VSCC Cadwell Park Event Report

Sunday saw a fantastic turn out at Cadwell Park for the Vintage Sports-Car Club’s (VSCC) second race this season, such was the demand for event programmes, the Club Secretary’s copy was sold to a final lucky spectator. 

 

There had been changeable weather reports, Thursday forecasting 23 degrees and endless sun, while Saturday evening dictated a steady stream of rain all day, but Competitors and Spectators were still excited for the event to begin. Morning practice sessions took place in a cloudy but warm atmosphere, and by the time the first race of the day began the sun had finally made its appearance. 

 

 

Kicking off the race timetable was the VSCC’s Owner Driver Mechanic (ODM) grid with the Melville & Geoghegan Trophies Race for Standard and Modified Pre-war Sports Cars. This grid is always highly anticipated, promising some exciting viewing as some of the quickest and nimblest of the small cars compete with their larger-engined counterparts. The ODM certainly did not disappoint on Sunday and was ultimately won by three familiar faces: Chris Mann in the Alfa Romeo 8C Monza taking first, Sue Darbyshire in her Mogan Super Aero following closely behind, and Clive Fidgeon in the Frazer Nash TT Replica bringing up the rear. 

 

Next up was the Len Thompson Memorial Trophy Race for VSCC Specials, another crowd favourite. This race was red flagged and finished two laps early. The Len Thompson Memorial Trophy is quite close to the Club’s heart, having run for nearly two decades, and this year we were delighted to have Brenda Thompson join us and present the Trophy to race winner Alexander Hewitson in his Riley 12/4 Special. Joining Alexander on the podium steps were Anthony Seber in the Wolseley Hornet Special in 2nd, and Mark Groves in the GN Piglet of Dougal Cawley 3rd.

 

 

 

 

New to Cadwell this year, and encouraging a number of new Frazer Nashes to come and play were the Joé Frazer-Nash Trophy, (named in memory of the younger daughter of the founder of the marque, Captain Archie Frazer-Nash), to include several Frazer Nash & GN Specials, most of whom race regularly within the VSCC; and the Bolzano Trophy, named after one of the Club’s infamous Raids to the South Tyrol, featuring a selection of more standard, road-going cars and a few novice racers as well. First up was the Bolzano Trophy Race providing a fascinating array of Nashes we don’t often see on track and we are delighted to have had Robert Moore and the GN Special he piloted join us at the podium with his first ever race win! 2nd was the crowd pleasing GN Thunderbug of Mark Walker, and 3rd was David Johnson in a Frazer Nash Super Sports.

 

 

Later in the timetable spectators enjoyed the faster Nash Race, particularly entertaining to watch were husband-and-wife duo Simon and Jo Blakeney-Edwards. Simon and Jo had been dicing together most of the Race before Simon suffered a mechanical failure, or maybe it was just better to let Jo beat him. Keeping in with the family, Patrick showed his normal speed and consistency to take the win, closely followed in 2nd by Andrew Smith, but probably Driver of the Day sitting in third place was Eddie Williams in the single seater Frazer Nash Supers Sports of Mike Gibbs. After stalling on the grid and eventually beginning the race positioned second to last as they left, Eddie showed great skill and determination as he stormed through the grid to eventually claim third. This actually wasn’t Eddie’s first podium of the day, having already stood upon the 3rd podium step in the Williams Trophy Race after an equally spirited performance. 

 

 

In true handicap fashion, Race 5 – Fast Handicap Race for Pre-war Cars – culminated in a very close finish, seeing the first half dozen or so of the grid ending extraordinarily close together. Thanks to the close driving the final lap had spectators on the edge of their seats, holding their breath as the finish approached. James Potter took full advantage of the huddled pack and worked his way through to first in the closing lap. An honourable mention is also due to Charlie Goldspink, in the Frazer Nash Acedes he shares with his father, who finished second. Especially nice to see him on the podium after he had to withdraw from Silverstone earlier this year - even if he did have to be towed back to the Paddock after finishing the race! Race 9, and the second handicap race of the day, seemed less accurate with James Miles in his Austin 7 Special winning by a proverbial mile, although this may have had something to do with the rain that finally descended in the penultimate race of the day. 

 

The final race of the day was, for those that braved the rain to enjoy it, an enthralling watch! Ian Baxter, first on grid, showed determination and great skill as he flew his Alta 61 I.S. Single Seater around the windy track of Cadwell Park. Undeterred by the now consistent rain fall and increasing pressure from a flying Patrick Blakeney-Edwards equally determined to take the win. Ian handled the Alta like a professional and deserved the win, rounding off a wonderfully entertaining and successful Cadwell Park Race Meeting. Patrick also took the Vintage Seaman trophy in this race.

 

 

Next up with the VSCC is Donington Park, 9thJuly. The Club promises more fantastic historic motorsport, friendly rivalries, and amongst the days 10 races will be the return of the award winning Longstone Light Car Race - proving that sometimes the slower the race the louder the cheers.