JustBritish

This year’s Silverstone Classic, 20-22 July, looks to be the most entertaining and action-packed yet. Staged at the world famous Silverstone Circuit in Northamptonshire just two weeks after the Santander Formula 1 British Grand Prix, the Silverstone Classic is already established as the world’s biggest classic motor racing festival – and this summer’s event is all set to break yet more records.

Once again both Silverstone’s National and new International Wing pits and paddock complexes will be maximised to house more than 800 of the world’s finest historic racing cars with a packed schedule of races all staged on the full Grand Prix circuit. Adding to the spectacle more than 7,000 classic cars will be displayed over the weekend on the infield with many hallowed marques celebrating important milestones in their evocative histories.

Other highlights include live rock concerts, a special star-studded celebrity race, air displays, a vintage fun fair, a host of retail opportunities and rally car rides plus the exciting new interactive AA World automotive theme park. With so much to experience at the Silverstone Classic, it’s no surprise that advance ticket sales are 31 per cent up on the same period last year – itself a record.

“The Silverstone Classic just gets bigger and better every year with even more for all ages to see and do,” confirmed Event Director Nick Wigley at today’s (Wednesday 9 May) media preview at Silverstone. “The quality and quantity of our grids and car club displays is second to none while our new partnership with the AA is playing a significant role in extending the event’s massive appeal to an even wider family audience. We thought last year’s blockbuster was going to be hard to match but, with so many unmissable highlights already confirmed, it’s clear that this summer’s festival is going to be the best yet.”

Over thirty rare, unusual and beautiful sports and racing cars manufactured in England will be on display at the Simeone Foundation Automotive Museum in Pennsylvania from February 20th through March 14th, 2010. Titled the “Best of Britain,” the show is comprised of cars from individual collectors in the mid-Atlantic states and is intended to illustrate why the adjective “British” is inseparable from the term “sports car.”

Cars in the show include a 1935 Triumph Gloria Southern Cross that was once part of the Henry Ford Museum, a 1960 MGA Twin Cam Coupe that raced at Sebring, and a 1966 Aston Martin DB6, one of the most potent sports cars of its era. The poster car, a 1933 Squire is the first of only seven ever built, and is considered by many to be among the most beautiful British sports cars ever made.

The “Best of Britain” show is included with regular museum admission, $12 adults, $10 seniors, $8 for students. Children under 8 are admitted free. The Museum is open Tuesdays from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Wednesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Museum is located at 6825 Norwitch Drive, Philadelphia, Pa., 19153, directly in back of the Airport Automall and five minutes off Interstate 95.

For more information, visit www.simeonemuseum.org or call 215-365-7233.

Source Simeone Museum

Each year, five big West Coast Triumph clubs get together to hold a major event they call Triumphest. And every year, the Vintage Triumph Register holds its national meet, called the North American Triumph Challenge. This year, the two events will join together in San Luis Obispo, California, for one giant weekend of Triumph fun, from September 30 through October 4. Called Triumphest 2009, the event has all the makings of the largest gathering ever of Triumphs in North America.

The event has everything you would expect, and some things you might not. Of course there’s a concours, with every variety of sporting Triumph, as well as an autocross, a funkhana, tech sessions, a time-speed-distance rally and a rally that’s just for fun. There’s also a Le Mans start contest, a “walking rally” through lovely San Luis Obispo, dinner cruises to some of the finest dining the West Coast has to offer, and a “funcours” for all that puts the emphasis on enjoyment of the car.

Triumphest is also the finish line for the transcontinental 2009 Triumph Trans-AmeriCan Charity Drive, in which John Macartney is driving a Stag from coast to coast to raise money for organizations that deal with post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD.

Registration is $85 for one car and driver, and $25 for each additional car. Registration forms are available at the Triumphest website, www.VTR-Triumphest-2009.com. Hotel rooms are going fast, so make reservations now so that you don’t miss out. And be sure to say thank you to this year’s host club, the Southern California Triumph Owners Association.

The Altanta Historic Races this year are to feature the marques of Great Britain. The races, which will be held August 2oth through the 23rd, are put on by Historic Sportscar Racing, HSR. There will also be vintage motorcycle racing, B.O.S.S. formula cars, historic stock cars, a Porsche challenge and much more.  These sessions are held at the beautiful Road Atlanta track in the foothills of the north Georgia Mountains.  I will be there and hope to see you there too.

Additionally, another HSR event will be held in South Carolina in September. The Carolina Historic Races will feature Historic Stock Car, Historic GTP/WSC, B.O.S.S. Series, Jo Bonnier 2 Litre Challenge, Klub Sport Porsche Challenge, ROLEX Endurance Challenge Series Races and Feature Races. This event will be at the Carolina MotorSports Park in Kershaw, SC, September 24th through the 27th. Again, I plan on attending.

MG 2009 is an event that all of you British car lovers aren’t going to want to miss. It starts June 24th and runs until June 28th. This is a North America MGB Register’s annual event that is hosted by a different chapter of The MG Car Club each time, so we are very lucky to have this national meet right in our own backyards. This year’s host is The MG Car Club Rocky Mountain Centre.

Now most of the events had to be registered for as part of the club, but there is one that will surely draw attention: The Peak 9 Car Show and Concours. The event will be on Saturday, June 27th in Breckenridge. More details to follow as I get them, so check back soon or check out the MG2009 website here.

Another event that might be of interest is the Gold Rush Rallye on Friday, June 26th. If you have a spare moment you might be able to catch 100 different MG’s competing to win this Time, Speed, Distance Rallye. More details to follow on this event as I get them

Bottom line—If you love MGs and want to catch a glimpse of some here in Colorado, then you should head up to Breckenridge…you never know what you are going to find. I hear there are some rare MGs scheduled to make an appearance.

From: The Examiner

It is only three weeks away — the biggest celebration of the 50 years of the Mini/MINI — MINI East Meets West. The Phil Wicks Driving Academy will hold an event at Brainerd International Raceway on Saturday and Sunday, June 27-28. The days will consist of driving academy — all makes and models of cars — with instruction in classroom and on-track for Novice, Intermediate, and Expert; North American Can/Am Challenge races (classic Minis); Vintage car races — all makes and models; and North American MINI Cooper Challenge Time Trials. There will be a dutch treat banquet and awards presentation in the clubhouse at Brainerd on Saturday evening. All are invited to attend.

Fees for the driving academy are $300 for one day, $500 for two days. And there will be lunch-time touring laps for non-participants for a fee of $25 per car. Racers’ fees are $300 for the weekend.

So go to the website now for registration information and send it in soon to ensure your spot on this great weekend.

Phil Wicks Driving Academy
North American MINI Cooper Challenge
www.minidriving.com
803-699-4691
314-330-6449