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The incredible supercarstar of Ormskirk’sMotorFestI S S u E S I XI S S u E S I X S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 1S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 1

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FERRARI’SEPIC ENZO

Editor david Simister

dESignEr david Simister

www.lifeoncars.blogspot.com

E-mail david.simister@hotmail.co.uk

photogarphy:

david Simister, Champion newspapers, martyn Snape, Champion

newspapers, and aintree Circuit Club .

read Life On Cars each Wednesday in The Champion newspaper, on

the web at www.lifeoncars.blogspot.com and on the radio at

www.champnews.com

© life on Cars 2011

Created by

Motoring news, views andtest drives from Seftonand West Lancashire, aspublished online and everyweek in The Champion

4 Life On Cars

BRM P6261, 1964: among the hundreds of

cars and bikes making an appearance at the

motorFest is this star of the 1960s F1 scene.

Image courtesy of Michael Cooper

5Life On Cars

MotorFest guide7Everything you need to know about the ormskirk motorFest, including

how to get there, what to see when you arrive and why it’s definitely

worth a day out if you’re a car or bike nut

In this issueIn this issue

Ferrari Enzo8Why the italian company’s ultimate supercar is set to be the star of the

show, plus a potted history of its illustrious predecessors

The circuit10your guide to the improvised circuit created out of a town’s one-way

system, and where you’ll be able to see a host of historic cars and

bikes from several decades of motorsport

Racing glory12the Williams FW06 is one of the many entries into the motorFest with a

rich racing pedigree. this is what you can expect to see

F1 in Ormskirk14if you’re a fan of all things Formula one then motorFest has a few

treats in store for you! our guide to the grand prix themed entrants

Biking politics16one of the entrants from a West lancashire motorcycle club is also one

of West lancashire’s councillors, and explains to Life On Cars his

passion for all things petrol powered

Phil Read15the eight times motorcycling world champion is the event’s star guest

300mph motoring17the fastest car at the motorFest isn’t Ferrari’s Enzo. turn to page 17 to

find out what would outrun every other entrant at the event...

The key players18the businesses from across the north west who’ve lent more than a

helping hand to make the motorFest a success

The organisers19aintree Circuit Club are the brains behind the ormskirk event, and

they’ve got a bit of a track record for organising motoring events

6 Life On Cars

David Simister

it'S not an idea that had

even crossed my mind

before; ormskirk's one-

way system as a

motorsport venue.

i have, in my time as a

reporter for The Ormskirk

Champion, done many

"laps" of this unlikeliest of

circuits, being as it is the

string of streets which

link the various bits of the

West lancashire market

town with one another. at

rush hour on a busy Friday

even, it couldn't be

further from the high-

octane world of historic

motorsport.

yet it's been a year

since i had the phone call

from one of the town's

councillors, who rang to

let me know of exciting

plans to close the roads

off and unleash some of

motorsport's most

mouthwatering machines

on them, with the full

blessing of the local

council. plans that

became the first ever

ormskirk motorFest.

Since then i've closely

followed aintree Circuit

Club and the work that's

gone behind the scenes to

put this full-throttle

spectacular together, and

i've been amazed every

step of the way. i've been

impressed by the

organisation that's gone

onto it from both the club

and from West lancashire

Borough Council, and by

the support its had from

businesses based both in

and around West

lancashire. i've been

stunned by the response

it’s had so far from the

north west's petrolheads,

whether they prefer being

on two wheels or four.

most of all, i've been

stunned by some

machinery that's been

promised for the event -

i’ve seen the entry list,

and it reads like an

anthology of motoring’s

greatest hits. there’s

everything from a 1915

Ford model t to the

fearsome 2002 Ferrari

Enzo featured in this

magazine, and just about

every car, bike and racing

machine in between.

So on Sunday, august

28, 2011, sit back and

enjoy the ride. But until

then, sit back and enjoy

the read...

Editor, Life On Cars Pictured: an mg Zr competition car

which will be taking part in the

ormskirk motorfest. Picture courtesy of

Aintree Circuit Club

7Life On Cars

gEttINg INtO gEARFOR thE mOtORFEStEverything you always wanted to know about the northwest’s newest motoring event (but were afraid to ask)

What is the ormskirk

motorFest?it’s a one day event taking place

in the centre of the West

lancashire market town, centred

on Coronation park, which will

see classic cars and bikes lapping

the town’s one-way system in a

series of spectacular parades.

When is the event

taking place?Sunday, august 28, from 11am.

the parade laps in ormskirk will

start at around 2.30pm.

how much is it?the motorFest is free to attend!

What can i expect to

look forward to?there will be more than 200 cars

and motorbikes taking part,

including BSa, norton and honda

motorbikes, and Ferrari, mg,

triumph, Bentley and tVr cars.

along with the main display at

Coronation park, there will be

displays around the town centre.

how do i get there?the easiest way is by train -

although the line from preston to

ormskirk is closed on Sundays,

the merseyrail link between

liverpool and ormskirk will be

running regular services into the

town centre. there’s also free

parking at most of merseyrail’s

stations on the line towards the

town.

What about by car?ormskirk is easily reached by

taking Junction 26 of the m6,

following the m58 until Junction

3, and taking the a570 road

towards ormskirk.

parking in the town centre will be

difficult, so the motorFest’s

organisers have laid on a park and

ride service to link to the event.

Where will i find it?

the park and ride service will run

from Edge hill University, on the

outskirts of ormskirk (l39 4Qp if

you’re using a satnav). it costs £5

per car to park there all day, and

also includes the cost of a

transfer operated by a historic

bus.

Who is behind the

ormskirk motorFest?

the event has been organised by

both West lancashire Borough

Council, the local authority

covering ormskirk, and by aintree

Circuit Club, who have arranged

the attractions at the event and

coordinated the entrants taking

part in the parades and displays.

Can i collect a couple

of autographs?

yes. guests include motorcycle

racing legend phil read, the first

man to be world champion in the

125cc, 250cc and 500cc classes.

there’ll also be a few familiar

faces from the world of racing, so

keep your eyes peeled!

Will the event be

worth going to?

if you’ve even the vaguest

interest in cars, motorbikes or

racing, then definitely! if you

haven’t, the novelty of seeing an

F1 car on ormskirk’s one-way

system should be worth the visit.

Attractions may vary from those

advertised prior to the event.

thE FERRARI ENZO’S QUEStION:DO YA thINK I’m SEXY?

It’s not every day you get the chance to get up close to a 650bhp, 220mph Italian supercar onceowned by rock legend Rod Stewart. Happily, the Ormskirk MotorFest is one of those occasions

8 Life On Cars

thE supercar that's Sailing

straight into the number

one slot at the ormskirk

motorFest is this, one of

the fastest roadgoing

Ferraris ever made.

if you were one of the

Ferrari Enzo's 399 original

owners you were

particularly lucky; not

only were you rich enough

to afford it, but you'd also

been chosen by the italian

company, most likely

because you'd also bought

either its F40 or F50

predecessors. one of the

lucky few was singer and

musician rod Stewart, and

it's his former Enzo that's

made its way to ormskirk.

thanks to its 660bhp,

6.0 litre V12 engine, the

Enzo will shoot to 60mph

in just 3.3 seconds before

racing to a top speed of

220mph, when it will need

all of its F1-inspired

aerodynamics to help

keep it glued to the road.

With its gullwing doors,

dramatic styling, mid-

engine layout and

two-seater cockpit, the

Enzo is a supercar in the

truest Ferrari tradition. if

you've never seen its

stunning shape in the

flesh before, then

ormskirk motorFest could

be a once-in-a-lifetime

opportunity.

thE FERRARI ENZO’S QUEStION:DO YA thINK I’m SEXY?

It’s not every day you get the chance to get up close to a 650bhp, 220mph Italian supercar onceowned by rock legend Rod Stewart. Happily, the Ormskirk MotorFest is one of those occasions

15Life On Cars 9Life On Cars

Ferrari’shypercarhistory

Just a handful produced for group

B racing regulations, and highly

prized by collectors and supercar

speculators alike. Capable of

cracking 189mph thanks to its

twin-turbo V8 engine.

220mph, 0-60mph in 3.3 seconds

and one of the most dramatic

shapes ever to emerge from the

maranello factory. aerodynamics

and technology inspired by

michael Schumacher’s F1 cars.

Effectively a roadgoing version of

alain prost’s 1990 Ferrari F1 car.

powered by a 4.7 V12 engine and

capable of 202mph, the F50 is the

rarer than even the Enzo, with

just 349 examples made.

memorable not only for being the

first road car capable of more

than 200mph but also for having

one of the most iconic supercar

shapes ever. also Ferrari’s most

profitable model ever, with more

than 1,300 examples made.

288 gto, 1984 - 1985

F40, 1987 - 1992

F50, 1995 - 1997

Enzo, 2002 - 2004

mOtORFESt:thE ROUtE

Williams FW06, 1978: raced in 1978 and

1979 by alan Jones and Clay reggazoni, and

recently competed in the historic grand prix

at monaco. See it at the motorFest! Image

courtesy of www.photocollectionitaly.com

Event co-ordinator John

Bailie said: "this is an

exciting motoring variety

show which is really

capturing the imagination.

the sight and sound of the

grand prix cars and other

competition machinery,

lapping around the town

and past ormskirk parish

Church, will be awesome.

"the vast majority of

participants are from

lancashire and

merseyside, which

illustrates the amazing

quality and variety of

Life On Cars14

With a series of streets

closed off to create a

circuit filled with

challenging corners, it's no

suprise the motorFest

circuit is being dubbed

ormskirk's answer to

monaco.

But the grand prix

comparisions don't stop at

the venue itself, because

Formula one fans will get

the chance to get up close

to several ex-F1 cars and

see them take to the

town's streets.

ORmSKIRK OFFERSthE F1 EXPERIENCE

motoring history, right on

ormskirk's doorstep."

among the entrants

with grand prix links are

the Williams FW06, which

took part in the 1978 and

1979 and was one of the

last F1 racers to notch up

racing points before a new

era of "ground effect"

racing teams ushered in

the '80s.

there's also a chance to

check out an iconic F1 car

from an earlier era, in the

form of the curvaceous

Brm p261, best known for

being piloted by the likes

of graham hill and Jackie

Stewart between 1964 and

1969.

if all that's whetted

your appetite, then why

not try out a spot of

grand prix racing for

yourself, with a special F1

simulator that's being

brought along to the

motorfest (pictured)?

the best known

motorsport of all is

definitely well

represented at motorFest.

The Grand Prix connectionsat the Ormskirk MotorFest

Pictured: the F1 car

simulator which will

be one of the main

attractions at the

motorFest.

15Life On Cars

READ All AbOUtRACE lEgEND PhIl

250cc and 500cc classes,

and visitors will be hoping

he can bring some of his

championship-winning

magic to the ormskirk

one-way system, which

will serve as a mini-

monaco style circuit

during the event.

mr read's machine is

one of a large number of

two-wheeled entries into

the event, with other

highlights from the 60

motor cycle entries

including a rare 1967

Seeley sidecar outfit

which won the german

gp, a 1964 iom tt rumble

BSa, a 1949 triumph and

1945 BSa C11, together

with a large variety of

modern racing machinery.

overall the ormskirk

motorfest has attracted

more than 200 entries to

date.

displays during the

motorFest will be set out

on ormskirk's traffic-free

streets and at Coronation

park, with one mile lap

around the town's streets

seeing controlled parades

throughout the day.

Eight times world champion Phil Read will leading a paradeof racing bikes around the Ormskirk MotorFest circuit route

motorBiKE racing legend

phil read will be roaring

into town later this month

as the star guest at

ormskirk motorFest

spectacular.

phil, eight times World

motorcycle Champion, will

be appearing at the

motorfest when it revs up

on august 28, event

organisers aintree Circuit

Club have confirmed this

week.

Event co-ordinator John

Bailie said:“We are

delighted to have the

legendary phil read as our

guest celebrity, and we're

looking forward to seeing

him lapping the town's

one mile street circuit on

his 500cc paton.

“phil was yamaha's first

gp winner and it's

appropriate that he's

appearing at our event

during their 50th

anniversary year.”

nicknamed the prince

of Speed, phil gave

yamaha their first ever

World Championship in

1964 and was the first

man to win World

Championships in 125cc,

Pictured: phil read mBE in action on the

500cc paton racing motorcycle he will ride

along the motorFest parade route.

borough council kept me

informed about what was

being organised for

ormskirk and got me in

touch with the event's

organisers. i think we'll

have about 30 of the

club's bikes there,

including a lot which have

historic local connections,

and few tt and gp racing

bikes,” he said.

“i'm from a big family

of bikers and i've always

been a bit of a

petrolhead, so as someone

who's into their bikes and

their cars this is going to

Life On Cars16

a BiKing councillor will be

going at full throttle when

he takes part in the

motorFest.

Jason grice, a

Conservative borough

councillor for Burscough

West, will be donning his

helmet and leathers for

the ormskirk event as part

a 30-strong contingent of

motorcycles being entered

by the Scarisbrick armada

club.

“When details of the

motorFest came onto the

council's radar last year,

Colin Brady at the

thE bIKINgCOUNCIllOR

be a really exciting event

for ormskirk and for West

lancashire, and i'm really

looking forward to it.”

Cllr grice is a member

of the group, which meets

at the heatons Bridge

pub, in Scarisbrick.

the club stated: “We

will be hosting a static

stall at the event on

Coronation park in which

we hope to show 33

motorcycles ranging from

a 1925 Coventry Eagle

Flying 8 to a 2010 BmW

1000rr. We will also be

hoping to raise money for

the grove Community

Centre's activity Scheme

in Burscough to enable

them to continue to

provide their service for

local families and children

in the area.”

Councillor Grice and

fellow members of the

Scarisbrick Armada club

will be displaying their

motorcycles in Coronation

Park on the day of the

MotorFest, in the club

section, near to Park

Pool.

Pictured: Councillor grice, right, with his Suzuki hayabusa, is joined by fellow members of

Scarisbrick armada at Coronation park. Picture by Martyn Snape, Champion Newspapers

Meet the Burscoughcouncillor who’sswapping politics fora different sort ofpower during theOrmskirk MotorFest

17Life On Cars

lIFE’S NEVER A DRAgWIth thIS AROUND

Bailie said: “We are very

excited that Santa pod are

bringing this awesome

machine to ormskirk. it is

sure to be one of the stars

of our show.

“a top Fuel dragster,

which is it will be used as

a static central display for

the motorFest, which

takes place at venues

across the town with a

main display at

Coronation park.

mr Bailie added: “We

really appreciate Santa

pod bringing the machine

from their base near

Wellingborough,

You thought the Ferrari Enzo would be the fastest car at theshow? This 300mph monster is here to prove you wrong

a drag racing car that

can hit 300mph in less

than a quarter of a mile is

an “awesome” addition to

attractions at ormskirk

motorFest later this

month, the show's

organisers have

announced.

the dragster, which is

almost 30ft in length,

generates around 7,000

horse power from its 8-

litre V8 engine, will be

the star of a static display

in ormskirk's Cornation

park.

aintree Circuit Club's

event coordinator John

northamptonshire.”

more than 200 entries,

with the majority being

owned by residents of

Sefton and West

lancashire, are expected

to take part in the one-

day event, which is a joint

venture between aintree

Circuit Club and the

borough council.

the motorFest starts at

11am on august 28 with

admission free, and

visitors heading to the

event by car are being

offered the chance to

park at Edge hill

University, at a cost of £5

for the day, with a

transfer on a shuttle bus

to the town centre.

Santa Pod's 300mph Top

Fuel Dragster Showcar, for

obvious reasons, won’t be

attempting to rocket

around Ormskirk’s one-

way system during the

parade laps, but it will be

used as a static display in

the town centre during

the whole of the

Motorfest event.

businesses which have

lent their support to the

show, including premier

inn at the morris dancers

in Scarisbrick, the green

room, on moor Street,

martyn meade estate

agents, and aughton

Street-based premier

Wear among others.

they were

congratulated at the

Life On Cars18

tradErS from across

ormskirk have teamed up

with the town's crier to

showcase their support for

a West lancashire

motorsport spectacular

taking place this

weekend.

don Evans, West

lancashire's town crier,

helped businesses

supporting the ormskirk

motorFest to get their

message across to

shoppers at the town's

historic market on august

18, 2011, as part of a

public preview of the

event taking place in the

town centre on the Bank

holiday Sunday.

Speaking at the event,

town crier don Evans told

shoppers:

“on Sunday, august 28,

ormskirk will be home to

the greatest motor

extravaganza ever to be

staged in the area. Cars of

all descriptions, and

motorbikes, will line the

streets of ormskirk.

“you might never again

get the chance to see

these, so don't forget your

cameras, don't forget your

autograph books, and get

yourself down here to

ormskirk this Bank holiday

weekend.”

the town crier, who will

be waving entrants into

the event off as they take

part in a series of parades

on the town's one-way

system, was joined at the

public preview by

representatives of several

ORmSKIRKEXPECtS

event by John Bailie of

aintree Circuit Club, the

organisers of the ormskirk

motorFest, adding that

among the support being

provided was the

accomodation for

motorcycle racing legend

phil read, the event's

guest of honour.

“it will be an amazing

sight to see racing cars

and motorcycles being

driven on a lap of the

town. We have received

tremendous interest in

this unique event from the

whole community in

ormskirk and West

lancashire and are

particularly grateful for

the support and input of

these enterprising and

progressive local

businesses.”

Pictured, from left: Colin Bretherton of martyn meade estate

agents, West lancashire town crier don Evans, motorFest entrant

dave Croft, aintree Circuit Club event coordinator John Bailie,

Jacquie Sells of premier inn, and Beccy lea of the green room.

Picture by David Simister, Champion Newspapers

Businesses fromOrmskirk andfurther afieldare backing theMotorFest

in fact, the aintree

motor racing circuit is

only purpose-built grand

prix circuit in Britain, and

staged the British grand

Aintree Circuit Club, the organisers of the MotorFest, havebeen key players in the region’s motoring scene for decades

iF yoU thought racing in

aintree was all about

horses and the grand

national, then think

again.

prix in 1955, 1957, 1959,

1961 and 1962.

aintree Circuit Club was

founded in 1954, making

it the world’s first track-

based motoring club.

the club, which costs

£15 a year to join, get

actively involved not only

with promoting the

motorsport heritage of the

aintree circuit, but also

get actively involved in

the north west motorsport

scene, and have used

their knowledge and

expertise to organise the

ormskirk motorfest.

all the club's meetings

are free if you become a

club member, take place

at the park hotel,

dunnings Bridge road,

netherton, liverpool l30

6Xn, on the a5036, just a

few minutes from m58 /

m57 / a59 junction and

half a mile from the

aintree circuit.

For more information

about Aintree Circuit Club

vist the organisation's

website at

www.aintree.org.uk or

contact Mike Ashcroft,

the club's chairman on

0151 525 9314.

thE RACINg ClUbbEhIND thE ACtION

Life On Cars 19

Above: members of

aintree Circuit Club

at a motorFest

preview event in

ormskirk. Picture by

David Simister,

Champion

Newspapers

Pictured: a

recreation of Stirling

moss’ British grand

prix win in 1957 at

aintree, using a

Vanwall F1 car from

the donington grand

prix Collection.

Picture by John

Bailie, Aintree Circuit

Club

Life On

For more on what’shappening at the

Ormskirk MotorFestpick up the officialguide for just £1

On sale in Ormskirkat the MotorFest onSunday, August 28

www. l i f eonca r s . b l o g spo t . comwww.o rmsk i r kmoto r fe s t . com