“Where did they all go?” – The hunt is on for former racers and former race cars!

 It was announced today that Donington Park and Masters Historic Racing are currently embarking on an unusual search – to track down the dozens of UK club racers who competed at the very first race meeting ever held at Donington Park, back in the summer of 1977, so that they can become involved with this year’s re-opening for car racing, on September 4/5th.

There are two good reasons to do so – one is that any ‘First Eventer’ who makes contact with the Masters’ office with proof of their 1977 entry, will receive two free paddock access spectator tickets to attend the event at the revived circuit on Saturday or Sunday 4/5th September.

And secondly, if any of the drivers from 1977 are still actually racing - and who hold a current national B or better race licence - then they will be invited to enter the special “Masters 1977 Opening Revival” race for 1970s saloons and GT cars - which is being held to commemorate the original pioneers, in Special Saloons and similar 1970s saloons and GTs: So, where are they all?

Robert Fearnall for Donington Park Circuit, and Christopher Tate for Masters, with the invaluable assistance of Ian Titchmarsh, trackside commentator back then in 1977, as he is now at 2010 Masters events, hope to find as many as possible of the former cars and drivers.

“I was there myself as a spectator back in that hot summer of 1977” said, Tate, Series Director at Masters, “and was watching from the Craner Curves embankment. We all thought Donington was a great new track. This year, we have been missing racing there; so we are delighted to be putting on the re-opening car racing event on September 4/5th. We’ve already ‘found’ Doug Niven who raced in Super Saloons then, and will come down to watch from Scotland and now we want Alastair Lyall, winner of the first-ever race in 1977 to come and join us. It would be fun to find as many of the 1977 cars and drivers as possible – so if anyone knows who and what, please get in touch with us - ‘team@themastersseries.com’ or by calling 01908-587545.”