The Roaring Season

Attached to the shop is another small museum downstairs.


The first part of the tour is a talk and a short film in a small theatre, with one two cars around


That BMW V8 is a fair sized lump! Not sure what the replacement engine is going to be.


Aero Morgan chassis is aluminium and built off site


*Away again now for a few days...

Thought this might be of interest Ray. A world famous collection of Grand Prix cars old and new is to close ‘imminently’, its owner announced today.

The massive collection, which is housed in a museum at the Donington Park racetrack, in North West Leicestershire, dates back 45 years.


The owners have not given a specific reason for the decision to close it, but say it has not been taken lightly.

The collection, which also includes a number of motorcycles, was amassed by Leicestershire builder Tom Wheatcroft.

That is sad news Rhys,
A visit there was on my English "Bucket List"

Ken H

I went in 1983 and was very impressed but went back in 2003 and was already seeing a decline in standards - often poor descriptions of the cars and although it had expanded over the 20 years, most of the new exhibits were from those once great F1 teams called McLaren and Williams...

I have heard the decline has continued through both a number of cars having been sold, and the introduction of display items other than cars. Overall, probably not a surprise - Ken, the time to visit was probably 30-35 years ago!

I had also heard via a Donington Facebook page that Dr Jonathon Palmer was taking over the museum from the end of the year. So is it closing and are the assets (the cars) being sold off in job lots via an auction, or is Dr Palmer taking over the museum and its current assets?

Who knows?

Totally agree with Michael. The time to visit was from the opening in 1976 and for the next few years. Thankfully, I was able to visit many times in those early years and I just hope that the remaining cars (other than as Michael pointed out, the modern McLaren, Williams and Force India cars) are not dispersed. It is crucial that the Vanwall and BRM collections are not split.

The museum is still in an excellent location, situated as it is, within the Donington estate, so hopefully, it will continue as a genuine motorsports museum, as it is easily accessible from the M1 motorway and an easy diversion for travellers heading north. It just needed reinventing or more cars on loan, but I do believe that Kevin's military collection killed it.

Non Aero Morgans still have a steel chassis (I believe, also made off site).


The body frames are still made of ash - which used to come from Holland but is now from Lincolnshire.


A mix of hand made panels and pressed panels are then attached.


This jig for the curved, laminated pieces has been used for over 60 years.




The Boss's Morgan...

The best selling 3 wheelers also have a similar construction method. Wooden frame on a steel chassis.
(Drat. Pics disappeared again... Reloaded 1:30pm.)

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...and a made to order trim colour specification.







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Leaving my AirBnb in Nottingham Tuesday September 4th, with a pleasant day at Gaydon and the Morgan factory tour tucked under my belt, a night at the new Premier Inn Malvern (recommended) was next, but finding an eatery that appealed wasn't so easy, as I didn't want to wait an hour for a meal on site.

Eventually, after a fair drive around, a Wetherspoon's (Foley Arms) in the Malvern Hills but local paid public parking in the evening was still required, with no change given, from the pay and display machine... One of the things that does annoy me is paying for parking in the evenings when it isn't too busy.

The following day I headed south to the Haynes motor Museum at Sparkford. This isn't too far away from London for anyone thinking of visiting as it is at the eastern end of the Devon border. Another return visit. I enjoyed it the first time and I enjoyed it again, but this time, I had prearranged a tour of the restoration workshop.

Walking around to the rear of the site, to the workshop, I heard the unmistakeable noise of a classic car coming up behind me and what appeared was this ex-Bira, Rob Walker Delahaye, being prepared for the Goodwood Revival, Rob Walker tribute. The driver was my contact, the workshop manager.


Healey for Rog tucked away in the MoT workshop...


Due to privacy issues, I wasn't allowed to take photographs inside the workshop, (they were working on a very tatty Maserati for a client!) but it was interesting to see in one building, many cars stacked on racks, either awaiting restoration or reserves for the collection.

The manager's assistant is a Kiwi...

On the way back to the front of the museum, was this sad looking Porsche.


The entrance area has a few cars on display including this Dodge.


Like several museums, there were one or two pedal cars, including this Vauxhall.


Daimler - still with the fluted grill.

From the now famous Red Hall.

Marendaz






Facel Vega - the first of the trip.


MGC - and the only Marcos I saw on the whole trip.


XKSS Replica - with shielded exhausts!

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This MG I know well as it is an ex Nottingham car. The talented guy who restored it many years ago was born with a defect on both hands, from memory, he was missing a section on all fingers. Not only did this particular car win several concours but Barry also restored a later MG and had a hand in building a fully rally prepared Cooper S I bought from his boss. Somewhere I have a photograph taken in his garage which, I must scan.

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Briefly, back to June 1981... Not the sharpest of slides, or maybe that scanner is playing up again.




Part of an impressive model display of cars driven by Stirling Moss throughout his career. Bearing in mind he was only really active in motorsport for 14 years, a tremendous legacy.


A more recent creation - the Manchester Special.


Is this a Peugeot?

Another superb model


Stearns-Knight - but I'm sure most of you knew that...


Avoid petrol charges. Go back to a Stanley Steamer.

A box of Red Bull...






Star


Not the sort of Trojan we'd normally associate with Ken...


A last glance at the Red Room before moving on. Next day, was Beaulieu - another return visit, mainly because I was passing it on the way from Bournemouth to my 4 nights at the budget Ibis at Portsmouth, for Goodwood.


Needless to say, the pics shown are just samples of the 1,000's taken over the trip.

Forgot these two from Sparkford… (There are a load more Jaguar pics from Gaydon too.)




On to Beaulieu.

Back a couple of days... Gaydon


This Riley was part of a group visiting the museum. Not the first time I have come across a group of Riley enthusiasts touring.


Sparkford again.


ACE motorcycle at Beaulieu




An Allard dragster.

Onto the Goodwood Revival.

The Beaulieu BRM V16 was just a static exhibit, but good to see it anyway. Reminiscent of the 1950 appeal for funds, nothing much has changed, so there was a collecting bin there for donations to carry on with the restoration. Yes, I donated rather more than the 5/- my dad did...




If you were feeling even more generous, you could purchase one of these.


Normally, I dive into the paddock area first thing in the morning (7:30am when the gates open!) and snap away before the crowds make it impossible. However, I normally post in chronological order, but this time, I may just skip around a bit in a totally random fashion, just to maintain interest.

Yes, a steam locomotive! Part of the theme was 'British Transport' and that included British Rail, taxis, police cars, motorbikes, commercial vehicles and buses.


No seat belts here and no-one was injured!

A batch for Spgeti


This was on a stand promoting 3D scanning. Very interesting too, as they gave me a personal demo.






Sadly, this Iso Bizzarini finished the weekend somewhat battered, on the exit to Madgwick. That's twice in two visits that one of these has come unstuck. Sadder still that on both occasions, they were the lone examples racing, unlike say AC Cobras.

Stunning, I love the Fiat 1100 and the Alfa Giulietta Saloons. Thanks Ray.

Kevin Wheatcroft's personal statement further to the October 10 press release announcing permanent closure of The Donington Grand Prix Collection as of 5pm, Monday, November 5, 2018

"As the wider motor racing public will know, Motor Sport Vision (MSV), took over operation of Donington Park last year year while I retained the freehold. We have kept the museum open for one more season and there was a possibility that it might have stayed open under the control of MSV. They have considered this option, but it does not fit their business plan - and the decision was then made to close the museum.

“Its exhibits will go into storage until my family and I have considered their future. This applies not only to the Formula 1 cars which have occupied this building for over 45 years, but also 'The Wheatcroft Collection', a unique array of World War 2 armour and military vehicles which has been a stablemate to the Grand Prix Collection for 10 years.

“On a personal note, I have been associated with these historic machines all my adult life, having helped my late father to locate many of them, and it has been a privilege to help create and operate both one of Leicestershire's greatest attractions, and a piece of world motor sport history."

From the above statement, it appears to me that Kevin still sets a higher store on his 'unique' military collection than on the cars... A very sad press release.

I can't help thinking that MSV have missed a commercial opportunity here and by not keeping the museum, may even adversely affect the numbers visiting the track. The more there is to do at a track, especially on non race days, the better, something that at least TQ understands.

A museum, café, go kart track and something for the kids are ways to get more people to a venue.

I can't help feeling that these days, less and less consideration is given to paying visitors and what they want and need.