Silverstone Festival

[Escape]

We came over with the Elan JPS for the festival. Our first time in Silverstone, very impressive and we had a great day.

Lots of Lotus both on track and in the inner field club stand. No doubt several from on here as well? I should have asked earlier.

We already met Leigh with his stunning Essex Elite.

And he was kind enough to send me a picture of the Elan.

With so much to see, we completely forgot to take one ourselves...

We're very much looking forward to the rest of the weekend!

[MPx]

Yeah was there today (Sat) and had a good time other than during the odd downpour.  Didn't see you Filip, but managed to shake hands and catch up with a few others including Ady (GT3), Ray (Elise), Kathryn(Elan), Matt(EspritS1), Nick(between Evora and Emira i4), Chris(M100).  The Lotus pitch was the stand out grouping of the club stands as confirmed by on pitch media interviews by Ant Anstead, then Brewer and MarcP, and finally even Jodie Kidd!  The turnout was helped by combining Club Lotus and Lotus Drivers Club on one pitch, but they counted over 180 at one point which is more than I've seen in any previous years.   Most of us made it to the "parade".  A bizarre event where you queue chaotically for over an hour then finally get waved onto the track for nearly a whole lap before queuing to come off the circuit.  Regardless it was great to see so many Lotus and to be part of the best display. 

The pitch

I was lucky enough to be introduced to Ed who was part of the event team contributing footage for the Silverstone media and he came round the circuit with me filming so hopefully something from the Lotus parade will appear on their event media soon.   This is my tiny part of the track queue (Kathryn's fella's Elan is behind). 

And then there were those I missed, but saw their cars, incl:

Rambo

Pete (NM)

...and just like at Goodwood ... no24 was there, but no Paul

Also interesting to see the winning Pikes Peak Radford.  Bizarrely Brewer tried to claim some sort of kudos from it through his Anstead link as part of his nonsense on the club stand, but I dont think anyone fell for it.   And it was stood next to a normal 62 in the paddock with which it didn't compare well in the looks department!

 

[Escape]

We had the retrorun yesterday (great day out!), so couldn't do the parade lap. And we were parked just on the outside instead of with the other Lotus as well. We will get to do a parade lap today, I hope with a shorter queue...

When we came to visit the Lotus stand, MB was just there blabbering, so we quickly moved on. We'll be back today though. Chances are I wont reckognise anyone, but we will be admiring the cars! I was told there were 2 other Elan JPS. 😎 And great to finally see an Emira in the flesh, as well as the Type 62-2.

[Bibs]

Looks good. We could perhaps combine a TLF presence into the event next year although a 3 day show can be quite hard work. 

[MPx]

8 minutes ago, Bibs said:

... although a 3 day show can be quite hard work. 

Some, like Mark, go for the full 3 days every year.  I usually do just one.  I'd say this one was less well supported by the clubs than in the past and it was missing the top end.  A few years back, Porkers filled 4 fields - they had abut 40 cars there this time,  I've previously seen a whole field of Mc'ers but only one car this year - and that on Sporting Bears.  No Lambos that I noticed.  Fezzas down to about 30 cars.  No TVR club but a handful around other places.  On the upside, Maserati were better than normal and Lotus excellent - maybe the 75th influence.

The classic racing on track was as good s ever.  And access to the pits was, as always, better even than Goodwood. 

Interesting that the Auction was "Iconic Auctions" and not Silverstone Auctions this year - some of the cars not up to the best standard, not seen that before.

I agree that three days would be hard work, but the guys that do it seem to go for the ambience/evening music entertainment as much as the car stuff and find it good value.

[Rambo]

Sorry I missed you Mike. Been here for 3 days but so much to see and do.

Just said to Jeremy" By the way, it is fucking good beer" He said "Yes it is. Its about the only thing I've ever done right" LOL 🤣

[Escape]

7 hours ago, MPx said:

A few years back, Porkers filled 4 fields - they had abut 40 cars there this time,  I've previously seen a whole field of Mc'ers but only one car this year - and that on Sporting Bears.  No Lambos that I noticed.  Fezzas down to about 30 cars.  No TVR club but a handful around other places.  On the upside, Maserati were better than normal and Lotus excellent - maybe the 75th influence.

I was told the Porker presence had become a bit overwhelming, so they were moved to their own area, at the end of the Hanger Straight. Pretty much out of sight. There were loads of them on the parade lap Saturday night. 😉

I counted 3 Lambo's, including a beautiful green Jarama that did the parade lap on Friday. I thought it was all very impressive, but I can't compare. We were a bit (pleasantly) surprised to see more Emiras than MC's. 🙂 

@Rambo I considered trying/buying some of Jeremy's beer, but the price was quite steep and I didn't see a dark one (my preference). I could have gotten the cider for a mate, I'll just have to stop somewhere else on the way back to get him something.

[LotusLeftLotusRight]

17 hours ago, MPx said:

Interesting that the Auction was "Iconic Auctions" and not Silverstone Auctions this year - some of the cars not up to the best standard, not seen that before.

It’s the same company. They’ve just rebranded. The official line is that they feel they have outgrown the Silverstone name, since they have sales at other locations. Personally I think it’s because they no longer want to pay the Silverstone name licensing fee…

[Chillidoggy]

20 hours ago, MPx said:

Some, like Mark, go for the full 3 days every year.  I usually do just one.  I'd say this one was less well supported by the clubs than in the past and it was missing the top end.  A few years back, Porkers filled 4 fields - they had abut 40 cars there this time,  I've previously seen a whole field of Mc'ers but only one car this year - and that on Sporting Bears.  No Lambos that I noticed.  Fezzas down to about 30 cars.  No TVR club but a handful around other places.  On the upside, Maserati were better than normal and Lotus excellent - maybe the 75th influence.

The classic racing on track was as good s ever.  And access to the pits was, as always, better even than Goodwood. 

Interesting that the Auction was "Iconic Auctions" and not Silverstone Auctions this year - some of the cars not up to the best standard, not seen that before.

I agree that three days would be hard work, but the guys that do it seem to go for the ambience/evening music entertainment as much as the car stuff and find it good value.

By way of comparison, at the Le Mans Classic, there were 1,500 Porsche’s in their club area.

[Leigh Greenham]

A couple of snapshots, the Saturday lunchtime Lotus parade taken from the Silverstone Six grandstand with Roger Mahklouf's Elan Plus 2 Shooting Brake 'Estralle' centre stage.........

........and the Sunday RetroRun with Filip's JPS +2 moving faster than its German neighbours! (screenshot from the excellent livestreamed coverage of all 3 day's track action, still available on YouTube)

[Escape]

We've made it back safe and sound, we had a great weekend but now a bit tired. My own fault, for taking a night ferry so we could spend another day as tourists in UK. 😄 Luckily working from home today.

My better halve says she still hears the engines when she closes her eyes. But she does want to come back next year. She took loads of photos, I'll try and muster the courage to go through them and post a few relevant ones here. 

[Rambo]

II've been going to the Silverstone Classics (now Festival) for 15 years and the racing is as good, if not better, these days

However, I feel it's losing its identity a bit and concentrating too much on food and tastings etc... I feel they are turning it into more of a family event . 

However, if you like motorsport and want to get close to the action in the pit garages, this still has to be the best value for money anywhere. £130 for 2 people for 1 days of qualifying and 2 days of racing. That works out to a bit more than £20 pppd. Where else can you get that sort of value? 

[Rambo]

PS was that your JPS 2+2 parked up behind me on Sat on the LDC stand Filip?

[Escape]

No, that wasn't us. We were parked at the RetroRun stand, as we did the run to the Cotswolds first (beautiful scenery and very well organised!). I did spot another JPS +2 both on Friday and Saturday and was told there was another one on old type plates on Saturday as well. I need to send Trevor a message to find out if it was him. Too bad we didn't get to park all 3 side by side. I did consider asking to park on the LDC stand but as the whole site was quite cowded it didn't seem like a good idea to move about too much. Maybe next year, on the TLF stand? 🙂 Though I kinda fancy taking the Esprit next year (if only to set myself a deadline).

[Rambo]

TLF stand? You're 'avin a larff 🤣 Noticeably absent apart from some of the usual suspects.

 

[Escape]

This year, yes, but what's to keep the usual suspects from getting something set up for next year? 😉

[Bibs]

Well volunteered @Rambo, will look forward to everyone having a lovely time there in 2024 

 

[Rambo]

Happy to help out. Who keeps the TLF gazebo, flags and barbie stuff?

[Chillidoggy]

Bibs already has them on a courier to you.

[Bibs]

I've no idea where it all is, last use was the Lotus Festival a few years back now. I'll buy all new stuff  

 

[Escape]

I'd be happy to help as well.

@Bibs, buying all new stuff, is that where the money from the Gold FFMs goes to? 😁

[Rambo]

A couple of CC's old cars on the Classic Team Lotus stand 👍

The red one below reminds me of a Massey Ferguson at the front 🤣

 

[Escape]

Those were some of the (many) highlights!

[martynv]

Was there on Sunday and bumped in to Adrian. Was a bit wet around lunch time, but was great to see the historic F1 cars again.

I remember the one and only year we had a stand there and it was a total mud bath I was the only one parked there as everyone turned round and parked along with Club Lotus once they spotted the mud. Spent the evening washing off the mud in the hotel car park, good job I was only staying there one night 😀