A tale of two airfields Darley Moor and Silverstone

The same heritage – with very different outcomes. RAF Silverstone and RAF Darley Moor were both Operational Training Units during WW2 operating Blenheims, Wellingtons, Whitleys and Albemarles. In the years following the war, as land was returned to civilian use, both were turned into race tracks  – Silverstone hosting the British Grand Prix in 1948 and Darley Moor hosting the first motorbike races in 1965. My late father’s archives turn up some early images – including Silverstone from 1958 – I was there, albeit minus 2 months old at the time. 

A few years later he had purchased an Ilford Sportsman and was using colour slide film ! We went to the Grand Prix every couple of years – Silverstone between 1965 and 1973 was a far cry from what we know today.

Darley Moor 1975

By contrast, Darley Moor was, for me at least, only the sound of racing engines echoing across the fields. To explain, my father helped run a Sunday School in the nearby village of Wyaston. As a small boy in short trousers I went too and as we came out of the chapel to go home, we could hear the racing. Reader, it took me another 50 years to get to see racing at Darley Moor, In 1975, however, it looks as if my father did go to at least one meeting there.

Fast forward to 2025 and Silverstone is almost unrecognisable as it attempts to meet the needs of Formula 1, arguably at the expense of losing it’s soul. Meanwhile Darley Moor retains much of its original airfield character but with a steady series of improvements from the volunteer team that have run it over the years. Spectator access roads however, leave no doubt as to its former use …

What Darley Moor does do very well is to vie with Mallory Park and Trac Mon for the shortest length of spectator photographer frustrating fence. This is not a competition that Silverstone can enter. Anyway, to the photography – having got my new glasses following cataract ops in May and August, I was keen to get out to shoot motorsport again – even if that was through the fence !

HSCC Finals at Silverstone 2025

Tickets were purchased for the Saturday of the HSCC Finals at Silverstone. In recent years, some HSCC grids had become somewhat depleted, but checking up on the HSCC website ahead of the weekend gave a promising set of races including the Alfas as a guest championship. For pre-lunch shooting, I headed across to my usual morning spot behind the Village Grandstand for some panning shots with the 70-200mm zoom.

There’s also a shot back to Becketts with the 500mm prime – with a background that could only be Silverstone.

The HSCC was using the National Circuit whilst there was a separate race meeting on the International Circuit at the southern end of the track. Wandering across to the fence in front of the Village Grandstand, I got some neat shots of MX5s at play.

Then back to the Wellington Straight for the Derek Bell Trophy, which included a couple of F1 cars, some F5000s and a fleet of very quick F2s.

For the afternoon session, I drove across to Luffield to see what access was like on the inside of Brooklands which has been out of bounds as the kart track has been built. It’s much as it was if you heed to rules for shooting though the fence – get as close as possible, shoot at right angles and widest possible aperture whilst making sure that the light is not reflecting on the fence.

Thereafter it was round to the exit of Luffield and an afternoon of good racing (Formula Ford rarely disappoints) shooting with either the 500mm at the apex of Luffield …

… or with the 70-200mm zoom standing in the disabled access area used for the Grand Prix.

Day one complete, except for notable sequence of Alfa on Alfa action at Luffield.

Stars at Darley Moor 2025

But now, in the immortal words of Monty Python, for something completely different – a trip to Darley Moor for the annual Stars at Darley end of season meeting. This year, John McGuiness would be returning for the umpteenth time, rising star Charlie Nesbitt and late announcement Richard Cooper were taking on the regulars at Darley Moor. Nesbitt had proved to be the star in Saturday’s race but, disappointingly, Cooper had to scratch on Sunday following mechanical issues.

A careful drive up a very foggy M1 and A50 led me to wonder whether we would see any racing (the meeting at Donington was abandoned), but just a mile or so from Darley, the fog disappeared and we had brilliant sunshine and blue skies. Qualifying was underway for all classes and I met up with Tony from PistonClick at the Hairpin. In between catching up, we enjoyed the close, fence free action through to the Stars Superpole shoot out. No guesses for who was quickest!

Aside from the shot in the hairpin, there’s some interesting images to be taken as the riders head out to the Pope Straight.

After a spot of lunch, time to walk the track – all easily accessible – from the Esses to Park to Paddock. The mist was starting to roll in intermittently, bring a flat grey feel to the images.

The RICHARDSON Stars at Darley 2025

Perhaps wisely, Race Control brought forward the main race to ensure that it was not affected if the weather deteriorated significantly. By then I was looking towards the start and Paddock.

Nesbitt took a dominating win and his lap of honour with the other podium finishers, Burrell and Hodson.

To round out the day, I walked back to the Hairpin for some final shots, while reflecting on what a lovely little venue Darley Moor is. There’s no grandstands (but then they are rarely all open at Silverstone) and it’s a labour of love for the team that run the circuit who were rewarded with an excellent turnout of spectators.

It was good to get back out with the camera, although my “new“ eyes mean that I have to remember not to try to look at the camera screen over the top of my glasses – if I do it’s all blurry !  Two days at two very different circuits with a common heritage – and you know what, I might just prefer Darley Moor’s more down to earth charm. If you haven’t been, try it next season – just don’t leave it half a century as I did !

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