2009 Cholmondeley Pageant of Power Retrospective

Story and photos by Simon Wright

July in England and the classic motorsport fan can look forward to the Goodwood Festival of Speed and the Silverstone Classic. Well now there is a third great event, The Cholmondeley Pageant of Power.

Pronounced “Chumley”, the Pageant is unique in the UK because it celebrates power on Land, in the water and in the air. The 1.2 mile road course on the grounds of Cholmondeley Castle starts next to a small lake (Mere), which has power boat racing taking place all over the weekend. The air side is covered by one of the largest gathering of Helicopters in Europe.

Track action covered all 100 years of motoring, with classes for Formula 1 cars, sports cars, saloons, rally cars and motorcycles. The course has a couple of interesting features, a bailey bridge just after the start, and a hump back bridge just before the finish. Even some of the modern Formula 1 cars were getting airborne over the hump back bridge!

This year is the second running of this event in the north of England. Huge crowds enjoyed fantastic action over the two-day event, with even the typical British weather not stopping the action – it rained on Sunday.

This did not stop Justin Law from taking fastest time overall to win in his beautiful 1963 Lister Jaguar Prototype in a time of 68.40 seconds. Second was Jan Van Nierop in his 1989 Audi 80 and another saloon, the BMW M3 of Jason Minshaw finished 3rd.

Other interesting cars this year were the Super Saloons from the 1970’s. Baby Bertha, the Vauxhall Firenza driven by the late Gerry Marshall, was probably one of the most successful special saloons ever built, winning 27 races from 31 starts in 1975-6 seasons. Powered by a Repco Holden V8 engine, producing 500bhp it also held lap records at 6 British tracks.

The ex-Mick Hill VW Beetle is powered by a Chevrolet V8 5 litre engine and based on a Formula 5000 chassis. The Daf is also powered by a Chevrolet V8 5 litre engine and held several lap records during the 1970’s.

Another unusual and rare car is the 1968 McLaren M6BGT which was driven by former British Hill climb champion Martin Bolesover. He managed to take the car to 9th place overall, a very creditable performance. This was the only road car project from McLaren in the days when the late Bruce McLaren ran the company and the company was all about racing Grand Prix and Can-Am.

To see more of Simon Wright’s photos including many more from Cholmondeley, visit simonwrightphotos.com.

2009 Cholmondeley Pageant of Power Retrospective Photo Gallery

Mark Finburgh blasts off in his 1966 Ford GT40

Martin Melling driving his 1952 Aston Martin DB3

Mike Wrigley gets his F1 March 711 airbourne over the hump back bridge

Ferrari driver view of Porsche 917

Alfa Romeo T33

Keith Whittle's Evinrude Powerboat races round the Mere

1989 Audi 80 of 2nd place Jan van Nierop

Superb 1955 Lancia-Ferrari D50 demonstrated by Willie Green

Fastest Overall Car winner Justin Law in his Lister Jaguar prototype flies to victory

Stuart Graham, only TT winner on 2 or 4 wheels, in his Mercedes Benz Gullwing

McLaren M6BGT road car from 1968 driven by former racer and hill climber Martin Bolesover

Jan van Nierop leaps to 2nd overall in his 1989 Audi 80

Ben Cussons 1952 Jaguar C Type

1939 Bugatti Type 57 driven by Ann Chadwick

Ben Cussons beautiful 1962 Ferrari 250 SWB

VW Beetle V8 1976 driven by David Taylor

Tony Hazelwood's 1972 Daf V8 Super saloon

Julian Bronson in his 1965 Can Am McLaren M1B

Mike Wilkinson shows his Jaguar E-Type is really a lightweight

Baby Bertha ex Gerry Marshall 1975 driven by Joe Ward

Maserati T61 Birdcage 1959 Alan Minshaw

1954 Aston Martin DB 3S driven by Brian Classic was Winner of the Coupe D'Honour - The Bentley Trophy

Martin Bolsover flies his McLaren M6 BGT

[Source: Simon Wright]