Damp Easter Monday at Combe

I've been to Castle Combe when its rained a bit, but today really took the biscuit. The weather forecast was spot on. Showers all day getting heavier in the afternoon. Phil and I set out from home in drizzle, when we parked up it was still lightly



raining so we opted for a bacon roll and paddock walk about. Todays racing was the season opener and featured lots of historic racing from GTs and saloons.







MG was celebrating 50 years of the MGB, with a whole race dedicated to them.





There was a lot of money in the paddock and the motorhome reflected this.





Modern racing was represented by the circuits three championships for saloons, Formula Ford and GTs.









Taking a break from the norm for me, we walked the track clockwise during the last few qualifying sessions (pre-empting an early departure that could mean missing the actual races) The track was soaked, standing water all over the place and very slippery.







Then after a brief lunch break the action began. We hiked back to Bobbies, the last chicane on the track as there is usually some good action here as people jump on the brakes to win the corner and run to the flag. The Combe GTs kicked thing off and 4WD was a clear winner.







Next up was a round of the ETCC from 1963, Jaguars heading the field as the Cortinas chased hard.







As we moved round the track the Combe saloons began. A packed grid of hothatches and saloons charged around in the ever worsening weather.





Before the two driver pre 66 GT race began. watching from Quarry, the long right hander a Big Healey was being ragged for all its worth, often arriving at the corner sideways with the driver hustling it around at the last minute. Some weren't as lucky.









The race featured a pitstop to swap drivers, so we headed there for the change over. Cars thunderung into pitlane before slithering back out again.







Then it was back on to the river that was now the race track.







The Healey finished a lap in front of everyone else and ended our day out. We were cold and wet as were the cameras and with four more races left neither of us had the stamina to carry on. We'd already walked a good five miles around the track and paddock and were ready for a sit down. Its a real shame as there were a couple of great looking races still to come. But we'd watched the qualifying sessions so didn't feel too disheartened. I don't think I have ever seen so much rain at Combe before.

The rest of the washout photos are here

Steve.

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Another rammed Wheels Day

The week leading up to Good Friday didn't look promising. I'd driven through high winds, rain and even 6" of snow. But at 7:30am when we set out it was sunny but freezing cold. Cruising with Malcs and family we meet Steve in his 911 on route and we parked up flat 14 convoy right near the front.



Once in we fired up the cooker and rattled off a stack of bacon rolls.



And then it was time to start the mammoth walk round. There had to be over 2000 really cool cars and bikes parked up today. Some were old favourites but some were new to us. Including the Nightmare Racing Escort.









This was interesting, Mk8 Jaguar body with space frame chassis and the running gear from an XJ8 underneath.






This hearse was dead good!








Driven in from the London Motor Museum. This new Dodge was sporting 24" rims




We headed back to the van for a Lily sized snack. Lily helped Nette push the buggy for us!


This was parked alongside us all day. Level at the front, the back of the Camper came up to its rear wheels!


There was so much 70s coolness about this Transit van


We set off once more on a mission to the side field. Stopping by the LTV club stand.







Star of the day for me amongst other was the Monkees Mobile.






Getting peckish we stopped off for a bite to eat next to this 12 Reg Morgan whilst munching on a pizza.









We then wandered a few traders before heading into the bikes area.







Then back to the camper once more for a sit down.





Or a sleep!



Some more of the LTV crowd arrived and we chatted for a bit before I caught the end of the awards presentation. Mark won a Top Ten for his Escort.


And then we joined the queue to get out. Trundled back up the country lanes after a brilliant day out. The predicted rain never came and we all ended with a little suntan! There are loads more photos available here.

Steve.

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