British sportscar icons of the 1960s - Austin-Healey 3000s, MGBs and Lotus Elans - coloured last weekend’s 15th Castle Combe Autumn Classic. As a warm, dry Saturday gave way to a dreich Sunday, fine driving and close finishes thrilled onlookers. The paddock vibe and relaxed ambience underlined why it has long been competitors’ favourite event.
The return of big Healeys provided a magnificent spectacle as Saturday’s Ian Cox Memorial race celebrated the Piper Cams boss, an ardent 3000 pedaller. Dutchmen Christiaen van Lanschot and Karsten le Blanc’s DD300 - the triple Le Mans car raced here by John Chatham in the 1960s and 1970s - evoked poignant memories for many.
