Classic Sports Car Club Championship – Cadwell Park

The Classic Sports Car Club (CSCC), whose primary aim is to support, protect and encourage the ‘grass roots’ aspect of four-wheel motorsport, were in action last weekend at Cadwell Park.

With most of my Pistonclick colleagues enjoying the warm sunshine at the British Superbike meeting at Donington Park. I went along on a cool and cloudy Sunday (the second day of this annual meeting) to check out the action.

Sixteen races, which included thirteen of eighteen class championships organised by the CSCC throughout the season, took place over the weekend at the challenging Lincolnshire Wolds circuit. Six on Saturday and ten on the Sunday race programmes.

The ten “timed” races on Sunday, some of which included mandatory pit-stops, included two Morgan Challenge, Jaguar Championship and Midget / Sprite outings and six “tin-top” and “Open“ races.

There was a relatively small crowd at the beginning of the day for the qualifying sessions. This grew after lunch as racing “proper” got underway.

Classic Sports Car Club – The Morgan Challenge

Created in 1985 by Morgan racing enthusiasts the CSCC has gone from strength to strength. Now it is one of the most successful single marque Championships in the UK.

Encompass both standard and modified cars the Championship is open to all 4-wheeled Morgans. Power-to-weight ratios further divide up the classes.

There are annually around 40 registered competitors in the Championship. Several have been racing in the Challenge since it began in 1985. Some are new drivers, either novices to the sport or who have migrated from other forms of motorsport. 

Some competitors drive to the circuit in their race cars on the day of the event.

The variety of competitors is wide, both in age and occupations. The only qualifications you need are to be enthusiastic and sportsman like. Also a level of commitment, this ranged from highly competitive to laid-back.

Classic Sports Car Club – Spirit of Morgan Racing

A unique feature of the Championship is that everyone taking part in the Championship voluntarily agrees to a Drivers’ Charter. Emphasising that the enjoyment and participation in the Morgan Challenge is based upon a special respect for each other’s cars. Friendship between competitors and finishing races with all the cars in one piece is a priority.

Despite this pledge, the racing is highly competitive. No quarter is given by anyone behind the wheel of these classic vehicles.

Classic Sports Car Club – Alpha Lexis Law Firm Jaguar Championship

The championship caters for most production-based Jaguar saloon and GT models. Originally launched in 2001 by the Jaguar Enthusiasts Club. The Jaguar Championship was incorporated into the Classic Sports Car Club in 2024. Cars taking part range from near standard to highly modified, including the ever-popular XJ-S, XJ, S-Type, X-Type, XK-8 models.

The thunderous roar as these 4, 6 and 8 cylinder 4 litres “monsters” manoeuvred through the woodland section of Cadwell on lap one is certainly something to behold.

The Jaguar Championship typically runs a 20 minute qualifying session. With 2 x 20 minute races, over 1 or 2 days. 

Classic Sports Car Club – “Spridget” Racing

The Lackford Engineering Midget & Sprite Challenge is the only exclusive race championship in the UK for these MG and Austin Healey models. 

First started in 1977, the Midget & Sprite Challenge provides highly competitive racing for relatively inexpensive and traditional rear wheel drive sports cars.

These diminutive vehicles are highly entertaining to watch as they are raced with extraordinary enthusiasm. The competition was fierce all the way down the field. 

Classic Sports Car Club – The Verum Builders Open Championship

This championship (as its name suggests) is for cars with non-original engines, gearboxes and aero-dynamics, with just three additional basic rules applied.

They are no single seaters, no sports racers and no slicks or wet tyres.

As a result there is a huge variety in the types of cars taking part. This makes it particularly interesting to watch as a spectator or photographer.

Co-Ord Sport “Tin Tops” Championship (incorporating the Puma Cup)

This championship is limited to Saloon and Hatchback cars with an engine capacity up to 2 litres. Specifically 4 cylinder non turbo/supercharged, except diesel of any age.

​Started in 2005 the Co-Ord “Tin Tops” has become an increasingly popular and well supported series. It is run alongside the one make, closely controlled series for 1.7 litre Ford Puma’s. 

The two series, run in conjunction, are particularly suited to Novice racers. Who can start in relatively cheap cars and move on as they gain experience. Popular models that race within Co-Ord “Tin Tops” include Fiesta, Saxo, 106, Clio, Civic, Focus, 306, Integra and many more.

A qualifying session which takes place on the same day of the meeting. A mandatory, timed pit stop is included during the race. This allows entries to be split between two drivers, reducing costs even further for individuals.

The Fox Transport Turbo “Tin Tops” Championship

The Fox Transport Turbo “Tin Tops” series is exclusively for front wheel drive, turbo and supercharged cars. 

With car manufacturers no longer making normally aspirated hot hatchbacks, these cars represent the future of “Tin Top” racing. 

Again, this races feature a mandatory pit stop to allow “car-sharing”. Similar to BTCC a handicap is applied, in this case a time-penalty, to race winners for their next race. As with the BTCC this generate close racing. 

2025 CSCC Season

This was the second of two meetings planned in 2025. 13 further meetings to take place this at most of the major race circuits in the UK. There will be two European rounds at Zolder and Spa.

The Classic Sports Car Club Championship racing, as always at this unique circuit, was very entertaining and particularly well organised. Throughout the day, commentators Kieran McGinley and Chris Buxton kept the Spectators well informed . Despite a number of delays and red flag during the day, the “orange army” and the fleet of recovery vehicles on call all combined to ensure the days racing programme was completed “more or less” on time.

A “Well Done” to all involved.

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