Race Retro, the fourth International Historic Motorsport Show, proved a resounding success for the 440 exhibitors, as well as the near-25,000 visitors who came to Stoneleigh Park between the 23rd and 25th March. That’s a 20% increase in attendance on last year. “The show gets bigger and better every year,” said Matt Beverley, Chairman of Proteus Cars, which makes all-aluminium re-creations of the Jaguar C-type. Proteus sold four cars from its stand, while Chevron sold the first two of its first-ever run of production road cars, the Chevron B1 Mk2.

The race organisers were there in force – The Masters Racing Series, Motor Racing Legends, the HGPCA, HSCC, U2TC and many more, displaying some rare and valuable machinery on their stands. Exhibits included the 1955 Ferrari 500 Mondial on the Motor Racing Legends stand, loaned for the occasion by Gregor Fisken, and on the Masters Series stand, a fabulous pair of Ferraris: a 1970 Formula 1 Ferrari 312B and a 1972 World Sportscar Ferrari 312PB, both with 3-litre, 12-cylinder engines – and both ex-Jacky Ickx.



For rallying enthusiasts, the highlights included the 1953 and 1954 Alpine Rally cars displayed by the Sunbeam Talbot Alpine Register – with Stirling Moss’s MKV 21 in pride of place. On the British Rallycross Drivers Association stand was the Porsche 911 in which Vic Elford won the very first 1967 Rallycross, 40 years ago, while Vic Elford himself was sitting just round the corner, signing copies of his new book. On the outdoor arena, legends of the sport including Michèle Mouton, Stig Blomqvist, Bjorn Waldegard, Russell Brookes and Pentti Airikkala thrilled the crowds with dramatic driving displays of Group B rally cars on the tarmac stage.



One lucky winner of a competition run by the Daily Telegraph Motoring section took a passenger ride with Mouton in the 1985 Pikes Peak Hillclimb-winning 500bhp Audi S1 Sport quattro. The winner, David Wray, said afterwards: “The car waits on the startline, and as the flag comes down it violently explodes into a battlefield of noise, vibration and truly awesome acceleration. Michèle brakes impossibly late and rounds the corners in perfectly controlled, aggressive powerslides, inspiring absolute admiration for the way beauty has mastered this beast. Pure automotive viagra. I'm one lucky man.”



For those who admire two-wheeled machinery, the display of motorcycles on the TT Centenary stand proved a real treat, with a superb number of ex-works bikes often accompanied by the heroes who rode them (such as Jim Redman and the Honda RC164-103 four-cylinder 250 on which he won the 1964 Lightweight TT). There was also a reunion of British team riders with the original works bikes which represented Great Britain in the ISDT – the ‘Olympics’ of motorcycling.

All in all, Race Retro was the ideal way to shake off the winter blues and look forward to the start of the 2007 historic motorsport season. All we need now is some sunshine.

Bonhams Auction: On Saturday 24 March. ‘DJB 93B’, the ex-works 1964 Mini Cooper 1,275S Rally Saloon, winner of the 1965 RAC Rally (the only Mini ever to do so) and the 1966 Scottish Rally, sold for £100,500 at the Bonhams auction. It is believed to be a world record price for a Mini. For access to the full results Please Click Here.



Story: Classic Driver
Photos: Roger Dixon of www.rogerdixonphotography.co.uk