life on cars: the official ormskirk motorfest edition
DESCRIPTION
A special edition of the Life On Cars motoring magazine given over to the Ormskirk MotorFest.TRANSCRIPT
www. l i f eonca r s . b l o g spo t . com
The incredible supercarstar of Ormskirk’sMotorFestI S S u E S I XI S S u E S I X S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 1S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 1
TThhee ooffff iicciiaall llyy--bbaacckkeedd OOrrmmsskkiirrkk MMoottoorrFFeesstt eeddii ttiioonn
FERRARI’SEPIC ENZO
Editor david Simister
dESignEr david Simister
www.lifeoncars.blogspot.com
E-mail [email protected]
photogarphy:
david Simister, Champion newspapers, martyn Snape, Champion
newspapers, and aintree Circuit Club .
read Life On Cars each Wednesday in The Champion newspaper, on
the web at www.lifeoncars.blogspot.com and on the radio at
www.champnews.com
© life on Cars 2011
Created by
Motoring news, views andtest drives from Seftonand West Lancashire, aspublished online and everyweek in The Champion
4 Life On Cars
BRM P6261, 1964: among the hundreds of
cars and bikes making an appearance at the
motorFest is this star of the 1960s F1 scene.
Image courtesy of Michael Cooper
5Life On Cars
MotorFest guide7Everything you need to know about the ormskirk motorFest, including
how to get there, what to see when you arrive and why it’s definitely
worth a day out if you’re a car or bike nut
In this issueIn this issue
Ferrari Enzo8Why the italian company’s ultimate supercar is set to be the star of the
show, plus a potted history of its illustrious predecessors
The circuit10your guide to the improvised circuit created out of a town’s one-way
system, and where you’ll be able to see a host of historic cars and
bikes from several decades of motorsport
Racing glory12the Williams FW06 is one of the many entries into the motorFest with a
rich racing pedigree. this is what you can expect to see
F1 in Ormskirk14if you’re a fan of all things Formula one then motorFest has a few
treats in store for you! our guide to the grand prix themed entrants
Biking politics16one of the entrants from a West lancashire motorcycle club is also one
of West lancashire’s councillors, and explains to Life On Cars his
passion for all things petrol powered
Phil Read15the eight times motorcycling world champion is the event’s star guest
300mph motoring17the fastest car at the motorFest isn’t Ferrari’s Enzo. turn to page 17 to
find out what would outrun every other entrant at the event...
The key players18the businesses from across the north west who’ve lent more than a
helping hand to make the motorFest a success
The organisers19aintree Circuit Club are the brains behind the ormskirk event, and
they’ve got a bit of a track record for organising motoring events
6 Life On Cars
David Simister
it'S not an idea that had
even crossed my mind
before; ormskirk's one-
way system as a
motorsport venue.
i have, in my time as a
reporter for The Ormskirk
Champion, done many
"laps" of this unlikeliest of
circuits, being as it is the
string of streets which
link the various bits of the
West lancashire market
town with one another. at
rush hour on a busy Friday
even, it couldn't be
further from the high-
octane world of historic
motorsport.
yet it's been a year
since i had the phone call
from one of the town's
councillors, who rang to
let me know of exciting
plans to close the roads
off and unleash some of
motorsport's most
mouthwatering machines
on them, with the full
blessing of the local
council. plans that
became the first ever
ormskirk motorFest.
Since then i've closely
followed aintree Circuit
Club and the work that's
gone behind the scenes to
put this full-throttle
spectacular together, and
i've been amazed every
step of the way. i've been
impressed by the
organisation that's gone
onto it from both the club
and from West lancashire
Borough Council, and by
the support its had from
businesses based both in
and around West
lancashire. i've been
stunned by the response
it’s had so far from the
north west's petrolheads,
whether they prefer being
on two wheels or four.
most of all, i've been
stunned by some
machinery that's been
promised for the event -
i’ve seen the entry list,
and it reads like an
anthology of motoring’s
greatest hits. there’s
everything from a 1915
Ford model t to the
fearsome 2002 Ferrari
Enzo featured in this
magazine, and just about
every car, bike and racing
machine in between.
So on Sunday, august
28, 2011, sit back and
enjoy the ride. But until
then, sit back and enjoy
the read...
Editor, Life On Cars Pictured: an mg Zr competition car
which will be taking part in the
ormskirk motorfest. Picture courtesy of
Aintree Circuit Club
7Life On Cars
gEttINg INtO gEARFOR thE mOtORFEStEverything you always wanted to know about the northwest’s newest motoring event (but were afraid to ask)
What is the ormskirk
motorFest?it’s a one day event taking place
in the centre of the West
lancashire market town, centred
on Coronation park, which will
see classic cars and bikes lapping
the town’s one-way system in a
series of spectacular parades.
When is the event
taking place?Sunday, august 28, from 11am.
the parade laps in ormskirk will
start at around 2.30pm.
how much is it?the motorFest is free to attend!
What can i expect to
look forward to?there will be more than 200 cars
and motorbikes taking part,
including BSa, norton and honda
motorbikes, and Ferrari, mg,
triumph, Bentley and tVr cars.
along with the main display at
Coronation park, there will be
displays around the town centre.
how do i get there?the easiest way is by train -
although the line from preston to
ormskirk is closed on Sundays,
the merseyrail link between
liverpool and ormskirk will be
running regular services into the
town centre. there’s also free
parking at most of merseyrail’s
stations on the line towards the
town.
What about by car?ormskirk is easily reached by
taking Junction 26 of the m6,
following the m58 until Junction
3, and taking the a570 road
towards ormskirk.
parking in the town centre will be
difficult, so the motorFest’s
organisers have laid on a park and
ride service to link to the event.
Where will i find it?
the park and ride service will run
from Edge hill University, on the
outskirts of ormskirk (l39 4Qp if
you’re using a satnav). it costs £5
per car to park there all day, and
also includes the cost of a
transfer operated by a historic
bus.
Who is behind the
ormskirk motorFest?
the event has been organised by
both West lancashire Borough
Council, the local authority
covering ormskirk, and by aintree
Circuit Club, who have arranged
the attractions at the event and
coordinated the entrants taking
part in the parades and displays.
Can i collect a couple
of autographs?
yes. guests include motorcycle
racing legend phil read, the first
man to be world champion in the
125cc, 250cc and 500cc classes.
there’ll also be a few familiar
faces from the world of racing, so
keep your eyes peeled!
Will the event be
worth going to?
if you’ve even the vaguest
interest in cars, motorbikes or
racing, then definitely! if you
haven’t, the novelty of seeing an
F1 car on ormskirk’s one-way
system should be worth the visit.
Attractions may vary from those
advertised prior to the event.
thE FERRARI ENZO’S QUEStION:DO YA thINK I’m SEXY?
It’s not every day you get the chance to get up close to a 650bhp, 220mph Italian supercar onceowned by rock legend Rod Stewart. Happily, the Ormskirk MotorFest is one of those occasions
8 Life On Cars
thE supercar that's Sailing
straight into the number
one slot at the ormskirk
motorFest is this, one of
the fastest roadgoing
Ferraris ever made.
if you were one of the
Ferrari Enzo's 399 original
owners you were
particularly lucky; not
only were you rich enough
to afford it, but you'd also
been chosen by the italian
company, most likely
because you'd also bought
either its F40 or F50
predecessors. one of the
lucky few was singer and
musician rod Stewart, and
it's his former Enzo that's
made its way to ormskirk.
thanks to its 660bhp,
6.0 litre V12 engine, the
Enzo will shoot to 60mph
in just 3.3 seconds before
racing to a top speed of
220mph, when it will need
all of its F1-inspired
aerodynamics to help
keep it glued to the road.
With its gullwing doors,
dramatic styling, mid-
engine layout and
two-seater cockpit, the
Enzo is a supercar in the
truest Ferrari tradition. if
you've never seen its
stunning shape in the
flesh before, then
ormskirk motorFest could
be a once-in-a-lifetime
opportunity.
thE FERRARI ENZO’S QUEStION:DO YA thINK I’m SEXY?
It’s not every day you get the chance to get up close to a 650bhp, 220mph Italian supercar onceowned by rock legend Rod Stewart. Happily, the Ormskirk MotorFest is one of those occasions
15Life On Cars 9Life On Cars
Ferrari’shypercarhistory
Just a handful produced for group
B racing regulations, and highly
prized by collectors and supercar
speculators alike. Capable of
cracking 189mph thanks to its
twin-turbo V8 engine.
220mph, 0-60mph in 3.3 seconds
and one of the most dramatic
shapes ever to emerge from the
maranello factory. aerodynamics
and technology inspired by
michael Schumacher’s F1 cars.
Effectively a roadgoing version of
alain prost’s 1990 Ferrari F1 car.
powered by a 4.7 V12 engine and
capable of 202mph, the F50 is the
rarer than even the Enzo, with
just 349 examples made.
memorable not only for being the
first road car capable of more
than 200mph but also for having
one of the most iconic supercar
shapes ever. also Ferrari’s most
profitable model ever, with more
than 1,300 examples made.
288 gto, 1984 - 1985
F40, 1987 - 1992
F50, 1995 - 1997
Enzo, 2002 - 2004
mOtORFESt:thE ROUtE
Williams FW06, 1978: raced in 1978 and
1979 by alan Jones and Clay reggazoni, and
recently competed in the historic grand prix
at monaco. See it at the motorFest! Image
courtesy of www.photocollectionitaly.com
Event co-ordinator John
Bailie said: "this is an
exciting motoring variety
show which is really
capturing the imagination.
the sight and sound of the
grand prix cars and other
competition machinery,
lapping around the town
and past ormskirk parish
Church, will be awesome.
"the vast majority of
participants are from
lancashire and
merseyside, which
illustrates the amazing
quality and variety of
Life On Cars14
With a series of streets
closed off to create a
circuit filled with
challenging corners, it's no
suprise the motorFest
circuit is being dubbed
ormskirk's answer to
monaco.
But the grand prix
comparisions don't stop at
the venue itself, because
Formula one fans will get
the chance to get up close
to several ex-F1 cars and
see them take to the
town's streets.
ORmSKIRK OFFERSthE F1 EXPERIENCE
motoring history, right on
ormskirk's doorstep."
among the entrants
with grand prix links are
the Williams FW06, which
took part in the 1978 and
1979 and was one of the
last F1 racers to notch up
racing points before a new
era of "ground effect"
racing teams ushered in
the '80s.
there's also a chance to
check out an iconic F1 car
from an earlier era, in the
form of the curvaceous
Brm p261, best known for
being piloted by the likes
of graham hill and Jackie
Stewart between 1964 and
1969.
if all that's whetted
your appetite, then why
not try out a spot of
grand prix racing for
yourself, with a special F1
simulator that's being
brought along to the
motorfest (pictured)?
the best known
motorsport of all is
definitely well
represented at motorFest.
The Grand Prix connectionsat the Ormskirk MotorFest
Pictured: the F1 car
simulator which will
be one of the main
attractions at the
motorFest.
15Life On Cars
READ All AbOUtRACE lEgEND PhIl
250cc and 500cc classes,
and visitors will be hoping
he can bring some of his
championship-winning
magic to the ormskirk
one-way system, which
will serve as a mini-
monaco style circuit
during the event.
mr read's machine is
one of a large number of
two-wheeled entries into
the event, with other
highlights from the 60
motor cycle entries
including a rare 1967
Seeley sidecar outfit
which won the german
gp, a 1964 iom tt rumble
BSa, a 1949 triumph and
1945 BSa C11, together
with a large variety of
modern racing machinery.
overall the ormskirk
motorfest has attracted
more than 200 entries to
date.
displays during the
motorFest will be set out
on ormskirk's traffic-free
streets and at Coronation
park, with one mile lap
around the town's streets
seeing controlled parades
throughout the day.
Eight times world champion Phil Read will leading a paradeof racing bikes around the Ormskirk MotorFest circuit route
motorBiKE racing legend
phil read will be roaring
into town later this month
as the star guest at
ormskirk motorFest
spectacular.
phil, eight times World
motorcycle Champion, will
be appearing at the
motorfest when it revs up
on august 28, event
organisers aintree Circuit
Club have confirmed this
week.
Event co-ordinator John
Bailie said:“We are
delighted to have the
legendary phil read as our
guest celebrity, and we're
looking forward to seeing
him lapping the town's
one mile street circuit on
his 500cc paton.
“phil was yamaha's first
gp winner and it's
appropriate that he's
appearing at our event
during their 50th
anniversary year.”
nicknamed the prince
of Speed, phil gave
yamaha their first ever
World Championship in
1964 and was the first
man to win World
Championships in 125cc,
Pictured: phil read mBE in action on the
500cc paton racing motorcycle he will ride
along the motorFest parade route.
borough council kept me
informed about what was
being organised for
ormskirk and got me in
touch with the event's
organisers. i think we'll
have about 30 of the
club's bikes there,
including a lot which have
historic local connections,
and few tt and gp racing
bikes,” he said.
“i'm from a big family
of bikers and i've always
been a bit of a
petrolhead, so as someone
who's into their bikes and
their cars this is going to
Life On Cars16
a BiKing councillor will be
going at full throttle when
he takes part in the
motorFest.
Jason grice, a
Conservative borough
councillor for Burscough
West, will be donning his
helmet and leathers for
the ormskirk event as part
a 30-strong contingent of
motorcycles being entered
by the Scarisbrick armada
club.
“When details of the
motorFest came onto the
council's radar last year,
Colin Brady at the
thE bIKINgCOUNCIllOR
be a really exciting event
for ormskirk and for West
lancashire, and i'm really
looking forward to it.”
Cllr grice is a member
of the group, which meets
at the heatons Bridge
pub, in Scarisbrick.
the club stated: “We
will be hosting a static
stall at the event on
Coronation park in which
we hope to show 33
motorcycles ranging from
a 1925 Coventry Eagle
Flying 8 to a 2010 BmW
1000rr. We will also be
hoping to raise money for
the grove Community
Centre's activity Scheme
in Burscough to enable
them to continue to
provide their service for
local families and children
in the area.”
Councillor Grice and
fellow members of the
Scarisbrick Armada club
will be displaying their
motorcycles in Coronation
Park on the day of the
MotorFest, in the club
section, near to Park
Pool.
Pictured: Councillor grice, right, with his Suzuki hayabusa, is joined by fellow members of
Scarisbrick armada at Coronation park. Picture by Martyn Snape, Champion Newspapers
Meet the Burscoughcouncillor who’sswapping politics fora different sort ofpower during theOrmskirk MotorFest
17Life On Cars
lIFE’S NEVER A DRAgWIth thIS AROUND
Bailie said: “We are very
excited that Santa pod are
bringing this awesome
machine to ormskirk. it is
sure to be one of the stars
of our show.
“a top Fuel dragster,
which is it will be used as
a static central display for
the motorFest, which
takes place at venues
across the town with a
main display at
Coronation park.
mr Bailie added: “We
really appreciate Santa
pod bringing the machine
from their base near
Wellingborough,
You thought the Ferrari Enzo would be the fastest car at theshow? This 300mph monster is here to prove you wrong
a drag racing car that
can hit 300mph in less
than a quarter of a mile is
an “awesome” addition to
attractions at ormskirk
motorFest later this
month, the show's
organisers have
announced.
the dragster, which is
almost 30ft in length,
generates around 7,000
horse power from its 8-
litre V8 engine, will be
the star of a static display
in ormskirk's Cornation
park.
aintree Circuit Club's
event coordinator John
northamptonshire.”
more than 200 entries,
with the majority being
owned by residents of
Sefton and West
lancashire, are expected
to take part in the one-
day event, which is a joint
venture between aintree
Circuit Club and the
borough council.
the motorFest starts at
11am on august 28 with
admission free, and
visitors heading to the
event by car are being
offered the chance to
park at Edge hill
University, at a cost of £5
for the day, with a
transfer on a shuttle bus
to the town centre.
Santa Pod's 300mph Top
Fuel Dragster Showcar, for
obvious reasons, won’t be
attempting to rocket
around Ormskirk’s one-
way system during the
parade laps, but it will be
used as a static display in
the town centre during
the whole of the
Motorfest event.
businesses which have
lent their support to the
show, including premier
inn at the morris dancers
in Scarisbrick, the green
room, on moor Street,
martyn meade estate
agents, and aughton
Street-based premier
Wear among others.
they were
congratulated at the
Life On Cars18
tradErS from across
ormskirk have teamed up
with the town's crier to
showcase their support for
a West lancashire
motorsport spectacular
taking place this
weekend.
don Evans, West
lancashire's town crier,
helped businesses
supporting the ormskirk
motorFest to get their
message across to
shoppers at the town's
historic market on august
18, 2011, as part of a
public preview of the
event taking place in the
town centre on the Bank
holiday Sunday.
Speaking at the event,
town crier don Evans told
shoppers:
“on Sunday, august 28,
ormskirk will be home to
the greatest motor
extravaganza ever to be
staged in the area. Cars of
all descriptions, and
motorbikes, will line the
streets of ormskirk.
“you might never again
get the chance to see
these, so don't forget your
cameras, don't forget your
autograph books, and get
yourself down here to
ormskirk this Bank holiday
weekend.”
the town crier, who will
be waving entrants into
the event off as they take
part in a series of parades
on the town's one-way
system, was joined at the
public preview by
representatives of several
ORmSKIRKEXPECtS
event by John Bailie of
aintree Circuit Club, the
organisers of the ormskirk
motorFest, adding that
among the support being
provided was the
accomodation for
motorcycle racing legend
phil read, the event's
guest of honour.
“it will be an amazing
sight to see racing cars
and motorcycles being
driven on a lap of the
town. We have received
tremendous interest in
this unique event from the
whole community in
ormskirk and West
lancashire and are
particularly grateful for
the support and input of
these enterprising and
progressive local
businesses.”
Pictured, from left: Colin Bretherton of martyn meade estate
agents, West lancashire town crier don Evans, motorFest entrant
dave Croft, aintree Circuit Club event coordinator John Bailie,
Jacquie Sells of premier inn, and Beccy lea of the green room.
Picture by David Simister, Champion Newspapers
Businesses fromOrmskirk andfurther afieldare backing theMotorFest
in fact, the aintree
motor racing circuit is
only purpose-built grand
prix circuit in Britain, and
staged the British grand
Aintree Circuit Club, the organisers of the MotorFest, havebeen key players in the region’s motoring scene for decades
iF yoU thought racing in
aintree was all about
horses and the grand
national, then think
again.
prix in 1955, 1957, 1959,
1961 and 1962.
aintree Circuit Club was
founded in 1954, making
it the world’s first track-
based motoring club.
the club, which costs
£15 a year to join, get
actively involved not only
with promoting the
motorsport heritage of the
aintree circuit, but also
get actively involved in
the north west motorsport
scene, and have used
their knowledge and
expertise to organise the
ormskirk motorfest.
all the club's meetings
are free if you become a
club member, take place
at the park hotel,
dunnings Bridge road,
netherton, liverpool l30
6Xn, on the a5036, just a
few minutes from m58 /
m57 / a59 junction and
half a mile from the
aintree circuit.
For more information
about Aintree Circuit Club
vist the organisation's
website at
www.aintree.org.uk or
contact Mike Ashcroft,
the club's chairman on
0151 525 9314.
thE RACINg ClUbbEhIND thE ACtION
Life On Cars 19
Above: members of
aintree Circuit Club
at a motorFest
preview event in
ormskirk. Picture by
David Simister,
Champion
Newspapers
Pictured: a
recreation of Stirling
moss’ British grand
prix win in 1957 at
aintree, using a
Vanwall F1 car from
the donington grand
prix Collection.
Picture by John
Bailie, Aintree Circuit
Club
Life On
For more on what’shappening at the
Ormskirk MotorFestpick up the officialguide for just £1
On sale in Ormskirkat the MotorFest onSunday, August 28
www. l i f eonca r s . b l o g spo t . comwww.o rmsk i r kmoto r fe s t . com