London to Brighton
2009 saw entry numbers for the London to Brighton Veteran Car Run increase for the sixth year running and last year the maximum entry of 550 pre-1905 vehicles was reached three months before the November event got underway. Organisers Motion Works, have brought forward the opening date for entries from its previous April date to allow time for the increasing International entries, approximately 25%, to plan their vehicle shipping and travel arrangements. They have started accepting entries for the 2010 event from Monday 1 March.
Participants of Runs since 2004 will receive Fast Track Entry forms automatically. Other entrants can download a forms from the LBVCR website at www.lbvcr.com or contact the Event Entries Manager Karen Cunningham on +44(0)1327 856 024 or email karen(at)motion-works.co.uk. 
Weekend of the Automobile Excellence
After the 3rd successful “Weekend of Automobile Excellence of Reims”, organisers have announced that this year’s event will take place on 10- 12 September. With more than 30,000 visitors last year, the “Weekend of Excellence” has now established itself amongst classic car enthusiasts.
Along the lines of the Festival of Speed, but with demonstrations only, the 2010 “WAE” will bring together cars and motorbikes that have all made their mark on Reims’ history, as well as exceptional modern vehicles, along with live music, air displays, shops and vendors and other entertainment in the paddocks.
This 4th year intends to focus on quality and in order to achieve this the organisers have decided to waive registration fees. A jury made up of well-known faces from the world of motorsport will determine the eligibility of the vehicles according to the different classes (single-seaters, pre-war, GT, etc.), the quality of the restoration and maintenance of the cars, their historic authenticity or their exceptional character.
The “WAE” is very much a cosmopolitan event with 14 nations present in 2009 and 30% English speaking participants. See www.weea-organisation.com for details.
Geneva Classics 2010
Geneva Classics, the eclectic exhibition of historic transportation will take place for the fifth time from October 1-3 at Geneva’s Palexpo. A look back on the whole range of technological evolution, including historic cars, aircraft, boats and motorcycles, since the beginning of the 20th Century, in 2010 the exhibition will add a new string to its bow with a historic vehicle parts and accessories area. Collectors and enthusiasts can find that elusive part they have been looking for or an exceptional souvenir gift.
Attracting many automobile manufacturers, who are invited to retrace their history through displays of their past models, there is also an especially designed area for dealers, where the cars on display are for sale in an exclusive and discreet atmosphere.
Brooklands Double Twelve
The Double Twelve borrows its name from the meetings organised by the Junior Car Club (JCC) at Brooklands from 1929, but takes its inspiration from rallies organised by the JCC and the Royal Automobile Club in the late 1930s in which the elegance of the competing car was as important as the skill shown by the drivers in tricky manoeuvres. Its return will undoubtedly be a highlight of the British historic motor sports events calendar.
The Vintage Sports-Car Club (VSCC), providers of motor sport events since 1934, have been appointed by the promoters, Brooklands Museum Trust, as official organisers of the competitive elements of The Brooklands Double Twelve Motoring Festival. Entries have opened for the event, which will be held on the Mercedes-Benz World Handling Circuit adjacent to the Brooklands Museum site.
VSCC Club members are invited to enter eligible Pre-war cars in one of 16 traditional VSCC sprint classes for everything from non automobile-engined Edwardian Cars, to specials, to international racing cars – all pre-war of course. The VSCC last held a Sprint on the Mercedes-Benz World Track back in 2007 as part of the Brooklands Centenary Celebrations with a superb entry including many original Brooklands cars. With the added impetus of the Double Twelve Driving Test and Concours event, taking place in parallel, a quality entry is sure to be attracted.
Entries are also open for The Brooklands Double Twelve Driving Tests and Concours, which will be held on both days to which a wide spectrum of exceptional cars from Veterans through to mid-1970s classics are invited. Car Clubs are also invited to exhibit on Sunday 6 June. Contact the VSCC for Club membership and entries: www.vscc.co.uk.
Australian Heritage – Only One Careful Owner Since New
The car that propelled Australian Alan Jones to the World Drivers Championship in 1980 is to be auctioned by Sotheby’s Australia in Melbourne on April 18. Auctioneers claim that the Williams FW07/04 is the most original and authentic FW07 in existence. It was campaigned by Frank Williams and driven by Alan Jones, to a succession of wins in 1979, and then the greatest prize of all – the World Drivers and World Constructors Championships – in 1980. The car has been part of the Peter Briggs Family Collection at the York Motor Museum and later the Fremantle Motor Museum in Western Australia since 1981. Peter Briggs is only the car’s second owner.
Briggs said that his car’s dominant racing career included four Grand Prix wins from July 1979 to January 1980. In November 1985 it was taken by Peter Briggs from York to Adelaide where it was put on display during the lead up to, and during, the first Formula One Grand Prix held in Australia. The Maybach III, the car driven by Alan Jones' father, Stan Jones, was also in Adelaide, taking part in the historic support events. Alan Jones spoke at length to Peter Briggs about his car.
He knew the history of the FW07/04 and said he was pleased it was in Australia as it was his favourite car. He vividly remembered the tyre testing crash that resulted in his car being turned into an exhibition car. Jones commented that the crash was the only time he thought he could die when driving a Williams. The front tyre came off the car and headed for him. It bounced off the bodywork, left a black scrape on his helmet then went over the top of the car. Nevertheless, he considered that this FW07/04 was the best racecar he had driven. He said that he still has the helmet.
Legends of Motorsports
Mario Andretti will be the official honoured guest at the inaugural Legends of Motorsports Bobby Rahal Signature Event weekend. The first event for the historic racing series is slated for Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, Alabama on May 21-23, 2010.
Historic Porsche 910 at Goodwood
Sportscar legend and former F1 racer, Jochen Mass, was on hand to drive a Fiskens-consigned, Porsche 910 at Goodwood on the joint media day for the 2010 Festival of Speed and Goodwood Revival.
Mass performed a demonstration run in the awesome machine on Goodwood’s famous hillclimb course. The Porsche 910, chassis number 910 020, has been commissioned to Fiskens’ dealership to find a suitable new owner. The car was originally raced by Porsche legend, Vic Elford, when driving for British squad Bill Bradley Racing in the Hockenheim and Monza 1000kms in 1968. It continued to compete in 1969 as Bradley himself shared driving duties with the likes of Tony Dean and Dieter Spoerry at Silverstone, Brands Hatch and the Österreichring.
Goodwood has been inviting cars for track days to be “vetted” for entries to the Revival meeting, and at the Formula Junior day there were circa 30 rear-engined drum-braked cars testing, including an Envoy Mk1/3 (driver: John Counsell) and a unique DKW-powered MJL (driver: Marc Brunel). Neither car has been raced since the 1960s. Racing novice George Christodoulou, a UK-based Cypriot, was also there first time out with his newly-restored BMC Huffaker Mk2.
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