RACE RETRO NOW OPEN

Dave Stewart's immaculate Griffith and Geoff Parkinson's classic Tuscan are on the BRSCC stand at Race Retro. Photo: Dennis Goodwin.

The Race Retro Show opened this morning at the National Agriculture Centre at Stoneleigh Hall, Coventry and runs until Sunday evening.

Race Retro is Europe’s premier show focusing on historic motorsport, historic racing & historic rallying and this year’s theme is a celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Jaguar E type.

Resplendent on the BRSCC stand (B30, Hall 2) are two cars from our Dunlop TVR Challenge. Geoff Parkinson, a regular campaigner in the Challenge is displaying his 1969 Tuscan while Dave Stewart’s Griffith sits proudly alongside.

There is quite a story behind the Griffith. Dave and his father Tom bought the car as salvage after it had been badly damaged in a road crash and painstakingly rebuilt it over the winter of 2007/2008. The car made its racing debut with Tom at the wheel at Snetterton in 2008 and showed plenty of promise but engine issues meant it was absent for the rest of the season.

In 2009 Tom Stewart was back behind the wheel for a full assault on the title. Tom proved himself and car to be the package to beat in class B, winning all bar one of the races he entered throughout 2009. However when the title looked like it was in his grasp Tom was struck down by illness and could not complete the season.

Unfortunately, Tom’s illness proved far more serious than anyone had imagined and he sadly died in November last year at an untimely age of 52. The car has been used on occasion by son Dave and for 2011 he will be competing at most of the Dunlop TVR Challenge rounds where he will be hoping to continue in his dads footsteps.

The show is open from 9.30am each day and closes at 5.30pm on Friday and Saturday and 4.30pm on Sunday. Parking is also free throughout. Tickets, which can be bought on the door, cost £25 for an adult ticket on Friday & Saturday with children’s tickets at £5. On Sunday tickets are £20 with children going free.

Checkout www.raceretro.com for details of all the other attractions and latest updates.