Crowds wowed by classic cars (From Richmond and Twickenham Times)

Crowds wowed by classic cars

4:58pm Tuesday 7th June 2011 in Motorsport

This year’s second Motorsport at the Palace event, organised by Sevenoaks & District Motor Club, attracted some 200 competitors and more than 5,000 spectators, writes Mick Gibbon.

Cars ranged from historic and classic up to more modern machinery.

Several notable historic cars included a 1929 Buggati Type 35B. Rally cars were well represented, mainly by Ford Escorts with a couple of new build mark 2’s making their track debut. Ferrari owners club members had plenty to admire with several cars out on both days.

The modern machinery ranged from competitors daily drives to bike engine sports prototypes.

The spectators enjoyed the many car club displays and stands while Rory the Racing Car kept the younger generation entertained. The Brooklands motor cycle collection ran live demonstrations throughout the day.

The Ancaster Group showed their range of new cars while the London and Surrey mini club had an “Italian Job” display on the steps of the terraces.

The main event was on the racing track laid out around some of the parks roads, including South Tower bend which was part of the original race circuit. Practice runs on the 740 metre sprint course took place on both mornings with the competitive racing taking place in the afternoons. Sunday saw John Hewat take fastest time of the day driving his sports prototype Stohr DSR 1000 from Fyrth Crosse in second place driving a 1972 Ensign formula 3. Hewat was the last car to have it’s final run and the crowd waited to see if Crosse’s time of 35.86 would be beaten. The Stohr crossed the finish line 0.4 of a second quicker. Third place went to Clive Stephens driving his Tiger Avon.

The sun shined a little more on the thousands of spectators who poured through the gates on Monday.

The Stohr DSR 1000 was now in the hands of Mike Field and the expected fight with Fryth Crosse’s Ensign resumed again, Field winning by just 0.05 of a second.

RESULTS Sunday: 1: John Howat (Stohr DSR) 35.47. 2: Fyrth Crosse (Ensign F3) 35.86. 3: Robert Grigsby (Caterham 7) 36.94. 4: Andy Laurence (ADR sport) 36.98. 5: Roland Knott (Jedi 1000) 37.12. 6: Rod Birley (Escort WRC) 37.40.

Monday 1: Mike Field (Stohr DSR) 35.85. 2: Fyrth Crosse (Ensign F3) 35.90. 3: Andy Laurence (ADR sport) 36.89. 4: Roger Burgess (Ford Escort MKII) 37.98. 5: James Moreton (Caterham CSR) 38.46. 6: Joss Ronchetti (Talbort Sunbeam Lotus) 38.49 Course record: Duncan Cowper (Dax Rush Turbo) 35.18. 2010