Brands Hatch Saturday 6th and Sunday 7th June 2015

Jason, Chairman of the NSRA directing traffic.

What a fabulous weekend this turned out to be. We were lucky to get free entry (Thanks to Jason and Joanne Hollamby, Richard Black and NSRA) to Brands Hatch for their third American SpeedFest, including VIP entrance and parking inside the stadium as part of their show.

The Indy Circuit, Brands Hatch

The main show was Sunday but it was a weekend ticket, so we stayed at The Larkview Priory Hotel  just outside Maidstone, an easy 12 mile drive along the A20 to Brands. Saturday was a really good day consisting mostly of  track racing of various types and classes of racing. The track was the 1.2 mile Indy circuit as opposed to the larger GP circuit so we could see most of the track when we sat in the Grandstand.  Our favourite race was the HRDC (Historical Racing Drivers Club) All Stars Race for pre-1966 Sports, GT and Touring Cars (which all have to be taxed, MOTed and insured for on the road). To see these cars like the dinky little Devon A35s racing round the track at speed with a little 997cc engine was really entertaining. The winner, Richard Skinner, was driving a Marcos and had a distinct advantage over most of the other cars but he was a worthy winner nonetheless. We were particularly following a little beige coloured, number 66, Austin A35 having chatted to the crew earlier that day in the paddocks. It was their first season having bought the car, ready to race for £25000. (Apparently you can get one built from scratch for about £30000). It was an immaculate little car and handled very well. He was having a dog fight with a Jaguar and had finally seen it off when he had to retire after lap 25 (of 30). I could see Dave and I doing this kind of racing.  All you need is a little trailer,  a tool box the size of a handbag and you can race in the rain!

The main racing attraction billed was the Nascar Euro series. We've never seen Nascar live and TV coverage has always bored us but with this circuit, it was very entertaining, noisy and in fact quite exciting at times. The first race only had a couple of yellow flags when cars spun off (including Dale Earnhardt's grandson) but the second race had a more serious off and so the race had to be stopped for a while. Judging by the further casualties on Sunday, it seems the drivers had failed to spot it isn't an oval circuit! Most of the day we just chilled in our lawn chairs, American style, with the car behind us, the track in front of us with our cool bag and basking in the sun (when it came out from behind the clouds). We didn't spot any other NSRA members that day but we did see Tom Atkinson and fellow drag racer Andy Dibley who were going to be with their car club V8UK the following day. The extremely noisy, F5000 qualifying run was cut short due to the strict 6.30 pm curfew at Brands and we were done for the day. We were glad we made the effort to go there while the crowds were smaller as we had a great view of the racing, easy access in the paddocks and had our fill of racing so that we could focus on other things the next day.

VHRC

We were fortunate to arrive just before the main rush on Sunday morning, having been caught up in car boot traffic on the way there. The NSRA had been allocated a cracking spot just inside the entrance and with a great view of the racing. The sun was shining, the wind had dropped from yesterday, the sky was blue (apart from those pesky white fluffy things that appeared from time to time), the company was genial and we were in for a day long treat. This time the racing was American themed in one way or another. The Nascar racing  wasn't quite so engaging due to the numerous stoppages for accidents but was still entertaining as were all the other classes including the F5000s.

The place was heaving, probably the biggest day car event we have been to in the UK. As well as our Hot Rods, the Vintage Hot Rod Association was well represented and as for American Cars they were everywhere! A huge assortment of car clubs had turned up to represent the American car scene.  Colin Theobold brought "Bruce" along and found that as with everywhere else he takes his beautiful Camaro, it was much appreciated. There was plenty of entertainment laid on for the general public who turned up in their droves and were particularly appreciative of the NSRA's collection of cars. (beware though anyone thinking of going in the future, you can't be too precious about your car unless you are going to stay with it as some people could not resist touching- and even the glamour models thought it was OK to drape themselves over certain cars for a photo opportunity. Maybe the owners wouldn't have minded, they did look good it has to be said but I'm sure they would have liked to have been asked first!).


Before racing started we were allowed to walk the track and visit the Nascar garages where the drivers were giving away photos and signing autographs for the children which was a nice touch. I hadn't realised how sloped the track was even on the straight. It was strange to walk on a track without your shoes sticking to it though!

So we all relaxed, chatted to other NSRA members, got to know people better, watched the racing, ate and waited for the highlight of our day... a chance for all of us to drive round the circuit at Brands Hatch. The first bonus was getting the opportunity to drive some of the GP circuit where we lined up and waited to go on the Indy circuit. I didn't count how many of us represented the NSRA but it was a good number and a great assortment of models, makes and colours which presented an impressive display for the general public to see, most of whom were cheering or waving at us as we all drove by. The finishing straight was interesting as we weaved our way around the wreckage of two Nascars and the tow away vehicles! It was all pretty sedate but to be honest I'm not sure I'd want to take some of those corners at speed. No wonder so many race cars ended up in the sand. Even though I have done many many fabulous things in my life, I still don't take things like this for granted. I always feel the honour of being allowed to do something most people never the get the chance to do and this was no exception. A fitting end to a superb weekend.