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RACE RETRO - HISTORIC MOTORSPORT SHOW 2007 - 23-25 Mar 07Posted: March 28, 2007 9:19 AM - 7809 Hits
Posted: March 28, 2007 9:19 AM
Race Retro: unprecedented success VISITOR NUMBERS UP BY 20 PERCENT TO ALMOST 25,000 Stoneleigh Park welcomed almost 25,000 visitors to Race Retro, the International Historic Motorsport Show, on 23-25 March - 20 percent up on last year's attendance. "We're delighted with this evidence of the show's growing popularity, particularly in the current tough market," said Event Director Ian Williamson. Exhibitors were similarly pleased with the outcome. Proteus Cars sold four of its superb, all-aluminium Jaguar C-type re-creations at the show: two to UK customers, one to America and one to Austria. "The show gets bigger and better every year," said Matt Beverley, Chairman of Proteus Cars Ltd. "It's a great international event, with visitors of all nationalities." Chevron Cars sold the first two production road cars ever made by the company, the stunning Chevron B1 Mk2; Westfield Cars is following up some 100 sales leads gathered at the show. "Over the three days of Race Retro, we assembled a Westfield XI on our stand," says Managing Director of Westfield Sportscars, Julian Turner. "We had several visitors on day one who came back again on days two and three, specifically to see how the build progressed." Not only manufacturers enjoyed a successful event. "The place was humming with interest," said Sarah Hutchison, Chairman of the Classic Sports Car Club, and her view was repeated by exhibitors across the show. Friday and Saturday proved particularly busy, with both trade and public flocking in to see the many highlights. Among these were. . . :: MOTORCYCLES A breathtaking display on the TT Centenary stand, including a superb number of ex-works bikes, often accompanied by the heroes who rode them (such as Jim Redman and the Honda RC164-103 four-cylinder 250, on which he won the 1964 Lightweight TT); the recreation of the Ace Cafe, which served food and drink all through the weekend; the Pre-'65 Motorcycle Trial on Saturday and Sunday in the indoor arena, with its rocks, logs and water. A final highlight was the reunion of British team riders with the original works bikes which represented Great Britain in the International Six Day Trial - the 'Olympics' of motorcycling. :: RALLYING & RALLYCROSS The 1953 and 1954 Alpine Rally cars displayed by the Sunbeam Talbot Alpine Register, with Stirling Moss's MKV21 in pride of place; on the British Rallycross Drivers Association stand was the Porsche 911 in which Vic Elford won the very first rallycross 40 years ago (in 1967). Elford himself was at the show, signing copies of his new book. Outdoors, such legends of the sport as Michele Mouton, Stig Blomqvist, Bjorn Waldegard, Russell Brookes and Pentti Airikkala thrilled the crowds, driving Group B rally cars on the specially-created asphalt stage. :: RACING Race organisers came along in force: The Masters Racing Series, Motor Racing Legends, the Historic Grand Prix Cars Association, the Historic Sports Car Club, Under 2-Litre Touring Cars and many more, displaying rare and valuable machinery on their stands. Exhibits included the 1955 Ferrari 500 Mondial on the Motor Racing Legends stand, loaned by Gregor Fisken; and a fabulous pair of Ferraris on the Masters Series stand - a 1970 Formula 1 Ferrari 312B and a 1972 World Sportscar Ferrari 312PB, both with 3-litre, 12-cylinder engines and both ex-Jacky Ickx cars. :: CELEBRITIES Pentti Airikkala, Richard Attwood, Derek Bell, Gordon Blakeway, Stig Blomqvist, Johnny Brittain, Russell Brookes, Willy Cave, John 'Moon Eyes' Cooper, Andrew Cowan, Vic Elford, Tony Fall, John Giles, Mick Grant, Paddy Hopkirk, Gordon Jackson, Tony Mason, Sammy Miller, Chas Mortimer, Michele Mouton, Frank Perris, Phil Read, Jim Redman, Jack Sears, Colin Seeley, Rosemary Smith, Stuart Turner, Bjorn Waldegard, Barrie 'Whizzo' Williams, Charlie Williams, Mike Wood - these were just some of the famous names seen at the show this year. :: THE INDUSTRY The Welsh Assembly (the regional government) showed great initiative in "bringing Wales to Race Retro", with a spread of Welsh engineering and rallysport companies, relatively small businesses who benefited from being part of a larger group at the show. The Motorsport Academy's classic and historic training initiative got off to a great start, with around 20 colleges bringing students from across the UK to see the whole industry under one roof. "Our 440 exhibitors rose to the occasion," concluded Event Director Williamson, "with unprecedented standards of presentation and outstanding exhibits. We were thrilled to see so many enthusiastic visitors and we're already looking forward to next year's show." Race Retro, the 4th International Historic Motorsport Show, combined live action events with 440 stands, covering 70 years of historic motorsport on both two wheels and four; on road, off road and on track. The organisers would like to thank the show's sponsors: Bonhams; Proteus Cars; Hagerty (insurance sponsor); The History Channel; "Octane" magazine (Awards Dinner sponsor); Millers Oils; and Footman James (motorcycle sponsor). More information & Photos available on the event website: PRE EVENT NEWS
14/03/07 MODERN CLASSICS AT RACE RETRO Watch a Westfield XI being assembled; see Chevron's first road car; or take a test drive! Westfield, Chevron, Morgan and Marcos are 'instant' classics - with the benefits of a modern motor, but the presence of a classic sports-racer. All four manufacturers have something very special to show visitors to Race Retro, the International Historic Motorsport Show, at Stoneleigh Park from 23-25 March 2007. What's more, all four are offering test drives at the Show. . . Westfield Sportscars will be assembling the first of the 25th Anniversary XIs, live on Stand B12 in Hall 2, during all three days of Race Retro. "During the build, there will be question and answer sessions," says Managing Director of Westfield Sportscars, Julian Turner; "and after the Show, the completed car will be auctioned for charity." Westfield will also launch the first of its customised tool chests - designed specifically for the building of Westfield cars. The tool chest will be raffled off, with the proceeds going to charity. Meanwhile, on Stand A24 in Hall 2, Chevron Racing Cars Ltd will unveil the company's very first production road car, the Chevron B1 Mk2. Styled on the model designed by Derek Bennett in 1965, the B1 Mk2 lives up to its heritage in both looks and performance. Using a Ford 1600cc World RoCam engine, the car costs £20,000+VAT on the road. Visit the Chevron stand to see it. If you like what you see, book an immediate test drive outside at Stoneleigh Park! On Stand C20 in Hall 2, you can learn the latest from both Morgan and Marcos - and see a current model from each. The Morgan-Marcos stand is managed by Richard Thorne Classic Cars, who will display a Morgan Roadster Lightweight, the 'turn- key' race car based on the fabulous V6 road car. Thorne can also tell you more about his affordable, fixed-price race package for would-be racers who are new to the sport - and even arrange a test drive of the production road car outside at the show. Meanwhile, Marcos is exhibiting the TSO R/T on the stand. Engineered and manufactured by Prodrive, the chassis is matched to an aluminium V8 engine which - with its 'cross-over' exhaust system - produces what Marcos describes as "the best automotive sound track in the industry". Again, test drives (of the coupe version of the TSO) are available at Stoneleigh Park. Race Retro, the fourth International Historic Motorsport Show, combines live action events with over 400 exhibition stands, covering 70 years of historic motorsport on both two wheels and four; on road, off road and on track. Race Retro 2007 runs from 23-25 March at Stoneleigh Park, near Coventry. More information is available on the official website: 08/03/07 Whether your passion is rallying or racing, on two wheels or four, fans of historic motorsport are invited to meet the stars at Race Retro, the International Historic Motorsport Show at Stoneleigh Park on 23-25 March. A record number of heroes from all branches of the sport are coming to the Show, welcoming the public in a series of hour-long autograph sessions on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Where else can you find such a huge variety of motorsport legends, happy to chat and sign autographs with the many visitors to Race Retro? The schedule for meeting the stars is as follows: Friday 23 March 09.30 - Show open to the public (until 17.30). 10.00 - Show officially opened by Jim Redman, Phil Read and Frank Perris. 10.30 - Autograph session: Jim Redman, Phil Read and Frank Perris (until 11.30). 13.00 - Autograph session: Tony Fall, Willy Cave and Mike Wood (until 14.00). 15.30 - Autograph session: Andrew Cowan, Tony Mason and Stuart Turner. Saturday 24 March 09.30 - Show open to the public (until 17.30). 10.00 - Show officially opened by Michele Mouton. 10.30 - Autograph session: Michele Mouton, Rosemary Smith and Bjorn Waldegard (until 11.30). 13.00 - Autograph session: Pentti Airikkala, Stig Blomqvist, Russell Brookes and Paddy Hopkirk (until 14.00). 15.30 - Autograph session: John Giles, Gordon Jackson, Gordon Blakeway, Sammy Miller and Johnny Brittain (until 16.30). Sunday 25th March 09.30 - Show open to the public (until 16.30). 10.00 - Show officially opened by Richard Attwood, Vic Elford and Derek Bell. 10.30 - Autograph session: Richard Attwood, Vic Elford and Derek Bell (until 11.30). 13.00 - Autograph session: Colin Seeley, John Cooper, Charlie Williams, Chas Mortimer and Mick Grant (until 14.00). For those who wish to spend more time with motorsport celebrities from rallying, racing and motorcycling, tickets to the star-studded Charity Awards Dinner on Saturday 24 March 2007 are available to members of the public for £75 each. The black-tie dinner is held at the Chesford Grange Hotel, near Stoneleigh. Race Retro, the fourth International Historic Motorsport Show, combines live action events with over 400 exhibition stands, covering 70 years of historic motorsport on both two wheels and four; on road, off road and on track. 28/02/07 EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE GIVEN NEW HOPE AT RACE RETRO "Where can I find my staff?" There is a recognised skills shortage in the historic motorsport industry; hence there are extensive employment opportunities for young people willing to learn new skills. But until now, there has been a problem. The majority of businesses in this sector are small, owner-managed companies, reluctant to recruit unskilled staff. At the same time, there has been no single, nationally co-ordinated training programme throughout the industry. This is about to change, thanks to the formation of The Motorsport Academy. "We are taking a central stand at Race Retro, the International Historic Motorsport Show at Stoneleigh Park on 23-25 March, to explain how we plan to address the training problem," said David Allison of The Motorsport Academy. "The UK has long needed a recognised national training programme to meet the demand for skilled technicians and practical engineers in the exciting and rapidly-growing world of historic motorsport. This requires both funding and co-operation from industry and educational establishments to deliver the required training. "With the formation of the Motorsport Academy, data from FIVA and FBHVC research [see below] and the database of companies collated by the International Historic Motorsport Show, we believe there is now a basis for working with education and training providers to develop a nationwide training programme." The Academy stand at the Show will be adjacent to an area dedicated to education and training providers interested in this sector. Race Retro, the International Historic Motorsport Show, is uniquely positioned to bring together all parts of the industry under one roof. It is thus the only place for students to see the historic motorsport world as it really is. Race Retro, the fourth International Historic Motorsport Show, combines live action events with over 400 exhibition stands, covering 70 years of historic motorsport on both two wheels and four; on road, off road and on track. 22/02/07 FRESH HIGHLIGHTS AT RACE RETRO Latest attractions at the International Historic Motorsport Show An all-new London to Sydney Marathon, which in 2008 will celebrate the 40th anniversary of the original event, is to be launched at Race Retro, the International Historic Motorsport Show at Stoneleigh Park on 23-25 March 2007. A faithful replica of Andrew Cowan's winning Hillman Hunter - complete with kangaroo-bar, plus wheels and toolbox on the roof - will be the central feature of the London to Sydney Marathon stand at the Show. Rosemary Smith, who competed on the 1968 event, has been asked to unveil the 2008 route, which will include a full overland drive to India, in keeping with the concept of the original 1968 Marathon. Route consultant John Sprinzel, who drove his home-prepared MG Midget on the 1968 Marathon, comments: "This could be the most authentic historic rally so far. Original route, original cars to the correct specifications, and roads that haven't changed much in 40 years." The rally will feature a full crossing of both Iran and Pakistan on the way to India, something which has not been driven since the second London to Sydney of 1977. The London to Sydney Marathon is just one of the Show's 400-plus exhibitors. The latest attractions to be announced include: :: The British Rallycross Drivers Association will exhibit at the Show for the first time in this, the 40th anniversary of the first-ever rallycross. The BRDA plans to display both the 1983 Xtrac Escort, plus the Porsche 911 in which Vic Elford won that first 1967 Rallycross, 40 years ago. Elford himself, legendary race and rally driver of immense versatility, will be reunited with the car when he opens the Show (along with Derek Bell and Richard Attwood) on Sunday 25 March. :: One of the Honda RC45 motorcycles raced by the late Joey Dunlop OBE, MBE, will appear on the TT Centenary stand. The bike, property of the Dunlop family, is the actual machine on which Joey won both the TT and the Ulster GP. Linda Dunlop, Joey's widow, will attend Race Retro and will be a guest at the Show's Charity Awards Dinner on Saturday 24 March. The dinner will support the Joey Dunlop Foundation, benefiting people with disabilities (see www.joeydunlopfoundation.com). :: Many motoring clubs will use the Show to promote special activities of their own, such as the Classic Sports Car Club's "trip of a lifetime" to race at Daytona, as guests of the Historic Sportscar Racing Club of America. Club Chairman Sarah Hutchison says: "Our stand at Stoneleigh will be focused on the Daytona trip, and also letting people know about our prize draw for all the marshals who sign on with us in 2007 for a pair of tickets to fly with us to Daytona in November." :: A new feature for 2007 is the doctor available at the Show to undertake Race Licence medicals, including stress-testing. Dr Mark Green is in charge of this project, and appointments must be made in advance by email to drmagreen@aol.com or 24-hour answer machine on 01737 821550. Race Retro, the fourth International Historic Motorsport Show, combines live action events with over 400 exhibition stands, covering 70 years of historic motorsport on both two wheels and four; on road, off road and on track. 29/01/07 MEET THE STARS OF RALLYING, RACING & MOTORCYCLING AT RACE RETRO Michele Mouton, one of the most successful and best-known female rally drivers of all time, will open Race Retro, the International Historic Motorsport Show, on Saturday 24 March 2007 - and will then drive her famous 1985 Pikes Peak Hillclimb-winning 500bhp Audi S1 Sport quattro on the rally demonstration stage. Audi team legend Mouton is among many stars of rallying, racing and motorcycling who will meet visitors, sign autographs and - in some cases - even take part in the live events at the Show. Other stars include: Friday 23 March 2007: The Show will be opened by three heroes of the motorcycle world: Jim Redman, Phil Read and Frank Perris, who were in fierce competition in the 250cc World Championship throughout the 1960s. Redman, riding for Honda, secured the 250 World Championship in 1963. Read, riding for Yamaha, took the 250 World title the following year and again in 1965 and 1968. Meanwhile, the Suzuki works team was led by Frank Perris, who - despite the fact that Suzuki's 250 was not as well-developed as the rival Honda and Yamaha machines - kept the pressure on the dominant Read/Redman duo throughout that golden era. Race Retro will see the three team leaders reunited with each other, and with the motorcycles which they rode in their heyday. Saturday 24 March 2007: Opening the Show on Saturday is one of the best female rally drivers of all time, and certainly a match for her illustrious Audi team-mates Hannu Mikkola, Walter Rohrl and Stig Blomqvist. Highlights of Michele Mouton's career include the 1981 Sanremo Rally, when - with co-driver Fabrizia Pons - she took the first outright WRC win for the Audi team, for the quattro, for a four-wheel drive car, and for a female driver! In 1982, Mouton achieved outright WRC wins in Portugal, Greece (Acropolis Rally) and Brazil. At Pikes Peak in 1985, Mouton took the works Audi S1 to victory, ascending the hillclimb's 19.96km, 157-bend gravel road in just 11min 25.39sec. Now, 22 years after that momentous day, she will be re-united with her 500bhp Audi S1 on the Race Retro live rally stage. Sunday 25 March 2007: Opening the Show on Sunday are Richard Attwood and Vic Elford, two legends of motor racing who were team-mates at Le Mans in 1969, sharing a Porsche 917 in the car's first 24-hour race. Elford and Attwood led much of that memorable event, before they were forced to retire. "I wouldn't have been driving if Vic hadn't put my name forward," Attwood once said, "something I only discovered a few years ago. I'll never forgive him!" Attwood went on to take Porsche's first ever outright Le Mans win the following year, while Elford's career saw him win the 1968 Monte Carlo Rally, the Daytona 24 Hours, the Targa Florio and the Nurburgring 1000Km. Access to the live action on the Saturday and Sunday of Race Retro is free to all ticket-holders, along with 450 exhibition stands covering 70 years of historic motorsport on both two wheels and four -- on road, off road and on track. 05/01/06 LIVE EVENTS AT RACE RETRO Unbeatable action at the 2007 International Historic Motorsport Show Race Retro, the International Historic Motorsport Show, promises a better-than-ever spread of live action to entertain the expected 20,000 visitors at the 2007 event. To be held at Stoneleigh Park from 23-25 March, the live action will take place on Saturday and Sunday and includes such exciting spectacles as: :: Group B rally cars in high-speed displays on the rally special stage in Stoneleigh Park, featuring cars and stars from this most exciting of all rallying eras. See Lancia 037 and Delta S4, Porsche 911 and Audi quattro, Peugeot 205 Turbo 16 and Opel Manta 400, plus many, many more top rally cars from Fiat and Ford, Triumph and Renault, slipping and sliding in the hands of the experts. Star drivers are likely to include Pentti Airikkala, Stig Blomqvist, Russell Brookes and Bjorn Waldegard. :: Historic karts -- which proved so popular at last year's show -- are back, but with double the number of entries. In celebration of the 50th anniversary of kart racing in the UK, some 40 karts from the 1960s will be put through their paces on the outdoor rally stage, driven by such heroes as former World Champion Reg Gange, 1978 British Champion Bob Phair, and multiple British, European and World Champion Martin Hines. Look out, too, for Barrie Williams, Dick Tarrant and Tony Keele. :: Championship-level autotests, organised by the British Trials & Rally Drivers Association (BTRDA), will be held indoors for the first time. The drivers, including both current and former champions of the sport, will display their car control skills on two, parallel courses, in a variety of classic and classic-based cars. For those who have never seen autotests at this level, the displays offer a breathtaking demonstration of extreme precision driving. :: The pre-1965 classic motorcycle trial is also indoors, complete with a challenging array of rocks, logs and water. Visitors to the 2006 show were impressed by the sight of these classic motorcycles, many with sidecar outfits, tackling a very demanding course. . . This year will be no easier on the riders! Access to the live action on the Saturday and Sunday of Race Retro is free to all ticket-holders, along with 450 exhibition stands covering 70 years of historic motorsport on both two wheels and four -- on road, off road and on track. Race Retro 2007 runs from 23-25 March at its usual venue of Stoneleigh Park, near Coventry. Advance one-day tickets cost £18 (two-day ticket are £35). Official website 17/12/06 CLUBS FLOCK TO RACE RETRO Stands at Race Retro 2007, the 4th International Historic Motorsport Show at Stoneleigh on 23-25 March, are being taken at such a rate that the main hall is almost sold out -- with four months still to go! Among the most enthusiastic are the motoring and motorsport clubs, keen to bring more of their members to the world's only show dedicated to historic motorsport. Already, more than 50 clubs with motorsport connections (on two wheels or four) have joined a scheme to offer ticket discounts to their members. The discounted tickets, representing a £3 saving on the Show's on-the-day ticket price -- and £5 off a two-day ticket -- are being promoted through individual club magazines. Organisations already involved in the scheme include Audi Club, Classic Rally Association, Federation of British Historic Vehicle Clubs, Ferrari Owners' Club, Hillclimb & Sprint Association, Historic Rally Car Register, Jaguar Enthusiasts' Club, Lotus 7 Club, Lotus Drivers' Club, MG Car Club, MG Owners' Club, TR Register and Vintage Sports-Car Club. More clubs are joining every week. Chris Cunnington, General Manager of the TR Register, explains the enthusiasm: "We had such a wonderful time at last year's Show that we wanted to encourage as many of our members as possible to be there in March. People need heroes, that's what it's all about, and Race Retro showcases the cream of historic motorsport. Discount tickets are a way to help more of our members share the experience." Aside from the reduced cost of entry, there are other benefits for club members: :: A Club Class Lounge will be open to any motoring or motorsport club member, simply by presenting your club membership card. :: Any visitor arriving at the Show in a classic car will be directed to a free car park (saving £5 per day), close to the exhibition halls and Club Class Lounge. :: Each club participating in the scheme will benefit by retaining a portion of the ticket price. :: Club members buying discount tickets will, of course, have full access to all exhibition halls and all the live events, plus access to the auction preview on the Friday, as well as the Club Class Lounge. Race Retro, the International Historic Motorsport Show, is THE industry show for classic competition cars and bikes, on road, off road and on track. Visitors to the Show are promised a tremendous spectacle -- from the 450 exhibitors, through the live classic motorsport action, to meeting stars of the sport. Race Retro 2007 runs from 23-25 March at its usual venue of Stoneleigh Park, near Coventry. Advance one-day tickets cost £17 (two-day tickets are £30) to members of participating clubs, against the normal on-the-day price of £20 (or £35 for two-day tickets). 25/07/06 Europe's premier winter show for historic motorsport is back, at the same venue -- Stoneleigh Park, near Coventry -- but with a new date: 23-25 March 2007. The new date, a full month later than previous shows, offers the promise of better weather and longer daylight hours. The 4th International Historic Motorsport Show will combine live action events with over 450 exhibitors and feature displays in the venue's four main halls -- capturing the thrills and nostalgia of over 70 years of racing, rallying and motorcycles in a classic motorsport festival weekend. Now in its fourth year, this show is recognised across the industry as THE historic motorsport show for the competitor, enthusiast and an excellent day out for families to experience a breathtaking collection of cars, bikes and celebrities from the 1930s to the 1990s. As always, there will be plenty to entertain the show's expected 20,000 visitors. Outdoors, there will be an active rally stage and kart racing in the park; indoor activities will include live autotests, plus a classic motorcycle trial, complete with mud and rocks! All motorsport disciplines will be represented, on two and four wheels -- track racing, speed events, rallies, hillclimbs, trials and autograss will all be included. Historic and classic event organisers from across Europe will be supported by engineering, car preparation and accessory companies, displaying the best examples of cars and bikes available. There will be a major auction on site, along with the annual Historic Motorsport Awards, while private car sales are catered for, along with artists, memorabilia, book sellers, models and the motorsport autojumble. Further details, including ticket prices, will be announced in the next few weeks. Meanwhile, more information is available on the official website
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