Gold Cup

[simon drabble]

what was it like?? worth the trek up North???

[andrew_powell98]

Brilliant. The weather was good, and Bernie would have been upset as Over taking happend. Some of the best racing I have seen this. They hope to have it again next year to coincide with Oultons 50th year celebrations, so should be good. Well worth the trek. There was a good crowd too which surprised me.

[simon drabble]

as saloons were last on the bill I took the view it was too far to go for a 10 lapper! Overtaking is a common feature in HSCC racing! You should come to more meetings! what was the highlight for you?

[Truckosaurus]

Andrew,

did any of the big names (JYS, Sir Jack etc) get to drive anything or were they just spectating?

[KayBee]

Originally posted by Guy Humpage
Andrew,

did any of the big names (JYS, Sir Jack etc) get to drive anything or were they just spectating?

I know I'm not Andrew but Sir Jack did get to drive, unfortunately he only got as far as Water Tower when the car spilt its guts onto the track. It was towed back to the pits and he then came round all the circuit on the back of a pick-up truck.

Staying trackside during the dinner break I don't know who else famous, if anyone, was around.

[andrew_powell98]

Originally posted by Guy Humpage

did any of the big names (JYS, Sir Jack etc) get to drive anything or were they just spectating?

MR H I thought you were working hard not surffing the net. Anyway Jack as Kaybee said got as far as watertower before the car sprung a fuel leak. Jakie Oliver did not appear so upset. The other ex-racers like JYS did not appear so it appears they were just rummours. There could be a good chance of them comming next year for the 50th annerversery bash. I will send you some of the pics I have of Jack Brabham.

[Dave Brand]

Originally posted by simon drabble
what was it like?? worth the trek up North???

Pure magic! The perfect antidote to the head-up-the- shenanigans of the F3 circus the previous weekend.

A well-run meeting, with a great atmosphere.

We spent an hour or more walking round the paddock on Sunday morning; it was like having all your birthdays at once - everybody we met was saying things like 'have you seen.....', 'you must look at.....'.

This was one of the few meetings where I've actually enjoyed qualifying - I could have watched those cars going round all day!

The racing was superb; as usual at an HSCC meeting, there was no pandering to the 'value' or rarity of the cars once the race started!

Highlights? So many.....

Mike Eagles surprising the exotics in the Milano.
The sheer noise made by the Bristol-engined cars.
Mark Gillies drifting the Maserati 300S through Island.
Three 250Fs racing together.
More real Listers than you could shake a stick at.
Seeing a BRM winning again!
The beautiful Cooper Alfa - gorgeous wheels!

.....the list goes on & on! And to top it all, Jack Brabham!

Now all we've got to do is persuade you Southerners to risk falling off the edge of the world & visit Britain's best circuit!

[Peter Scillitoe]

Originally posted by andrew_powell98
Jakie Oliver did not appear so upset.

He was obviously double booked. Was racing at Brands Hatch instead.

[bolide]

Oulton Park was great - after a wet qualifying session that was particularly scary during my session (11 am on Saturday) it all dried out and we had great weather all weekend

Highlights for me were the Listers, D-types and HWMs in the BRDC Historic Sports Cars race, the truly excellent HSCC/HRSR Julius Thurgood Historic Racing Saloons race, the ITD Consultants XK race which was very entertaining - and, of course, getting to race in Historic Roadsports!

I found the circuit very daunting, and struggled to put up good lap times, but enjoyed the race. Seeing Tim Fish's Camaro approaching in the rear-view miror was extraordinary - it flew past as he lapped me and he must have had a good 40 mph on me on the straights!

All-in-all, Oulton Park is well worth the trip - even if you have to drive the race car there from Brighton, as I did - and the the track is great. It's very technical and demands lots of precision and commitment to get a good time. Also the people are very friendly...

I think the Gold Cup will be back at Oulton Park in 2003 and I say don't miss it!

Nick Froome
www.bolide.co.uk

[KayBee]

Originally posted by bolide
Oulton Park was great - after a wet qualifying session that was particularly scary during my session (11 am on Saturday) it all dried out and we had great weather all weekend

Highlights for me were the Listers, D-types and HWMs in the BRDC Historic Sports Cars race, the truly excellent HSCC/HRSR Julius Thurgood Historic Racing Saloons race, the ITD Consultants XK race which was very entertaining - and, of course, getting to race in Historic Roadsports!

I found the circuit very daunting, and struggled to put up good lap times, but enjoyed the race. Seeing Tim Fish's Camaro approaching in the rear-view miror was extraordinary - it flew past as he lapped me and he must have had a good 40 mph on me on the straights!

All-in-all, Oulton Park is well worth the trip - even if you have to drive the race car there from Brighton, as I did - and the the track is great. It's very technical and demands lots of precision and commitment to get a good time. Also the people are very friendly...

I think the Gold Cup will be back at Oulton Park in 2003 and I say don't miss it!

Nick Froome
www.bolide.co.uk

Nick Bolide did you stop for the racing on the Monday or return to Brighton after your race on Sunday?

I too thoroughly enjoyed the meeting although being out at Shell was away from both the public and the commentators so I have no idea how the meeting went. I was disappointed with the report both on the meeting and fringe stuff such as Sir Jack's car dropping its oil in Motor Sport News.

I saw lots of cars struggling with the Shell Oils Hairpin and hope that all those drivers and cars who didn't complete the loop from Island to Foulstons are fit and ready for the next round.

[bolide]

I stayed for the Monday and spent most of it taking photos between Cascades and the second chicane at Knickerbrook

I loved the Hairpin - great fun in my TR which is great in the slower stuff. By tucking into the inside you get a great launch out towards the first chicane...

I was in car 62, red TR4, and was trailing the field in the Historic Roadsports, race 3. Only my third race - but I'd have liked to be on the pace...

Nick Froome

[Dave Brand]

Originally posted by bolide
All-in-all, Oulton Park is well worth the trip - even if you have to drive the race car there from Brighton, as I did - and the the track is great. It's very technical and demands lots of precision and commitment to get a good time.

Better than a disused airfield, isn't it!

Also the people are very friendly...

I think the Gold Cup will be back at Oulton Park in 2003 and I say don't miss it!

After such a successful meeting as that, I can only see it getting bigger & even better; when the availablity forms for 2003 arrive the Gold Cup will be the first meeting I'll look for!

[simon drabble]

well lets hope they make the races longer next time to justify the trip!

[Dave Brand]

Originally posted by simon drabble
well lets hope they make the races longer next time to justify the trip!

I was happy with the length of the races - longer races would mean fewer races, which would have denied us the chance to see some interesting machinery in action.

Now if we could start before 12:00 on Sundays........

[simon drabble]

hhmm all that way for 20 minute race doesnt really do it for me! at least at last yrs Silverstone Historic we had 2x 40 min slots
now that was good value!