[Book Review] Whatever Happened to the Gold Cup?

Whatever Happened to the Gold Cup?

by Mike Allen

Once retirement is upon us, whether forced by age or other circumstances, how to fill the time is an initial worry. Author Mike Allen’s project to fill his time was to research the Oulton Park International Gold Cup races. As Allen’s acknowledgements bear out, his task involved many, many others—writing a book of this type relies on so many people involved in the sport whether they be drivers, mechanics, marshals or enthusiasts.

Allen clearly defines the inception of the Gold Cup in 1954, and takes the reader on a step-by-step journey through the 21 years of the race. It obviously includes the golden era, when many non-championship Formula One races were held and most of the major players were represented. Of course, like many international race meetings, while the major players stole the limelight, there was much more to see on track over the weekend with a great support race package, and I’m pleased to say that Allen has included many of these both in his text and period photographs. There are also many anecdotes, including the day a certain Juan Manuel Fangio became a Member of the Mid-Cheshire Motor Racing Club. Allen’s book stops in 1974, when the demise of the race was clearly marked. The once prestigious event of the Oulton Park racing calendar was then just a round of the Rothmans F5000 Championship, 23 cars were entered, 17 turned up, 13 started and just 10 finished—Ian Ashley taking the flag, followed by Teddy Pilette and Keith Holland. World politics, the fuel crisis and a recession had all taken a toll on this motor race.

Sadly, that era of the Oulton Park International Gold Cup is long gone, but thankfully the spectacle of the race weekend survives, albeit now in the hands of the amateur enthusiast and under the banner of the Historic Sports Car Club.

Allen has done a super job in not only providing easy to read text and a wealth of entries and race results for each of the 21 years, but has self-published too—certainly a labor of love. Will this book appeal to all enthusiasts? I’m not too sure, but it will certainly stir the memories of many UK and European race fans.