Octane October 2018

OWNING A PORSCHE is almost an alternative lifestyle choice. Its engineering philosophy is so unlike its rivals’, and such a determined buying decision says much about the owner. Not everyone gets it. And, truth be told, I didn’t get it myself until the most enormous epiphany a few years back. There are times in this job when we simply don’t spend long enough with cars to truly understand what other people see in them. Mostly it’s instant and obvious, like a sidescreen TR, which takes no acclimatisation to enjoy its Labrador-like eagerness to please. Others take a bit longer, and such was the case with the Porsche 911 and me. After experiencing a few examples for what can’t be described as more than a brief encounter, I liked them well…

GREG MOSS ‘Photographing off-road racers in the California desert is hot, exhausting and intimidating, especially for a pasty Englishman. For the locals it’s a giant playground. Jumping in your V8-powered buggy and heading out to the dunes is a way of life on the West Coast.’ Read all about Greg’s adventure on PAGES 158-164. PAUL HARDIMAN ‘I’ve always liked nuts and bolts and physics, and the more intricate the engineering the more fascinating it is to investigate. Rick Hall told me all about the BRM V16 and its foibles for another story nine years ago – but this time I was actually able to handle one of the tiny pistons and rods that came out of it.’ Turn to PAGES 132-142. DELWYN MALLETT ‘The Shell History of Motor Racing documentaries…

Reputed to be the biggest race meet in the world, the spirit of the Silverstone Classic is epitomised by the Lola T212 of Goncalo Gomes and James Claridge in the FIA Masters Historic Sports Cars. The weather was a mix of the recent British heatwave’s unrelenting sunshine interspersed with the odd thundery downpour, which only added to the drama on track – where there were more than 1000 entrants. Recognise the Rover? You might well have seen it in Octane 182……

SEVENTEEN YEARS after it was recovered, badly broken, from the bottom of Coniston Water, Donald Campbell’s Bluebird K7 has run under its own power on the water again. It happened on Loch Fad in the Isle of Bute on 5 August, witnessed by Campbell’s daughter Gina and an appreciative crowd. The test run is the culmination of a 15-year restoration masterminded by Tyneside-based Bill Smith, on behalf of the Ruskin Museum at Coniston to which Gina Campbell donated K7 in 2006. Smith is the engineer and amateur diver who discovered the wreckage in 2001. The test followed a trial run in 2016 of the replacement Bristol Siddeley Orpheus jet engine, donated by De Havilland Aviation in 2007 and required because the original was beyond repair. The return to the water…

Bicester expansion Bicester Heritage has revealed plans for a new 344-room hotel, and also declared its intention to build motor lodges. The Dexter Moren-designed hotel, shown in an artist’s impression above, has been inspired by surrounding buildings and will house motoring exhibitions in a huge atrium. The announcement says the hotel plan is the next step in Bicester’s drive to ‘create the world’s leading automotive resort’, which seems a change in focus for the former RAF site. Holding out for HERO The Historic Endurance Rally Organisation (HERO) and the Endurance Rally Association (ERA) have struck a deal for the former to take over the latter’s events. HERO pledges that the ERA events will remain in the spirit created by founder Philip Young. HERO will run around 25 events, with the…

Goodwood Track Day As Octane wenttopress, there were still a few spots leftonthe Octane TrackDay, but you’ll have to be quick if you want to join members of the editorial team and readers on the event. It takes place at Goodwood Motor Circuit on 31 August and is a great day out, whether you want to exercise your car or get some last-minute laps in prior to the Revival Meeting, which takes place the next weekend. It costs £299 per car and driver (additional drivers are £150 apiece) and includes breakfast, lunch and tea.See octanetrackdays.co.uk. Octane on tour… Readers still have the chance (just)tojoin Octane onits annual tour to the magnificent Concours of Elegance, which this year is being held once more at Hampton Court Palace. The tour is on…