Photo: Mark Constanduros
“Wonderful venue and fantastic people,” that was the comment from motor racing legend Sir Stirling Moss when he visited Shelsley Walsh Hill Climb, near Worcester, mid July. Sir Stirling was guest of honor at the Midland Automobile Club’s “Classic Nostalgia” weekend with Peter James and Stewart Miller Insurance, a vintage-themed meeting held at the world’s oldest motor sport venue, where people were invited to wear suitable dress to add to the period atmosphere.
Cars of all shapes and sizes from many decades competed against the clock up the iconic track while family entertainment including singers, bands, barbeques and dancing girls performed in the Courtyard. The parking lots were lined with cars from several clubs, including Morgan and MG, while thousands more cherished machines provided a wonderful display of their own, lined up in the public car parks.
Sir Stirling spoke of the vast differences between modern drivers and cars and the highly enjoyable, totally acceptable and almost requisite “playboy” image of Formula One racing in his day, also admitting to having two sets of scrapbooks recording his career, one for racing and one for “Crumpet!”
On Classic Nostalgia itself, Sir Stirling said: “This is a terrific occasion where all sorts of truly rare and magnificent cars can be seen in their full glory, and I am thrilled at the reception I have received here from old and younger fans alike, and for the opportunity to be reunited with some of the important cars from my racing past.”
One hundred cars took part in a Concours de Elegance, with the overall winner being Roy Powell, who had travelled from Teeside in his stunning Aston Martin DB2/4 Mk111, originally having had no intention of entering the competition, but ending up driving home with the top accolade.
