MSA Classic

Simon G · Post by **Simon G** » Sun 3rd Oct 2010 9:28 pm

I took part in the MSA Classic today, navigating for a friend. This is a resurrection of the old Norwich Union Classic Car Run which ran from the mid 80's up to about 2001. The current format has been run since about 2007 I believe. We started from the Lotus factory at Hethel and made our way to the Ecotech Centre in Norfolk, the Cambridge American War Memorial, Burghley House and then on to the finish at Rockingham. We got the chance to do 2 laps each around the Lotus test track and Rockingham. There were four other starting venues across middle and southern England. This is now a well established event and about 600 cars take part. If anyone is interested in taking part in next year's run, it's well worth it but I believe you need to book in early. I spotted JAB 17C starting from Norwich.

Post by **Lashman** » Mon 4th Oct 2010 9:27 am

How well managed was the route Simon? I always used to do this run, untill it got so popular that the route just became a slow procession of classic cars. Hopefully it's got better because it used to be one of my favourite days out in the car.
Cheers
Louis

Post by **Rick** » Mon 4th Oct 2010 12:49 pm

Also took part in this event on Sunday, thanks to Geoff & Alan Letts for letting me take SOO on a 359 mile round trip, starting at Dorking in Surrey, we went to the Williams F1 centre at Didcott, from there to the Porsch experiance at Silverstone with 2 laps of their circuit, onto a WW2 exhibition at the Palmer autosport centre in Bedfordshire, finishing with 2 rain soaked laps at Rockingham. not quite a procession for us as we overtook and tried to overtake every classic car in front of us ( the two guys in the Cooper S were not impressed). flashed JAB as he was leaving Rockingham and we were arriving, extreamly well organised event, great route if not a little bumpy in places, certainly pushed SOO to the limit on a couple of occasions. great day out left Dorking at 8.32am and returned to Dorking at 8.30pm tired but happy.

Simon G · Post by **Simon G** » Mon 4th Oct 2010 2:20 pm

Hi Louis

The route was pretty well managed although the surfaces on some of the roads were not ideal. This didn't detract from the overall experience though. A couple of the tulip diagrams in the route planner were a little misleading but apart from that I couldn't really fault it. When we started at Hethel, groups of cars were supposed to all start at the same time but it was decided in the end to let the drivers go at 1 minute intervals. This was a good decision as it meant that cars were not all bunched up together and probably made it a bit safer as well as it resulted in less overtaking. We were in an MGB, not the fastest car in the world obviously but from what I remember only two other classics passed us on the entire route. It's a shame the event couldn't be organised earlier in the year when there's a better chance of some good weather. It must be something to do with the cost of hiring the circuit I guess, although I remember when the run was sponsored by NU, it was alaways organised for around the end of May. I would still recommend it though for next year.

Regards

Simon

Simon G · Post by **Simon G** » Wed 6th Oct 2010 12:59 pm

Here's an old picture I found of the NU Classic car run that I entered way back in 1989. I think this one finished at Silverstone.

mexico tim · Post by **mexico tim** » Wed 6th Oct 2010 6:19 pm

i took part in this aswell on sunday in my mk1 escort mexico,started at Williams then to prodrive,the 2 laps at rockingham were very wet and slippy but i was the first car there so had a totaly empty track to have a play around on,great day and event that these sort of car were made for