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The pages linked from this page have some information on the earlier BTCC with the 850 and the S40 and are kept for historic reference, and details of previous and current club motorsport events.

Current club motorsport reports and information are now incorporated in our club magazine, Volvo Driver, and are available in PDF format and will be made available here soon.

Castle Combe 1997

INTEREST FROM MEMBERS increases by the year for this event held in mid August at the racing circuit at Castle Combe which is within a few miles of Chippenham in Wiltshire. Members interested in motoring as well as motor sport addicts, broke attendance records again this year, with some 16 cars on the stand including a Saab joining us for the day. The event started on Friday night for many of the attendees as camping is allowed overnight in the paddock area. With a number of tents 12 members stayed the night under canvas with Paul Snook and his son and Rupert Elmore staying in local accommodation which made 15 enjoying the food at the Salutation Restaurant on Friday evening. 1 would like to thank the proprietors of this Restaurant for accommodating so many at such a short notice. Without doubt this will be the venue for the Friday night next year. Having been in touch with the, organisers this year there were some 84 stands, all but a few being owners clubs, approx. 900 cars ranging from modern sportscars to the old classic vehicles were on display, with attendances topping 5000 plus on the day. I am also told that some 700 circuit passes were issued for the 5 laps per time available. When one looks at these numbers both the circuit organisers and Classic and Sportscar Magazine who organise the event, must he congratulated in coping with the logistics of the event. As to Members, we were able to amass 10 Volvos on the circuit at the same time -another record, before the pedals were pushed and the faster cars disappeared into the distance. Unfortunately Keith Wilson our PV Register keeper was unable to bring his PV as it had been written off a few weeks before - he has now purchased a F-Lotus Cortina how can a Volvo man do this I ask?)

Members cars attending being

Myself - 122S

Paul Snook - 122S

Tony Miles - PV544

John Skipper- 122S

Peter Stuart - 221

Dr Raj Karkera - 122S

Philip Bacon - 360 GLT

Nigel Keen - P1800

John Pascoe - 122S

Stuart Read - 120

Keith Wilson, Rupert Elmore - PV444

John Dando - 122S

Jason Copper - 360

Jed Andrew - 240GLT

A number of these vehicles have been prepared for motorsport and are helping to support Keith Wilson with the Motor Sport Section would also ask anyone interested to join us in these events. Please ring Keith or me for further details. In summary this was another very successful event with many confirming to attend again next year. By the comments made there will be many more joining us under canvas for the Friday evening meal and activities as well. See you again next year or on another club event in the interim. My last comment would he to Keith -isn't it about time the L-C was sold and a decent car purchased.!

Keith Wilson writes:

ON SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 21st we had our last of three invitation motor sport competitions this year, a sprint meeting at Llandow in South Wales. We had four Volvo owners present, John Pascoe, Bob Hart and John Griffiths - all in Amazons. Yours truly was present in a Mk 1 Cortina Lotus, having rolled my PV544 at the MIRA Stages in Leicestershire back in the summer. The PV I am sad to say is now officially dead as far as I am concerned but will rise "like Phoenix from the ashes" in another guise as another PV in Ireland with James O 'Mahoney at the helm. To get back to the point we had an enjoyable day at Llandow, where Bob Hart was quickest Volvo. John Griffiths was enjoying himself flogging his Amazon round to some very respectable times. John Pascoe brought along his early Elva Formula junior single seater racer. This has a DKW three cylinder two stroke engine and looks absolutely magnificent. It also makes an awful lot of noise but then if you can think back those of its who are old enough), they did make a lot of noise when they were an up to date car.

Two strokes have a noise all of their own - as much on the overun as when tinder power. John Pascoe said it was measured at 126 decibels at Prescott. It is to be campaigned on the Hills next season - as soon as it can be made a bit quieter! To round up our first season of motor sport with the Club. We have had three events and although the last event was a bit short of numbers because several of our stalwarts were otherwise busy or on holiday, I think we have the basis to instigate a small championship for the best Volvo driver over a series of events. We certainly can compete at the same three events that we were invited to this year again. We have run the events in the South and South West because that, by and large is where I have had the response from people interested. They do not have to be only in this part of the country. Also they do not have to be just the type of event we have been competing in so far, it could spread to rallies, etc. Please members, let me know what you think.