The Motor Racing Spectator

The 66th running of the 750MC's Birkett Relay saw The Spectator off to Silverstone on a slightly misty Autumnal morning. An incredible entry of 70 teams meant that with the unique relay format, there would always be 70 cars on track for the duration of the 6 hour race...all being well!  I'd been to a few Birkett's in the past, even to the one-off 12 Hour relay at Snetterton in June 2000. Those were the days when enthusiasm knew no bounds!! My last Birkett was in 2004 on the National circuit at Silverstone that suffered from lots of accidents due to massive speed differential on the small National circuit layout. The 750MC then took the very wise decision to shift the event to the full GP circuit layout and the event continues to flourish with a capacity grid entering every year for the end of season gathering. 70 teams entered the 2016 version of the famous relay. With teams from the wide variety of championships run by the 750MC plus entries from other clubs, there ...

It was Finals weekend at Donington for the BRSCC...as it was for the BRSCC at Silverstone too on the same weekend! A very nice position to be in for the BRSCC to hire 2 circuits to give all their portfolio of championships and series a conclusion to 2016 racing activities. After a period in the wilderness several years ago, I have to say that the the good old BRSCC have returned  to former glories which is fantastic to see. All we need now is for the BARC to up their game and improve then the club racing scene in the UK will be very strong. Caterhams and their many forms were the headline act for the weekend at Donington. I only attended on the Sunday of the 2-day meeting and Saturday had seen the first race in double-headers for all the Caterham championships plus a couple of Historic Racing Drivers Club races that were only out on Saturday. The weather forecast for Sunday morning looked horrendous but, with the season quickly heading to it's conclusion, it was time to dust of...

October...Chilly mornings...rapidly darkening evenings....leaves falling...but perfect for Motor racing! Indeed it was perfect early on Sunday morning with not a cloud to be seen in the East Midlands skies. It was far from perfect the previous day as racing had to be abandoned following the lunchbreak due to heavy rain. All in all 7 races were lost, so organisers for the weekend, the 750MC added time onto those championships racing on Sunday in compensation. 13 races were scheduled for Sunday and the previous days only real casualty was the 45 Minute Roadsports encounter that was lost and could not be accomodated on Sunday's timetable. At least those who lost a race on Saturday could sleep well in the knowledge that Sunday would bring better weather and a chance to race! Unsurprisingly given the previous days deluge, the asphalt was glistening wet as qualifying began. After 3 sessions it was time for racing to start with Sport Specials kicking things off. Indeed the Sport Speci...