{"id":33540,"date":"2025-03-24T09:00:02","date_gmt":"2025-03-24T09:00:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.carandclassic.com\/magazine\/?p=33540"},"modified":"2025-03-24T15:11:04","modified_gmt":"2025-03-24T15:11:04","slug":"vscc-pomeroy-trophy-in-search-of-the-ultimate-touring-car","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.carandclassic.com\/magazine\/vscc-pomeroy-trophy-in-search-of-the-ultimate-touring-car\/","title":{"rendered":"VSCC Pomeroy Trophy – In Search of the Ultimate Touring Car"},"content":{"rendered":"

We\u2019ve been lucky enough to attend and participate in numerous historic motorsport events. From 24-hour endurance racing<\/a> with Benjafield\u2019s Racing Club<\/a> to Le Mans Classic<\/a>, the N\u00fcrburgring Oldtimer GP<\/a> and the SF Edge Trophy<\/a> at the Goodwood Members’ Meeting. Suffice it to say, we\u2019ve had a lot of fun, both trackside and behind the wheel.<\/p>\n

\"Rowan<\/p>\n

Among the most unusual and eclectic competitions on the historic racing calendar is the Pomeroy Trophy<\/a>, hosted at Silverstone each February by the Vintage Sports Car Club<\/a>. Unlike most VSCC events, the \u2018Pom\u2019 incorporates cars of all ages and types – so long as they can carry two VSCC standard-sized suitcases<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"Richard<\/p>\n

The event was originally run in 1952, a series of tests devised by VSCC President Laurence Pomeroy Jnr to find the \u2018ultimate touring car\u2019. The Pomeroy tests vehicles on their acceleration, braking and handling, culminating in a forty-minute stint on Silverstone\u2019s Grand Prix circuit where each driver aims to complete their individual target number of laps, calculated using a handicap system. We weren\u2019t driving this year, but that didn\u2019t stop us from getting in on the action, roaming the pit garages and watching the afternoon sessions from the BRDC<\/a> grandstand.<\/p>\n

\"Period<\/p>\n

Richard Hammond and The Smallest Cog<\/a> entered four cars: Anthony Greenhouse drove the suped-up MGB GT first seen in Richard\u2019s final Top Gear appearance, while he himself drove the Ford Escort Mark II RS2000 restored and featured variously on \u2018Richard Hammond\u2019s Workshop\u2019. Izzy Hammond drove a MINI Cooper S, while Lewis Packham drove a BMW M140i.<\/p>\n

\"Richard<\/p>\n

Run by the Vintage Sports Car Club, naturally, there is a large contingent of pre-war cars taking part. In the interest of safety, these older cars take to the track first, although it\u2019s safe to say the gloves are still very much off as soon as the safety car leaves the circuit. Crowd favourites included the \u2018Chain Gang\u2019 Frazer Nashs, which always promise a healthy dose of sideways action. It\u2019s no secret that we love a Cricklewood-era Bentley, so it was a treat to see a brace of W.O.\u2019s finest, including a 3-4 \u00bd \u2018Blower\u2019 driven by Lewis Fox of Kingsbury Racing<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"Kingsbury<\/p>\n

If there were a \u2018People\u2019s Choice\u2019 award, it would certainly go to the very brave driver of the Austin 7 Chummy bringing up the rear. A white Invicta S proved devastatingly quick, while it was a rare honour to see such exotica as an Alfa Romeo RL Targa Florio, a Hispano Suiza H6B Tourer and the black and yellow Bugatti Type 44 helmed by Tim Dutton. Other favourites included a gloriously patinated Allard Type L and a firebreathing Edwardian Monarch GP.<\/p>\n

\"Excitement<\/p>\n

The second and third track sessions prove the most eclectic; the variety on show exemplifies exactly what the Pomeroy is all about. Where else will you see a Ford GT40 wheel-to-wheel with an \u201880s Volkswagen Golf?! This event really is a great leveller; that\u2019s exactly what it\u2019s all about. It doesn\u2019t matter whether your car is worth six figures or just six hundred pounds<\/a>. Excentric choices included a BMW 320D Touring, a \u201890s Jaguar XJ6 and an Alfa Romeo Brera. It’s like Festival of the Unexceptional<\/a> goes racing!<\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

Our car of the day? It simply has to be the Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow driven by Dougal Cawley of Longstone Classic Tyres. The stately Shad took to the track like a duck to water, seemingly unphased by forty minutes of flat-out track time. Spectators were greeted by Dougal\u2019s royal wave as the Rolls sailed past the grandstands on its door handles. It was fabulous to see. At the other end of the spectrum, one couldn\u2019t help but notice Duncan Pittaway\u2019s (exceedingly loud) Plymouth Barracuda, which sadly succumbed to a flat tyre during its afternoon session.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Simon Blakeney-Edwards secured overall victory in a Frazer Nash Super Sports, while another Nash took the Denhsam Trophy in the capable hands of Winston Teague. Mark Daniell\u2019s MGA Twin Cam won the Gordon Spice Cup, Nigel Stroud\u2019s MG J2 picked up the Pom Voiturette Trophy, while Pomeroy Edwardian Trophy was won by the Monarch GP of Leslie Searle. You can view the full results page here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"Hispano<\/p>\n

We can\u2019t speak highly enough of the Pomeroy. It\u2019s as inclusive an event as you could ever wish to find, and the sheer variety of cars on the grid proves enormously entertaining. You\u2019ll need a valid Motorsport UK Race Competition Licence (or non-UK equivalent) to take part. But when it comes to the car, pretty much anything goes. The 2025 regulations can be viewed here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"Rolls-Royce<\/p>\n

The Pomeroy is great for spectators too, as you can freely roam the pit garages and take a seat in the grandstands without the need special passes. While previously free to enter, a modest \u00a35 fee was introduced in 2025, a reflection of the event’s burgeoning popularity. It\u2019s always worth a visit, so whether it\u2019s to be your first \u2018Pom\u2019 or you\u2019ve been coming since 1952, we\u2019ll see you at Silverstone next year.<\/p>\n\n\t\t