2023 saw the VSCC Silverstone Race Meeting return to its traditional slot as Spring Start opening the VSCC Race Season. Early hours at Silverstone were somewhat unsettling as a fog descended and was still no clear as scrutineering got underway, but the haze soon lifted and ushered in some spring sunshine.

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Five ERAs are normally a treat on their own but there was something else that had the paddock buzzing, the appearance of a stunning 1948 Alfa Romeo 158, even the most hardened hearts melted at the sight and sound of that little piece of Italy on track.

The invited grid of Race 1, the Classic and Modern Motorsport Club (CMMC) Scratch Race, took place in the morning. But the real racing started after the lunch break with the Owner Driver Mechanic Race for the Fox and Nicholl Trophy Race for Standard and Modified Pre-war Sports Cars. One could almost hear the collective intake of breath as the last lap was coming to a close, Robert Beebee in the Frazer Nash TT Replica crossing just 0.19 seconds ahead of Chris Mann in his Alfa Romeo 8C Monza following an almost race long battle of the pair trading places in lead.

Expectations were now running high and Race 3, the Silverstone Trophy Race for VSCC Specials, followed suit perfectly. Robin Tuluie in the 1929 Riley Menasco Pirate took first, Oliver Llewellyn in the Bentley 3/8 came second, but the real competition was for third. Clive Morely behind the wheel of a Bentley 3/4 1/2Litre and Theo Hunt in the Frazer Nash TT Replica battling it out for third certainly was a crowd pleaser. Ultimately Clive took the bronze, a crucial 0.15 seconds ahead of Theo. After putting in a stellar performance Theo became rather well acquainted with Silverstone throughout the day, also appearing in Race 8, the Hawthorn International and Tom Cole Trophy Race in a 1953 Frazer Nash Le Mans Replica, here he was ultimately bested by his dad Martin in the1954 HWM who won the race; but Theo eventually took a well-deserved top step of the podium for the final race of the day – the Allcomers Fast Handicap Race for Pre-war Cars.

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The Tom Cole Trophy went to Jonathan Abecassis in his 1955 Austin Healey 100/4. It is actually Jonathan’s third consecutive win of the Tom Cole Trophy, perhaps time FISCAR concede and let him keep it.

The on-track action wasn’t the only excitement of the day, the event saw the involvement of some very special guests, both of whom kindly awarded some prizes to our podium winners: Christianne Ireland, daughter of the infamous race driver with a strong history at Silverstone – Innes Ireland, and Ludovick Lindsay, son of Patrick Linsday.

If there were any doubt around Members feelings about returning the event to the earlier April date in the infamously windy Silverstone Circuit then the well supported grids, variety of cars – not just on track but in the Member’s car park -, and abundance of Spectators soon dispelled such thoughts.

The next VSCC race meeting is at Cadwell Park on Sunday 18 June.

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