[post 1 of 6 due to forum photo limit]
The Oldtimer Grand Prix is a fantastic event for classic car fans. I'd say it is a good contender for the best car event in the world, but despite thousands of visitors coming from all over Europe, and several British race teams, it's not well known or publicised to potential spectators from the UK.
I have been about 7 times now. This year my friends Ellis and Steve came along again, and Nick was a first-time visitor.
You'll see from the cars that some seriously wealthy people go to the OGP, but we have never come across snobbery - it's friendly and united by the common love of cars.
The main attraction is 3 days of entertaining action on the track. I don't have a camera, just my phone, so I can't capture much of the racing but here's some photos:
1. At the circuit
In the old pits area
A great meeting for my friend Ellis (on the right). When he was a mechanic for Macdonald racing in the 1970s, he helped build, race and maintain this Lagonda (it was converted from a saloon chassis). The new owner was very friendly and they both enjoyed chatting about the car - we saw it being pushed hard on the circuit later.
The car is mainly as it was raced 40 years ago. The few modifications include a less aggressive cam profile, new exhaust manifold, accelerator pedal moved from the original central position to the right, and Alfa Romeo anti-tramp bars on the front axle. We're told that the brakes remain as weak as the always were, but that's a 'feature' of racers of this era with rod/cable operated drums all round!
The old Lag has been on a dyno recently; it makes 198bhp and LOTS of torque.
The owner has a collection of exotic cars and obviously has the finances for that. But he's a proper petrol-head, interested in our Volvos and Ellis's Morris Minor, and he showed us a photo on his phone of his winter daily driver - a car he's obviously very fond of - a 400,000km Audi 100 bought on ebay for 1 Euro!
Delahaye
Wonderful fleet of 300SL gullwings, driven hard and sideways on the track
Very nice 127, a shame we didn't see this one racing
As usual, BMW put on a good display
The Oldtimer Grand Prix is a fantastic event for classic car fans. I'd say it is a good contender for the best car event in the world, but despite thousands of visitors coming from all over Europe, and several British race teams, it's not well known or publicised to potential spectators from the UK.
I have been about 7 times now. This year my friends Ellis and Steve came along again, and Nick was a first-time visitor.
You'll see from the cars that some seriously wealthy people go to the OGP, but we have never come across snobbery - it's friendly and united by the common love of cars.
The main attraction is 3 days of entertaining action on the track. I don't have a camera, just my phone, so I can't capture much of the racing but here's some photos:
1. At the circuit
In the old pits area
A great meeting for my friend Ellis (on the right). When he was a mechanic for Macdonald racing in the 1970s, he helped build, race and maintain this Lagonda (it was converted from a saloon chassis). The new owner was very friendly and they both enjoyed chatting about the car - we saw it being pushed hard on the circuit later.
The car is mainly as it was raced 40 years ago. The few modifications include a less aggressive cam profile, new exhaust manifold, accelerator pedal moved from the original central position to the right, and Alfa Romeo anti-tramp bars on the front axle. We're told that the brakes remain as weak as the always were, but that's a 'feature' of racers of this era with rod/cable operated drums all round!
The old Lag has been on a dyno recently; it makes 198bhp and LOTS of torque.
The owner has a collection of exotic cars and obviously has the finances for that. But he's a proper petrol-head, interested in our Volvos and Ellis's Morris Minor, and he showed us a photo on his phone of his winter daily driver - a car he's obviously very fond of - a 400,000km Audi 100 bought on ebay for 1 Euro!
Delahaye
Wonderful fleet of 300SL gullwings, driven hard and sideways on the track
Very nice 127, a shame we didn't see this one racing
As usual, BMW put on a good display
