years ago before the Group 2 and Group A enthusiasm took off.

There weren't any Sierras, or RS3100 and CSL Batmobiles.

The separately organised G1 GMT series is thriving so it's clearly a case of making sure there is a series that caters for the right owners and cars.

There's plenty of Group A and Group 2 cars around. We've seen them. But clearly there isn't the will to run them at the moment.

Is it cost?
Is it lack of suitable environment or series structure?

[Peter Mallett]

It's because of the Skylines. The Sierras and M3s discouraged the Group A Rovers. The Group 2s will be back for Silverstone because its a fast circuit. Pointless running a Gp 1.5 though hence HRDC picking them up. The HTC race planned for the new Snetterton Classic has been canned. The CTCRC Supertouring race is being cited as the reason.

[Mike Crow]

Originally Posted by Peter Mallett

It's because of the Skylines. The Sierras and M3s discouraged the Group A Rovers. The Group 2s will be back for Silverstone because its a fast circuit. Pointless running a Gp 1.5 though hence HRDC picking them up. The HTC race planned for the new Snetterton Classic has been canned. The CTCRC Supertouring race is being cited as the reason.

Not such genuine cars perhaps but a full grid of 40 beautifully engineered and presented Modified Fords looked and sounded great at Castle Combe yesterday. At least until the rain bucketed down. Lots of great and indecently quick Escorts .

[flatlandsman]

I think the series reflects what happened in real life, OK here in the UK the Sierra was bolstered by classes by the Skyline effectively destroyed touring car racing in other parts of the world! Even in production racing here which was thriving before it.

I would guess if you are that bothered about winning (a minority I expect in such a series) you either buy one or do something else

[Peter Mallett]

Originally Posted by flatlandsman

I think the series reflects what happened in real life, OK here in the UK the Sierra was bolstered by classes by the Skyline effectively destroyed touring car racing in other parts of the world! Even in production racing here which was thriving before it.

Indeed, I made the same point at the weekend.

[Lancsbreaker]

Originally Posted by geordiecriag101

Yep I'll agree with that from what i saw on Saturday. Definitely smaller grids across all races, felt like it needs a single seater race added to give a bit more variety. Bonus was seeing both the Bentley LMP's been given a good run out during the lunch break.

Anyway, here's my vid from Saturdays action for anyone who intersted:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BnfXCoUrNuc

Enjoyed that video - thanks!

[Willmaz223]

MRL in general has been struggling away from the Silverstone Classic.

In recent years the Amon Cup for GT40s failed, the HTCC grid has declined slowly but surely, the Jaguar Challenge is on a hiatus this year, Pre 63 GT has just returned from one but even that seems to be just a Pre 63 Jag Fest.

The 50's sportscar grid is now combined whereas it used to always be a split grid at Donington and Silverstone for the Woodcote and Stirling Moss grids.

Both the 70s Touring Challenge and U2TC have never gained traction.

The success has been the Pall Mall Cup which seems to have done well.

Reasons could be the grids are quite niche, a mostly UK based calendar, the same races every year so not massive variety calendar wise, other race series taking away some of the grid fillers like in HTCC and ofc most of the MRL grids are for the typical Pre 66 which have lessened in popularity.

[Moneyseeker]

Originally Posted by Willmaz223

MRL in general has been struggling away from the Silverstone Classic.

In recent years the Amon Cup for GT40s failed, the HTCC grid has declined slowly but surely, the Jaguar Challenge is on a hiatus this year, Pre 63 GT has just returned from one but even that seems to be just a Pre 63 Jag Fest.

The 50's sportscar grid is now combined whereas it used to always be a split grid at Donington and Silverstone for the Woodcote and Stirling Moss grids.

Both the 70s Touring Challenge and U2TC have never gained traction.

The success has been the Pall Mall Cup which seems to have done well.

Reasons could be the grids are quite niche, a mostly UK based calendar, the same races every year so not massive variety calendar wise, other race series taking away some of the grid fillers like in HTCC and ofc most of the MRL grids are for the typical Pre 66 which have lessened in popularity.

Classic racing is getting saturated IMO, too many events and too many grids and the expectation of 40 car grids everywhere, so 20 cars look weak nowadays. The 'good' cars are cherry picking more and holding out for invites the premium UK and European events.

[Peter Mallett]

Received an e mail from MRL yesterday. It stressed the need to uphold standards and has sanctioned a driver in the Stirling Moss Trophy. Full info. here: https://mallettracing.com/2024/07/09...l-2024-update/

Good to see because poor driving can contribute to reduced entries.

[Derwent]

Was that a penalty by MRL or from an MSUK tribunal as it refers to point son their licence?

[Peter Mallett]

Does it matter? If you check the links in the post you'll see the disqualification from meeting. That would be the MS UK Stewards NOT MRL. Ergo the points would be from MSUK.