Inaugurated in 2012, Castle Combe’s Autumn Classic race meeting has grown in popularity with both spectators and competitors, currently sitting third most well-liked of the UK’s historic motor racing carnivals, just below the Silverstone Festival and of course Goodwood’s Revival in this fiercely contested league.
Sponsored by Avon Aluminium and celebrating the Wiltshire circuit’s 75 anniversary, this year’s event surpassed the wildest dreams of organisers Castle Combe Racing Club by producing record numbers of historic racing cars from Formula Junior, Mini7, Superfast Ferrari and FISCAR – Fifties Sports Cars.
In addition, the meeting’s Star Marque, Frazer Nash, produced a stunning entry of 32 chain-gang Nash’s for the Freddie Giles Trophy race for pre and post war cars, some being roadgoing sportscars and some all-out racers powered by either the factory-fitted Anzani engine or the more common Meadows power unit. It was fitting that one of Wiltshire-born Freddie Giles’s actual cars was being raced by his son Jon.
But by far the best supported race was the 90-minute 2/3 driver endurance format feature race for the prestigious GT & Sportscar Cup. Attracting a record entry, 42 cars stretched from the start line and around Camp Corner, a rare sight during a season of motor racing austerity!
Now in its nineteenth year, cars in the invitation GT&SCC series are synonymous with the golden 1960s era of motor racing: pre-1966 Grand Touring cars and pre-1963 Sports Racing cars with international history. Front running cars included iconic E-Type Jaguar, AC Cobra and Lotus Elan 26R, while production-based classes contained more familiar MGB, MGA, MG Midget, Morgan and TVR.
After 90 minutes of hard racing, pit stops and driver changes, Kyle Tilley’s rare 2 litre Climax-engine Lotus 15 sports racer won from Jaguar E Type and AC Cobra.
The Lotus has won this race before in the hands of previous owner, Phillip Walker from Malmsbury. Perhaps the USP of this race is that it attracts female drivers (above) among the crews taking part, eleven in this race!
As well as on-track sporting action the Autumn Classic provides a packed programme of entertainment including trade stalls, live music, car club displays, and a classic car auction hosted by Dore & Rees. In the capacious paddock display marquee was a carefully curated pageant celebrating Castle Combe Circuit’s 75th birthday with cars that have featured in its formative years, 1950 to 1955.
Again, the Frazer Nash marque starred prominently in this display but this time, AFN’s post-war series of Le Mans Replica cars (above).
This display marquee was also the location for Star Driver live interviews, this year featuring four drivers. Former BRM and MAKI F1 driver of the deadly 1970s Howden Ganley, 1989 FIA C2 Sportscar Champion Nick Adams, International historic racing champion David Franklin and multi one-make champion of the 1980/90s Dave Loudoun.
Individually, these drivers recalled action – and accident – memories from packed motor racing careers, delivered in relaxed and humorous conversation with circuit commentator, Chris Dawes, in front of knowledgeable and appreciative motor racing enthusiasts.
Even capricious Saturday weather failed to dampen participants enthusiasm with consensus confirming yet another successful Castle Combe Autumn Classic. Castle Combe Circuit is one of the UK’s few private motor racing venues and is owned by the family of the late Howard Strawford, the Swansea-born motorsport impresario who memorably saved the 1·85-mile Wiltshire circuit from closure in the 1970s. Next year’s Autumn Classic is likely to move to the earlier September weekend of 12/13 September 2026. That said, 2025 will be a hard act to follow!
© Images courtesy of Mike Stokes – Trackside Images & words by Ken Davies
