The Motor Racing Spectator

Hello loyal readers...or is that reader?! I type these words on March 8th 2022, on the cusp of Spring and the start of another year of Motorsport action. as you can see I have compiled fixture lists for both two and four wheeled circuit disciplines, mainland only, and hope they are a useful tool to help plan the year ahead. As always please check before travelling! The last two years have seen the Covid pandemic dramatically change the lives of many in the UK and around the world. With two radically altered seasons, racing in the UK has had to adapt new methods and, despite the many challenges, has seen entries and demand for motorsport either stay healthy or remarkably increase the appetite for those who want to compete.  For those whose main interest is to watch motorsport, the last two years have brought about change aswell. Buying tickets in advance was made compulsory, no access to paddocks and, talk about sacrilege!, the end of the printed programme in many cases. There has b...

With the governing body of the sport, Motorsport UK granting permits to go racing again in July it was with some relief that, not only was Motor racing allowed to resume, but thankfully spectators were to be allowed to watch! Motor Sport Vision (MSV) were very keen to get fans back through the gates as restrictions were lifted but other circuits were either reluctant to re-open or in some cases, forbidden to resume activities. The devolved Welsh government had differing standards regarding Covid control and both welsh circuits, Anglesey and Pembrey suffered greatly. Pembrey saw their entire fixture list cancelled and Anglesey only managed to run a single 750MC organised meeting in September that was used as a trial event to monitor how to police a large sporting gathering. The fact that there wasn't another meeting in Wales after this probably meant that the Welsh authorities didn't like what they saw at Anglesey!! Silverstone did resume racing  and ran two Grands Prix in Augus...

Following the Winter show season it was time to settle down, wait for March to roll around and go and watch some Motor Racing. Alas this proved to be wishful thinking.... The news of a virus spreading in China initially, although worrying, seemed a far distant problem that wouldn't affect the rest of the world. The Chinese F1 Grand Prix and Formula E race in Sanya, China were cancelled and that seemed to be that.  Having painstakingly compiled a 2020 fixture list for UK racing, the season looked to be shaping up nicely, however it wasn't to be... The spread of the Corona virus became global and reached these shores in February culminating in the Prime Minister announcing a nationwide lockdown of all non-essential activity beginning on March 24th. The governing body, Motorsport UK, announced that all branches of the sport would have permits rescinded with immediate effect. Initially until the end of May it was quickly extended until the end of June. July would be the earliest th...

AUTOSPORT INTERNATIONAL SUNDAY 12TH JANUARY 2020 The New Year means only one thing and a visit to the National Exhibition Centre near Birmingham for the Autosport International show. With a free ticket thanks to being a member of the BRSCC, the show is a good way to start off the year and see the health (and wealth!) of the sport we all love. The show was being opened by Monegasque Ferrari F1 driver Charles Leclerc on this particular Sunday and in anticipation of a large crowd I arrived early at the colossal complex that is the NEC. The entrance I chose contained neither a Ferrari F1 driver or a ribbon and a pair of scissors so my entrance was a fairly quiet and subdued one! Indeed I didn't get to see Monsieur Leclerc at any time whilst in the show alas.  As you can see from the photos below I did see Finnish 1981 World Rally Champion Ari Vatanen circulating amongst the crowd during my visit.  One of the highlights of the show was a fantastic exhibition to mark the 70th anniv...

Sunday 8th September and the second day of the 750 Motor Club's 80th Anniversary meeting on the National circuit layout at Donington Park, the home of the 750MC. With a huge entry of 360 cars across the weekend this was a show of strength from a club that puts it's competitors first with sensible entry fees and affordable categories for the club racer to take part in. There were 16 races scheduled for Sunday following 4 qualifying sessions in the morning and racing kicked off with the 5Club Mazda MX5 Cup. A grand total of 35 of the little Mazdas were entered with quite a few BRSCC regulars getting track time. Michael Comber and Ben Short taking a win apiece. Formula 1000 (nee Jedi) has transferred to the 750MC this season and it's hard to believe the series for the hillclimb derived Jedi chassis with 1000cc screaming motorcycle engines is in it's 23rd season of action. Matthew Booth and Lee Morgan sharing the wins. The Clio 182 Championship raced just the once on ...

Apologies for the rather graphic picture of my left foot below but this explains why there is no July 2019 chapter for the blog! With a run of 4 meetings on the trot in June it was time for a rest so there was only one meeting planned for July and that was at Cadwell Park on July 21st for a good looking 750MC meeting. With a ticket costing £12 already bought in advance, I instead spent the morning of July 21st in my local drop-in clinic seeking advise as to why my left foot had apparently suffered a burn of some description whilst walking on my job as postman the day before! Driving to Cadwell was out of the question much to my disappointment and to this day I am none the wiser why it happened. Answers on a postcard please??!                                                           Sunday 11th August (and still far from 100% fit)...

Sunday June 2nd saw The Spectator at Donington's only "Grand Prix" sadly these days with the annual Superkart Grand Prix, organised by the British Automobile Racing Club (BARC) After just one qualifying session for the MG Owners Club at 9.00am it was straight into a full day of racing with 16 races on the card. Interestingly the meeting should have took place on the full 2.5 mile GP layout but was shifted to the smaller National circuit late in the days leading up to the event due to a lack of Marshals available to man the GP loop's extra posts. The Britcar Endurance championship that only races on the Saturday weren't too happy but I have to say that the racing on Sunday was improved by using the shorter configuration.  Shortage of Marshals has become another hot topic in 2019 and one which needs to be addressed for the sport to continue in it's present form. As an avid spectator for 30 years, there have been times when I've considered marshalling...