PistonClick reported on last year’s VSCC Spring Start at Silverstone which ran over two days.  For 2025, it was back to a one-day meeting with practice in the morning and racing in the afternoon.

Andrew and I decided on a leisurely start for the 25 minute drive to Silverstone and didn’t arrive until the lunch break. We were planning on a relaxed afternoon and didn’t plan to go into the paddock. Andrew was using his Nikon D780 and I had my Nikon D850. Lens-wise we were using the 500mm prime, 70-200mm zoom and occasional teleconverter for extra reach.

Silverstone

Silverstone has its challenges these days for the spectator photographer so we headed to two of my favoured locations on the short National circuit. If you do like shooting in the pits and paddock, this event is brilliant with excellent access (there lots of content on social media).

First, then, was the location behind the Village Grandstand. There’s a view through the fence with the 500mm prime at a very acute angle back to Becketts with it’s somewhat “industrial” background. There was some heat haze visible.

The black spray paint on the fence here is testament to others using this location for a panning shot. This it is one of the better locations at Silverstone needing only 200mm focal length. It can be a bit hit and miss especially if, as it was on this day, bright with deep shadows. Being early afternoon, the fence was in the shade of the grandstand.

In post processing, we both chose to go monochrome and this certainly improves the background to photos.  Among the notable entries in the first couple of races were Sue Darbyshire in her rather quickly driven Morgan three wheeler #35. Former Force India boss Vijay Mallya in the BMW 328  #135 and two new cars to me – the Amilcar Pegase #141 of Torcuato Iriarte and Ford Model A #140 of Olaf Henriksen.

VSCC Spring Start Races

A feature of VSCC meetings is the inclusion of handicap races. The handicapper will allocate start times and race length based on speed of car and driver with, if they have got it right, all cars crossing the line at the same time. In reality, of course, with overtaking, vehicle maladies and the like there is usually a clear winner but it is not always the fastest car / driver. We had moved to the terracing at the exit of Luffield. One of the beauties of this age of vehicle is that the drivers can generally be seen doing their thing.

The handicap was followed by probably the race of the day – the GP Itala & Lanchester Trophies Allcomers Pre-war race. There was frantic battling between Pat Blakeney Edwards (#88 Frazer Nash). Eddie Williams (#36 Riley Blue Streak) and Robin Tuluie (#11 Riley Menasco Pirate) for most of the race with the lead positions at Luffield different on each lap.

Further down the grid, Robert Beebee (#59 Frazer Nash) and Clive Morley (#22 Bentley) were also having fun. Fred Harper, debuting his rare #7 Miller 91, had a very short race.

VSCC Spring Start Patrick Lindsay Memorial Trophy

The Patrick Lindsay Memorial Trophy race had a smaller grid but featured a quality field from ERAs, through Indy roadsters to a gorgeous looking, and sounding, Alfa Romeo 158. Shooting on the exit of Luffield is, you’ve guessed it, through the fence. You can get very close to the fence by using area reserved for disabled spectators at the Grand Prix.

Patrick Lindsay Memorial Trophy Pre-1966 Rear Engined Race cars

The final race at the VSCC Spring Start meeting we shot was for Pre-1966 Rear Engined Race cars. These are essentially pre DFV / wings and slicks era cars – and possibly the most elegant cars racing on the day.

For the final couple of races, we packed the kit away and drove down to Becketts to be simple spectators. A huge and very varied FISCAR race saw a win for the familiar yellow and black Cottingham / Redding Ferrari 500 TRC. All in all, a relaxed afternoon of enjoyable motorsport. The VSCC have further race meetings at Donington (24 May), Cadwell (21 June) and Mallory (30 August). There’s a good chance PistonClick will be in attendance.

If you want to see what our photos look like in colour you can find them here –

Thanks to David and Andrew Harbey for this report. You can see more of Davids photography by following the links below.