Sponsored by Classic Slot

By Dave Wisdom

April 17th 2010 sees the inaugural PCS Tourist Trophy Sports Car and Pre 1972 European Saloon Car meeting take place at the Tendring Club track in Colchester, Essex.

The event is being organised by Tendring Club member and scratchbuilding ace, Pete Shepherd, his intention being to recreate the look, feel and spirit of classic car racing from a bygone age – the emphasis being on the modelling of detailed and accurate racing cars from the period.

The PCS Tourist Trophy class is for Sports and GT cars replicating those that raced in events around the world up until the end of 1964. This potentially includes a mouth watering selection of magnificent cars from probably the most exotic period in Sports and GT racing. The TT entry list so far includes Jaguar E Types, C types, Chevrolet Corvettes, Ferrari 250SWB GTs and Mercedes 300SLs. The regulations require cars to use a PCS chassis and motors of no more than 30k in output.

The Saloon class is for European cars of the type raced up until the end of 1972. Again this highlights a classic period when cars were often driven to circuits, raced, and then driven home again when petrol was a whopping 35 pence a gallon, or 7.7p a litre (back in 1972). The saloon entry so far includes a fascinating mix of Triumph Heralds, Riley Elfs, Minis, Renault Dauphines, Ford Escort 1.6TCs and Jaguar MK2s. Regulations permit open chassis and so far there looks to be a number of extremely racy looking hardware being prepared in advance. As with the TT regs, a 30k max motor output applies.

Representing the Northern Pendle contingent will be Martin De’ath and myself. We’ve each built a small selection of cars constructed from a mix of old Scalextric cars, resin shells and scratchbuild spares, hopefully creating something in keeping with the spiritual and nostalgic nature of the event. Martin has so far constructed a Chevrolet Corvette, built using an original Ninco shell;

a stunning looking Alan Mann Ford Escort that started life back in the 70s as a humble Scalextric Escort;

an accompanying ‘Alan Mann’ liveried ex Scalextric Mini Cooper – equally as stunning,

and a lovely resin Jaguar MK2.

My own efforts include a Ferrari Monza 750 based upon the 1955 Goodwood 9 hour entry, as driven by Mike Hawthorn and a 1960 Ferrari 250SWB-GT. For the saloon car class

I’ve put together a resin Renault Dauphine based loosely upon something that may have raced around the late 1950s.

It promises to be a colourful event, so a full report and pictures will follow soon.