The VSCC Pomeroy Trophy

A chat at the Ace Café recently with PaulH from RetroRides led to an invite to be a guest at the VSCC Pomeroy Trophy at Silverstone, the members only event is one of the first chances for the Vintage Sports Car Club members to get on track, the day begins with a series of test before three 40 minute races are held on the national circuit at Silverstone. Following a blast up the M40 in driving rain we parked up and headed to the Priory Corner pitlane, the day is open to anything in the quest to find the “best GT car” various requirements have to be adhered to including luggage storage and weather protection. The variety was staggering!











As the cars completed the first tests they were parked up, access to these expensive and rare machines was unlimited and all the drivers were more than happy to discuss their mounts.



Ouch!








After a short break the action was on again, this time we crossed the hallowed tarmac of the Grand Prix pitlane and climbed the pitwall, sticking heads through the gaps in the fence to get up close and personal with the cars coming down the Pit Straight.









Soon the lunch time break arrived, we fed and watered ourselves and had a nose round the garages as people prepped for the afternoon races.









Walking down to the Copse Corner grandstand we had no trouble getting a seat and the perfect vantage point to see the opening run for the oldest cars.





Wandering down to the next grandstand at the Maggots/Becketts Complex we got to see the last of the late breakers sliding underneath slower cars and spitting fire as they headed down the Club Straight.







The promised rain finally began and the skinny tyres offered minimal grip making the pack slow right down until the race ended. Back in the garages the racers dried out and cleaned the cars ready for the drive home.





Out on track the next race was under way, the conditions were awful with standing water on the straight, but still the cars ploughed on.









As the second race ended the cars for the final stint were readied, whilst one team was carrying out major surgery on the head gasket of a still steaming engine.





Grabbing a seat in the grandstand over looking Brooklands and Luffield for the final hoorah we were in the dry at last and had the ideal viewing point for the end of the straight and round the tight turns to finish.











The race was sadly red flagged after one of the Morgans lost it and clouted the barriers luckily the only damage being to body work and pride.



With the day over the teams packed up and we headed South, that’s two VSCC events I’ve been to this year, both completely different, but both showing that it doesn’t matter how old the car, you can still have lots of fun behind the wheel.



Thanks for reading, to find more photos have a look here.

Steve.

Another quiet meet in Bracknell

Once more the monthly meet of LTV was a small affair, the local Blue Oval group that also meet at South Hill Park equalled the Volkswagens again, so rather than stand in the cold we headed into the café for a warm drink and natter leaving the Beetles, Campers and a shiny new daily to keep each other company!







You know the engine will drop straight into a Beetle!



The Ford chaps braved the cold and stayed outside for an hour or two before calling time on the day and chugging home.







Lets hope the March meet is a little busier!

Steve.

A testing time for the VSCC at Brooklands

Postponed from a snowy January, the VSCC New Year Driving Tests at Brooklands was met with an overcast but dry Sunday morning, perfect weather to hoon around the 1900s race track and grounds in vintage cars.

The Vintage Sports Car Club caters for all pre 1930s cars and the driving tests aim to put the old motors and drivers through their paces over a variety of challenges. The cars were parked up around the Club House whilst the drivers signed on and the marshals readied the courses.













The tests all run simultaneously, with cars moving around the site from one to the next providing non stop action, first up was the test hill, starting on the flat it climbs up 1:8 through 1:5 to 1:4 at the very top, once at the summit it was on the brakes and round the corner to stop astride a line, before reversing into a garage and then forwards to the finish line.











Moving up past the Vickers Hangers another test had been set, this time a flat area with cones marking the course, a central box had to be passed through in two directions, linked with rotations of other cones it was making dizzy driving.





Now is not the time to be checking the route!



Up on the banking under the Members Bridge a slalom run had been built on the angle at the base of the banking, the damp concrete surface was covered in wet leaves making conditions tricky.







Further down the banking the next test awaited, a short drive along the flat led to a sharp turn right up the bank to a line, then reverse onto the level again before hurtling round the cones on the banking and to the finish line.









The final test of the day was a crazy series of concentric circles around some cones before a dash for the line, gravel was kicked up and tyres smoked getting round the ever tightening bends.







As the lunchtime break approached the mornings tests came to an end and the cars were parked up, some dripping coolant and steaming as their drivers munched away in the café. A final chance to get close up with the rides.















Being use to more modern forms of motorsport, the Tests were an eye opener, seeing cars that are 80yrs old splattered with mud and covered in dents hurtling round at full chat is amazing, far better than resting in a museum gathering dust! The rest of the photos are here thanks for reading.

Steve.