The Race Retro show at Stoneleigh Park near Coventry is the only car show devoted to classic car motorsport. Whilst not a massive show it provides a temporary home to an eclectic mix of car displays, clubs, race promoters, dealers, automobilia vendors and race preparation engineers. There is no other show in Europe that hosts such a good selection of those catering to the sporting classic car owner.
Chevron cars were the featured marque at Race Retro. Founded by Englishman Derek Bennett in 1965, the company struggled after his death in a hang gliding accident in 1978. Chevron were particularly renowned for their sports racing cars. This is a B16 Cosworth and carries the name of famous Swiss racing driver, Jo Siffert, – although I can find no record of him having driven a Chevron sportscar competitively.
This Lola T70 is a modern “continuation” replica of the cars of the same name that were moderately successful in taking on the Ferraris and Porsche 917’s the late 60s and early 70s. They are built by the current incarnation of Chevron Racing Cars using original drawings and tools.
This huge aero engine Fiat racer looks like it was built just after the First World War. In fact it was only recently completed but does use an original period engine. The attention to detail is staggering. Particularly impressive is the wholly artificial patina. Look at the aged brass and weathered wood..
The doctors bag and trunk on the back are suitably period – although you’d need to be tough to go touring in such a car!
This looks like a Repco Brabham BT 24 of the type Sir Jack Brabham used to win the world championship in 1967. In fact, again, it is a “continuation” replica but certainly looks the part. As a proper continuation car it should be illegible for most F1 events – and at a fraction of the cost of the real thing.
Proper Oldsmobile Repco V8 powers the car.
On the Motor Sport Magazine stand there was a recently restored prewar car. The new paintwork had been “distressed” in an attempt to give the car some patina. it looked obviously fake. The owner would have been better off leaving the car shiny.
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