Sun, Speed and Spectacle at Cadwell Park

Press release

Fierce racing, family triumphs, and historic cars came together under the blazing sun at the VSCC’s Cadwell Park Race Meeting.

Cadwell Park once again lived up to its reputation as a favourite in the Vintage Sports-Car Club calendar, delivering a glorious day of racing and camaraderie. With soaring temperatures peaking around 28°C, the action on track was matched only by the heat in the air. The morning’s practice sessions warmed up slowly, both in pace and climate, ahead of a moving minute’s noise during the lunch break in celebration of the life of much-missed Club member Julian Grimwade.

“The atmosphere at Cadwell was something truly special,” said Andrew Tarring, Competition Secretary and Secretary of the Meeting. “From touching tributes to family victories and nail-biting finishes, it was a day that captured the very essence of what makes our events so unique.”

Vintage motorsport may celebrate the past, but at Cadwell it was very much alive in the present – with thrilling, competitive racing and a focus on legacy. The Mary Harris Trophy Race opened the afternoon with a fiercely contested MG grid that had spectators gripped. A thrilling battle between the Painter brothers saw James in the MG Kayne clinch victory just 1.88 seconds ahead of Harry in an MG PA, with Steve McEvoy in an MG NA completing the Triple-M podium. The Painter family were back again for the Len Thompson Memorial Trophy, with father Mike Painter taking third in behind the wheel of the MG Kayne. It was Dougal Cawley, in the ever-energetic GN/Ford ‘Piglet’, who took the top step and the trophy, proudly awarded by Len’s family.

Among the many highlights was the Frazer Nash celebration, where Paul Watts-Farmer, great-grandson of Archie Frazer-Nash, joined the Club to present podiums for two electrifying races: the Bolzano Trophy and Joé Frazer-Nash Trophy. The former saw Jack Bond and Archie Bullett, both in Super Sports, take 1st and 2nd, with

Louis McNair’s GN Katipo in third. The latter saw Patrick Blakeney-Edwards dominate in a Shelsley, ahead of Dougal Cawley and Jeremy Flann.

In the Spero & Voiturette Trophies Race, it was Christian Pedersen who once again proved unstoppable in his bright yellow Austin 7 Special. Archie Waterfield, racing in the family Austin 7, climbed the podium and earned the 'Spirit of the Race' award – a proud moment for one of the Club’s young members, taking recognition not just for speed, but sportsmanship!

Two standout victories came from Sue Darbyshire, who expertly handled her Morgan Three-Wheeler to win the ODM grid, and Sian Slater, who blew the handicappers away to take the Handicap Race win in her Riley IMP by more than 20 seconds – a brilliant double for women in motorsport.

The day came to a roaring close with the Vintage Seaman Trophy and Allcomers Pre-War Scratch Race, where David Morris in ERA R11B stormed to victory, finishing nearly 30 seconds ahead of Tom Hardman in ERA AJM 1 and James Baxter in GP 2. The grid may have been smaller than others, but the racing spirit was mighty.

From family rivalries to new talent and vintage legends, Cadwell Park had it all – and the VSCC are excited to have one more Race Meeting on the calendar this season – Mallory Park, Saturday 30 August! Join us at our next meeting and experience the thrill, tradition, and community of vintage motorsport.

Published:

Wednesday June 25th, 2025

Sun, Speed and Spectacle at Cadwell Park

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