CASTLE Combe circuit’s annual Autumn Classic on Saturday drew huge crowds, who witnessed one of the most valuable cars ever raced there being badly damaged in a bizarre accident.

Among the close-to-priceless cars which had the packed spectator banks spell-bound, one of the most revered came to an embarrassing end in the packed race for 1950’s sports cars.

The Aston Martin DBR1, a former works car which was driven by Stirling Moss and finished second at Le Mans in 1959, suffered serious front and rear end damage when it was caught in a multi-car incident at Quarry Corner on lap 10.

The other two cars involved, an Austin Healey and a Jaguar, were also extensively damaged.

The Aston, reputedly worth around £20m and featured in a BBC2 programme on famous Aston Martins the following evening, is owned by venture capitalist, Adrian Beecroft.

Beecroft once stated he would give away his £100m+ fortune and through his venture capital company is a major shareholder in Wonga, the pay day lender.

Following the incident, the 30-minute race was brought to a premature end on lap 12, the Aston ignominiously returned to the paddock on the back of a recovery truck.

In the same race, Gloucester’s Mike Freeman was second in class in his Lotus Elite and Warminster’s Peter Campbell third in his unusual Wingfield Bristol Special. Tim and Robin Pearce from Bristol were 14th overall in their Bristol-engined AC Ace.

If there was ever any doubt Castle Combe’s Autumn Classic is one of the UK’s most important events for historic motorsport, this year’s third running, truly dispelled those feelings.

Whilst some of the grids were not quite as well supported as previous years, the quality of cars in action and on display was of the highest order, with rarity almost commonplace and gasps of astonishment around every corner.

Chippenham's Jonathan Loader was an invitee to the Jon Gross Memorial race and took his Elva Courier to a close third overall in his unusual MGB-engined car, entered by his Loaded Gunn racing team.

Proclaimed to be the best day in the history of the Austin Healey club by its competition secretary, Joe Cox, the pair of races celebrating 25 years of International Healey Racing were crackers.

Bristol drivers featured as strongly as ever, but it was last year’s winner, David Grace, from Northants’ who claimed victory in both encounters.

But it was Marc Campfield in his Healey 3000 who delighted the crowds and dismayed his fellow opponents.

Hurling his powerful car around in a style which defied rational belief, Campfield was penalised by officials during qualifying after driving across the infield grass to overtake his competitors.

Following both races, his antics were much criticised by his rivals, but his ability to drift his car sideways into corners such as Quarry, enthralled the crowd.

However his race two lead was thrown away when his grass cutting antics got the better of him, Campfield spinning away victory to the benefit of Grace.

Brothers Oliver and Jack Chatham, son of Healey legend, John Chatham, celebrating 50 years in business, shared their 3000, Jack spinning down to fifth in race one, with Oliver taking second in the final race.

Other local drivers took top placings. Westbury on Trym’s Chris Clarkson drove to fifth after owner Dave Smithies from Flax Bourton crashed at Tower in race one, whilst fellow Bristolians Steve Bicknell and Mike Thorne were sixth and seventh respectively, Thorne winning his class in his Healey 100M.

The Terry Sanger Trophy Race for pre-1966 Touring Cars, in memory of the racing legend and engineer who lived at Westwood, Bradford on Avon, saw Clarkson take a Ford Falcon, which Sanger raced in period, to a fine second, whilst Chris Sanders from Bleadon, near Weston Super Mare, drove a strong race to third in his Lotus Cortina.

Versatile veteran Ted Williams, from Nailsea, had one of his more unusual outings in the BAC race for 500cc Formula Three cars taking his Cooper MkIX to fifth overall.

The Vintage Sports Car Club’s race for sports cars which pre-dated even the 65-year Combe history, featured some rare and fascinating machinery, with Bristol’s Simon Blakeney-Edwards taking fourth in class in his Frazer Nash Super Sports.

Among the most entertaining of the many historic cars on show was the ‘Whistling Billy’ steam powered racing car from 1905, which Dr Robert Dyke, its owner, has developed into a novelty act like no other.

Tributes to Ivor Bueb, a Le Mans 24-hour race winner from 1955 who developed his skills at the Wiltshire track, was another highlight, as was the BRM display, which saw the reappearance of the famous V16 Grand Prix car, 60 years after its last race at Combe.