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Tim Lewis wrote up his trip on the Euroclassic, in his beautiful 1964 Ferrari 250 GT Lusso, for Ferrari Magazine.
His article includes mentions of both the 2008 Norwich Union MSA Classic and the 2009 Aviva MSA Classic runs, a few detours from the route book and his own personal quest to single handedly resolve the recession in the battery industry.
The article appeared in the Winter 2009 edition.
Text as follows:
Aviva Classic and Euroclassic
It sounded interesting: an advert in the Motoring section of the Daily Telegraph invited classic car owners to take part in the Norwich Union Classic event on 12th October 2008. As in previous years, this would start at 8 different locations around the country, and finish at Silverstone, where participants would be permitted to drive one (or two if you were lucky) laps of the full grand prix circuit.
I duly paid the modest entry fee and set off from Bath for Silverstone on the day in my 1964 Lusso with my son Daniel as my co-driver and navigator interpreting the road book (which he pronounced was much easier to follow than “those French ones”!). It was a misty start so we were unable to appreciate the fine views on offer, but the weather improved as the day went on, ending in bright sunshine. The organisers (the Motor Sports Association) had managed to find some uncluttered minor roads for us to enjoy, and we often found ourselves in convoy with other classics, such as Austin Healeys, MGs, Triumphs, Bentleys, TVRs and Allards. It must have been quite a sight for the residents of the many villages we passed through on the way to Silverstone.
Our first port of call was Prescott, where we were allowed to drive up the famous hill climb, albeit at a fairly sedate rate. We could have done it again but decided to press on, with our next stop being Broughton Castle, a moated manor house which even aroused the interest of my co-driver. Then on to the Heritage Motor Museum at Gaydon, which is well laid out and stuffed with exhibits (mainly Austin, Morris and MG models from the past). On our arrival at Silverstone we were presented with a medal, pen and keyring, and Daniel had great fun blasting round the circuit.
Memories of the event were still fresh in my mind when I received an e-mail drawing my attention to the 2009 MSA Euroclassic. This is a non-competitive event, now in its 17th year, which takes participants on a set route through different European countries, including race tracks and other places of interest on the way. As my Lusso is a left hand drive one and was not designed to be a race car (which has not stopped me taking part in the competition section of Tour Auto and other such events over the years!), and I don’t have the patience required to do regularity events, this sounded just up my street........