Bonhams Silverstone Classic 2005
Another excellent turnout by our Maserati Club members |
| All photos on this page are strictly the sole copyright of the Maserati Club UK |
First arrival - Gavin's 3200GT 'Favoloso!'
A 'home market' 2-litre Ghibli MY94
The rare Maserati Karif
The new generation Maserati Coupe
The Ghibli Cup
The new generation Maserati Spyder
A 222E, I think. Not sure about the NACA vents! | |
"Dear Henry,
What a great weekend it was at Silverstone, with a "Ferrari and Alfa beating" turnout of Maseratis; the crowds were a bit thin on Saturday, but many more turned up on Sunday, so here's hoping that this event will re-establish itself under Bonhams' sponsorship and continue to grow.
Just one suggestion for an improvement - the Maserati club "car park" will look better next year if it is laid out a la Ferrari or a la Porsche club areas, with a theme or chronological sequence. (No I don't mean having a luxo-lorry like Porsche did!). That of course requires getting a detailed site plan from the Silverstone organisers (probably not available this year) and allocating slots to particular cars. But many thanks to John Bennett anyway for getting all the cars and people there in such numbers.
I have some photos in preparation, but in the meantime here's a summary of the action on the circuit. Maseratis featured in three of the races held over the weekend, with mixed fortunes:
In the John Cooper Trophy for HGPCA pre-1966 F1 Cars, Jose Albuquerque's 250F managed 14th place out of a field of 34, while Burkhard von Schenk's 250F failed to classify.
In the BRDC 500 race for Pre-War Sportscars, Adam Painter in the 4CS qualified well at 6th out of 44, and was having an excellent race until losing a wheel after 10 laps; fortunately only the car was hurt; we had been watching him making good progress with an impressively economical line - no sliding about on the corners!
In the Tony Rolt Trophy for HGPCA Drum Brake Sports Cars, Maseratis scored a heartening 1-2, with Mark Gillies' 300S winning by 3.2 seconds from Irvine Laidlaw's 250S; and placed 11th was Tony Smith in another 300S. Sadly Burkhard von Schenk's 300S did not classify.
Best regards,
Roger Harrison."
In recent years one of the highlights of the Maserati Club events calendar, until it was cancelled in 2001, was the Coys Historic Festival held at Silverstone. Now thanks to a collaboration between Bonhams and the BRDC, the essence of that event was resurrected this year.
In spite of the short notice, staging of this event was only confirmed back in late April, John Bennett, our events organiser, was able to arrange an infield display area for the club and secured hotel accomodation for members wishing to stay overnight on the Saturday and make a weekend of it.
Saturday's attendance at the Festival was certainly poor and although on the Sunday matters improved, it was well down in comparison with the crowds experienced at the previous Coys event. Having said that, I believe that this year's event was more by way of a dress rehearsal for the main event which will start next year. I am sure that from hereon in this event will once again be one of the highlights of our club year.
Again our club members turned out in encouraging numbers. I use the word encouraging for I am sure that next year given more notice, John will be able to 'muster' even more support.
Our club area was 'sandwiched' between the Ferrari Owner's Club and the Alfa Romeo Club, was larger in numbers than both those clubs put together.
With our club tent duly erected, it was an opportunity for the members of our distinguished hierarchy to hold their monthly committee meeting 'al fresco'.
Roger Harrison has already given us a brief account of Maserati happenings on the track and I am sure that both Simon and Andy will have something else to add in the forthcoming Newsletter and Trident.
At the Bonhams sale of 'Collectors' Motor Cars, Motorcycles and Related Automobilia' held at five thirty on the Sunday afternoon; a rare and original pair of Maserati 300S 'Fispa' fuel pumps sold for £50, a fine reproduction Maserati 300S steering wheel sold for £200 and a rear brake drum from Stirling Moss' Maserati 250F sold for £100 (all final prices being subject to Premium and tax). A fine eighth scale scratch built model of the 1957 Monaco Grand Prix winning Maserati 250F, by Javan Smith went unsold, as was a 1969 Maserati Ghibli Coupé, #AM115.1140.
Please remember to pencil this event in your diaries for next year, it promises to be BIGGER and BETTER! |
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Our member's cars on display | 
Ken Painter's Tipo 4SC takes centre stage! | 
More member's cars on display |
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Our Chairman's 'Banana Volante' | 
The Maserati Club display area (front) | 
The Maserati Club display area (rear) |
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Edwin Faulkner's fabulous Quattroporte I - 2a serie | 
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A magnificent example of a 3500GT | 
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Simon Less-Milne's very nice white Mistral | 
Maserati Merak SS | 
Maserati Indy |
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Maserati Merak | 
Maserati Mistral | 
Maserati Bora |
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This splendid 3500 GT came over from Dublin | 
The 3500 GTI Sebring | 
The Maserati Bora |
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A Mistral Spyder with the rare hardtop | 
3.7-litre 6 cylinder engine | 
Dual ignition system |
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The Ghibli Cups
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Scot's Ghibli Cup
"the car they don't want you to know about" | 
Prag's Ghibli Cup
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3200GTs | 
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The 3200GT 'Assetto Corsa' | 
Who's the 'Big Wheel' in this photograph? | 
Another 3200GT |
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The 430 4-door sports saloon | 
A 2-litre Biturbo Si | 
Roger Harrison's immaculate 222 4v |
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Vera Cooper's very nice Spyder SE | 
Biturbo Spyder SE | 
Biturbo Spyder 3a serie |
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Quattroporte Dodgems Deluxe! | 
"Change those trousers and you can join us!" | 
Maserati Club committee meeting 'al fresco' |
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Maserati models for sale at the Alfa Club stand? | 
The 326 bhp V8 Shamal | 
Another Quattroporte V8 Evoluzione |
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Are dark clouds looming over this 'collaboration'? | 
A twin lego-charged Andy Heywood
demonstrates the art of a two-wheel driving! | 
Unusual key ring for the Maserati enthusiast |
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It's a lot easier starting my Maserati! | 
I think I'll take a look around! | 
This is what I call a white-knuckle ride! |
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Scot, Andy, Henry and Prag sharing a joke with our ace photographer! |
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New generation Coupe | 
New generation Spyder | 
New generation Coupe |
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Quattroporte Dodgems Deluxe! | 
Quattroporte IV V8 Evoluzione | 
Quattroporte IV V8 Evoluzione |
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A Ghibli II 1a serie | 
The Ghibli GT | 
Biturbo Spyder 2.8-litre V6 |
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Biturbo Spyder 2.8-litre V6 turbocharged engine | 
Weber Tipo 42 DCOE 8 carburettor | 
Maserati's 4.2-litre V8 engine |
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Unusual off-set for a Speedline rear wheel |
Biturbo Spyder 2.8-litre V6 | 
3500GT driver's door mirror |
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"Dear Henry,
Saw these at Silverstone meeting, thought you may like to put it on Club Website for the members.
See you at SEE RED Festival at Donington Park.
Yours, Peter Wood." |
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1959 JBW-Maserati F1 car | 
Four-cylinder Maserati 250S engine | 
Maserati 1956 Tipo 300S |
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This 1956 Lotus XI was first built with a ... | 
... 1½-litre Maserati 150S engine | 
Maserati 1956 Tipo 300S |
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| "Dear Peter,
Many thanks on behalf of an appreciative membership.
Henry." |
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