During 2016/17 Julius Thurgood was inspired to create a new class of historic saloon car racing featuring the diminutive Austin A35. Known as the 'Academy' series it features very close one make racing and has managed to appear on the calendar of both the Goodwood Revival in 2016 and the Silverstone Classic in 2017. Quite an achievement!
“The Red Baron” started 2016 at the Goodwood Revival in the “St Mary’s Trophy” in a crowd of wildly unleashed Austin A35s in racing trim. Well-known racing drivers such as David Coulthard, Jean Alesi, Rauno Aaltonen, Mark Blundell, Tiff Needell, Steve Soper, Jason Plato, Rowan Atkinson (“Mr Bean”) and many other famous names battled it out in this historic one-make trophy. Our A35 was raced by Frank Stippler (finished 9th) and David Franklin (finished 17th)
A corresponding video documents this race: https://www.facebook.com/share/v/UVyFTxoaM3ZYJZoJ/?mibextid=KsPBc6
This A35 was also driven in a manner appropriate also by Dario Franchitti and his autographs on the car lend an honour of respect to this sympathetic racing car.
This A35 race car represents a fantastic and inexpensive entry into historic motorsport and wherever it appears, hearts and sympathies will fly towards it. Nevertheless, his enemies should never underestimate his capabilities over its cute looks, as it is light as a feather and extremely agile to drive! Last our A35 participated at the famous hillclimb Bernina Grand Turismo in 2018, currently at our workshops in Nottingham and ready to return to the race track with HRDC/CSCC/HSCC or special events like Goodwood Revival, Members Meeting etc.
