MG Classic Rock Brings Historics Back to Rockingham
Motor Speedway
01 May 2003
Classic owners promised action-packed weekend at Europe’s
fastest race circuit.
A full 16-race programme featuring the cream of UK classics,
including MG, Morgan, Triumph, Jaguar, Austin-Healey and Aston Martin,
supported by major club presence and displays, trade participation,
off-track entertainment and even the opportunity to follow in the tyre
tracks of Nigel Mansell, is the promise of the MG Car Club’s Classic
Rock meeting at Rockingham Motor Speedway on Saturday and Sunday May
24/25. Targeted at the entire classic club movement, this is a strongly
family-orientated weekend, with free grandstand seats and paddock entry
and with informality and friendliness being key elements.
The race programme includes all the major MG Car Club
race championships, ranging from Metros and Midgets, through the action
packed MGBs to The Mayflower Trophy for the current MG TF and MG ZR.
The Thoroughbred Sports Cars grid attracts Aston Martin, MG, Triumph,
Austin-Healey, Jaguar and TVR, while the Triumph TR Register race sees
everything from mighty TR7 V8s, through the TR models, to include Spitfire
and Herald. From the Jaguar Enthusiasts Club come the spectacular XJS
models and the ever-entertaining Jaguar Saloons, while the Morgan Sports
Car Club grid with its complement of traditionally-styled yet fabulously
quick Plus8 models is certain to provide the closest of racing.
Off-track, there are club stands and displays, auto jumble
and trade areas. In addition to the MG presence through the MG Car Club,
MG Owners Club and Octagon Car Club, a wide variety of specialist and
marque clubs have already signed up for the event. The listing includes
the Datsun Z Club, Gordon Keeble Owners Club, The South East Vintage
& Classic Vehicle Club, Droop Snoot Group (Vauxhall), Porsche Club
GB, Ford RS Owners Club and the Jaguar Enthusiasts Club. An innovation
is the dedicated Cars for Sale area at a cost of just £25 per
vehicle for the weekend.
The opportunity to drive the Rockingham Motor Speedway
circuit - and experience the dramatic banked Turn 4 for real - can be
realised in the lappery sessions, pre-bookable at a very reasonable
£15. Said MG Car Club chief executive Rob Gammage, ‘This
is all part of our aim of encouraging participation in the event. The
opportunity to drive Rockingham at such a modest price is something
that has already caught the imagination of intending spectators and
for anyone coming off the road section and experiencing the banking
for the first time, it is genuinely unforgettable.
‘What we are endeavouring to do with Classic Rock,’
continued Robert Gammage, ‘is to develop a real historic event
which will appeal to all classic drivers. The off-track activities are
as much a part of the weekend as the racing and we are pleased with
the support from other marque and specialist clubs. The autojumble and
trade participation is also looking strong, but we are flexible enough
to be able to accommodate late entries. We know from our own International
Weekend how popular the Cars for Sale area is and with a multi-marque
representation, we expect this to be an even greater centre of interest.
But, above all, the family-friendly atmosphere is something we want
to encourage. The full programme of events and attractions, together
with Rockingham’s splendid facilities will ensure that the event
will be a tremendous weekend.’
Advance Weekend tickets cost £15 (£10 per
day on the gate) for car and one adult. 16s and under are admitted free.
Ticket and information hotline 08700 134 044. Weekend tickets, circuit
lappery and Cars for Sale, contact MG Car Club on 01235 555552.
See series calendar for MG Mayflower
Trophy
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Array of Classic Cars at Donington Historic Festival
