Daytona – it really was the trip of a lifetime!

(Pics with huge thanks to Steve Tarrant, George Carey, Ted Glaser, Diane Hadfield, John Hutchison Jnr and Ian Everett/Gary Makein)

On a balmy, breezy October morning in Southampton, half a dozen members of the Classic Sports Car Club drove twenty-nine sports, saloon and GT cars deep into the bowels of the MV Aida, bound for Brunswick, GA.  After two weeks on the high seas and a two-hour drive in six superb car transporters, the cars were met by their excited owners in the paddock of the hallowed Daytona International Speedway.  Thus commenced five days of training (on the banked track), racing (on that and the flat infield), mending (in the pit garages) and enjoyment

(everywhere).

Roz Shaw's Alfa followed by the Hadfield Herald and the Everrett/Makein BMW	Chas Mallard and Richard Mallinson's Camaro
The Tonge/Vaughn Mini Cooper followed by the Peachy Racing BMW (Steve Tarrant)	Adams' Spitfire and Letts Lotus Cortina
Adams (Spitfire), Burton (XK120) and Mussell (Mustang)	The Cortina showing off before it's untimely demise (Steve Tarrant)
Leslie/Daniels Sabre 6 and Hadfield Herald	Mustang takes the flag - a British win! (and a British Marshal waves the flag)
Spitfire and XK120 on the banking	The 'Vette and Sabre ready to return to blighty
Harding's Falcon voted "Best in Show" by the US Marshals next to the Chodosh Juniors' Corvette	Pretty Griffith (Jason and Louise Kennedy ) comes home!
Wayne, Ian and Gary point to the obvious	Get those ribs!
Lots of time for "R & R"	It's what hire cars are for!
Luke Wos's "Captain America" Corvette	All the gang

The fortunate owners had previously flown out for four or five days of “R & R”, along with hordes of family, friends, pit-monkeys and general hangers-on – in total almost 200 Brits.  They were accompanied by two British Marshals (and a wife), who had been “drawn out of a hat” (figuratively speaking of course) from all of the marshals who had worked at the CSCC race meetings throughout 2007 – a wonderful prize donated by the Club.  Little did they know that they would be “working the corners” in the States, but more later.

Our American cousins watched goggle-eyed as the following emerged into the bright Floridian sunshine (a bit like “one song to the tune of another” we kick into “On the first day of Christmas” here): five Jaguars, four Ford Mustangs, three Chevrolet Corvettes, three Triumphs, two Chevrolet Camaros, two Loti, two BMWs, one Mini Cooper and a variety of other marques including a TVR Griffith which was making a pilgrimage back to the land of its fathers!

The race results shown below prove that the British contingent integrated well with their transatlantic cousins, appearing in the listings in a nice spread from top to bottom.  The two at the top had a particularly good time on track, but as always merely taking part was the real thrill.

However, it was in the pit garages where the true colours of racing drivers everywhere shine through.  Almost every car from this side of the pond encountered niggles (and worse) that required tools, spares, welding and T-Cut.  Nothing was too much for the American enthusiasts and racers to help our guys and girls keep their chargers running.  Our “Captain America” Corvette received so much assistance from a bunch of Canadian ‘Vette racers that it now permanently sports a Maple Leaf decal.

Sadly one BMW threw a rod on the first day, but its rueful team of 8 gave in to the alternative delights of sun/sea/sand with alacrity.  A Lotus Cortina, which was rebuilt specifically for the event took a bit of a nasty roll, thankfully delivering the occupant unharmed, but not before many pretty pictures were captured of its brief participation.  Some may find this surprising, but the smaller cars suffered a lot less from the fatigue of pounding at high speed on the banking than the “Big Boys” such as the ‘Vettes and Camaros.  Every car needed a spanner check after every outing, imperative when you consider that they may be reaching over 150mph on the banking.  And when you add up the hours spent on track, each car covered at least half a season’s-worth of running in one long weekend.  But it seemed that the “Little Guys” – Herald, Spitfire, Alfa, BMW and Mini made the most of their experience, and the size of the smiles on their faces was not diminished by their lack of cubic capacity.

Just as much fun was had off the track, especially by the aforementioned marshals and some of the hangers-on.  Beverley (who normally graces the start-line at Brands Hatch) worked on several different corners, and was thrilled to wave the start and finish flags for the Anglo-American Challenge race, won by our own Bernie Chodosh and his ’58 Corvette.  Jaguar driver Chris Palmer’s daughter Charlotte spent most of the weekend in the Pace Car, waving cars by and viewing from the infield – the best place to be!  It seems that the “safety” regulations are somewhat more lax than in Europe, for she was not clad in anything remotely fireproof nor did she sport a helmet, however she was not alone in being on the receiving end of much cordiality and friendliness.

At this point it is worth pointing out that the Yanks did all they could to help with this mammoth project, right from the get-go in August 2006 when the plot was hatched.  However, it is a testament to the members and Committee of the CSCC that the trip got off the ground at all, that the cars all arrived, raced and returned in as many pieces as they started (although not necessarily in the right order) and that they are now safely ensconced in their rightful garages for the winter.

But this was not just a trip to go racing in the States.  The real plus was the fun that everyone had, as a group and as individuals, and the friendships forged between the Brits and with their transatlantic counterparts.

There is a rumour that there will be a repeat in 2009, but this time to Sebring to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Aston Martin winning there – watch this space!

Classic Sports Car Club 2007.