The second Historic Festival took place at Donington Park in the English Midlands over the weekend of May 5–6. The inaugural event was so successful that the Historic Sports Car Club and Historic Promotions Ltd. chose to stick with their formula of varied on-track action staged in a friendly, accessible environment reminiscent of times past.
Always the star turn wherever he goes a remarkable 50 years since his career-ending Goodwood accident, Sir Stirling Moss was present to demonstrate the Jaguar C-Type that he drove to victory in the 1952 Reims Grand Prix, the first race ever to be won by a disc-braked car.
Twelve races were staged, catering for 1930s sports cars right through to two 1990 Nissan R90 CKs, each with a quality grid. Gary Pearson enjoyed the right to stand on both the top and second steps of the RAC Woodcote Trophy podium by driving two Jaguar D-Types, sharing with Carlos Monteverde and John Pearson, respectively. Pearson also took victory in the Pre-’63 GT race, sharing a Ferrari 250 SWB (one of five entered) with 1969 Le Mans winner Jackie Oliver.
A welcome first-time visitor to Donington was American Scooter Patrick in Ol’ Yaller 2, delighted to be sharing with owner Ernie Nagamatsu in the Stirling Moss Trophy event. Patrick is looking forward to driving the car again at Goodwood. The Group C race, won by the Aston Martin AMR1 of Andy Meyrick, included the unique Veskanda-Chevrolet that raced in the 1988 round of the World Championship at Sandown, Australia, now owned by Paul Stubber. The Lola T70 of David Coplowe and Martin Stretton took Pre-’72 Sports Racing honors from Rob Hall’s wailing Matra MS650. In keeping with the ever-rising profile of historic karting the British Historic Kart Club staged demonstrations of these very quick machines on the Grand Prix Loop.
By Keith Booker
