Many motor racing fans in the UK yearn for the good old days when British drivers soared ahead, and this nostalgia may be part of the reason behind the enduring popularity of vintage car races at classic courses like Silverstone.
The Silverstone Classic takes place each year for three days, and is recognised as the world's biggest festival dedicated to classic motor racing. Featuring more than 800 classic vehicles driven by 1,000 competitors, Silverstone is a vintage car lover's dream, and the festival also includes plenty of additional entertainment such as rock music, stalls, art performances and shopping opportunities to ensure the whole family stays entertained.
Silverstone is the name that most often comes to mind when thinking of classic car racing today, and more than 20 races are typically staged over the festival weekend featuring models as diverse as the E-Type Jaguar and Mini Cooper - both of which celebrated their 50th anniversaries this year, while the Silverstone Classic celebrated its 21st. It's not only classic cars that are represented by the festival either, with some events also being dedicated to motorcycles, go-karting and even lawnmower racing, courtesy of the British Lawnmower Racing Association.
The Silverstone Classic isn't the only vintage racing event of the calendar though, with the Goodwood Revival also being a hot pick of the late summer season each September. Comparable to Ascot with engines, the Goodwood Revival is more than just a racing event, and many attendees really get into the spirit of the occasion by dressing in period costumes to reflect the 1950s theme and celebrate Goodwood's heyday.
Goodwood is also the site of another significant classic car event in July, namely the Goodwood Festival of Speed, which celebrates the history of motor racing by featuring classic models as well as the latest F1 designs. This makes the Festival of Speed a more eclectic event than other vintage car races in the UK, and one that attracts racing enthusiasts of different backgrounds and interests. Where else can you see the F1 heroes of yesteryear racing side-by-side with contemporary sports stars?
If you have a passion for classic car racing and are thinking of buying your own vintage vehicle, there are many important considerations to factor into your decision - including the cost of classic car insurance, which could be particularly high for vehicles that are no longer manufactured, and that could be expensive to repair in the event of accidents.
The author of this article is a part of a digital blogging team who work with brands like Confused.com. The content contained in this article is for information purposes only and should not be used to make any financial decisions.
