The classic car movement is wonderfully diverse. Whatever your particular interest you will find a niche. Whether you are into prewar, car shows, touring, racing or rallying there is a thriving movement for you.
My particular interest has always been historic competition cars, whether rallying or circuit racing. As such I attend a number of events throughout the season. If you enjoy classic (or vintage) cars then watching them perform on the track is an enjoyable and sociable way to pass a day or two.
Its not expensive (though it can be) with tickets from around £15 if you can get a club discount. This will give you a days racing, plus access to the pits and the chance to talk to mechanics and drivers. If you have never been to a historic racing event then can I recommend the Croft Historic Festival at the beginning of August. It’s a friendly circuit with good organisation for getting cars in and out of the track. As well as the racing there will be stalls and classic car displays.
The 50th anniversary of the creation of the Super Saloons category will be a key celebration at this year’s Croft Historic Festival and Weekend Show on 10-11 August.
The Historic Sports Car Club will once again be coordinating the racing element of this spectacular event, and the club’s Historic Modsports and Special Saloons Series will be one of the key races as these wonderful cars are celebrated and brought back into action.
Back in 1974 the Super Saloons category was created to accommodate some of the most way-out saloon cars ever built, and such was the interest in the category that it even earned a support race slot at the 1975 British Grand Prix at Silverstone. Cars like the DFVW of Colin Hawker, the VW Beetle Chevrolet of Doug Niven and the BOSS Capri of Mick Hill along a range of rapid Skoda-based specials all played their part in the success of the category.
Now, half a century later, the HSCC has recreated that era with its ever growing Historic Modsports and Special Saloons Series, which will have two races during the Croft weekend.
Importantly, the races will be for two very special trophies in memory of two of the standout drivers of the era. The Special Saloons will be competing for the Peter Baldwin Trophy, a trophy that he won in 1979 for earning the most Gold Star Awards for race wins in national racing. The Modsports will be competing for the Jon Fletcher Trophy, which was presented to Jon for five race victories at the former Rufforth circuit in Yorkshire during 1973.
Though, sadly, both Baldwin and Fletcher are no longer with us, they epitomised Special Saloons and Modsports racing of the era. Peter raced his fantastic low-line Mini and Jon his modified Lotus Elan and both scored countless wins. The trophies will be presented on an annual basis and will always remain the property of the Baldwin and Fletcher families.
Entries are already coming in for the Croft races and fans at Croft will be able to see some of the cars that were famous in period. It is hoped that the fabulous ex-Gerry Marshall ‘Baby Bertha’ Vauxhall Firenza of Joe Ward will be on hand. It is the car that won at Silverstone back in 1975 on the day that Emerson Fittipaldi won the main race for McLaren. ‘Baby Bertha’ will be joined at Croft by the incredible Ford V8 powered Austin A30 of Andrew Willis and the outrageous Morris Minor V8 of Craig Percy.
New to the grid should be the glorious Rover P6 of Steve Watton, having its first race for more than a decade, as well as a gaggle of quick Sunbeam Stilettos and Davrians. Myles Castaldini is a leading Davrian contender, while Ray Rowan and Paul Knapton bring out lowline Stilettos as raced in period. Some quick MG Midgets will be on hand, including those of David Morrison and Stephen Watkins and it is shaping up to be a fabulous grid.
Special Saloons and Modified Sports were a staple at Croft race meetings back in the 1970s and this celebration of a wonderful period of national racing history will be one of the big attractions for what promises to be a great weekend of historic motor racing.
Classic Yorkshire 