The Motor Racing Spectator

For the first time in 2016 it was time for a visit to Leicestershire's "other" motor racing circuit, Mallory Park. Long gone are the days of a meeting every Sunday at Mallory (Cars or Bikes),indeed this was the first car meeting of the season. With only 6 car meetings scheduled this year, The Spectator felt the need to journey the 20 miles South down the A447 to Mallory.  The last few years have been tough for Mallory. Previous circuit operators, BARC, left the circuit ( celebrating it's 60th Birthday in 2016!) in somewhat of a mess both physically and legally. The physical scars are being tidied up gradually, but a tightening up of the noise limits imposed at the circuit by the local council have seen a drastic reduction in race meetings compared to the glory days of the past. The new operators, Real Motorsport, seem enthusiastic about the circuit's future but one wonders what does the future hold for the small 1.35 mile speed bowl around the lake. Ironica...

After a 3 week break The Spectator dusted off the Thermos and Ruck Sack and got his backside trackside again. Silverstone was the venue as the fantastic Blancpain GT series rolled into "The Home of British Motor Racing" After almost going to Brands Hatch the week before for the Sprint version of the Blancpain series, it was a no-brainer to head to Silverstone as a 52 car entry was declared for the 3 Hour Endurance Cup race on Sunday afternoon. While the World Endurance Championship does cater for GT machinery, it's fair to say that the Le Mans Prototypes steal the headlines somewhat so the Blancpain series gives an opportunity for entrants to battle on a more even playing field. I say even playing field but a Balance of Performance equation is used to keep a certain level of parity throughout the grid consisting of various examples of Audi R8, Bentley Continental, Jaguar G3, Lamborghini Huracan, Nissan GT-R, Ferrari 458/488, Mercedes-AMG, BMW F13 M6, Aston Martin Vanta...

After just about thawing out following the snow of Silverstone the week previously, it was time to return to Donington and a good looking Motor Sport Vision Racing organised meeting. Yet more snow was forecast earlier in the week but thankfully none materialised on a day that started cold and sunny and ended cold and damp (ish)! This was the second day of a 2 day meeting and, as MSVR are one of the leading organising clubs in the country, a large entry saw the Donington paddock full on Sunday morning. Kicking off racing was a 32 car grid for the VAG Trophy. The massed ranks of VW's plus the one SEAT always provide some lively racing and did so today with a pair of very good races. Race 1 was spoilt though with half the race taking place under the safety car, indeed finishing under the safety car frustratingly following a car recovery from the gravel trap on the inside of Craners. Darelle Wilson taking the flag but in race 2 was a first lap spinner at Redgate leaving the win to ...

Compiling the fixture list over the winter, the weekend of April 16/17 saw a glaring fixture clash the likes of which only British motorsport could come up with! World Endurance at Silverstone...Touring Cars at Donington..British GT/F3 at Brands Hatch plus the Historic Sports Car Club's 50th Anniversary meeting at Castle Combe....Crazy really and a shame that such a situation could occur but not exactly a surprise. As I'm a huge fan of the fantastic LMP1/LMP2 prototypes seen in the World Endurance Championship and European Le Mans Series there was only one place to be on this particular weekend. The night before, The Spectator was alarmed to see that Snow was forecast for Saturday morning! Knowing that Silverstone is always 10 degrees colder than what is actually forecast then I knew full well that snow would be a factor come the day itself! Travelling down the M1 it got gradually wetter and as the WEC cars came out for Practice at 9.00am sure enough the rain turned to snow...

For the first time in 6 years, The Spectator visited Oulton Park in Cheshire for a 750MC organised meeting. Indeed the 750MC hadn't run a meeting at Oulton since 2009 so a re-visit to one of the country's most scenic circuits was overdue for both club and fan! As I travelled to Oulton in pouring rain early on Saturday morning, I was wondering why I had chosen this particular day to travel to Cheshire but thankfully the rain was steady rather than heavy so no chance of any flooded circuit (unlike the cancelled Castle Combe Easter Monday meeting...) Due to local planning law, Oulton very rarely sees track action on a Sunday so the vast majority of meetings are one day Saturday only affairs. It's quite a rarity these days to spectate at a 1-day meeting and there's a purity somehow to seeing everything qualify AM, then race PM, then go home! 11 races were scheduled for the club's championships that weren't out to play at Donington 2 weeks before. So double ...

After 2 weekends where cars merely turned left or right twice each lap at Birmingham Wheels and Hednesford, it was time to head to my first circuit action of the season where turns are slightly more numerous! My spiritual home of Donington Park was the venue and resident club at the circuit, the 750MC were the organisers. I attended on the Sunday of the 2 day meeting and 12 races were scheduled on the venue's National circuit. The definite star championship of the day were certainly the masses ranks of Toyota MR2's, the vast majority being the Mk2 version. 48 cars were entered and a two-thirds format was used so all drivers got 2 races out of the 3 on the programme. Not only did the MR2's provide the days biggest grid but also provided the days best action with all 3 races being entertaining affairs.  750MC have a wide variety of championships on their portfolio and after pioneering the "Hatch" phenomenon of the late 90's/early 00's it was good ...

After a superb meeting at Birmingham Wheels the previous weekend, it was more National Hot Rod action for The Spectator and Hednesford Hills Raceway the venue. Built in the early 1950's on the site of a disused reservoir, Hednesford is known as one of the best short circuit oval venues in the UK. Viewing is excellent with large grandstands at either end of the raceway plus large grass banks on which to perch chairs and blankets on. Situated high up overlooking the town of Hednesford and nestling on the edges of Cannock Chase the first time visitor would struggle to work out that there is a motor sport venue in town! As a child I absolutely adored watching Banger Racing on ITV's World of Sport with Dickie Davies. School was merely something to get through each week before Saturday's would arrive and I sat glued to the TV. Hednesford was a staple diet on the box in those days and with only 4 channels to watch from it was incredible exposure for the sport. I begged my Dad...