Octane September 2016

IMAGINE THE SCENE, as two photographers attempt to herd nine Aston Martins into formation at Millbrook Proving Ground while five over-excited journalists insist on breaking ranks to try the cars around Millbrook’s tricky and twisty Hill Route. As you can see from the front cover, we managed to stay sensible for just long enough to photograph all the cars together. But for the rest of the day we were able to drive and compare each of the cars, which was absolutely fascinating, even though most of us had driven most of the Aston DB range before. In this case ‘we’ means long-term DB5 owner Andrew English, Aston Martin expert and Vantage magazine’s managing editor Peter Tomalin, supercar tester and Vantage contributor Jethro Bovingdon, Octane associate editor and Vantagesub-editor Glen Waddington…

AARON SHILBY The clue’s in the name: he’s Carroll’s grandson. And the blue car you can see him in was once yellow, which is another clue: it’s the first Shelby Cobra ever built. Octane sent Winston Goodfellow and photographer Pawel Litwinski to see it. ‘It’s almost a miracle he kept it,’ said Aaron. For the full story, turn to pages 156-164. DIRIK BILL Octane columnist and Le Mans veteran Derek is president of the Sports 2000 Club, but he’d never driven one of the entry-level sports-racers it caters for – until now. ‘If you can be competitive in one of these, I don’t see why you cannot be quick in just about anything,’ he told us. Read his findings on pages 148-154. GLIN WADDINGTON ‘Goodwood Festival of Speed is surely…

PIKES PEAK ‘RACE TO THE CLOUDS’ hillclimb is known as one of the toughest motor sport events in the world, the high altitudes slowing competitors’ reflexes, straining brains and cramping muscles – while their engines lose up to 30% of their power. And there are very few safety barriers, despite ravines of up to 600m deep alongside. This year marked the 100th anniversary of the hillclimb and it was celebrated with a spectacular line-up of more than 100 competition cars and motorcycles. It was won by Romain Dumas, who covered the 12.42-mile, 156-turn, 1440m climb in 8min 51.445sec, driving a Norma M20 RD Limited special – not quite up with the outright record set in 2013 by Sebastian Loeb in 8min 13.878sec, but impressive all the same. The hillclimb, officially…

Potent Porsches line up for Silverstone Classic Fresh from its unexpected Le Mans win, Porsche’s 919 Hybrid will star in the company’s official display at the Silverstone Classic, held over the weekend of 29-31 July. It will be surrounded by a posse of Porsche’s ‘transaxle’ models, the oldest of which has just celebrated its 40th birthday. Sixteen of these cars, representing the whole 924/944/968 family, are competing in this year’s Porsche Classic restoration competition. They will be joined by the 924 Carrera GTP 002 Le Mans car, itself recently restored (see page 30). Meanwhile, on the track, 956 and 962 endurance racers will compete in the two Group C events. Silverstone Auctions will feature a racing 924 GTR in its Competition Car sale, too. CD Peugeot Le Mans car wins…

There’s still time to join this year’s classic car tour to the spectacular Concours of Elegance at Windsor castle on Sunday 4 September. The route runs from Wormsley Estate to Windsor, with places available at £175 per person. The 90-mile tour will take a scenic route, with a 9.30am start at the 2500-acre Wormsley Estate in the heart of the Chilterns and arrival at The Long Walk outside Windsor Castle at midday. Participants will have a dedicated Octane Tour display area close to the Cambridge Gate. The price includes breakfast, maps, entry to the concours, a three-course lunch with wine, and afternoon tea. To enter, please email poppy@gtoevents.com.…

‘One lifetime would not be enough to drive all my favourite cars’ Racing driver Alex Zanardi at Goodwood Festival of Speed. ‘Do you know your car is sinking?’ A spectator to Geraint Owen, observing that LSR car Babs was slowly disappearing into the wet sand on Pendine beach (see feature on pages 102-112 ). ‘We certainly didn’t bring it back like that!’ Tony Dron on seeing pre-restoration pictures of the Porsche 924 GTP he drove at Le Mans in 1980 (see page 30 ). ‘No-one is sure about the future of car clubs’ FIVA President Patrick Rollet, explaining how conventional clubs are losing favour in the face of competition from internet forums and informal ‘cars and coffee’-type meetings. ‘Stepping down from Top Gear. Gave it my best shot…