News

Now here’s a thought, by the end of the month we will be closer to next Christmas than we were to last! 

Looking back, the good spring weather continued as we enjoyed our first fully televised meeting for 50 years with some amazing racing.
The Mighty Minis opened the meeting and we thought it wouldn’t get much better, but then our own Saloons, then Formula Fords and then the Super Mighty Minis were all vying to out do each other as the race of the day. 

There were so many notable performances it would impossible to list them all but everyone was delighted to see Steven Jensen take two Formula Ford wins by the closest margins and Louise Inch, the current Mighty Mini Champion, win the nail bitingly close Might Mini Race.  We are hoping that Louise will be back for the MiniWorld Action Day in September to offer some lucky prize winners the chance to sit alongside her for fast laps of the circuit.  Or what about Adam Prebble taking to the grass on the final run to Camp to overtake a back marker and win the Saloon race. 

Japfest was bigger than ever, and trying to squeeze so many people into the car parks inevitably caused traffic hold ups, so apologies to those who were kept waiting but we are sure it was worth the wait. 

A great Car Boot Sale raised £1346.00 for Friends of Bybrook School, whilst the Steam Rally raised a large amount for Wiltshire Air Ambulance and in-between hundreds of enthusiasts have enjoyed a day out whether on our car or motorcycle track days, the Castle Combe Racing School or the many other events run by other organizations. 

So here we are with May drawing to a close and June looks if anything more hectic still.  

Bank Holiday Monday Race Meeting 

But just a quick reminder for our last event of May, our First Line Japanese Race Day this coming Monday 30th May.  We’ve managed to squeeze 13 races into the afternoon, so it is an earlier start than usual at 12 noon with Castle Combe Racing Club really on their toes to deliver the type of package that other organizations would be pleased to run over 2 days. 

If you are in to Japanese sports cars which inevitably provide close and exciting racing then you are in for a treat with races for Mazda MX5s, Toyota MR2s and the Nippon Challenge which features a whole range of Japanese built cars. 

The Castle Combe Championships for Formula Ford, Saloons and Sports & GTs make up the balance of the meeting before we head to the first of the summer’s double headers. 

June Events

Saturday 4th June – BikeSafe and Castle Combe Track Day 

Back for a second year and organised by Gloucester Police is a road safety day with a difference.  Bikers can book to enjoy a road route with Police Advanced Motorcyclists who will advise on road riding techniques, before returning to the circuit for a briefing and the chance to ride Castle Combe Circuit.  And all for the bargain price of £25.  At the time of writing there are a very limited number of places available so please see the Police website www.avonandsomerset.police.uk 

But that’s not all on the day, as there is paddock based stunt display, the opportunity to ride Mini-Moto bikes and a demonstration by local British Superbike hero, Tommy Bridewell.  Add in displays from some of the regions leading retailers, clothing and accessory manufacturers, plus a free bouncy castle for the youngsters and free entry to get in and you have a special day.  The gates will open at 08.00 and the circuit from 09.30. 

Saturday 11th June – Classics and Sports Cars Action Day & Auction 

Our second Action Day of the year and a complete contrast to the Performance Day back in April, but with over 1,000 classic, collectable and cherished cars on display throughout the paddock area plus track action all day on the circuit then there is lots to see and enjoy. 

For those arriving in cherished cars, come in via the Camp Corner Car Park and you will be directed to a special display area.  The central paddock area is turned over to a display of trade sites and our featured clubs of the show including Austin Healey celebrating their 50th Anniversary, a rare chance to see many of the original Morgan Threewheeler cars, the Capri Mark 1 Club with their National Rally plus clubs covering just about every spectrum of classic cars right through to modern sports cars.  Remember too, that this is an event where you can drive your classic on the circuit either on our escorted laps where you drive at a steady pace behind a pace car or open sessions which are segregated between classics and modern cars or what about taking part in our Giant Classic Cruise at lunchtime where we expect some 200 cars to circulate the track slowly allowing drivers to enjoy the experience with friends, family and youngsters. 

On the day tickets will cost £10 for Adult Admission, with track passes available at £35.  The Circuit opens at 09.00. 

The Auction 

Running alongside the Action Day in a separate area of the paddock (with its own parking and costing £10 to enter separately), is an exciting Classic Car and Automobilia auction, run by Richard Edmonds (www.richardedmondsauctions.com). Key highlights of the auction include: 50+ historic cars, 20+ classic motorcycles and 450 lots of automobilia. There’s pre-war cars including a 1927 Amilcar CGS (est: £25,000-30,000), a 1930 Lea Francis Hyper replica (est: £55,000-60,000), a 1932 Riley 12/6 Lynx tourer (est: £25,000-30,000) and post-war classics including a superb 1959 MGA (est: £20,000-22,000), and a good selection of MG B's and Midgets. There’s also a number of commercials, the highlight being a 1943 AEC petrol bowser with a huge file of history, including being used to refuel the Lancaster bombers before their dambusters raid! In terms of motorbikes, there’s a pair of Vintage Scotts with a combined value of £10,000. 

And amongst the automobilia, there will be a large collection of rare motoring enamel advertising signs, many worth several thousand pounds. 

Sunday 12th June – Car Boot Sale 4 

Although Car Boot Sales need no introduction to our regular visitors, just a reminder that they make a great morning out, you can enjoy breakfast in the Tavern before looking out for that bargain around the stalls.  If you are selling then arrive from 07.30 and enter via the Quarry Corner Gate where you will be directed by our security staff, pitches start from just £8.  If you are buying then enter by the Camp Corner Gate or the Chippenham Road Gate for 09.00 and enter the sales area via a 50p donation with Yatton Recreation Association benefiting. 

Saturday 18th / Sunday 19th June – Summer Racing Carnival, featuring Tour Britannia 

A race meeting with a difference and our first 2 day race meeting of 2011.  Saturday will see over £50 million pounds worth of cars arriving as part of Tour Britannia the country’s leading classic car rally/tour.  For part of the day the circuit will be converted into a giant special rally stage as drivers first go against the clock, before being quickly converted back to a race circuit. 

Paddock 2 will be crammed full with service trucks as the cars will also leave the circuit during the morning to compete in a special stage at nearby Badminton Estate.  The Tour will then depart and Sunday the circuit will be put to its more usual use with a full race meeting, including races for the VAG Trophy, Open Saloons, Open Sports & GTs, Classic Club and of course rounds of our own championships for Formula Fords, Saloons and Sports & GTs.  

Cars for Tour Britannia start arriving from 08.00 with circuit racing from 11.00 with the special spectator stage from 15.45.

Sunday’s conventional race meeting will see race qualifying starting from 08.30 with racing from 12.30. 

Admission charges are Saturday, Adults £10, OAPs £5, under 16s admitted free.  Sunday, Adults £15, OAPs £7.50, under 16s admitted free, Paddock Transfer £2.50. 

This is the first time that a rally of this status has visited the circuit since the Avon Tour of Britain back in the 70s and represents a unique, spectacular opportunity for both racing and rally enthusiasts alike.  

Saturday 25th / Sunday 26th June – The Bristol Motorcycle and Light Car Club Celebrate their 100th Anniversary  

It was enthusiasts from the Club who converted the ex Air Field into a race circuit back in 1950, so without their hard work we may not be enjoying the racing today. 

The weekend opens with a Sprint, for competitors a great introduction to grass routes motorsport and, for spectators it’s free.  On Sunday the Club have arranged for vehicles which have played a significant part in the history of motoring and motorcycling during those hundred years to park up in the paddock area, again admission is free for a display that will make a fitting tribute to the club’s centenary year and of course a perfect setting at Castle Combe Circuit for which the Club, justifiably can claim responsibility.  

Bike News 

As in previous years, the Honda Team chose Castle Combe Circuit for some pre-TT tyre testing.  The newly formed Honda TT Legends Team of John McGuinness and Keith Amor with new Pagetts signing, Bruce Anstey collectively completed hundreds of laps of the circuit in early May to ensure they go to the TT in great form.  

Keith is the only one of the trio not to yet have lapped at 130mph, achieving only “129.801 mph” last year.  So given good weather he should smash the barrier and enjoy what is an exclusive club. 

Also on the bike front is our Police run BikeSafe and Motorcycle Track Day details of which are shown elsewhere, but on the safety side we have our first of 2011 motorcycle Rider Performance Safety Day on Wednesday 1st June and there are still places available if you want to book quickly.  Contact Emma on 01249 782417 or email emma@castlecombecircuit.co.uk to enjoy this different approach to road safety training which is a lot of fun but one day could save you in an accident.  

Archive News 

With a huge amount of work put in over the years by our archivist, Pete Stowe, we confidently believe that we have the most comprehensive archive of any circuit in the UK.  Pete’s attention to detail and research is legendary and we have been able to use details on the circuit’s history to good effect on many occasions as well as assisting others with research. 

Joining Pete over the last few years has been local Chippenham motorcycle enthusiast Mike Newbury, who has complimented Pete’s skills on the four wheel side by adding his considerable bike knowledge and contacts to increase the content we have which we are putting to good use this year, our 60th anniversary of motorcycle racing. 

Whilst undertaking some local research in Chippenham a comment was made to Mike that “my husband has a few pictures of Castle Combe if you would like to use them”.  This led Mike to Bill Riley of Bradford on Avon and some 800 pictures later!!  Our archive both on the two wheel and four wheel side is considerably strengthened photographically.  The most recent supplied by Bill included pictures of Derek Warwick racing here back in 1975, Denny Hulme in the 1976 Texaco Tour of Britain, several of Nigel Mansell from September 1976 and even Brands Hatch owner and ex Formula 1 driver, Jonathan Palmer competing in his Marco GT.  Apart from our gratitude to Bill for giving us permission to use his photographs it was also good to find out that the circuit played a pivotal role in Bill’s life.  Racing here in the 60’s he was taken out by another rider at Old Paddock and seriously injured and taken to Frenchay Hospital.  One of the nurses who treated him later became his wife Anne, who was the contact with Mike earlier this year. 

June’s Diary 

Wed 1st June - Rider Performance Day

Sat 4th June - Bikesafe & Castle Combe Track Experience

Wed 8th June - Motorcycle Track Day

Fri 10th June - Racing School

Sat 11th June - Classics & Sports Cars Action Day & Auction

Sun 12th June - Car Boot Sale

Fri 17th June - Car Track Day

Sat 18th/ Sun 19th June – Summer Racing Carnival, Featuring Tour Britannia

Wed 22nd June - Motorcycle Track Day

Sat 25th/Sun 26th June - Bristol Motor Club Sprint & Centenary Celebration