There was a great mix of cars raced through the ’60s, 70s and ’80s, including classic Formula One car from Williams, McLaren, Lotus, Tyrrell and Arrows. The endurance class featured some beautiful race machines, including icons such as Lola T70s and Ford GT40s. The pre66-Touring Car class included everything from Mini to Mustangs, and the American Ford Falcons were dicing with British Ford Cortinas. There was no holding the drivers back as they traded places at full throttle.
From a photography point of view, this was my first visit since the erection of new safety fencing on the GP circuit. I was a little worried, due to the talk on various forums, that it would be difficult to get clear shots. This new fencing is there to keep spectators safe. Yes, it’s a pain as your view as a photographer is obstructed, but there are ways around that. However, there are still a few spots with low fencing where you can get clear sight without the need for ladders. Two of those places are inside Hawthorne Bend, on both sides of Pilgrim’s Drop by the bridge. Some of the new fences have framed slots cut into them, presumably for photographers to use. I found these slots awkward to use as I couldn’t track the cars very well. Shooting through the fences gave me the usual problems, and I’m yet to master this technique.
It was a great day of racing, catching up with friends, and taking way too many photographs. If you like historic motorsport, this meeting, which might not be running at its full potential, is well worth attending.
A small ask from me
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Many thanks, Dereck
Martyn Ellis hard cornering 1979 Lotus Sunbeam leads the bright orange '75 Saab 99 EMS of Harm van de Laan round Surtees corner in the YTCC race.
Robert Beebee's 1969 Lola T70 MK3B – Pilgrims Rise, Brands Hatch.
Big and little Fords at Surtees corner in the YTCC race.
Two of Germany's finest, but only one going in the right direction
Back-dated, Singer-style 911 was sitting beautiful in the carpark
Mark Bates' 1973 Porsche 911 RSR following Frazer Gibney in his 1968 Chevron B8 down Paddock Hill
A lonely Mark Bates' 1973 Porsche 911 RSR, Paddock Hill
Peugeot 908X LMP1 was a great sight to see running around Hawthorn Bend
The majestic looking Compton-Goddard/Coyne 1965 Ford Falcon
Mustang and Minis always entertain as they're pretty evenly matched over the Brands Hatch circuit. One quicker on the straights, the other in the corners.
Emerson Fittipaldi's 1976 Lotus 77 driving out of focus
1968 Lola T70 MK3 leading down Paddock Hill in the FIA Masters Historic Sports Cars race
1968 Lola T70 MK3, Druids Brands Hatch, FIA Masters Historic Sports Cars.
Robert Beebee kerbing his 1969 Lola T70 MK3B at Paddock Hill
Marshals, they're a colourful bunch.
Dave Edgecombe out-breaks himeself going into Paddock Hill 1964 Austin Mini Cooper S 1300
BMW E30 325i of Bjorn Hees, racing in the YTCC
Dave Edgecombe's 1964 Austin Mini Cooper S wearing it's Goodwood Darnley house stickers1964 Austin Mini Cooper S 1300 1964 Austin Mini Cooper S wearing it's Goodwood Darnley house stickers
Lovely '64 911 sat in the paddock
Aston Martin Project 214 recreation, driven by Martin Brewer
Mark Bates' 1973 Porsche 911 RSR
Adrian Brady BMW 3.0 CSI Luigi
First corner madness in the Masters Pre-66 Tourning Car race
1968 Chevron B8, Pilgrims Drop Brands Hatch. FIA Masters Historic Sports Cars – Pre-1971 Sports Prototypes and GT cars under 2Ltr Pre-1971 Sports Prototypes and GT cars under 2Ltr.
Chevron B19, Open Sports Prototypes, conforming to a spec between 01/01/71 & 31/12/74 – FIA Masters Historic Sports Cars
Not sure that was how Peter James wanted to reduce the weight of his Mini Cooper S, but evry once counts.
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Datsun 240Z
It's not all glamour in the pits.
Adrian Brady BMW 3.0 CSI Luigi
Direct injection from a bygone era… Adrian Brady BMW 3.0 CSI Luigi
Even sitting still this SCCA 1971 Pontiac Trans AM of Roger Bolliger looks purposeful
Peter James' black Morris Mini Cooper S receiving a helping nudge round Graham Hill bend from Andrew Cameron in the white Cooper S
Andy Wilson lines up his 1964 Ford Falcon Sprint alongside Simon Watts in his 1972 Datsun 240Z. US muscle against the more nimble Japanese sports car.
Double Lotus garage scene. Mark Martin and Steve Soper's 1963 Ford Lotus Cortina and their 1964 Lotus Elan 26R.
Austin Mini Cooper S
The majestic looking Compton-Goddard/Coyne 1965 Ford Falcon
Mustang and Minis always entertain as they're pretty evenly matched over the Brands Hatch circuit. One quicker on the straights, the other in the corners.
Adrian Brady BMW 3.0 CSI Luigi
Mark 2 Escort with a wide-on, levitating in the pits
Engine details from Christian Marx's 1977 IMSA Triumph TR8
1966 McLaren M1B, Pre-1966 Period F Sports Prototypes and GT cars – FIA Masters Historic Sports Cars
1968 Lola T70 MK3 leading down Paddock Hill in the FIA Masters Historic Sports Cars race
Oreca FLM09 Le Mans car chasing the others round Hawthorn Bend
Roderick Jack getting a little wide at Paddock Hill in his 1968 Chevron B8
Aston Martin Project 214 recreation, driven by Martin Brewer
Strähle liveried outlaw Porsche 911 centre fuel filler
Dagenham verses Stuttgart around Druids
1968 Lola T70 MK3, Pilgrims Drop Brands Hatch. FIA Masters Historic Sports Cars – Pre-1971 Sports Prototypes and GT cars under 2Ltr Pre-1971 Sports Prototypes and GT cars over 2Ltr.
Adrian Brady BMW 3.0 CSI Luigi
Zakspeed MKIII Ford Capri GT
This beast of a Dodge Challenger didn't make it past Druids on the first lap, due to a little racing incident with the Jagermeister liveried BMW
