Castle Combe Autumn Classic - 23:Sep 2023
I had a new lens to play with this year (a long white one), and most of the images were taken at the Esses as you can see the cars entering and hitting the curbs. Having done a few track days at Castle Combe, considerably slower, it’s interesting to see the different lines, and imagine duplicating them.
In the Paddock.
Ferrari 308 (I think) wheel through F40 rear wing.
E-Type Coupe rear wheel, I really like the Dunlop racing wheel.
Ferrari’s preparation (308, 328, 355?)
Bit of cheat here as I spotted this in the car park on the way out, Hillman Avenger Tiger. I had an Avenger 1500GLS with the twin round headlight front. Did the later, square headlight, cars have a different bonnet to the early twin headlight cars?
Races
Classic saloons.
BUY1 Jaguar MK1, a very famous car just look at the list of drivers. Constantly competed since 1959 (coincidentally the year I was born). It should have won but a safety car ruined its race and let the Opel win.
Opel Commodore GS/E, from what I remember from the commentary this was originally an Australian race car, I think there's probably a very interesting back story. It was spitting out foot long flames though the Esses which I failed to capture
Very impressive car though.
Triumph GT6 (not sure how that qualifies as a saloon) & Alfa Romeo Guilia
AC Ace, in a lot of ways I prefer the original Ace to the Cobra, would be interesting to see one with modern running gear, 6 cylinder and later Cobra suspension.
The bare aluminium look is good.
Kellison-Chevrolet, don’t know anything about this except it sounded brilliant! (Kit car with a 6 litre Chevrolet engine)
Lotus Elite, a very ‘pretty’ car especially in this colour.
Superperformance Ferrari
328GTB (#22)
355 Challenge (#46, #54)
355 Berlinetta (#27)
GT & Sports Car Cup
This is the race I really came to see…
Jaguar E-Type
‘Mini’ Broadspeed GTS, it looked so small compared to the others.
I haven’t been to the Autumn Classic for a few years and to be honest the selection of cars was a but lacking this year. The saving grace being seeing Cobra’s in action.
I had a new lens to play with this year (a long white one), and most of the images were taken at the Esses as you can see the cars entering and hitting the curbs. Having done a few track days at Castle Combe, considerably slower, it’s interesting to see the different lines, and imagine duplicating them.
In the Paddock.
IMG_2199-1 by Mark Palmer, on Flickr
Ferrari 308 (I think) wheel through F40 rear wing.
IMG_9152-1 by Mark Palmer, on Flickr
E-Type Coupe rear wheel, I really like the Dunlop racing wheel.
IMG_9155-1 by Mark Palmer, on Flickr
Ferrari’s preparation (308, 328, 355?)
IMG_9156-1 by Mark Palmer, on Flickr
Bit of cheat here as I spotted this in the car park on the way out, Hillman Avenger Tiger. I had an Avenger 1500GLS with the twin round headlight front. Did the later, square headlight, cars have a different bonnet to the early twin headlight cars?
IMG_2200-1 by Mark Palmer, on Flickr
Races
Classic saloons.
BUY1 Jaguar MK1, a very famous car just look at the list of drivers. Constantly competed since 1959 (coincidentally the year I was born). It should have won but a safety car ruined its race and let the Opel win.
IMG_9310-1 by Mark Palmer, on Flickr
Opel Commodore GS/E, from what I remember from the commentary this was originally an Australian race car, I think there's probably a very interesting back story. It was spitting out foot long flames though the Esses which I failed to capture
Very impressive car though. IMG_9314-1 by Mark Palmer, on Flickr
IMG_9328-1 by Mark Palmer, on Flickr
IMG_9368-1 by Mark Palmer, on Flickr
IMG_9373-1 by Mark Palmer, on Flickr
Triumph GT6 (not sure how that qualifies as a saloon) & Alfa Romeo Guilia
IMG_9319-1 by Mark Palmer, on Flickr
IMG_9330-1 by Mark Palmer, on Flickr
50’s Intermarque
AC Ace, in a lot of ways I prefer the original Ace to the Cobra, would be interesting to see one with modern running gear, 6 cylinder and later Cobra suspension.
The bare aluminium look is good.
IMG_9403-1 by Mark Palmer, on Flickr
IMG_9394-1 by Mark Palmer, on Flickr
Kellison-Chevrolet, don’t know anything about this except it sounded brilliant! (Kit car with a 6 litre Chevrolet engine)
IMG_9389-1 by Mark Palmer, on Flickr
Lotus Elite, a very ‘pretty’ car especially in this colour.
IMG_9165-1 by Mark Palmer, on Flickr
Superperformance Ferrari
328GTB (#22)
IMG_9253-1 by Mark Palmer, on Flickr
355 Challenge (#46, #54)
IMG_9242-1 by Mark Palmer, on Flickr
IMG_9251-1 by Mark Palmer, on Flickr
355 Berlinetta (#27)
IMG_9244-1 by Mark Palmer, on Flickr
GT & Sports Car Cup
This is the race I really came to see…
AC Cobra 289, car #74 was being run by Alan Mann Racing.
Interesting fuel filler arrangement, a tube through the rear window.
IMG_9413-1 by Mark Palmer, on Flickr
IMG_9426-1 by Mark Palmer, on Flickr
IMG_9479-1 by Mark Palmer, on Flickr
IMG_9493-1 by Mark Palmer, on Flickr
IMG_9494-1 by Mark Palmer, on Flickr
Lotus Elan 23R, probably my favourite car of the day, #84, but then as it inspired the MX5 no real surprise there.
IMG_9461-1 by Mark Palmer, on Flickr
IMG_9458-1 by Mark Palmer, on Flickr
IMG_9503-1 by Mark Palmer, on Flickr
IMG_9454-1 by Mark Palmer, on Flickr
Jaguar E-Type
IMG_9480-1 by Mark Palmer, on Flickr
‘Mini’ Broadspeed GTS, it looked so small compared to the others.
IMG_9224-1 by Mark Palmer, on Flickr
I'd recommend going, it was only £15 (advance ticket) for a full days entertainment.
