1971 Brabham BT34

This was one of the competitors in the F.O.R.C.E. Pre-1972 Classic Grand Prix Cars Race at the Coys International Historic Festival meeting at Silverstone in July 2000.

It's the 1971 Brabham BT34, a car designed by Ron Tauranac who placed the car's radiators in front of the front wheels in order to fit a wing to give downforce at the front. Because of the unusual look of the bulky radiators at the front of the car the BT34 was dubbed the 'lobster claw'. Only one BT34 was built and it was powered by the 2,993cc V8 Ford Cosworth DFV engine. Graham Hill drove the car in the 1971 season without much success, his best result being fifth place in the Austrian Grand Prix, although he did win the International Trophy Race at Silverstone. In 1972 the car was driven by Carlos Reutemann and Wilson Fittipaldi, the best result being Carlos Reutemann's win in the non-Championship Brazilian Grand Prix. It was driven in this race at Silverstone by Ean Pugh.

1930 Rolls Royce 20/25

This is a photograph that I took on Salford Crescent during the Lancashire Automobile Club's Manchester to Blackpool Veteran and Vintage Car Run in June 1966.

It's a 1930 Rolls Royce 20/25, a car that was produced from 1929 to 1936 with a 6-cylinder inline 3,669cc engine. The programme of the event had this note about the car:

153.  Modern Age Motors, Preston. (Driver - J.D. Fildes).

         1930 Rolls Royce Open 4-seater Tourer 25.3 h.p.

1913 Sunbeam 25/30 Torpedo

This is a photograph that I took at the Vintage Sports Car Club's meeting at Oulton Park in May 2005.

It's a 1913 Sunbeam 25/30 Torpedo, chassis 5320, with a 6-cylinder inline 6,098cc engine. It looks like it should be one of the cars entered in the Concours D'Elegance, but it's not listed as such in the programme of the event. The DVLA record says that the car has been untaxed since October 2013.

Friday’s Ferrari

I took this photograph of one of the competitors in the Corse Clienti Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli race at the Ferrari Racing Days meeting at Silverstone in September 2017.

It's the Ferrari 488 Challenge of USA driver David Lim, a car which has a 670hp 3,902cc V8 turbocharged engine developed from that of the Ferrari 488 GTB.

 

This is what Ferrari said about the Ferrari Challenge series of races:

 

'Over 1000 drivers have taken part in it, 100s of races have been disputed, while the overtaking, the thrills and the fun are incalculable. We are talking about the Ferrari Challenge, the most renowned single-marque championship, that has been bringing together dream cars and esteemed clients on the world’s most picturesque tracks since 1993. A competition for those who, not satisfied with just driving their Ferraris on the road, feel the urge to compete in top-level sprint races. The Ferrari Challenge is divided into three continental series: Europe, North America and the Asia-Pacific series, which celebrated its inaugural season in 2011. A further English national series was added in 2019.Challenge races are always hard fought and battle-filled, allowing the driver to fully savour the excitement that only the track can give.'

1938 Auto Union D-Type

This is a photograph I took at Donington Park on the straight between the Old Hairpin and Starkey's Bridge in May 2001 at the Vintage Sports Car Club's Richard Seaman Memorial Trophies meeting.

It's a 1938 Auto Union D-Type which Audi had brought to the meeting together with a 1937 Auto Union C-Type and various other vehicles which were displayed in the paddock, and some of which took part in demonstration runs round the circuit. The Auto Union D-Type chassis was based on the previous year's C-Type, but the engine was of a completely new V12 design. With the displacement limited to just three litres it had a capacity of 2,986cc and a Two Stage Roots-Type Supercharger producing 420 bhp at 7000 rpm. Another major change was the move of a single central mounted fuel tank to two side-tanks, which enabled the driver to sit further back in the chassis. There were only four races in the 1938 European Grand Prix Championship, three of which were won by the Mercedes Benz W154 and one by Tazio Nuvolari in an Auto Union D-Type.

1937 Lagonda LG45 TT Replica

This car competed in a handicap race at the Vintage Sports Car Club's meeting at Oulton Park in August 1996.

It's the 1937 Lagonda LG45 TT Replica of Colin Bugler which has a 6-cylinder inline 4,453cc engine that is a modified Meadows unit. It was produced from 1935 to 1937.

Silverstone 1998 - 1950’s Sports Car Race

This is a photograph that I took at Luffield corner during the 1950’s Sports Car Race at the Coys International Historic Festival meeting at Silverstone in July 1988.

The car disappearing on the left hand side is Peter Hardman's 1957 Aston Martin DBR1 and following that is Nick Linney's green & yellow Lister Jaguar Knobbly, hidden behind which is Alan Minshaw's 1959 Maserati T61. Number 10 is Martin Stretton in Peter Scott’s 1955 Maserati 300S and behind that is Rob Walton’s White & Blue Maserati T61. The silver car following this group is Don Shead’s Kurtis 500S. In the background, from left to right, are Tony Smith's Aston Martin DB3S, Ron Gammon's Lotus Eleven, David Heynes' Lister Jaguar and Adrian Hall's Lotus MkX Bristol.