6th – 9th July 2023 – Spa Summer Classic
We set off to Spa with just the 2002 after its debut in Zandvoort. Spa being Spa had a variety of weather, we’d just finished setting up and then the heavens opened and as well as rain it started hailing too. Well it was the summer classic! However the next day the weather changed to hot and it continued for the duration of the event with track temperatures being some 40 degrees plus.
The 2002 qualified well beating the other BMW’s but sadly did not finish the race due to a head gasket issue caused by the extreme heat, however the car being very much at the start of its journey and with further development to come it was still a good trip with lots of information gained and tweeks to work on back at the workshop.
28th – 30th July Oulton Park Cup
Oulton Park Gold Cup weekend – Great Result for the Tisa with a top spot on the podium.
August Silverstone Festival
Silverstone Festival saw the first outing of our race trailer.
2nd – 3rd September 2023 – Croft Nostalgia Weekend
After preparing and running customer cars for many years, our own Tom Bridger following in family footsteps had his first circuit racing experience and gained a couple of signatures on his Race Licence. Simon Blanckley gave his lovely A40 an outing and many thanks to Simon for giving advice and showing Tom the ropes during the weekend.
October 2023
October proved to be a busy month for racing, starting with Spa 6 hour, Silverstone National Finals, Silverstone GP Finals and then the cars were loaded straight onto the artic trailer from Silverstone and Mike Sellar drove them down to Portimao for the Algarve Classic Festival.
Team lunch – Spa 6 Hour , L front – Finley Clark, L back – Neil Lampard, R back Peter Baker (Photographer), R middle Mike Sellar (our Truck Driver), R front Nigel Bridger
November 2023
After supporting our customers all season, Retro took a bit of down time and had a track day at Oulton Park organised by the BMW Car Club. John Powell our machinist and fabricator who produces some excellent components, brought along his own Opel Manta and Neil Lampard, Nigel and Tom Bridger took turns in our own BMW 1800. Everyone had a good day and thank you to the BMW car club for hosting the event.
December 2023
All cars are back at the workshop now and preparations are underway for next season, so it just remains to say a few thank you’s. To all our staff for working so hard over the year. Finley Clark left us in October to pursue other avenues and we wish him all the best in his future endeavours. Bob Woods for coming to events and working with us over the year. Mike Sellar for towing our trailer to the European events, we shall be doing a lot more of that in 2024, Peter Baker for his excellent photographs, Barton Racing with their passion for competing and all our clients for their custom and support throughout the year.
We wish you all a very Merry Christmas and all the best for a successful 2024.
