SEE RED, SEPTEMBER 23rd and 24th

On 23rd and 24th September the VSCC hosted the See Red meeting at Donington Park to celebrate 100 years of Grand Prix. Whilst there have been other celebrations of the event this year, the See Red meeting was the only one to feature proper racing representing all ten decades. It was particularly heartening to see the Edwardian racers, dating back to 1903, being driven hard in full race conditions, with some of them lapping at over 60mph.

A pity then that so few owners from the Maserati Club turned up to support the event and the marque. On the Saturday with a mere three Maseratis parked in the reserved club area we were actually outnumbered by the racing Maseratis taking part over the weekend! Is there a moral to this tale? Not really, just be there next year!

On the Sunday we managed six cars in the club parking area: Biturbo, 222 4v, Ghibli, two 3200GTs and a Coupe; and a Khamsin was parked nearby.

Heavy rain on the Friday had made the ground muddy but fine weather over the weekend dried things out, although a short sharp shower on Sunday morning made the track wet for the drivers out on practice, but by late morning the track had dried again. Plenty of warm sunshine added to the enjoyment of sitting on the grass above Craner Curves watching ancient machinery tearing down and then uphill through the splendid amphitheatre that stretches from Hollywood to McLeans.

In Sunday’s VSCC Historic Seaman Trophy race David Morris took Rodney Smith’s 1939 4CL onto the circuit and scored a fifth position behind a swarm of ERAs and a Riley Special. Also we should not forget that the same car had done well at Goodwood Revival a few weeks previously when it captured second place in Mark Gillies’ hands in the Goodwood Trophy.

In the next race, the BRDC Reg Parnell Trophy for Historic Sports Cars, another Rodney Smith car, a 300S, was driven by Mark Gillies, and he was chased by Tony Bailey’s OSCA MT4. The OSCA pulled off the track in mid-race and lost time after attempts to bump start it by rolling downhill from Hollywood failed; eventually it was restarted and it did finish the race albeit in last place. Mark Gillies brought home the 300S in eighth position.

The VSCC Flockhart Trophy Race saw two CM 250Fs and an A6GCM competing. Barrie “Whizzo” Williams was piloting CM5 belonging to David Wenman and yes, you guessed it, with Whizzo at the wheel it came in at second, and also claimed the second best lap time. Gerry Hann’s CM7 was driven by Allan Miles who held on to fourth position for much of the race, but pulled out after eleven laps. Also in this race was David Bennett’s A6GCM which always stands out in its resplendent blue livery with yellow noseband, but this time only managed 22nd place.

Thanks to the VSCC’s low-key approach to the organisation of the event we were able to enjoy free access to paddock and pit areas where competitors, enthusiasts and spectators can mingle freely and enjoy a friendly and good-spirited atmosphere. This is something that is sadly lacking now at certain historic events which have become over-hyped, over-commercialised and elitist.

Enjoy,

Roger."