FROM THE ARCHVE
of the AMOC was Richard Culverhouse , who filled the slot left by the departure of Alan Putt . Developments included a change of name for the Pre ’ 71 Single- Seater Championship to the Historic Formula Racing Car Championship and the resting of the Pre ’ 65 category after a disappointing season in 1990 .
In the early summer of 1991 , the club unveiled plans to create a Pre ’ 71 Formula Ford 1600 category . Unlike the existing Pre ’ 74 category , run by the BRSCC , the new series would require cars to run in proper period specification with relevant bodywork and radiator position . The launch of the series was planned to coincide with the 25th anniversary of the creation of Formula Ford , back in 1967 . Chris Alford became a prime mover for taking the idea through to the reality of what ultimately became one of the club ’ s most successful categories .
The Donington Formula 1 celebration event ran very well and some of the famous drivers took part in what was supposed to be a steady demonstration run but soon got quite competitive . Jean-Pierre Jarier drove his 1979 Tyrrell 009 , Paul Stewart drove Tyrrell 003 on behalf of his father Jackie , Jody Scheckter handled a Ferrari 312T3 from Nick Mason ’ s stable and Denny Hulme drove Lorina McLaughlin ’ s McLaren M23 . Jack Brabham ( aged 65 ) was due to drive an F1 Brabham but when that car developed problems he was quickly able to switch to Lincoln Small ’ s F2 Brabham BT35 . Jean-Pierre Beltoise , Brian Redman , Guy Edwards , Brian Henton , Derek Bell , Richard Attwood and Howden Ganley were all on hand .
“ It was a great weekend ,” said Brabham . “ I enjoyed very much catching up with all the old friends and meeting new ones .” Hulme , similarly , enjoyed the occasion . “ To me it was like a time warp ; those present , including the mechanics , just haven ’ t changed .”
The club ’ s other major Donington Park race meeting on 21 / 22 July was a double celebration . On the back of the success of the Chevron theme for the 1990 event , the ’ 91 edition celebrated the Lola marque and 25 years of the HSCC . The focal point of the weekend was a Lola parade spanning as many cars as possible from the company ’ s 33-year
The late Denis Welch collects the award for winning the 1991 Classic Championship from John Surtees
story with company founder Eric Broadley as guest of honour . Guy Griffiths was also invited to the event as a special guest in honour of the 1966 race at Castle Combe that led to the formation of the HSCC .
Club vice-chairman Mike Freeman won the 25th Anniversary Race at Donington in his Lister Costin and accepted an award from Guy Griffiths , who presented a framed photograph of Betty Haig at the wheel of her Frazer Nash . Towards the end of 1991 , the club confirmed that it had applied to the RACMSA for approval to run a Group 6 Championship in 1992 . The series of pilot races run in ’ 91 had gone well and the drive of Mike
Pendlebury in particular had encouraged a growing number of cars onto the grid . A six-race series was planned for 1992 , with dates organised to avoid the Steigenberger Super Sports Cup .
In confirming the new series , chairman Don Cressy acknowledged that the new series would take the club beyond the existing 1971 cut-off date but he explained that it was not the
“ I enjoyed very much catching up with all the old friends and meeting new ones ”
Mike Freeman ( centre ) receives the Full Bore Trophy for 1991 from John Surtees and Don Cressy
start of a blanket move to allow any pre-1975 cars into the club .
Committee changes at the end of the 1990 season centred on vice-chairman Mike Freeman standing down after three years ’ service and he was replaced by Nick Overall following a postal ballot . Roly Nix and John Harper stood down as category representatives on the main committee and were replaced by Lincoln Small and David Hudson , while Mike Pendlebury was also elected to represent the new Group 6 category .
The club ’ s championships winners at the end of the 1991 season included Road Sports aces Kevin Irons ( Datsun 240Z ) and Aidan Mills-Thomas ( AC Cobra ) who each took another title and Denis Welch ( Austin Healey 3000 ) who won the Classic Sports crown for the second time . Lotus Elan racer Steve McKechnie won the Novice title but with less than 20 drivers scoring points this would be the final year of the championship .
Chevron B8 racer Phil Buck won the 2-Litre GT title as Michael Schryver only contested a couple of races , while March 712 racer Paul Gardener won the newly-titled Historic Formula Racing Car Championship .
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