Packaging historic motorsport into a festival has proved to be a popular way of promoting motorsport to a larger and more family orientated audience. Take half a dozen races, mix in some retail therapy, infield activities and possibly some music and a standard race day becomes an event that all the family can enjoy.
Arguably Goodwood started it with the Festival of Speed and the Revival but Silverstone soon produced a more affordable version with great grids and evening entertainment. They were later joined by Donington and Croft.
I have attended all the above and they each have their niche. Goodwood is brilliant but expensive. Silverstone is more affordable and has a full programme of excellent racing with many clubs attending. There is something for every car enthusiast along with many celebrity and former drivers in attendance and driving.
Donington is not in the same league as Goodwood and Silverstone but that doesn’t that it should be dismissed. Tickets are £30 for a day, £50 for the weekend with discounts available for buying in advance. There are also discounted tickets for clubs displaying at the event so check for a code. Compared to other events this is good value for money.
The races include Historic Touring cars featuring cars from the 70’s and 80’s, Pre 56 cars in the Woodcote trophy and all manner of Ferrari’s are in the Superperformance Ferrari club race. The Pall Mall cup is an epic, three-hour race for GT, Sports Racing and Touring Cars built before 1966. The Jack Sears trophy features the cars that were the fore runners of the BTTC from 1958 to 1966. The Gerry Marshall trophy is for pre 83 touring cars and the HRDC all stars have cars from a number of race series making up the grid.
Whatever cars you like you will find something to please you. There were Lotus Cortina’s a plenty, D Type Jaguars, all manner of vintage machinery as well as touring and sports cars from all era’s. The racing is entertaining with plenty of overtaking and the occasional off.
The other advantage of this being a smaller event is that there is no queuing to get in. Parking is plentiful and well marshalled. The crowds were small and it was easy to get around the circuit and the pits are open for you to view the cars being readied for their races.
I have no hesitation in recommending this event as a good value day out for enthusiasts of historic racing. If you are a club then you should enquire about having a display. And the discount you get is quite substantial.
For more information take a look at:-
https://www.doningtonhistoric.com/
A gallery of pictures will be published tomorrow. If you were racing and can’t see your car, email us and we will see if we can find one.
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