Classic Nostalgia to celebrate 65 years of the British Touring Car Championship
Star guests include Matt Neal, Mike Wilds, Ian Flux and John Fitzpatrick
Anniversaries include 60 years of McLaren and the Mini Cooper S, plus 90 years of Railton
NEW FOR 2023 – The Startline VIP Club: rub shoulders with our celebrity guests!
NEW FOR 2023 – Exhibition of Speed: showcasing the works of more than a dozen well-known or emerging artists
Full weekend of action and entertainment at Shelsley Walsh, both on and off the hill
Classic & Sports Car Concours: no advance entry required – just turn up and show off your classic
Plus live music, family entertainment and more!
With just over two months to go until this year’s Classic Nostalgia meeting, organisers have announced more details of what is sure to be an unforgettable weekend at Shelsley Walsh. The flagship event returns to the famous Worcestershire hillclimb on 22-23 July and will feature great cars from across motorsport history – including fabulous celebrations of the British Touring Car Championship, McLaren, Mini Cooper S, Railton and many other British legends.
Leading the spectacle will be a celebration of 65 years of the BTCC, Britain’s most popular racing series. Iconic models will be on show and in action on the thrilling Shelsley Walsh hillclimb, while leading lights from the BTCC will be in attendance to greet the crowds and put the cars through their paces.
Triple BTCC Champion Matt Neal will get back behind the wheel of the Honda Civic he campaigned in 2014 for Team Dynamics Honda Yuasa Racing. Team Dynamics has been the powerhouse behind making Honda one of the most decorated marques in BTCC history. Neal is also a record six-time BTCC Independents Champion, winning the title in 1993, 1995, 1999, 2000, 2005 and 2006.
John Fitzpatrick will be reunited with the 1971 Ford Escort RS1600 in which he won four rounds of that year’s British Saloon Car Championship. The car was owned by Ford but built and run by Broadspeed, and unfortunately Fitzpatrick’s successful season ended with a spectacular crash during a dice for the lead with Frank Gardner at the season-closer at Brands Hatch. The Broadspeed Ford Anglia in which Fitzpatrick won Class D and finished runner-up in the 1967 Championship will also be demonstrated.
One of motorsport’s most colourful and best-loved characters, Ian Flux, will be joining the BTCC tribute. ‘Fluxie’ will be signing copies of his eagerly anticipated biography For Flux Sake – Beer, Fags and Opposite-Lock. The search is now on to track down some of his cars from the BTCC and beyond, including his Toyota Supra Turbo MA70 or 1996 TVR Tuscan. Can you help? Please email rebecca@eventspr.co.uk
The hugely experienced Mike Wilds will be reunited with his 1978 Beaconsfield BSCC Toyota Celica, which was raced for three years in the BSCC: in 1978 by Mike, 1979 by Alec Poole and 1980 by Martin Brundle. It remains highly original, even down to the hand-painted HOB livery. Wilds, who raced in eight Formula 1 GPs, will also be participating in regular signing sessions for his book, Life on the Wilds Side!, which has enjoyed strong sales since its release.
Other BTCC entries include a Group A Ford Escort RS1600i – as driven in the 1984 and 1985 British Saloon Car Championship by Barry Lee – and a pair of genuine Group 1 Ford Capris, including a 1979 example driven by Jeff Allam.
Notable automotive anniversaries to be honoured include 60 years of McLaren, 60 years of the Mini Cooper S and the 90th anniversary of Railton. Railton was established by the charismatic Noel Macklin. His Fairmile Engineering Company had been building exotic Invicta cars, but sales were slowing due to their cost. Railton was created to offer similar coachwork and performance, based on Hudson’s straight-eight chassis, at a more affordable price. Reid Railton, who designed Land Speed Record cars, agreed to his name being used for the new car.
To celebrate the landmark anniversary, the Railton Owners Club, established in 1956, will be at Classic Nostalgia with a curated display to help celebrate this respected marque. Several notable Railtons are set to compete at Shelsley Walsh, including a 1935 Light Sports Tourer. One of only two built, it is the sister car to the one in which Charles Follett set a new sports car record on the hill in 1938. A Napier Railton-inspired soapbox racer that won the 2017 Red Bull Soapbox event at London’s Alexandra Palace will also be on display.
NEW FOR 2023: ‘Exhibition of Speed’
The Motorsport in Art Exhibition will feature more than a dozen amazing UK automobile artists – all showcasing their work and a diverse variety of styles, from 2D, 3D, painting and sculpture to graphics, mosaic, illustration and photography. It is a great opportunity to buy original F1, rally and themed artworks, prints, postcards and books! Artists already confirmed include:
Sean Wales paints evocative portraits of famous racing drivers, musicians, and cars in acrylic on canvas: seanwales.com
Martin Tomlinson is known for his realistic paintings and sketches of motorsport’s ‘Golden Years’ using gouache paint and pencil, recently published in book form: motor-racing-art.co.uk
Geoff Bolam creates unique artworks that are painted in oils onto aluminium panels. Various surface treatments, such as etching, polishing and wire-brushing are used to create background design elements and represent features of the car or landscape: geoffbolam.com
Jonny Ambrose creates car sculptures inspired by aerodynamic forms, merging the latest 3D-printing technology with traditional steam-bent hardwood flowing elements: jonnyambrose.com
Neil Collins’ overriding passion is motorsport and he was a director of a corporate sponsorship business heavily involved in Formula 1. Now retired, he has returned to watercolours: historiccarart.net/artist/view/neil-collins
NEW FOR 2023: Startline VIP Club
Make this action-packed weekend even more memorable with an exclusive package at the Startline VIP Club.
Enjoy exclusive access to the VIP-only enclosure, which occupies pole position overlooking the startline, paddock and commentary box. The Startline VIP Club includes personality appearances, full hospitality, access to the private enclosure and grandstand, plus many other benefits. There are a limited number of places left.
Classic Nostalgia is renowned for its spectacular blend of exciting action both on and off the hill, plus demonstration runs, quality trade stands and non-stop live entertainment. This year promises to be an unmissable celebration of motorsport history, with other highlights including Ralli22’s awesome selection of more than 25 notable Group A, Group B and WRC cars, while the prized Classic & Sports Car Concours d’Elegance is set to return on Sunday 23 July. There is no advance entry to participate in the Concours, so you can turn up on the day and show your car, and there’s free admission for MAC members. The Concours is on a first-come, first-served basis.
Classic Nostalgia has become a popular fixture among car clubs, with more than 30 already registered to attend, many of which are celebrating significant anniversaries. Visiting car clubs are entitled to discounted admission tickets, plus their own reserved area for 10 cars or more when booked under the club’s name.
Admission
Date: 22-23 July 2023
Event address: Shelsley Walsh, Worcester, WR6 6RP
Ticket prices:
Advanced ticket £25. On-the-gate price £30
Advance weekend ticket £40
Visiting car club entry £20, weekend £40
Times: 8am each day, until approx 5pm
Please note: general admission includes access to the hill, race paddock, car club displays and all entertainment. Children under 16 free (no ticket required and to be accompanied by a full paying adult). Entry to this event is included in MAC membership. No dogs are permitted.
About Shelsley Walsh
First used in 1905 and in continuous use ever since, Shelsley Walsh is the oldest motorsport venue in the world that still features its original course. Competitors will be following in the wheeltracks of motorsport greats such as Raymond Mays, Hans Stuck and the late Stirling Moss. As part of his long association with the venue, Moss was patron of the Shelsley Trust, which helped to secure the 99-year lease on the hillclimb during the mid-2000s.
Known throughout the motoring world for its unique atmosphere, Shelsley allows enthusiasts to get close to the action as well as the cars and drivers
