Goodwood Members Meeting 2021 – Day One (Part 1)
October 18, 2021
After we had built up the stand it was time to get some rest before the first day of the 2021 Goodwood Members Meeting. We
classic race car
Chevron B20 Auction Begins Tomorrow
June 30, 2021
Our incredible 1972 Chevron B20 Formula 2 race car is up for auction on Car and Classic and will be going live tomorrow! We are
Faulty Flywheel Replaced
May 20, 2021
We’ve now got the new clutch in for our 1967 Jaguar E-Type Series 1 Race Car which suffered from a faulty flywheel. Now with the
TVR Racing Grantura Update
May 12, 2021
Raymond bought our rare 1962 TVR Racing Grantura a while back and he’s now restoring it to its former glory. On The right you can
Resurrecting Classic Race Car Driving
February 15, 2021
Nestled in the centre of France, just a few miles from Clermont-Ferrand is a newly founded school of classic race car training: The Classic Racing
Behind The Scenes: 1972 Chevron B20
December 8, 2020
Join us on the third instalment in our new series: Behind The Scenes. Although we give frequent behind the scenes updates on our workshop, we
Life In The Fast Lane
November 25, 2020
We’ve recently acquired what we believe to be an original 1972 Chevron B20, one of just 7 ever made and raced for Formula 2. The
The E-Type’s Getting In Gear
September 1, 2020
The very special 1967 Jaguar E-Type Series 1 race car has had Kath’s magic touch today receiving a bespoke leather gear shift gaiter. “There was
Goodwood Members Meeting 2021 – Day One (Part 1)
October 18, 2021
After we had built up the stand it was time to get some rest before the first day of the 2021 Goodwood Members Meeting.
We were up before dawn and on-site before the first members had even come through the gates. What surrounded us, was pure motoring heaven. The first group of icons we found were not destined for life on the tarmac. This selection of rally cars was absolutely mind-blowing. From the Peter Solberg 2003 Impreza WRC all the way to the Mk2 Escort driven by the master that was Ari Vatanen.
However, things hadn’t even begun yet…
The morning was cold and the dampness hung in the air. The clouds threatened the morning’s proceedings with their presence alone. As the movements of people ebbed and flowed through the tunnels under the main straight, the excitement built. The stillness of a mid-October morning was broken by the opera that could only come from a herd of classic touring cars.
We had stumbled into the staging for the Gerry Marshall Trophy. This was a practice session before the afternoons qualifying for these Group1 Touring Cars. To be eligible, they must have been raced between 1970 and 1982 with full FIA period history.
A varied stable of classic racers lined up along the leafed road. Before being allowed out to appropriately stretch their legs. The ground shook with the war cries of the 8 cylinder Opels and Mustangs while the buzz of the 4 cylinder cars finished off this symphony of speed.
Find out more about the first day at the 78th Goodwood Members Meeting on our next blog post!
Chevron B20 Auction Begins Tomorrow
June 30, 2021
Our incredible 1972 Chevron B20 Formula 2 race car is up for auction on Car and Classic and will be going live tomorrow! We are eager to see this very special car find its new home. Packed full of amazing history, our Chevron will be a wonderful addition to any race lovers collection.
You can see our two previous shoots below:
Photos provided by Car and Classic.
Faulty Flywheel Replaced
May 20, 2021
We’ve now got the new clutch in for our 1967 Jaguar E-Type Series 1 Race Car which suffered from a faulty flywheel. Now with the new part, we hope this one will be able to handle the speed.
TVR Racing Grantura Update
May 12, 2021
Raymond bought our rare 1962 TVR Racing Grantura a while back and he’s now restoring it to its former glory. On The right you can see a progress photo of the Grantura he bought from us and on the left is another rare racing Granture he’s recently bought – what a fantastic collection!
This is what the racing Grantura looked like when Raymond bought it:
Resurrecting Classic Race Car Driving
February 15, 2021
Nestled in the centre of France, just a few miles from Clermont-Ferrand is a newly founded school of classic race car training: The Classic Racing Group.
Julien Chaffard, a young French engineer and enthusiast has set up the world’s first full-service curriculum school for open-wheel racing. The company consists of only 6 employees with all of them under the age of 30. The light and young energy reflects Julien’s laid back, easy to like aura. The courses allow engineers and enthusiasts to get involved and learn how to drive these classic machines.
The school hosts its classes in the nearby legendary Circuit de Charade which was the home to the 1965 and 1972 Formula One championships and has a history with Jackie Stewart, Jim Clark, and Jochen Rindt gracing its circuit with their victories. Close to the home of Michelin, the stunning track has been carved from the mountains and features dramatic elevation changes. Sir Stirling Moss, former F1 racing driver claimed, “I don’t know a more wonderful track than Charade.”
Their classes run through the summer, starting in spring and concluding in autumn. Within these courses, individuals learn how to drive and handle exact replicas of the much revered Formula Fords that were manufactured by the Crosslé Car Company, which won the European Championship in 1969. These replicas have been made by Crosslé itself which still stands as the UK’s oldest racing manufacturers. As well as these classes, participants are also welcomed into the Classic Racing school’s club house that’s decorated by timeless memorabilia and a luxury bar.
The school offer three types of programmes to racing enthusiasts; an ad-hoc styled track Day for those want a chance to sit behind the wheel of a classic single-seater, a Racing School for the more dedicated students who can join get involved in several events during the year, or a Competition Experience.
With the art and trade of classic race car driving, and in tern engineering, slowly dying out, the only way to resurrect it, is to involve the next generations. With much of the engineering found in these classic motors spurring the ground breaking mechanics of the cars we see on tracks today, the best way to advance the industry is to get involved in its past.
If you fancy your chance at becoming a classic race car driver, or are an enthusiast, we’ve got just the car for you! Our 1972 Original Chevron B20 72-2 is up for sale and is thought to be one of just a few in existence. You can view the car for sale here and take a look at our blogs about it here.
You can see the full interview with Petrolicious here as well as their stunning photos;
Check out the racing school’s website here:
Behind The Scenes: 1972 Chevron B20
December 8, 2020
Join us on the third instalment in our new series: Behind The Scenes. Although we give frequent behind the scenes updates on our workshop, we wanted to show you some of the processes that go into our visuals.
With every competition car and for sale car, we arrange a full photo shoot to capture our beloved classics in the best possible light. Some of these shoots include models and locations and some include members of the Bridge Classic Car team hopping in and helping out at Bentwaters. No matter the setup, the aim is always the same. To tell a story and capture the car in the best way.
It was a particularly cold and seemingly dreary morning when we set out to photograph our Chevron B20. Not wanting to risk attempting to start it, and without a racing driver, we pushed the Chevron over to the runway that would act as our backdrop. We soon realised that the thunderous skies cast the perfect mood for such a powerful and foreboding car. Having survived an extreme crash, giving the driver a near-death experience, this beastly motor is not something to misjudge. Not only does this car hold a historic past, but it also holds an early Ford Cosworth engine, now thought to be extremely valuable. As the sun peeked behind the clouds, oranges and pinks tinted the charcoal skies.
We shot for a while, even giving it a go to sit behind the wheel which we soon discovered was just as hard as driving it. The sleek body leaves little room inside the car. Specially designed for the driver in mind and to be as aerodynamic as possible, the interior is simple. Soon the skies began to change and we switched sets to the Hush House, a building originally designed as a jet engine testing facility with an impressive exhaust tunnel.
Here we shot our video and a few creative light trail photos as seen below.
You can keep up to date with our behind the scenes videos on our Instagram page under ‘BTS’ highlights! Keep an eye on our Instagram and Facebook stories as well as we often put up sneak peaks on there too!
We also offer photoshoots as a service, so if you’d like your beloved motor photographed by the team at Bridge Classic Cars, click the link here.
Life In The Fast Lane
November 25, 2020
We’ve recently acquired what we believe to be an original 1972 Chevron B20, one of just 7 ever made and raced for Formula 2.
The original owner of this B20 was one of the partners of Chevron, who recently passed away. His son then took on the car and has come to us for Bridge Classics to sell it on his behalf. We’ll be selling the Chevron just as it is, no modifications made.
We believe that this car was re-built in 1972 after it was crashed on the track.
The engineers who built this particular B20 was Steve and Nial from Chevron who now own their own company called Red Rose Racing.
History
This vehicle has had quite a dramatic life. It’s been raced by Peter Gethin who won at Pau in 1972. It was also raced by Vic Elford and John Watson with a 1900cc Cosworth FVC in the Rothmans 5000. It was then believed to have been leased by Ed Reeves for David Morgan to race in the Torneio in Brasil at the end of 1972 however Morgan, unfortunately, crashed it in practice. It’s said to have been “extremely badly bent” as a result of hitting the barrier head-on, with Morgan unhurt but having to be cut out of the wreckage.
Interestingly in the naming of Chevrons cars, there were no recurring master numbers such as 11, 22, 33 etc. This was due to a superstition held by founder Derek Bennett who had been in an accident where the number 11 kept being linked to the crash. From then onwards, he made the decision to avoid naming his cars after those master numbers. However, this didn’t spare our B20 from its serious crash in 1972.
Keep your eyes peeled for the official photoshoot coming soon!
The E-Type’s Getting In Gear
September 1, 2020
The very special 1967 Jaguar E-Type Series 1 race car has had Kath’s magic touch today receiving a bespoke leather gear shift gaiter.
“There was no original gaiter there for me to go by” explained Kath “I had to design a completely new pattern”.
A bold orange leather has been used to compliment the cars exterior paint work, while grey cotton stitching has been used in contrast but also to be in keeping with the newly painted centre piece also in grey.
Looking superb so far!
