One of the highlights of the racing calendar at Brands Hatch each season is the Masters Historic Festival, a feast of glorious older racing cars on a legendary Grand Prix Circuit which is usually headlined by historic Formula 1 races.
Such was the case this year, with the added bonus of both the F1 races being run on the Sunday - this being the only day I could attend this years' event.
Nick Padmore, for whom I have written articles for his local papers for 8 seasons now, is one of the aces in these cars - indeed a three time Champion - and he was due to race an ex Gunnar Nilsson Lotus 77 that he has raced successfully on quite a few occasions but which I had never seen him race.
My excitement for the day grew the day before when he qualified the car 2nd on the grid despite competing against several much newer cars, that position making him fastest in the pre '78 class.
These cars look fabulous in their period liveries and sound absolutely wonderful, especially as I am of the age where I vividly remember DFV powered F1 cars racing around Brands.
The first race was very exciting, as Nick chased and challenged the much newer car of the leader (and pole position driver) throughout the race. He made a couple of big attempts to take the lead, but both times the other driver clung onto that lead aided by the ground effect aerodynamics of his car producing enough grip for him to hold his ground. Thus Nick finished 2nd overall, but a comfortable winner of his class.
In race two later that afternoon he again chased a much newer car for the lead, but this time he was rewarded as the leader retired with 6mins left to run. This left Nick with a lead which he maintained to the flag, the 2nd time this season he has taken overall victory in this pre '78 car. The photo below is from that second race, taken at Hawthorns Bend - one of my favourite places to take action photos at Brands, it's quick, I love the angle and I have been visiting that spot since I started out on this photography journey back in 1983.
I had set off for Brands with the full blessing of my family, in the knowledge that my very ill Mum had not got a lot longer to live ( I had been to see her the previous evening after I had finished work and she knew I was going to Brands the next day, telling me to enjoy it). Sadly, during one of the morning races I received the phone call from my eldest Sister to inform me that Mum had passed away - thankfully quite peacefully and in the company of my other Sister and one of the nurses at St Catherine's Hospice. We had agreed before I left, that if anything should happen I should just continue to watch the racing and only return home at the end of the day as there would be nothing to achieve by rushing home sooner.
After a couple of 'wandering aimlessly' moments while I came to terms with the news, I continued to watch and enjoy the on track action. I cannot claim that the racing took my mind off the earlier news, but it certainly gave me something to focus on and enjoy as I continued to take photos around the Circuit.
The racing throughout the day was very enjoyable, with plenty of good close dicing in the varied categories on the always splendid Masters race timetable. That the day played out in sunshine on the wonderful Brands Hatch Grand Prix Circuit, just added to that enjoyment - I was told to enjoy by my ailing Mum and I definitely did.
Many thanks must again go to my regular ticket donor - Brands GP, Masters Historics, sunshine and a free ticket - what a wonderful life.
As a family, we had many visits to Brands from our Kent homes early in life. I was first taken to Brands when 3 months old (probably would have been earlier if my birth had not coincided with the winter break) and I have been going ever since. Parking on South Bank and getting picnic blanket out used to be the order of the day when it was fine weather in our early years.
As family grew a bit older, Mum stopped coming along and so did my siblings mainly. But I enjoyed many further years of attending accompanied by Dad, spectating, marshalling, then me as photographer, and for the last few times I took him it was just me and him and no camera as we spectated keenly.
Mum & Dad introduced me to Brands and Motorsport, it has provided many happy memories and I will continue to attend for as long as I can manage to.
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