The Castle Combe circuit's racing season comes to an end over the weekend of October 5th and 6th, with two of the circuit's championships to be decided on the Saturday and a mouth watering day of pure nostalgia on the Sunday.
Grand Finals race day on the Saturday sees yet another Castle Combe Formula Ford 1600 championship going down to the wire and just like last year, it's Saltford's Steven Jensen who goes into the race with a difficult, but not impossible, task.
This year, it's Chippenham's Adam Higgins who has the points advantage, having taken the last four wins with some stirring drives in his family run Van Diemen. In theory, the task for Higgins is very simple. He just needs to score one point to deny Jensen the title, regardless of where his rival finishes. But in the world of motor racing even that seemingly straightforward achievement cannot be taken for granted, with an infinite number of things which could go wrong. Jensen on the other hand has only one goal - he must win the race and achieve the fastest lap, hoping Higgins fails to score.
The problem for both men is there are other drivers equally hungry to win and well aware neither Jensen nor Higgins can afford a 'DNF'. Even within Jensen's own 'Kevin Mills Racing' team there is considerable pressure, as Jensen's current points disadvantage is largely as a result of the coming together with his team mate, Ashley Crossey, from Flax Bourton, at the last round. Roger Orgee from Langford is another in the same garage, as determined as anyone to take those victory points.
Additionally, a resurgent Ed Moore from Melksham, will be keen to add to his last round win and finish 2013 in a much happier position than he was a year ago.
Class B has already been decided in favour of Nathan Ward from Coventry despite a strong challenge from Richard Higgins from Burnham on Sea, another of the Higgins family clan. Able to beat both and everyone else if it rains, is Yatton Keynell's Luke Cooper in the Swift SC10.
Class C is also as close as it gets, with Iain Houston and Stephen Bracegirdle level on points, but the former with two extra fastest laps.
Many of those drivers will also appear in the traditional end of season 'Carnival' race, with the addition of the likes of Timsbury's Olly White in the Van Diemen 2001.
Yet more Formula Ford action comes from the Keyline pre 1982 Classic championship.
There are a host of interesting points permutations for the Sports and GT championship. Josh Smith from Wrington, in his Radical PR6, has the possibility to take the title from Perry Waddams in the class D TVR, though if both win their respective classes, then Waddams will be champion. If Waddams fails to score, then Smith needs at least a 4th in class to take the title, whilst if Smith wins and gets the point for fastest lap, then Waddams either has to win or take second and fastest class lap.
Making this all the more difficult for Smith will be Trowbridge's Andrew Shanley, likely to be very fast in his Radical Prosport.
Adding a different kind of interest will be two of the Nissan Playstation GT Academy 370Zs.
Like last year, Corsham's Will Di Claudio is already champion elect of the Castle Combe Saloon Car championship, but will still be looking to beat everyone in his class B Peugeot 106.
The main battle is for class B honours, with Bristol's Mark Wyatt in the Astra and Bridgwater's Tony Dolley in the Peugeot 206, level on points. With only 8 rounds counting, Wyatt has the potential to score a maximum of 77 points, whilst Dolley can only reach 72, so the latter must outscore the former by at least 6 points to take the title.
Other locals likely to be at the fiercer end of the grid include Burton's Rob Ballard in the SEAT Leon and Shepton Mallet's Charles Hyde-Andrews-Bird in his Dad's Renault Megane, having already won class D.
Other races on Saturday include the Quaife Intermarque championship, BMWs and an open 'Sports v Saloon' challenge. Saturday gets under way with qualifying at 8:30, the first race starting at 12:35.
Sunday's 'stand alone' 'Carole Nash Insurance and Bristol Forklifts Autumn Classic' brings a delicious array of cars and races rarely seen together.
Eagerly awaited and full of local aces is the 'Tim Rogers Memorial Trophy for Big Healeys' in memory of the late owner of 'TON 792' one of only two 6 cylinder Austin Healeys to race at Le Mans. Rogers, formerly from Churchill, was a joint owner of the car with David Smithies from Flax Bourton, who is on a high after his superb win in it at the recent Goodwood Revival, when he beat ex F1 driver Jochen Mass in the Fordwater Trophy. The only other ex Le Mans car, the famous DD300, which Bristol's John Chatham entertained crowds at Combe with in its heyday, will also take part, now in the hands of Karsten Le Blanc.
The Bristol area has always been a major centre for 'Big Healey' activity and this race carries on that tradition. Bristol Forklifts owner and acclaimed quadruple Monaco winner Julian Bronson, partners with Steve Bicknell. Chris Clarkson and Ted Williams are another well known 'Bristol' pairing with great skill, as are Eric Woolley and Weston Super Mare's Dan Cox, all in 3000's. Oliver and Joe, John Chatham's sons, are also expected to share a car.
The '100/6' Healeys, of which 'TON' is one, will compete for the 'Dave Hardy Memorial Trophy'.
Staying with the Bristol connection, the Jaguar Enthusiasts' Club, based in Filton, has its 30 minute race for the 'Norman Dewis Trophy', named after the legendary Jaguar test pilot.
Making a long awaited return to Combe is the 'Miller Oils Formula Junior Championship', featuring the delightful1 one litre and 1100 cc single seaters which many great names cut their racing teeth on. One of the most beautiful cars on the grid will be the 1961 Lotus 20 of Professor Peter Hawkey of Painswick, rescued from a scrap yard in Kenya.
Very popular last year was the Fiscar race for historic sports and GT cars of the fifties, which is run as a 30 minute, 3 car team race with pit stops. Westbury's Peter Campbell has a Wingfield Bristol Special, whilst Marlborough's David Bennett has his AC Ace and will also appear in the race for 'Historic Aston Martins' with his DB3S. He will be emulated by Mark Campbell from Stonehouse, who uses his ex-works Le Mans DB2 in both races.
Equally interesting will be the unique 'FLIERS' race for 'Fifties Lightweight Sports Racing Cars', which should throw up some rather unusual sub 1.5 litre cars which rarely have a home to race. Gloucester's John Paul Mason brings his Cooper T21. Chris Guest has the Cooper-MG sports-racer which Bristol's only Formula 1 driver, Horace Gould, raced at the circuit in 1953. Gould's best F1 result was 5th in the 1956 British GP in his Maserati 250F.
The Vintage Sports Car Club's race for pre war sports cars includes the coincidence of two Glastonbury drivers, Hamish McNinch and Barry Foster, both in 1931 MG C-type Montlherys. Westbury's Stephen Curtis has his 1934 Talbot 105, Andrew Baker from Martock his Riley Brooklands and Crewkerne's Allen Clear is in his Riley TT Sprite.
Sunday's events get under way with qualifying at 08-30, with the first raceat 12.35.
Admission prices for each day are £15 for Adults, £10.00 for OAPs, 'PaddockTransfer' free, with accompanied children under 17 admitted free.
For further information, visit the Castle Combe Circuit online atwww.castlecombecircuit.co.uk, built bt Racecar
