12.10.06

The fourth edition of 'See Red' took place over the weekend of September 23/24th at the historic 1.95 mile Donington Park circuit near Derby UK. With a weekend attendance of 15,000 to celebrate 100 years of Grand Prix racing via 12 races, an on track display from Paul Osborn’s Ferrari F93A F1 and a sizeable FOC presence on the infield there was much to see! Here is a personal view from “underneath the tunnel” on some of the most significant cars in the paddock, some excellent racing and the unusual - which always catches the eye!

Organisers of the event, the Vintage Sports Car Club, has come a long way since its inaugural meeting at Donington in 1937, when it shared the promotion with the Bugatti Owners Club. Almost 70 years on, 'See Red' has become its flagship event, thanks in no small part to the vision of Event Director Julian Ghosh and recognition that the club’s membership profile has changed significantly in recent years.

The central exhibition hall charted the history of motor-sport via a ten car display from the 1914 Opel TT to 2006 BAR Honda F1 including the ‘30’s ERA B type, the incomparable BRM V16 and 3 Ferraris, the Donington Collection’s own 1952 500 (driven in period by double Ferrari World Champion Alberto Ascari) and Lancia D50 recreation along with a Michael Scumacher-driven F2005.

Adjacent was a tented pavillion which was sponsored by Ivan Dutton Bugatti and AON Insurance, containing the grids for the Edwardian and Williams Trophy races along with the Land Speed Record breaking 1905 Darracq that Bonhams will sell in December. A decade ago Bugattis were a rarity and yet over the weekend no less than 16 examples of the immortal T35 and T51 took to the track, most noticeably Charles Dean in the family T51 who won the Williams Trophy by 2.3 secs from Cumbrian Dick Smith’s Frazer Nash and a hard- charging Duncan Ricketts in Julian Majzub’s Dixon Riley.

Undoubtedly the most significant race car in the recently redeveloped pit complex was Shell Historic Challenge North America regular Peter Greenfield’s Scuderia Ferrari liveried, Alfa Romeo 8C35 - the car that Dick Seaman and the now 93 yr old Hans Ruesch shared to win the Donington Grand Prix 70 years ago. Campaigned post-war by wealthy British industrialist Dennis Poore and painted patriotic green, the Alfa Romeo won the 1950 British Hillclimb Championship (with twin rear wheels) along with the Vintage Sports Car Club’s Seaman Memorial race from 1951 -1953.

Laying dormant from the ‘60s until the ‘90s, the car was ultimately purchased and rebuilt by noted ex-pat collector Peter Giddings in California and has been a regular participant in the US Historic Challenge since. Greenfield competed with the car at this year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed and fittingly took the start of the Seaman Trophy at Donington which was won at a canter by US domiciled motoring writer Mark Gillies in Rodney Smith’s ERA.

For many, the TGP (Thoroughbred Grand Prix) Championship evokes memories of the golden age of F1 from 1966 until the mid ‘80s and with a 25 strong entry for the weekend’s race, whether your hero was Fittipaldi, Hunt or Lauda there was a representative selection of the highly successful (McLaren MP4), the unusual (Copersucar) and the shoe-string (Ensign N177) all powered by the Cosworth DFV. Come raceday, Spaniard Joaquin Folch (in Bernie Ecclestone’s Brabham BT49) romped away from the field to win by 15 secs from former PFMC competitor Peter Sowerby in an Arrows A3. Initial interest had centred on Dean Lanzante in American Aaron Hsu’s recently acquired ex-Lauda McLaren MP4, but sadly he was no match for the Fredy Kumschick prepared, Parmalat liveried Brabham.

The more recent history of F1 was represented by Andrew Tate’s Tyrrell 025 and Benetton B195 which shared pit space with a static ’03 spec Jordan whilst Corse Clienti regular Paul Osborn demonstrated his Ferrari F93A (tended by Fred Goddard Racing) on both days.

Belgian Hubert Fabri is a serious petrolhead and at Donington he drove four of his collection - the ex-Bira pre-war Aston Martin, his unrestored Bugatti T35C, the ex-Kangaroo stable Aston Martin DB3S and ex-Alain De Cadenet Aston Martin DBR4. What better car then to park adjacent to your motor-home than a recently rebuilt Bugatti Type 57 with an appropriate registration plate!

Not far away was another rarity, the Bowmanville, Ontario built pre -war McLaughlin Buick looking superb in green and of the type owned by King Edward VIII and probably the “Mob” when new! Michelin displayed its recently refurbished service van of the mid ‘30s complete with uniformed repair man, AON Insurance displayed the Austin A30 that Jackie Oliver took to 2nd in the St Mary’s Trophy at the recent Goodwood Revival whilst nearby a US built ’58 Airstream Vintage trailer received much attention.

So the domestic historic racing season is almost at a close for another year, but the calendar continues in mainland Europe with the Spa Six Hours and Targa Espana, whilst venturing further afield the Classic Adelaide is just six weeks away and for those with a desire for a new toy, Bonhams holds its now traditional all Ferrari sale the week before Christmas in Gstaad.

2007 will be a big year for many as we celebrate 60 years of Ferrari and I’m looking forward to the Club’s 40th anniversary celebrations in the UK in June. Then there's the second Historico Gran Premio do Porto in July and a trip “across the pond” to the FCA National Meet at Watkins Glen in September….see you there!

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