VSCC Autumn Sprint 2017

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Le Sprint d'Automne du Vintage Sports Car Club (VSCC) était leur dernier événement de vitesse de l'année. Habituellement tenu sur le circuit de Goodwood, cette année, il a déménagé à Rockingham dans le Northamptonshire, pour la première fois. Rockingham a été le premier circuit de course construit au Royaume-Uni depuis Brooklands en 1907 et dispose d'un circuit ovale extérieur incliné, mais le VSCC a utilisé le circuit national au milieu du site.

Avec seize classes différentes et près d'une centaine de véhicules Vintage et d'avant-guerre, il y avait beaucoup de variété pour divertir tout le monde. Le circuit a souffert de très forts coup de vent alors que les restes d'un ouragan tropical balayaient le pays, mais la pluie attendue ne s'est jamais matérialisée. Comme les prévisions météo n'étaient pas bonnes, les organisateurs ont poursuivi la réunion dans la matinée et ont réussi à intégrer les deux séances d'essais et la première manche chronométrée de la journée avant la pause déjeuner. Pendant l'intervalle du déjeuner, le club a présenté ses récompenses annuelles de fin de saison aux concurrents devant les invités et les médias dans l'une des suites de la tribune surplombant le circuit. Après le déjeuner, les deuxièmes passages chronométrés ont eu lieu et il restait beaucoup de temps aux pilotes pour faire une troisième course non officielle autour de la piste, dont beaucoup ont profité de l'occasion.

Les résultats en anglais: 

"The overall awards proved to be a bit of a GN fest with fastest time of the day (FTD) going to Tony Lees in the 1925 AC/GN Cognac in 73.43 seconds. Fastest Vintage award went to Tom Waterfield in the 1922/29 GN Special with a time of 78.06 seconds and completing the GN walkover, was Hughie Walker in the 1922/08 GN Thunderbug who took the Fastest Young Driver award with a time of 79.78 seconds.

There were lots of class winners, giving all drivers the chance of winning an award by competing against similar performance vehicles. The Standard and Modified Sports Cars up to 750cc unsupercharged class was won by Joe Tisdall driving a 1930 Austin 7 Ulster. Handicap class winner was Stephen Jones in a 1934 Austin 7 Ulster Sports.

Class 2 was for Standard and Modified Sports Cars 751-1100cc unsupercharged and up to 750cc supercharged. Class winner was Simon Edwards driving a Morgan Aero Supersport. Handicap class winner was Hamish McNinch in a 1935 MG PA 25TR.

Class 3 for Standard and Modified Sports Cars 1101-1500cc unsupercharged and up to 1100cc supercharged was won by another Morgan, this time the Super Aero of Iain Stewart. He beat a raft of Frazer Nash in the class, with Simon Blakeney-Edwards handicap class winner in his 1929 Frazer Nash Super Sports.

Classes 4,5 and 6 were all merged for Standard and Modified Sports Cars from 1501cc to 3000 cc unsupercharged and up to 2000 cc Supercharged. Alistair Pugh was 1st in class in his beautiful 1939 Frazer Nash/BMW 328. Anthony Norton was handicap class winner in his 1932 Alvis 12/50 TJ.

Class 7 was for the popular Edwardian automobile engined cars and saw William Twelvetrees 1st in class and Roger Twelvetrees Handicap class winner in their shared 1910/11 Wolseley 16/20.

Class 8 for Special Sports Cars up to 1100cc unsupercharged and up to 750cc supercharged saw Kevin Morton win the class in his 1931 Riley 9 Special. Handicap class winner was Mrs Claire Furnell-Williams driving the 1930 Austin 7 The Toy.

Riley also took class 9 for Special Sports Cars 1101-1500 cc unsupercharged and up to 1100cc supercharged. Michael James in a Riley 12/4 TT Sprite Rep was fastest in class while keeping it in the Riley family, handicap class winner was Peter Hopkinson in a Riley Special.

Special Sports Cars 1501 to 3000 cc unsupercharged and up to 2250cc supercharged Class 10 was won by Paul Weston in a 1933 Frazer Nash TT Replica. Mrs Jane Corner was handicap class winner in her 1933/37 Talbot 65 Special.

The final class winner in the Special Sports Cars class for over 3000cc unsupercharged and over 2250cc supercharged, was won by Richard Iliffe in a 1934 Riley Elf. Steve Allen was the final handicap class winner in his Bentley 4 1/4 Litre SPL."

 

By Simon & Janet Wright

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