Brooklands Autumn Motorsport is a new event for 2011. As always with things that are new to the calendar, it is hard to know what to expect, not least because despite the organiser’s best efforts, until a critical mass of people both bring the content, and also attend to have a look, there is always a risk of a huge disappointment. On paper, though, this looked promising, with a celebration of an eclectic mix of vehicles representing different types of motorsport promised, with action on the track and the famous “Test Hill” at the celebrated Brooklands circuit. What no-one could have predicted was that the weather gods decided to bless the day with completely cloudless skies, which added further to the potential of the event. I arrived soon after the gates opened at 9am, and here is my summary of the event: ABARTH
Lots of different Abarths to see at this event. One of the more unusual, for sure was this one based on a Fiat 128.
There were several of the cars based on the Fiat 600. The white 850 TC has just emerged from a complete restoration (finished literally the day before the event!), having been found abandoned in Sorrento late last year. The others were all driven with some gusto on the track and up the hill. Two of them attacked the hill with such vim that they became airborne at the top and hence went straight on. It was notable that everyone was more measured on their ascents after that!
There were a pair of X1/9 based cars to enjoy.
This Abarth-Simca 2 litre is a stalwart of many an Italian car event, but this time it was actually to be seen in action. It transpired that a gearbox gremlin has kept it from being driven for quite a while. 
There was also a rather nice 124 Spider Abarth
Of the modern Abarths, the rarest was this one, a 500 Assetto Corse. It is a genuine race car, which was owned by Lipscombs during 2010, for the Abarth Trofeo race series. The owner told us that he also has a Classic “Double Bubble” 1950s Abarth 750 Zagato. Lucky chap!
I was the first Abarthisti to arrive, and had to tell the staff on the main gate that we had been given our own parking area. At the bottom of the hill I was greeted by Phil Ward, Editor of Auto Italia magazine, who directed me to our parking, which appeared to already have an Audi occupying it. As I was parking up, a Vectra arrived alongside me, and during the morning as fellow Abarthisti arrived, we ended up not in our own dedicated parking area, but with our cars interspersed by plenty of others.
Being the resourceful lot that we are, though, we managed to agree a new area that we could move to, for our sole use. Unusually, red cars dominated the modern Abarth section, and there was only one Punto model there – the rather hard to miss car that John Hutchinson of Vospers brought along.
ALFA-ROMEOThis lovely Montreal graced the lawn in front of the main buildings.
ALVISA lovely 4.3 litre was parked up near the Abarths. Fabulous!
ASTON-MARTINA DB6. Very nice.
AUSTIN-HEALEY
BEDFORDThis CA Van is a permanent resident at Brooklands. We noted the driver having fun with the column gear change, trying to find a gear at one point. Looking inside it, luxurious, this was not! On seeing it, one of the Abarthisti regaled us with a tale of how his grandparents had one of these vehicles and inserted a crate between the front seats on which he could perch, as they headed to the Great Yorkshire Show. Health and Safety? Hmm!
BENTLEYAn example of one of the earliest 3 litre Bentleys, dating from 1921.
FERRARIThere was a large Ferrari presence, thanks to a good turn out from the Ferrari Owners Club. However, the two most unusual cars were in fact part of the main event, and captured lots of attention. The 250 LM was the first ever mid-engined Ferrari,
This 166 S is an even earlier car, dating from 1948. Just 39 such cars were built.
A number of other race prepared cars were in the Paddock area.
This Dino 206 SP was the star at the recent Gaydon event. Today it made an outing on the track, though seemed to struggle. What a beautiful car, though!
Among the road cars, highlight for me – and to judge by the many conversations I heard, for lots of other people – was the presence of not one but two 288 GTOs. What a fabulous car!
Other Ferrari Owners Club cars included a good mix of 550/575 Maranellos, 308/328 GTB/S, 355s, a pair of Testarossas, a couple of Dino 308 GT4s and 360/430 cars. Undepicted, there was also a Daytona and a 365 GTC/4.
The California was also in use as a course car. I am still not entirely convinced by the styling of this model, though it does look better, in my opinion, in bolder colours such as this, than the washed out blue or grey that is more commonly seen.
FORDA 1965 Cortina GT. I had quite a good chat with the owner of this car. He has had it since 1976, and restored and repainted it in the mid 1980s, It still looks pretty good, though he did say that the rust is starting to come through some panels again.
HARRIERJust a handful of Harrier race cars were built in the 1990s, of which this LR9C GT2 is one. The road cars were powered by the Alfa 3 litre V6 engine and the racers by the Ford Cosworth 2 litre unit. This one was built in 1993, and a last minute decision was made to enter it for le Mans. That meant that the roof was removed. The car lasted 13 hours into the race before a suspension failure caused a retirement. It was then reconverted back to Coupe format and prepared for GT2 racing. In 16 years it has competed in over 100 races, but is now for sale., Yours for £45,000.
HONDA
Perhaps hard to imagine, but the mid 1990s Accord was a regular contender in the BTCC, and it did quite well.
JAGUARA pair of E Types were joined by a Mark VII saloon.
LANCIAA lovely Fulvia Coupe.
MASERATIThis Granturismo was in use as a course car for the outing on the track.
Barchetta Stradale
There were a few other Maserati, including a 5000 GT and an Indy, but they seem to have missed my camera.MG
The Metro 6R4
MINISole representative of the classic Mini Cooper that was in action on the track and the hill was this one.
There was another rather newer car there, too. This one belongs to my friend and colleague David Wright, who brought his young son to the event in it.
NAZZARODating from 1913, this was the oldest car in attendance. I was surprised at how it really struggled to ascend the Test Hill, it looking touch and go whether it would make it to the top. On all occasions it did, but only just. This car, designed by the legendary Italian driver Felice Nazzaro won the 1913 Targa Florio by a margin of over 3 hours from its next nearest competitor.
NISSAN
There were a couple of examples of the Primera Touring Car from the 1990s.
ROVERThere was an SD1 in action on the track and the hill, which seems to have eluded my camera. It did capture this P5B car, though.
SINGERA Gazelle Series III.
SUNBEAMAn example of the deeply desirable Tiger.
TRIUMPHA Vitesse saloon from the early 1960s complemented a trio of the 2000 cars, two of which were the rarer estate model.
This was a fantastic day out. Not too crowded, lots to see both parked up and in action, and with the kind of weather that event organisers dream about but don’t always get in the UK. Enjoyment was further increased by the pleasure of the company of a number of Abarthisti, not all of whom I had seen at Ace Cafe earlier in the week. This really was an great day out, and assuming it is repeated in 2012, well worth putting in your diaries.
2011-10-16 18:33:47
