Silverstone Classic 2009 - if you could change one thing

[Peter Mallett]

I suspect the problem with F1 cars from any era is the need to preserve them. Also with the loss of a dedicated championship the top drivers, such as Berridge etc. have moved on. (Due respect to Simon Hadfield etc.).

Thus whilst it is good to see them, they don't get used to anywhere near their potential and therefore a race is really a high speed parade.

Historics these days is really sports/gt/saloons. Then there are the specialist areas such as FJ. Personally I'd like to see F1 and F5000 cars but even the HSCC recognises the problem and therefore the "libre" Derek Bell championship works well.

[terence]

Unfortunatly,I have to agree,the F1 race was one I had been looking forward to,in fact the only race I had time to see on Saturday,5 mins of it and I had had enough,yes there are lose who are able to get them going the way they are supposed to,saddly those drivers are only a small number though,not really what the punters expect to see.
I think that period looking Gp1/2 Saloons would evoke many memories for most spectators,one thing they attend for!

[rogerwills]

Originally Posted by Tim the Grey

I'm on record as wanting LESS historic F1 time, thanks!

I actually walked away from one race. I'd seen enough.

By that you mean the 70's cars or the HGPCA race? I think there was some duplication in 70s F1 but perhaps 2 grids of the earlier GP cars would have been possible - pre 1960 and 1960-1966ish (i.e. pre wings/slicks etc)

[James Murray]

I agree that 2 3 litre f1 grids were too much. 1 would have been sufficient and a seperate race for pre 66 and pre 61 GP cars. Mixing Bugatti Type 35's and ERA'S with 1965 BRM's, Loti and Brabhams didn't work well IMHO.

I don't think there are enough 66-70 wingless 3litre f1 cars running to have a race for these cars unfortunately. The main factor is the DFV only became universal in 1969 and anything before that (Lotus 49 excluded) used small production and very specialised engines that not only are very rare now, but also I guess very expensive, considerably more than a DFV. This effictively restricts the viable cars to 69/70 cars running DFV's which there aren't that many of.

The FORCE series tried this a few years ago and couldnt get enough cars and as a result allowed in pre 70 f5000's and 1600 f2's.

Peter I have to disagree that historics is really sports/saloons/gt's. There are arguably more open wheel categeories available to choose from than closed, for vastly differing cars and most of them are fully supported. I agree that there are some superb closed wheel categories but much of it appears to be same sh.t different bucket and dependant on what regs your car complies with.

Cheers James

[Peter Mallett]

I really mean in terms of grid sizes not in terms of available series.

[john ruston]

Run a race from 61 to 68 and include F1 ,F2 and 5000's Thats how they made the grids back then so why not now.Exclude anything with a wing but those BRM engines need to be used and I am sure Rick Hall has plenty of spares

[Tim the Grey]

John, and Roger.
One too many 3 litre F1 races, which both seemed to require loads of free practice, then 90 minute qualifying, then warm up, etc, etc...

Every time I turned round, they were back on track!

Yes, give me a Pre War GP race, and a Post War. It may be possible to fit a 1 1/2 litre race in too?

Then give me some saloons to watch.

And keep the Saturday evening race! Sportscars in the gloaming. Yummy.