Phew, a pretty busy weekend. My experience of this event before this year, was as a driver in either a historic touring car or an MGB. So I never really considered the geography, other than where the next corner was. This place has hills!

I arrived early Friday morning and popped into the media centre to sign on. For obvious reasons photographers and media folks need to be easily identified so a nice white tabard with a big number 134 on the front and rear was handed to me. I was also reminded about the “red areas” where photographers were prohibited to stand. These are in locations where a stray wheel, part of a car or even a car, can jump the barriers.

Friday morning was taken up with free practice sessions and so an eclectic mix of cars shared the track. This would change for the afternoon when qualifying for Historic Formula Ford 2000; the 500 Formula; the Superformance Ferrari Club Classic Series; and, the Historic Formula Junior cars would set qualifying times for their first races on Saturday.

During the morning I took the opportunity to visit the XJS Club who were setting up on the banking overlooking Cascades. They would be there all weekend with different visitors each day.

I spoke to Ken and Tim Clarke of Ken Clarke Motorsport, who were running the glorious sounding Group 2 Rover SD1 for A. JOSE DE ALBUQUERQUE MOREIRA VALE in the MRL Historic Touring Cars race. before heading off to seek out various locations to take photographs. Of course the standard Lodge Corner view was a must, but where else would provide good viewing?

Having taken note of the red zones at Old Hall corner, I wandered down to Hislops which is the second chicane on the full circuit. Exiting here, the cars run through Knickerbrook and up Clay Hill toward Druids. I took the opportunity to photograph from the outside of Knickerbrook on Friday before climbing up Clay Hill.

The run up Clay Hill and towards Druids is quite picturesque and allows for long views back towards the pedestrian bridge, or panning shots on the flat run to Druids. That would be for tomorrow when I would take a few photographs of the Historic Grand Prix Cars and the HSCC 70s Roadsports and Saloons, sets of both can be found here.

I went back to Lodge and walked the reverse direction to Druids but the light wasn’t favourable so photography wise, a wasted journey. The day was finished and feeling somewhat tired I made for the car and eventually the hotel. When I checked my fitbit, I had covered 25000 steps during the day! Time for a cold beer and something to eat. Speaking of which, I found lots of bites from various insects on my arms and hands, I got these at Druids because the bushes and trees leave little room behind the barriers.

Saturday dawned bright and sunny but the forecast showed rain later in the day. As mentioned I went to the top of Clay hill and took a few shots before heading back to Lodge, where I stayed for quite some time because the showers made for exciting viewing, (and pictures).

I took time to go down to the Cascades side of Hislops to be entertained by the leaning angles of the F500 drivers, they appear to be trying to fall out when cornering!

The cars run along the the Hilltop Straight and dive down into Hislops, where hard braking can cause lock ups. There is an escape road for those who can’t make the turn but I didn’t see it used while I was there. Lots of action in the CSCC Special Saloons and Sports cars qualifying entertaining the spectators, likewise watching the Derek Bell Trophy F5000 cars braking down to turn into the chicane before driving through it was impressive.

First out of the blocks on Saturday morning was the HSCC Formula Ford 2000 Championship race. As with the other championships this weekend there were two races, race one on Saturday and race ten on Sunday. Samuel Harrison won both but second in race one was Ben Glaswell followed in third by Jordan Harrison. On Sunday Graham Fennymore was second, followed home by Ben Glaswell.

Races two and 18 were for Historic Formula Junior cars. These diminutive Formula One cars of the late fifties and early sixties were the forerunner to Formula 3. In most cases they show the design philosophy of the major racing car manufacturers of the time. Anyone who remembers the 1966 film Grand Prix will recall seeing these cars acting as formula one cars of the period.

Sam Wilson’s Lotus 20 ran out as victor in race one followed by Clive Richards’ Lotus 22 and Horatio Fitz-Simon’s Brabham BT6. Race two saw Horatio Fitz-Simon’s Brabham BT6 victorious, with Sam Wilson and Clive Richards filling the podium.

Races three and 16 were for the Superformance Ferrari Club Classic Series. Wayne Marrs’ Ferrari F355 Challenge ran out the winner in race one and Tristan Simpson’s Ferrari F355 Challenge took the spoils in the red flagged race two.

With names like “Erskine Staride Mk3”, “Cousy No 2” and “Effyh Bryfan Tyddyn Spl” it’s no surprise that these diminuitive racers are an eclectic bunch. But their drivers provide entertainment by chucking them around a every opportunity. I suspect that in order to make any progress braking (if there is any) would be minimal hance lots of slifding and interesting angles.

In race 1 n om Waterfield’s Cooper Mk9 was followed home by Alex Wilson in (or is it on?) a Cooper Mk10, and Peter De La Roche in a Cooper Mk5 in third place. Race two was a similar result other than Alex Wilson and Peter De La Roche swapped places.

Races 5 and 14 were for the Classic Sports Car Club JMC Racing Special Saloons & Modsports – Tony Sugden Trophy. Races for modified sportscars and saloons, once again there were some interesting examples, the Morris Minor V8 being one. Simon Allaway’s Lotus Esprit Silhouette Special took the spoils in race 1 and Andy Southcott in his extrememly tidy MG Lenham Midget took race two.

Races 6 and 11 were for the Historic Formula Three cars, otherwise known as “Screamers”. These races were allocated the the title of “Historic Gold Cup” in honour of the 60th anniversary of the category. Andrew Hibberd’s Brabham BT18 took the race 1 win from Michael O’Brien’s Tecno F3 and Enrico Spagiarri’s Lotus 41X. This race was marred by a start line accident which led to a fairly long delay. Fortunately nobody was hurt. Hibberd won Race 2 ahead of Spagiarri and Peter De La Roche (Alexis Mk17).

A combined grid for the HSCC’s Historic Touring Cars / Historic Roadsports & 70s Roadsports – Sir John Whitmore Trophy, was won by Connor Kay in his TVR Tuscan, followed acroos the line by Elliot Paterson Morgan Plus 8 and John Williams Porsche 911SC. Race two was won by Connor Kay followed by John Williams and in third Jim Dean’s Lotus Elan S4.

Races 8 and 15 were for the Historic Grand Prix Cars Association – 70th Anniversary of Gold Cup. Rudi Freidrich’ Cooper T53 was vistorious in race one followed hom by Andy Wiliis’ BRM P48-7 and Charlie Martin’s Cooper T53. Charlie turned the table in race two and he was followed home by Rudi Freidrichs and Mark Shaw in a Lotus 21 937.

If big bangers are your thing then look no further than races 9 and 13 for the Derek Bell Trophy. Eight Formula 5000 cars were entered along with a number of Formula 2 cars. Micheal Lyons in his Lola T400 was a run away victor in both races. Variety in the top three was provided by Mark DwyerTrojan T101 and Neil Glover in a Chevron B37 in race one; and, Steve Ross in a very attractive McRae GM1 finished second in race two.

And so to races 12 and 20 the Vintage Sports Car Club – Egerton Cup. Lots of Frazer Nash entries together with a good selection of other marques provided entertainment throughout the field. Skinny tyres means lots of sliding around. Emerging from the excitement to win race 1 was Theodore Hunt (winner of the Pomeroy Trophy in February) Frazer Nash Super Sports from Robert Beebee’s Frazer Nash TT Replica and Doug Cawley in his GN/Ford ‘Piglet’. For race two some drivers swapped cars thus Eddie Williams (in Clive Fidgeon’s Frazer Nash TT Replica) ran home the winner ahead of Patrick Blakeney-Edwards in the car driven by Theodore Hunt in race one and, Wilfred Cawley in the GN/Ford ‘Piglet’, was third again.

A rather depleted grid of Historic Touring Cars took to the track for their only race of the weekend, a 50 minute two driver affair. Ric Wood had problems with his Skyline in Qualifying so went home and returned with his spare version. He would start from the back and take the lead on lap two before retiring on lap 4. Jason Minshaw’s Holden Commodore led for two laps before retiring, leaving Darren Fielding’s BMW E30 M3 to win from the Burton/Pattle Holden Commodore VLSS and the Nick Bartlett BMW E30 M3.

But the Gold Cup isn’t just about racing cars, there are areas set aside for car clubs to gather. One such is the XJS Club, others include the MG Car Club North West Region, The Morgan Owners Group and the Gilbern Owners Club. There are also general areas for classics to park on the slope overlooking Cascades. On a bright summer’s day what more can a petrol head want?

That’s it. Thanks to MSVR who gave me Media Accreditation on behalf of Tripos Media and thanks to all the drivers/teams/organisers and of course the marshals for making it happen.