Latest News 2024
24/02/2024
60th Anniversary Gets Off To A Flying Start With Biggest Ever Annual Dinner
130 guests - including nine original One-Litre F3 Drivers - sat down to the 60th Anniversary Dinner on Saturday 24th February.
The event was held in the delightful Ardencote Manor Hotel in Warwickshire – a fabulous location set, as it is, within 83 acres of parkland. Those present reflected not only current racers but also renowned journalists, organisers of other series, wives, partners, race preparation experts and the aforementioned “originals” who very kindly agreed to present the awards to the current racers. The Association Chairman, Simon Etherington, presided. As well as delivering an amusing and poignant Grace before the meal, he had – in conjunction with the Association President, Mike Walker - orchestrated some surprises to delight the assembled gathering.
The first ‘surprise’ was the unveiling of a specially commissioned painting by Andrew Kitson, which portrays a selection of the cars and drivers (and circuits) from 1964 to 1970. The unveiling was met with a mixture of ‘wows’ and a spontaneous round of applause. Rightly so, as this immaculate painting depicts 38 cars and drivers – a mammoth undertaking in itself. When one adds in the complexity of ensuring the suspension details are correct / drivers’ helmets the correct colour, and all the other detail, it is fair to say that Andrew surpassed himself in the execution of his brief. Andrew has very kindly allowed the Association to sell prints of the painting to help raise funds. Unsurprisingly, there was a brisk trade after dinner, with some still being sold at breakfast the following morning! (Prints will be available to buy at Mallory Park, and it is hoped to have them for sale on the website soon).
The second surprise was the unveiling of Chris Ellard’s latest book - ‘The Likely Lads’. This most carefully researched book is a thumping good read, not least because it really brings to life what the one-litre era was like – told by the original Screamers themselves. Chris had brought some copies with him, and these were snapped up very quickly after dinner. (The book will be available to the general public shortly). The Chairman expressed the Association’s deep gratitude to Mr Ellard for commissioning Andrew Kitson to produce the painting, and thought it most fitting that it should form the front cover of his new book.
The third surprise was the presentation of a superb Andrew Kitson montage, depicting the F3 cars driven by Mike Walker, and presented to him on his public confirmation that he was the last of the “originals” to be retiring from actively racing his Brabham BT21, one of the best examples of the marque on our grid. Although Mike may be hanging up his helmet, we are delighted that he will still be continuing on as our President.
At breakfast the following morning, the room was filled with chatter of the night before. It is not an exaggeration to say a thoroughly good evening was had by all – and it was an excellent start to our 60thAnniversary season.
The next event will be the ‘Spring Scream’ - a test day at Mallory Park on Thursday 21 March, at which we will mark 60 years (to the month) of the very first one-litre race which took place at that circuit on 08 March 1964. See you there!
View the photo gallery from the event
