Bicester Heritage welcomed a sell-out crowd of over 6000 avid car enthusiasts as it hosted its inaugural Super Scramble on June 23. An extension of its well-established triannual Sunday Scramble, the event departed from the usual format to include demonstrations on track, an artists’ area and an autojumble.
Star cars in action included the famous 1933 Barnato-Hassan Brooklands racer driven by owner David Ayre, as well as the 1953 Le Mans Rover-BRM and the MK2 Escort of Rob Smith, which was expertly piloted around the corners with just three wheels touching the tarmac for most of its lap.
The Main Drive was also a hive of activity, with the unique 1939 Delage D8-120 from the 1951 Hollywood movie An American in Paris taking centre stage. Meanwhile, the Heritage Skills Academy, which is based on site, teamed up with the Association of Heritage Engineers and Brooklands Museum to fire up the 24-litre Napier-Railton for runs up and down the central avenue.
The Heritage Skills Academy teamed up with the Assoication of Heritage Engineers and Brooklands Museum to fire up the 24-litre Napier-Railton.
Nearby, Ten Tenths Racing’s 1953 Carrera Panamericana Ferrari 250 MM also drew the crowds, while Mercedes-AMG F1 brought Lewis Hamilton’s 2013 Formula One car along. And, in tribute to the late Norman Dewis, a special display of historic Jaguars included Richard Frankel’s C-Type, driven in period by Sir Stirling Moss.
Impressive displays were put on by clubs too, with the BMW Car Club of Great Britain celebrating 50 years of the E3 and E9 into the UK, and Porsche Club GB hosting a vibrant display. The MG Car Club was also out in force, with its MGB and MGF Registers helping to ensure the famous octagon was well represented.
Such was the lure of the event, that one couple even chose to begin their honeymoon there. Newly-wed car enthusiasts Mark Petersen and his fiancée Jana Brabencova tied the knot on Friday before driving to the site in their Speedwell Sprite.
