HEROs of Throckmorton

On the left, a Rare SAAB. On the right, a Beautiful Jaguar E-Type Coupé

What a way to enjoy your classic car! A fantastic event held at RAF Pershore with a huge variety of lovely old cars taking part. I have to admit to not being entirely familiar with the concept of a reliability trial, but it certainly looks to have been a great event and yet another different way to try Motorsports!

A fantastic array of classic cars. 

Leather seats and racing harnesses... They don't build them like that now!

We think this might be a Porsche 911

A Big jaguar MkI on the Warwickshire Roads.

In brilliant sunshine, more than 80 classic cars were put through their paces at RAF Pershore in Warwickshire on Saturday October 15th when the Historic Endurance Rallying Organisation held its annual Throckmorton Challenge 2011.

The challenge saw classic cars, their drivers, and co drivers from all over the country taking part in a reliability trail, which pushed them to the limit.

Clubman Event

First                 Michael & Simon Baker; Porsche 911 SC

Second                        John Rondeau & Dennis Greenslade; Jaguar Mk 1

Third               Graham Walker & Sean Toohey; Lotus Elan Sprint

National B Event

First                 Andrew Buzzard & Robb Lyne; Alfa Romeo Giulia Sprint GTV

Second                        Tony Sheach & Richard Lambley; Triumph TR4

Third               Jon Wood & Iain Tullie; Morris Mini Cooper

 It is part of the Historic Rally Car Register's (HRCR) Clubman Championship, a series of events that are held throughout the country, and attracted more entries than any other location.

one of many MGB-GTs that took part in the event.

Minis always have been popular in motorsports

 "We have more than doubled the number of vehicles that took part last year," said Patrick Burke, from HERO, and the event is being recognised nationally as an important part of the classic car calendar."

 The event saw cars that had to be built before 1984, taking part in a number of high speed activities on the airfield that included driving a vehicle to its limits within the physical constraints of a marked circuit which changed as the day proceeded.

This time it's an MGB Roadster out enjoying the Warwickshire roads

 Peter Nedin, Hero's Event Director said: "The format of the challenge was the same as last year. There were 15 maneuverability tests against the clock round a set course and four regularities where drivers had to adhere to a set average speed which never exceeds the recognised speed limit and where their performance is monitored at secret locations along the route. The sting in the tail was the four mile regularity on site which caught out many people, including a number of experienced crews".

The Saab on the road

 The event saw drivers taking three different regularity routes through the Warwickshire countryside with many local people turning out to cheer the drivers and witness the cross section of classics.

 The Throckmorton Challenge is supported by AVIS, exclusive support vehicle partners of HERO Events; Orianda (www.orianda1937.com) who sponsors the first prize of the HERO Cup by offering a week sailing in the Mediterranean on board this splendid schooner; and Meguiar’s – the leading manufacturer of automotive surface care products.

Minis! And lots of them too!

 The Throckmorton challenge is seen as one of the premier events in the country which now not only attracts those drivers who regularly take part in historic rallying and wish to hone their skills but those who are new to the historic rallying and wish to find out what sort of driving tests and regularities they will face on an event.

Paperwork's important, but what's the car?

 For those drivers taking part in the HERO Cup, which sees drivers taking part in all but one HERO rallies during 2011, the Throckmorton Challenge is a qualifying round for the HERO Cup as well as the HRCR Clubman Championship. This event is a very good practice event for experienced and novice drivers who then go on to tackle HERO's most famous event: Le Jog, which takes place between December 10 and 13th and will see over 60 cars competing against the clock and all the adverse weather conditions the UK has to offer in December, from Lands End to John O'Groats.

 Patrick Burke said: “The event was a huge success and one that we are going to build on in future years. We want to attract even more competitors, but also make the event a showcase where not only people can come and compete, but where the public can visit and get a real feel for classic events.”

I hope that they're not looking for the engine of this Porsche under there!