This year’s Race Retro, held at Stoneleigh Park from 12th to 14th March, 2010, is serving up a hearty feast of cars for lovers of historic motor sport, giving enthusiasts to get up close to cars they usually only get a passing glimpse of on rally stages or race circuits.
Pushing the boundaries of historic motor sport is Dennis Welch Motorsport with its record-breaking Austin-Healey 100, which late last year, at industry test track Millbrook, took numerous British and International speed records. The car achieved a top speed of 152mph, up on the works car record set in 1954. (See Austin-Healey Speed Record Photo Gallery).
A delectable line-up of Lister Jaguars – the Cambridge-built sports cars that took the big manufacturers on at their own game and won – will also be showcased. Examples of the earliest models – including founder Brian Lister’s first car, through the classic Lister ‘knobbly’ and Costin-bodied models and onto the 1990s’ Storm, which saw the name’s revival, will be reunited with the man behind the marque.
Meanwhile, representing the later historic era is Juha Kankkunen’s Group A Lancia Delta Integrale rally car, which is fresh out of a sympathetic restoration.
The Historic Sports Car Club has a selection of cars representing the eras and grids it caters for, including a 1964 Dodge Dart and a 1962 Jaguar E-Type, along with a Macon Formula Ford single seater, 1964 Merlyn sports racer and a 1972 Royale RP11 Formula 3 single seater.
Two true rarities on show are a Peerless and a V8 Firenza. The Peerless, built in Slough not far from the Mars Bar factory, is a former factory press car but has been modified for greater performance. Fewer than 350 Peerless cars were made between 1957 and 1960 and when the company folded the model was resurrected as the Warwick, at a factory in nearby Colnbrook.
The V8 Firenza is a tribute to fire-breathing models built in South Africa to rival Ford’s V8 Perana Capri. Badged as Chevrolets in South Africa, a 302 cubic inch (4949cc) engine was squeezed under the Firenza’s bonnet, creating a car with plenty of power, but in a nimble, European-sized package. The Firenza on show is based on the early ‘70s works cars and is lined up for a full historic rally programme throughout 2010.
Adult ticket prices start from just £20 for Friday and £15 for Saturday and Sunday when booking in advance. Children’s tickets are £5 on Friday or Saturday and free on Sunday. Parking is also free throughout. The show is open from 9.30am each day and closes at 5.30pm on Friday and Saturday and 4.30pm on Sunday.
To book tickets and for the latest updates, visit www.raceretro.com.
[Source: Race Retro]
