2015-07-19-10-02-47-P2040070

The annual  Nostalgia weekend at Shelsley Walsh this year was three celebrations all rolled in to one event. Five times Le Mans winner Derek Bell was the main guest of honour, on the 40th anniversary of his first Le Mans victory. He drove his famous Porsche 956 Le Mans winning car up the hill twice on Sunday, as well as driving the Broadspeed Jaguar XJ12 Coupe which he had raced in the European Touring Car series in 1976. The Jaguar was present as part of the Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust display to celebrate 60 years since the last works entry at Le Mans. They had arranged for the Broadspeed Jaguar to be present along with a Le Mans Jaguar XJR9 from 1987 and the famous Bob Tulles Group 44 Jaguar E Type from America which won the 1975 SCCA Championship in America. All these cars made demonstrate runs up the famous Shelsley Walsh hill climb course over the weekend. The sight and sounds of these superb Jaguars as they roared up the hill will be remembered for  long time by the large crowd of spectators who lined the hill. Many of the crowd had dressed in period costume from the 1940s, 50s and 60s and there was a ‘fashion’ parade in the courtyard to select the best dressed male and female, along with 40s music and dancing demonstrations.

The competitive field for the hill climb competition were all in vintage or classic cars or suitable replicas, like the three GT40s. There was also a class for Chevron racing cars to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the company. It was fitting that the Fastest time of Day on both Saturday and Sunday went to local driver Keith Harris in his 1973 Chevron B25.

© By Simon & Janet Wright

 

 

Continue reading