I'm afraid that a so called 'Premier Event' over two days needs rather more than five race groups and a far better race programme entry list. Terry S grizzles that we don't post car details and in this case, the programme only had the car number, driver's name, car make/model and year (and some of that was incomplete). No colour, no cubic capacity, no driver home town etc. Several duplicate race numbers which works OK with transponders, but trying to work out which driver/car is which will give historian's nightmares.
Unlike Goodwood, demonstration cars are not listed so again, if Tony Quinn actually ran the Simtek F1 car and the Mortimers ran the Surtees, (they weren't run whilst I was there so no idea if they did run), no programme listing for them.
Whilst running an ex Dick Johnson car with #17 might be historically preferable, a small red/yellow/white disc somewhere on the car, or something similar, and a key, would have helped.
1) Legends/Historic Touring Cars - 22 cars. 2 x #21, 3 x #31 - 2 cars with no numbers.
2) Legends Invitation - 24 cars - 2 x #5, 3 x #17, 2 x #87 - 3 cars with no numbers listed.
3) Formula Libre - 29 cars - 2 x #23
4) Historic FF - 16 cars
5) Central Muscle cars - 32 cars.
Long track, small grids = a lot of time staring at empty tarmac. Just 123 cars listed.
My views on small grids is well known but just 5 race groups and 123 listed cars? The only race I actually saw was the first Muscle Car race and they certainly had the good crowd support but I'd be interested to hear other people's views.
Would I have paid a premium price for a ticket? No way. Seeing John Bowe and Jim Richards particularly, driving hard in practice, in iconic cars was a real treat, but if HD wants to make this Festival an annual must see, they are going to have to lift their game a long, long way. Last year was their first, so most were supportive but reserved. Friday, although not a competition day, just practice, there weren't even any programmes available.
Nigel, I think you have made the right choice doing Taupo and John McK will no doubt tell you what HD wanted to get the HSS cars to HD! Look forward to your pics as always.
I still have to finish uploading December, but couldn't resist posting this - on just his second day at the track... Very good to watch into the first hairpin too. Classic case of hard on the accelerator or hard on the brakes. No messing about. Apparently John Bowe really enjoyed the meeting, the facilities, the welcome and so on.
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