THE need for speed will be well and truly satisfied at a North-East racing venue when it hosts a festival of historic motorsport.

Croft Circuit, near Darlington, hosts the Croft Nostalgia Weekend on Saturday and Sunday, August 7 and 8.

The event will include 16 races for nine of the UK’s top historic motor racing categories run by the Historic Sports Car Club (HSCC) and ranging from saloon, sports, GT to single-seater cars.

Fans will be able to see everything from 500cc Formula 3 cars – among the first raced in Britain following the Second World War – right up to 150mph sports cars and Formula 5000 single-seaters from the Seventies.

There will also be plenty happening off-track with military, classic car, air and other retro displays and a forties fashion show.

In all, more than 200 vehicles will be present.

Maurice Jennings, one of the organisers, said: “This is not just an event for petrol heads, we want all the family to come along and have a great day.

“Along with the track races, which should be great fun, we’re having a Forties fashion show and a tribute band.

“It’s difficult to pick a motoring star of the show, there are nine different categories here and each probably has a stand-out. I’m sure everyone who comes will find their own favourite vehicle.

“We have some really beautiful cars, some of them date back to the Thirties. It is a treat just to be near them.

They are steeped in history.”

The Durham Tees Valley Military Vehicle Trust will attend the event.

Events co-ordinator Mike Scorer said: “We will be displaying some fantastic vehicles – Second World War jeeps, wagons and trucks. We will also have an Isaac’s Fury 18- tonne Chaffee tank.

“We will all have our full military kit on and if anyone has any questions, all they have to do is ask. It will be like a living history festival and we hope children and adults alike will learn a thing or two.”

Festival organisers hope it will become a regular event.

Croft circuit manager Tracey Morley said: “This type of event is huge all over the country, but this is the first of its kind in the North-East.

“We want this to get bigger and bigger. If you look at venues such as Goodwood, they have hundreds of thousands of people turning up across a weekend – people love this kind of thing.

“We want everyone to get involved by dressing in their favourite vintage outfit.

“They can come as Teddy Boys, GIs, spivs, mods or rockers, miniskirts, flares, Glamrock – all are welcome.”

Croft Nostalgia Weekend

● Tickets for the event can be booked in advance by visiting croftcircuit.co.uk.

● Day tickets cost £10 for adults and entrance for under-15s is free.

● Tickets can also be purchased at the gate. Saturday’s gate price is £12, Sunday’s is £15.

● Gates open at 9am on Saturday and 8.30am on Sunday.

There will be air displays between 11am and noon on Saturday and 12.40pm and 1.40pm on Sunday (weather permitting).

● For a small donation to the Armed Forces charity, Help for Heroes, people can take a trip around the circuit on a double-decker bus. This will only be available on Sunday.