Race Retro - 25-27 Feb 11

RACE RETRO GETS UNDER STARTERS ORDERS!

Posted: February 20, 2011 12:53 PM

Race Retro, the show that celebrates everything to do with historic motor sport, is under starters orders and is getting ready to roar into Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire, from 25-27 February.

Bringing together competition cars and motorcycles plus drivers and riders, there’s something for all enthusiasts, whether they like 1920s sports cars or 1960s and ‘70s racing motorcycles. Famous names from motor sport visiting Race Retro include riders Phil Read MBE and Giacomo Agostini as well as rally drivers Jimmy McRae and Miki Biasion, plus F1 ace Johnny Herbert, Jack Sears and Richard Attwood.

Special displays celebrate Italian car maker Lancia’s rallying success while Italian racing motorcycles have their own special display.

This year also marks the 50th anniversary of the Jaguar E-Type’s launch. The sleek Coventry-built sports car paved the way for later Jaguar sports cars, its looks defying its relatively low price, while its powerful engine gave it the speed to match its appearance. Today the E-Type enjoys a following as strong as when it was unleashed on an unsuspecting public.

With the Ace Café-sponsored Fire-Up paddock, bike enthusiasts can get up close and enjoy the sight, sounds and smells of racing machinery. Meanwhile the Live Rally Stage is back to popular acclaim on the Saturday and Sunday, giving visitors the chance to see historic rally cars in all their mud-flinging, flame-spitting fury.

There’s further action from the karting demos. Small in size, these pint-sized racing machines offer low-cost motor sport fun and are often the first step for those wanting a successful motor sport career.

A special display looks back to the Birmingham Superprix, an event where motor racing took to the city’s streets. Three cars that took part in the Superprix help retell this exciting chapter in UK motor sport history.

And there are plenty of specialists selling parts for competition cars and motorcycles, whether it’s crash helmets, lightweight wheels or engine parts, and for automobilia lovers specialists will be selling books, art works and model cars.

There’s also the H&H classic car and bike auction, giving anyone bitten by the historic motor sport bug the chance to buy a fresh set of wheels.

RALLYING WITH GROUP B RACE RETRO 2011 START LIST

Posted: February 9, 2011 2:28 PM

Year Car Driver Championship Colours Identity
0 1982 Porsche 911 SC Adrian Kermode (G) Porsche Chester ~
1 1992 Lancia Delta Integrale Mikki Biasion (G) WRC Martini
2 1985 Opel Manta 400 Russell Brookes (M) British Andrews Heat for Hire WS
3 1992 Subaru Legacy Jimmy McRae (M) WRC Works W
4 1996 Subaru 555 Ryan Champion (M) British 555
5 1986 Austin Rover Metro 6R4 Ali Serpen (M) WRC Computervision W
6 1986 Austin Rover Metro 6R4 John Marwood (M) French Export 33 O
7 1986 Austin Rover Metro 6R4 Lloyd Tredell (M) British Rothmans O
8 1986 Austin Rover Vitesse Adam Keeler (M) European Servis W
9 1986 Ferrari 308 GTB Tony Worswick (M) European Team WS
10 1986 Ford RS 200 Terry Maynard (M) ~ Works W
11 1986 Ford RS 200 Keith Dickens (M) Belgium Belga O
12 1992 Lancia Delta Integrale Justin Law (M) WRC Martini
14 1986 Peugeot 205 T16 EVO Kevin Furber (M) American Works O
15 2001 Peugeot 106 Graham Butler (G) British Works O
16 1996 Peugeot 306 Conor Flynn (G) British ~ O
17 1986 Renault 5 Maxi Turbo Neil Brighton (M) WRC Diac R
18 1984 Audi Sport quattro Andy Krinks (M) WRC Works R
19 1984 Talbot Samba John Jarrett (M) WRC Works R
20 1987 Ford Sierra Cosworth Jimmy McRae (M) British Works W
21 1985 Opel Manta 400 Russell Brookes (M) British Andrews Heat for Hire WS
22 1992 Lancia Delta Integrale Mikki Biasion (G) WRC Martini
23 1988 Lancia Delta Integrale Rob Whitehouse (M) Italian Totip
24 ~ Lancia Fulvia HS Tony Graham (G) ~ ~ ~
25 1971 Alpine A110 Charles Reynolds (M) WRC Works W
26 1973 Chevrolet Firenza Will Sparrow (G) SA Works R
27 1977 Fiat 131 Abarth Tim Parker-Garner (M) WRC Olio Fiat O
28 1978 Vauxhall Chevette HS Stuart Anderson (M) British Works W
29 1978 Triumph TR7 V8 Paul Hunter (M) British Works O
30 1979 Triumph TR7 V8 Chris Brikbeck (M) British Works
31 1981 Ford Escort MKII Alan Watkins (M) British Rothmans WS
32 1979 Ford Escort MKII Kevin Vaites (M) British Andrews Heat for Hire WS
33 1977 Ford Escort MKII Tim Bloxham (M) WRC Works W
34 1978 Ford Escort MKII Darrell Taylor (M) British Eaton Yale WS
35 ~ Ford Escort MKII Jim Whelan (G) ~ ~ ~
36 1979 Fiat X19 Prototipo Philip Morton (M) ~ Works R
37 1980 Talbot Sunbeam Lotus Russell Brookes (M) British Andrews Heat for Hire WS
38 1982 Talbot Sunbeam Lotus Julian Burch (M) WRC Works R
39 1980 Talbot Sunbeam Lotus Mike Barratt (M) WRC Works R
40 1978 Vauxhall Chevette HS Jimmy McRae (M) British Works W
41 1979 Vauxhall Chevette HS John Wood (M) British Team W
42 1981 Vauxhall Chevette HSR Gary Gee (M) British Shell Oils R
43 1986 Nissan 240RS ET Tony Walker (M) WRC Marlboro O
44 1988 Ford Sierra Cosworth Jason Lepley (M) WRC Andrews Heat for Hire WS
45 1987 Mercedes 190E Cosworth Jeff Williamson (G) WRC Snowbeck Racing
46 ~ Ford Fiesta ST Louise Cook (G) ~ ~ ~
47 ~ Aston Martin V8 Dave Appleby (G) ~ ~ ~
48 1983 Audi quattro A2 John Hanlon (M) Tour de Corse Works W
49 1973 Chevrolet Firenza Mick Strafford (M) SA Works R
50 Reserved Place

M = Member RwB G = Guest
W = Works WS = Works Supported O = Original R = Replica

MONTE CARLO RALLY’S CENTENARY STORY RETOLD BY COMPETING CARS AT RACE RETRO

Posted: January 19, 2011 11:39 AM

The Monte Carlo Rally celebrates its centenary this year and Race Retro is marking this motoring milestone with a selection of cars from different decades that have competed in this tough event. From 25-27th February, enthusiasts will be able to admire these amazing marques at Stoneleigh Park, Coventry.

Cars that headed to Monte Carlo from different destinations will be displayed, and while some came first overall, some finished further down the table. They represent the way the rally changed – from gentlemen competitors in large pre-war grand tourers, as exemplified by a 1931 Invicta 4.5-litre driven by Donald Healey that started in Stavanger and finished first overall to a replica of the 1953 winning Ford Zephyr Six driven by Maurice Gatsonides.

Smaller family saloons that also took place on the Monte are represented – there’s the 1966 Morris Mini Cooper S, driven by Timo Makinen and Paul Easter that was first overall but then disqualified on a technical infringement - a judgement that caused uproar in the motoring press as it then ensured a Citroen placed first. Three British sports cars that entered the Monte are also being shown. The 1962 MGA 1600 entered by East Anglian farmers Donald and Earle Morley takes a bow: The brothers started their MG from Oslo and came 28th overall, and first in class. The 1965 Sunbeam Tiger, crewed by Peter Harper and Ian Hall is proof it wasn’t just circuit racing in which the V8-powered sports car fared well: starting in London they came fourth overall and first in class.

And there’s another car driven by Maurice Gatsonides: a 1959 Triumph TR3A driven by the Dutchman started in Athens and finished 68th overall, giving the Coventry manufacturer a useful leg-up in the car-buying public’s perception.

Adult ticket prices start from just £20 for Friday and Saturday, £15 for 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.

RACE RETRO TURNS BACK CLOCK TO GOLDEN AGE OF RALLYING WITH LIVE ACTION

Posted: January 14, 2011 10:31 AM

A delectable selection of rally cars from the 1970s to the present day are out in force at this year’s Race Retro, held at Stoneleigh Park, Coventry from 25-27 February, demonstrating rear wheel, front wheel and four wheel-drive action on the Live Rally Stage, sponsored by Hero.

The live action, which takes place on Saturday and Sunday, sees rally ace Miki Biasion behind the wheel of the Lancia Delta Integrale he drove in the 1990s, showcasing the Italian car maker that 2011’s Race Retro is also celebrating. Joining the celebrations is the Lancia Fulvia HF, an authentic recreation of a 1970s works rally car driven by Tony Graham on his return from Monte Historique.

Also on the starting line is a Vauxhall Chevette HS works rally car, hopefully with original driver Jimmy McRae at the wheel in support of his charity, built by Bill Blydenstein's famous Dealer Team Vauxhall (DTV) outfit at Shepreth in 1978 and run by works manager Gerry Johnstone. The car, in Jimmy's hands, competed in numerous Rallies in 1978, and achieved 7th in Mintex, 2nd on the Circuit of Ireland, as well as starts on the Welsh and Scottish events.

'Jumping' Jeff Williamson will debut his recently acquired ex works FIA Group A Mercedes 190 Cosworth, built for Danny Snobek to drive in the 1987 Monte Carlo Rally. This is one of only seven cars built. The rally programme was subsequently abandoned when these two wheel drive cars were deemed uncompetitive against the crop of new four wheel drive cars. They were subsequently used for the European touring car racing series run on behalf of M-B by Danny Snobeck Racing.

The Firenza V8, a recreation of the 1972 South African GM Dealer Team car used by Jan Hettema, will also make another appearance after its debut in 2010. Only 100 of these 360 bhp cars were built as 'homologation specials' to compete against South Africa Fords, V8 engined Perana (Capri). Hettema himself gave builder Mick Strafford a great deal of technical advice and help with original details during the building of this car to ensure it is a faithful representation of the original works car.

Also in action will be three of the small yet mighty Metro 6R4s, which remain as popular with rally fans as they were 25 years ago. They are joined by two Ford RS200s, a pair of Opel Manta 400s, an Audi Quattro Sport and a Peugeot 205 T16 – models representing the pinnacle of mid-‘80s rallying.

There will also be an example of its arch-rival Ford Escort Mk2, a highly-rare Nissan 240RS and a Triumph TR7 V8. A brace of Talbot Sambas revives ‘80s-style club rallying and proves they can still be on the pace. The pinnacle of ‘70s rallying might is represented by Lancia, Race Retro’s celebrated marque, with a Stratos being joined by a Fiat 131 Abarth and, from the 1980s, a Fiat Strada Abarth.

And big car rallying is represented by a 1986 Rover Vitesse, this rear-wheel drive V8 providing ample evidence that family cars can be on the face just as much as cars with a more sporting pedigree.

There will also be Historic Kart demonstrations including an appearance by racing legend Johnny Herbert at the controls on Sunday!

Adult ticket prices start from just £20 for Friday and Saturday, £15 for 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

THINK RALLYING, THINK LANCIA AT RACE RETRO 2011

Posted: December 10, 2010 11:03 PM

Think rallying, think Lancia! That’s why it will be the celebrated Rally marque at next year’s Race Retro when it returns to Stoneleigh Park, Coventry in the earlier slot of 25-27 February. For decades the Italian car-maker, famous for its Fulvia, Stratos and 037 models, has been associated with one of the toughest – if not THE toughest – form of motor sport, which tests a car’s strength and durability to the max over many gruelling miles and hours.

There will be a magnificent static Lancia display in the Rally Hall (Hall 1) but it’s on the Live Rally Stage, sponsored by Hero, where the magic will come to life. The newly designed course proved a hit in 2010 with the drivers and visitors alike and the organisers are hoping to ‘up the ante’ once again with more modifications.

Few car-makers have enjoyed a strong rallying pedigree across several decades, but one that does is Lancia. The record books speak for themselves: the Stratos model took the World Rally Championship constructors’ championship crown three times (1974, 1975 and 1967) while the 037 did the same in 1983 and the Delta went on to win the six consecutive titles, from 1987 to 1992.

But it wasn’t just the cars that scored well – both Juha Kankkunen and Miki Biasion won drivers’ titles piloting a Lancia.

And today Lancias are a dominant force in historic rallying, recreating their illustrious past for a new generation of fans. So whether it’s a 1960s Fulvia HF, the much-loved ‘70s Stratos or the later 037, S4 and Integrale, Race Retro is bringing together numerous examples of the marque for a highly-deserved tribute.

Adult ticket prices start from just £20 for Friday and Saturday, £15 for 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

Race Retro (Historic Motorsport Show)

Event Website

Posted: October 9, 2010 1:25 PM

Race Retro (Historic Motorsport Show)