TV chef James Martin to race at Croft Circuit's Nostalgia Weekend (From Darlington and Stockton Times)
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TV chef James Martin to race at Croft Circuit's Nostalgia Weekend
9:00am Tuesday 31st July 2012 in News
By Hannah Bryan, Reporter (Darlington)
MG's and Jaguars pictured at Croft Circuit to publicise this weekend's nostalgia event
THE saying “fast-food” will certainly be true when a top celebrity chef takes to the racetrack this weekend as part of a major celebration of motorsport.
Saturday Kitchen star James Martin, from Malton, North Yorkshire, will race a 1960s Mini Cooper at Croft Circuit, near Darlington, as part of the track’s annual Nostalgia Weekend.
The event – dubbed the Goodwood of the North – is in its third year and promises to be bigger and better than ever before.
Fans will be able to see a record number of cars as more than 240 historic racing saloons, GT and singleseater sportscars – from the 1940s through to the 1970s – battle it out on the track, including vehicles once driven by Al Unser and Derek Bell.
There will also be plenty happening off-track with a display of more than 400 classic cars and Second World War military vehicles, as well as food, music and fashion from across the eras.
A flypast of one of Britain’s most famous aircrafts, a Spitfire, is planned for Saturday to celebrate the circuit’s connection to the Second World War when it was used as a bomber base.
Circuit manager Tracey Morley said: “It really is something very special from another era and it will surely be a big highlight of our nostalgia festival, which continues to go from strength to strength.”
In keeping with the nostalgic war theme, guests are invited to dress in a period style.
A dozen classic buses will be on hand to transport visitors to and from the event, and the free service will start at 10.30am on Saturday and Sunday from Feethams, in Darlington, and will run every half hour.
Peter Elliott, a member of the North-East Bus Preservation Trust, which is donating some of the vehicles, said: “There are buses that we all used to go to school on or shopping when cars were few and far between.
“They are synonymous with the nostalgia of the North-East right across to Cumbria.
“I’m sure riding on one of these vehicles will bring back lots of fond memories for people.”
The event takes place this weekend and will be free for children under 15.
Tickets for adults start at £13 on Saturday, and £20 on Sunday.
For more information, call 01325- 721815 or visit croftcircuit.co.uk
