Silver arrows take a bow at scene of past glories

The VSCC’s annual Richard Seaman memorial Trophy Meeting at Donington Park took on even greater significance this season as it heralded the ‘Return of the Auto Unions’. Some 65 years after their pre-War domination of the Donington Grands Prix, the mighty machines were demonstrated.

Star billing went to the Cand D-Type Auto Unions, while other cars from the Audi family included the 1926 NSU 6/60hp Grand Prix Kompressor and many more recent Audi race and rally cars, right up to the 2000 Le Mans-winning R8. The meeting also marked the 70th anniversary of the first motorcycle races at Donington, with races for the Lansdowne Classic Motorcycle Series.

One of the racing highlights was the Seaman Trophy race for Pre-War Racing Cars, which proved to be ERA-dominated as David Morris led home a 1-2-3-4 in RUB. Ludovic Lindsay led the chase in R5B and was always close enough to keep Morris pressing on, while John Ure (R9B) and Mac Hulbert (R4D) completed the ERA sweep. Rob Hall and Frank Sytner had a memorable battle in the HGPCA Pre-66 Rear-Engined Grand Prix Car race, both driving their Brabhams superbly as they raced wheel to wheel. Although he did not know until after the race, Sytner was penalised for a false start in his BT4, which handed the win to Hall in Philip Walker’s BT11A. A half-spin avoiding a slower car had dropped him away from Sytner on the road, but the penalty reversed the order.

Martin Walford (Bugatti T51) won the event for the Seaman and Williams Trophies, Julian Bronson (Lister Costin) won the 1950s Sports Racing Car event, and Philip Walker’s Lotus 16 just fended off Spencer Flack’s BRM P25 to win the Ron Flockhart Memorial Trophy. PL