Wiltshire’s Castle Combe Circuit will celebrate the half centenary of Castle Combe Circuit Ltd at this year’s Autumn Classic historic racing festival (12-13 September).
The recently unveiled poster for the event depicts the momentous 1976 Super Saloons race, with Gerry Marshall and his formidable ‘Baby Bertha’ Vauxhall Firenza leading Vince Woodman’s Ford Capri at Quarry Corner.
The artwork – once again commissioned to illustrator Brian James – encapsulates the iconic Quarry in its period-correct guise, with the freshly installed Armco barriers a hint to the endless improvements that would be carried out by Strawford and team over the coming five decades.
Although motorsport had been held at Castle Combe since at least 1950, the mid-1970s marked a defining turning point for the circuit.
Increasing safety legislation, rising operational costs and mounting external pressure placed the venue under genuine threat, with the risk of closure becoming very real at a time when several UK circuits were disappearing altogether.
At this point, Castle Combe was hosting just a handful of events each year, limiting its ability to invest, adapt or meet evolving requirements. In 1976, Howard Strawford stepped in to take control and form Castle Combe Circuit Ltd – a decisive intervention that transformed the circuit’s future.
Through a new commercial and operational model, the venue evolved from running a few events each year to hosting over 200 track activities annually, creating the scale needed to survive and invest for the long term.
That year is therefore remembered as a pivotal moment in Castle Combe’s history — the point at which its future was secured and the foundations were laid for its rise to ‘The West Country’s Home of Motorsport’ as we know it today.
Dubbed by many as ‘the saviour of the circuit’, Howard Strawford is well known for transforming Castle Combe into what it is today.
Following the formation of Castle Combe Circuit Ltd, Strawford spent the next 35 years turning Combe from a facility on the brink of closure, with a turnover of £15,000 a year and one part-time employee, into a thriving, multi-million-pound operation; now employing 20 people full-time and over 100 part-time.
Strawford’s legacy lives on through wife Pat, daughters Karen and Emma, son-in-law Graham and grandsons George and Oscar. The family remains a major part of the management team at the Circuit.
Created as a special category in 1974, Super Saloons aimed to accommodate race cars that still (loosely) retained their saloon silhouettes but were far too wild to compete in any of the pre-existing tiers of motorsport.
Super Saloons instantly proved incredibly popular, with countless highly tuned, flame-spitting beasts taking to the grid in the first few years – some with factory support. The series even earned a slot at the 1975 British Grand Prix at Silverstone.
The 1976 Super Saloon race at Castle Combe takes pride of place as the 2026 Autumn Classic poster artwork as it perfectly represents the golden age of British saloon car racing of the era – loud, aggressive, and crowd-pulling. It also signifies a moment when Castle Combe was establishing itself as a serious national venue.
Both Marshall’s Vauxhall Firenza and Woodman’s Ford Capri still exist to this day – please stay tuned for further event announcements to see how they may play a part at this year’s Autumn Classic.
Castle Combe Racing Club – organisers of the Autumn Classic – have recently announced the initial guest race series you can expect to see racing at the 2026 event.
While specific details are still TBC, you can expect white-knuckle competitive motorsport action from the following championships:
About the Autumn Classic
A staple of any Castle Combe Circuit motorsport season, the Autumn Classic historic racing festival brings turns back the clock for two days of non-stop classic car racing action both on and off the 1.85-mile race track.
As well as rounds from various race series on track, the Royal Automobile Club-winning event also boasts a raft of static features in the scenic paddock areas, with attendees firmly encouraged to don their finest period dress to add to the unforgettable atmosphere.
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