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Silverstone Classic to celebrate 25 years

22 May, 2015

The Silverstone Classic festival, held over July 24–26, was always going to be a big one for the festival that is known as “the world’s biggest classic motor racing festival” — add in the fact that 2015 also marks the festival’s 25th anniversary, and this year will be something extra special.

The biggest feature of the event will be the Silver Jubilee parade, which will see an enormous array of silver cars take to the Silverstone track. The parade is open to anyone with a silver car, be it new or old, and has already attracted a diverse and wonderful line-up — from a 1934 Austin Seven Special, through to Land Rovers and Aston Martins.

With the Silverstone Classic already renowned for its huge display of classic and vintage cars — around 10,000 privately owned classics are expected for display — yesteryear’s finest will be sure to be well represented.

It won’t just be old vehicles, though. “For once it’s not limited to those lucky enough to own an E-type, 911, or F40 – it’s open to all those millions of motorists who simply have a silver car,” said event director Nick Wigley. Attendance is expected to top 100,000 for the first time.

Other highlights of the event include the RetroRun parade, as well as two of the festival’s most prestigious races — the Royal Automotive Club Tourist Trophy for Historic Cars for Pre ‘63 GTs and the Royal Automobile Club Woodcote Trophy for Pre ’56 Sports Cars. These two race events will play host to a wonderful line-up of automotive history, from E-type Jaguars, to Ferraris, and Le Mans–winning D-type Jaguars and Aston Martins.

Lunch with… Jim Palmer

16 April, 2025

In the 1960s, Hamilton’s Jim Palmer won the prestigious ‘Gold Star’ four times and was the first resident New Zealander home in the New Zealand Grand Prix on five consecutive occasions. He shared the podium with Stirling Moss, Jack Brabham, Bruce McLaren, Graham Hill, Jim Clark, Denny Hulme, Jackie Stewart, and Chris Amon. The extent of his domination of the open-wheeler scene in New Zealand will probably never be matched or exceeded. Yet he’s always been modest about his achievements.

NZ Classic Car magazine, May/June 2025 issue 399, on sale now

13 April, 2025

Who would have thought it would become such a worldwide motorsport star when Ford introduced the humble Escort in 1967?
Its popularity, particularly in Mark 1 form, is now of iconic status. Our cover story for this issue is on a 1968 Ford Escort Mark 1, Alan Mann Racing Tribute. We talked with the owner of this very special Escort, finished in tribute also to the owner’s father.
“Most children love speed, and motorsport typically comes courtesy of a parent, and Elliott is no different. His engineer father, Mark, had a love for motorcycles and going fast; however, when children came along, he swapped two wheels for four, in the form of two Ford Escorts.
Little did Mark know it at the time, but the humble Escort was about to weave its way into the family fabric once and for all.
After emigrating from London to New Zealand, Elliott recalled one evening when he was 14 being invited to tag along by his father, helping a friend convert an Escort road car into a racing car. This was the pivotal moment when Elliott remembers the motorsport bug taking over. He knew he had to have his own one.”