There will be a distinct Land Speed Record flavour to the inaugural Concours des Légendes, which takes place in Wiltshire in June. The reigning and preceding Land Speed Record holders will be among the star guests at Wilton Concours des Légendes, when the inaugural event takes a distinct record-breaking theme on 19-21 June. Both Andy Green OBE, who broke the sound barrier in setting the current best of 760.343mph at Black Rock in ThrustSSC in 1997, and Richard Noble OBE, who set the previous benchmark of 634.051mph in Thrust 2 some 14 years earlier, will be at the event and interviewed on one of its key stages.
Continuing the LSR theme, they will be joined on site at spectacular Wilton House near Salisbury by members of both the Segrave and Campbell families. Sir Henry Segrave upped the ante on three different occasions during the 1920s, was the first to top 200mph, and will be represented by descendant Stephen Segrave. The Campbells, via Malcolm and Donald, dominated record-breaking for decades, and Don Wales, grandson of Malcolm and nephew of Donald, is a multiple speed record-breaker in his own right, including with ride-on lawnmowers!
There will be other record-breakers at the Concours des Légendes, too. Allen Millyard, famed for his custom bikes and a regular on TV, set a world record with co-host Henry Cole for riding tandem at 183.50mph on his road-legal 8.0-litre Viper V10. Cole himself will also be at Wilton. Although best-known as a television presenter on motorcycle shows plus others such as Shed and Buried, Junk & Disorderly and Find it, Flog it, Fix it, he has a speed title of his own, having set a land speed record of 99.78mph for a pre-1955 750cc motorcycle on a Brough Superior at Bonneville in 2013.
The speed kings add to a fast-growing roster of legends from the motoring world and beyond who will be taking part in this unique concours, which is all about bringing history to life – car stories, people stories and much more will be spread across the grounds of this idyllic stately home. Another television star at the event will be the great Wayne Carini of Chasing Classic Cars fame, while chef and classic car collector James Martin is expected, along with Pink Floyd drummer and collector Nick Mason, famed car designers Wayne Burgess, Kevin Rice, Frank Stephenson and Peter Stevens, pioneering solo motorcyclist Elspeth Beard and fellow adventurer Ben Coombs (whose crazy escapades have been covered in Octane), Lamborghini test-driving guru Valentino Balboni, F1 engineering legend Ross Brawn, Brit hero racers Derek Bell and Richard Attwood, and many more.
If you enjoyed the story of the TV restoration of Reverand Adam Gompertz’s Rover P4 in issue 276 of Octane, the Rev and Wilbur will be at Wilton. Wilbur is a fine example of the calibre of car stories that the event will also tell. Others already signed up include a stolen-and-recovered Ferrari Daytona with a murky underworld past, star exhibits from the British Motor Museum, cars from Nick Mason’s Ten Tenths collection, plus a famous rock star’s Lamborghini Miura and Lancia Aurelia, and an extremely ‘storied’ Porsche 917. You can expect a few special record-breaking machines, too, though they are currently under wraps.
As well as the three main interview stages – for legends (two-legged as well as two- and four-wheeled), group discussions, plus Hagerty Owners’ Stories for invited enthusiasts with interesting cars – there will be a special literary stage and bookshop with regular star author signing sessions, an art pavilion featuring the work of everyone from Jonny Ambrose to former McLaren designer Paul Howse and Swedish ex-F1 star Stefan Johansson, live music, craft and skills displays from Wiltshire College, retail village, catering, Nyetimber bar, car displays from the likes of Morgan and Lamborghini, cars for sale and much more.
Visitors will also be able to access parts of Wilton House to experience some of the art that constitutes one of the finest private collections in the world. The house’s cloisters will also provide a stunning backdrop for what is promised to be one of the greatest ever displays of racing legends’ helmets, curated by Joe Twyman, author of The Art of Racing.
In the estate’s old riding school, people will be able to see Lord Pembroke’s own car collection (Octane, issue 274), which includes everything from an Invicta S Type Low Chassis to his competition-spec Ford Mustang. Auction house Dore & Rees will be holding three sales during the event, for cars, automobilia, and jewellery and watches. Their experts include classic car fan Marc Allum and founder Lee Young, both Antiques Roadshow TV regulars.
One of the expected highlights will be a Supercar Drive-In on Sunday 21 June. Lord Pembroke, a former Bugatti Veyron owner, is well-known for his love of supercars and already hosts the bustling Wilton Wake Up breakfast meets that attract hundreds of fabulous examples. For Concours des Légendes, a selection of the very best of them will be driving in from Winchester, parading and parking up in a special zone on the showfield.
