Thursday 2nd May dawned with an e mail from Motor Racing Legends (MRL) informing us that it had been acquired by Aythorpe Promotions Limited (APL). APL is led by prominent historic racer Shaun Lynn. I have had the pleasure of racing with the MRL organisation between 2014 and 2021 in various cars, most notably my ex works Rover SD1, so I’ll be watching developments with interest. I hope this change will benefit the series, and entrants equally.

So what about the weekend? I attended both days as part of the XJS Club’s display on the infield of the circuit. We were located just before the entrance to the pit lane. Although I’ve raced and spectated at this event (and others) at the circuit, I had never been on the inside so I had never viewed Craner Curves or The Old Hairpin from that perspective.

Living between Milton Keynes and Aylesbury meant a journey of 82 miles and 90 minutes, so I booked a room at the Royal Oak in Loughborough for the Saturday night. Although there was a lot of motorway driving, setting off at around 07:30am, I enjoyed the drive in my XJS convertible although the roof stayed firmly up!

I arrived as the first attendee and was greeted by a smiling Michael Blain who along with his wife Carol, set up the awning and were preparing bacon butties for later in the morning. We were a small group of three cars on Saturday but that would change for Sunday when around eleven cars, including Ian Evans’ interesting XJS Monaco attended.

Our small but perfectly formed group enjoyed some great racing (and the aforementioned bacon butties) starting with qualifying for the RAC Woodcote Trophy and the Stirling Moss Trophy. The No. 88 Jaguar Lister Knobbly of Spiers/Greensall finished on pole.

They would fail to finish the race allowing Gary Pearson in his Jaguar D Type to take the spoils.

Next was the most modern series, the Historic Touring Cars with the Tony Dron Trophy for Group 1, 2 and Group A machinery. This included the quite spectacular “Godzillas” (Nissan Skylines) of Ric Wood and Middlehurst/Bailey. Inevitably these two fought for the lead for most of the race until lap 30 when the Wood version pulled into the pits to retire, leaving the green Middlehurst/Bailey version to take the win. My interest was in the Group 2 class where a gentlemen by the name of Alfredo Jose DE ALBUQUERQUE NOREIRA was having his first race for twenty years. His car was built by the ex TWR engineer Ken Clarke and his son Tim. Effectively this would be a test of the car and driver so just finishing was a good result.

As the morning went on, further qualifying sessions were held for the Superformance Ferrari Classic Series and, the Pall Mall Cup (a 3hrs endurance race). The races would be held in the afternoon. That left lunchtime for a demonstration of the Bentley Le Mans Prototypes and a visit by one of the BBMF Spitfires.

Plenty of other vehicles on display and of course the JEC and JDC were well represented.

So, Saturday finished with the Pall Mall Cup which after three hours was won by a TVR Griffith driven by Tilley/Hill (that is Jake Hill the BTCC driver).

Sunday dawned with some more of that blue sky and sunshine, so having had a good breakfast, I packed the XJS and headed to the circuit. Lots more display cars were already there when I arrived. Some lovely Mustangs (of all ages) were particular favourites.

As the previous day, the morning was dedicated to qualifying for the afternoon races. Today there would be races for the Historic Racing Driver’s Club (HRDC) as well as Motor Racing Legends. The first session was for the HRDC Gerry Marshall Trophy. This would be for “Group 1.5” cars and the Willhire class for production saloons. 31 entries made for a crowded grid which was topped by Michael Whitaker Jnr, in his Rover SD1. The Willhire Class was topped by Ken and Tim Clarke in their Volkswagen Sirocco. In the race the Chevrolet Camaro of Young/Young would triumph. Jonny Horsfield in his Alfetta would win the Willhire class after the Clarke Sirocco broke a drive shaft on the penultimate lap.

The morning continued with the MRL Pre 63 GTs topped by Spiers/Greensall in a Shelby Cobra, the HRDC Dunlop Allstars topped by Michael Whittaker Senior in a TVR Griffith who would win in the afternoon, the MRL “Mad Jack” pre war Sports Cars where Pole was taken by Rudiger Friedrichs in his Alvis Firefly Special, he would go on to win the race later and, the HRDC Jack Sears Trophy with Michael Whittaker Jnr in a Ford Mustang on pole. This race was won by Guy Smith in hs Lotus Cortina.

The lunchtime break took the same form as Saturday with the BBMF Spitfire waving its clipped wings overhead and the Bentley Le Mans Prototypes blasting around the circuit.

There were lots of Jaguars racing. The Pre 63 GTs included seven E Types including the winning Huffaker E Type of Stanley/Cottingham.

None of this could happen without the officials and marshals who voluntarily give up their weekends so people can go racing and/or enjoy spectating.

Many thanks to the XJS Club, Ian Evans, Dave Clarke, Carol and Michael Blain and all the XJS attendees for a wonderfully sociable weekend.

A full set of photos can be found here.