Matters of moment, December 2000

Rockingham and Coys unveil plans for historic festival

Coys of Kensington and Rockingham Motor Speedway have confirmed their agreement to establish a historic meeting next May at the track in Corby, Northamptonshire. And if their ambitious plans can be met, it seems set to become an instant classic.

Using both the 1.5-mile banked oval and the combined road and oval course, the 2001 Coys Historic Festival at Rockingham will feature events for American and European singleseaters, sportscars, saloons and motorcycles from each decade of the last century. There will also be a ‘Spirit of Brooklands’ demonstration, featuring cars which last saw action on a full banked course before World War II.

Christopher Tate, Marketing Director at Rockingham declared: “We’re particularly proud of our plans to bring so many American cars over to this country. It will be the first time for many spectators to see these cars in their element — on a banked oval. Similarly, many people have attended the Le Mans 24 hours, but have never seen the Daytona equivalent. We hope to recapture the spirit of this great event, and also have plans to recreate the Nonzanapolis’ classics, where Maserati 250Fs battled with Indy Roadsters and Jag D-types. Coming just four months before our CART ChampCar race, we hope to give Rockingham its spectators a great opening year.”

More traditional British crowd-pleasers such 1950s sportscars and ’60s touring cars are also to star in the Festival which runs from 26-28 Jeffrey Pattinson, Chairman of Coys said: are absolutely thrilled by this joint venture Rockingham. We spend so much of our time rounded by mototsport history; now we are making it — and we look forward to making more exciting announcements soon.” DM