Castle Combe, 17th June 2006
Report from Tony Tucker

After the massive turn-out at Stoneleigh Park, the Castle Combe event followed suit, with more than 20 Speedsters and Spyders lining up on the Club and Chesil Motors display area, the biggest representation of any club at the show and the biggest at any Speedsters/Spyders Club event in memory, outside of Stoneleigh Park. We were rewarded with one of the best and sunniest days of the year, with not a hood to be seen either on the road or at the event, as everyone enjoyed what the popular press like to call "a scorcher" (see also Stonor Park!)

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Among the early arrivals to attract special attention were (you've guessed it!) Leslie and Mary Bennett, splendidly attired in fine (and almost certainly illegal) police uniforms! Angus, Jerry and the entire Chesil team had already been hard at it, putting up awnings and tables on which to display many new items of merchandise and lay out a splendid lunch, for which many thanks from all Club members.

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Chesil also offered free laps of the circuit with Giles Adams, their qualified Castle Combe driver and instructor. Several Club members returned from flat out trips as Giles' passenger to gasp "I never knew a Speedster could go that quick!" The parade laps offered a slightly less strenuous way to see the track in one's own car and to practise getting the right line through the chicanes. Even at only 70 miles an hour, this wasn't as easy as it looked.

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For those wanting to see the circuit in a more leisurely manner, the "Classic Cruise" gave every club and every car the opportunity to drive gently round the track and bask in the admiration of the spectators on the banking. Apart from the Speedsters and Spyders, there was a wonderful display of Ford GT40s, Ferrari P40s, Bristols, Porsches, MGs and other historic cars.

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Even with 15 free admission tickets (more than the maximum club allowance for the event, thanks to the organisers agreeing to my plea that we were a special case!), many Club members had to pay to get in to the event, but everyone agreed that it was worthwhile.

With around 20 cars travelling to Le Mans for the Classic next month, the summer is set to continue breaking records, so please don't miss the Hampshire Pageant of Motoring at Broadlands on Bank Holiday Monday, 28 August. I'm still awaiting full details from the organisers, but check out the Internet for more info and contact me by phone (020 8643 2531 or 07899 654543) or email (ajt@speedsters.com) if you're going and I'll tell you how to meet up.

In the meantime, Kairen Holmes is co-ordinating the visit to the TiPEC meeting at Elvaston Hall, Derbyshire on Sunday 30 July, so contact her (see members list) if you can get there - it's always a great event for the original and replica Porsche fraternity.

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