John Keats opened his celebrated poem “to Autumn” with the line “Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness,” reading it, one thinks of relaxing in warm pubs, or sitting by the fire at home enjoying a nice claret.

Well it’s October and Autumn is well into its stride. Days get shorter, but race meetings are still buzzing with competitors starting the day nervously pushing cars through scrutineering, just hoping that the missing yellow tape on the battery earth doesn’t disqualify them.

Equipe Classic Racing Silverstone National 4th October

This organiser kicks off the month with a visit to the Silverstone National Circuit. This one day event features grids from Equipe: Libre, GTS, 70s, Sports Racing Cars, 50s and Pre 63.

Historic Sports Car Club Finals Silverstone National 11 – 12th October

Join us at the Historic Sports Car Club (HSCC) Finals, where the past comes alive on track. This event is a celebration of motorsport heritage, featuring a stunning array of classic and historic racing cars.

HSCC

This one includes grids for; the Alfa Romeo & Italian Intermarque Championship, Classic Formula Ford: SDC , Derek Bell Trophy: Nova / HPT, Guards Trophy GT, Guards Trophy SR, Historic Formula Ford, Historic Formula Ford 2000, Historic Roadsports, 70s Road Sports, Historic Saloons Pre ’66.

Motor Racing Legends including HRDC – Silverstone GP Circuit 18 – 19 October.

A now traditional event on the Motor Racing Legends calendar, this one includes the first running of a new initiative, The Generations Trophy. Each team is equipped with an FIA MGB and the idea is for families to race together. Each pair of drivers includes two generations of the same family sharing the drive. The pit stop timings could prove interesting, because the standing time is based on the combined age of the team. 100 years or over allows for the shortest stop time. Time to apply for that bus pass?

Looks like good fun, but other races on the card are: Pre War Sports Cars; Royal Automoblie Club Woodcote and Stirling Moss Trophy; Historic Motor Racing News Pre ’63; Royal Automobile Pall Mall Cup; and, Historic Touring Car Challenge including the Tony Dron Trophy. Added in to the mix, the HRDC brings The Jack Sears Trophy, The Gerry Marshall Trophy and the Dunlop Allstars racing with the Classic Alfa Challenge.

Classic Sports Car Club – oulton park international 18th October

A packed day of racing, featuring grids from the Classic K Series, CSCC Mike Hawthorn Jaguar Challenge Series, CSCC Adams & Page Swinging 60s Series, CSCC Advantage Motorsport Future Classics Series, CSCC Modern Classics Series, CSCC Magnificent Sevens Series, CSCC Co-ordsport Tin Tops Series, CSCC Puma Cup Series, CSCC Turbo-Tin Tops and the CSCC New Millennium Series.

And that’s it. Historic and Classic motorsport doesn’t stop for Winter, but it is a lot less busy. There will be something for petrol heads in November (more on these later).

But, wherever you go this month, spare a thought for those drivers who still haven’t got yellow tape on their negative battery terminal.

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