Festival Aintree 2004
11/19/2004  11/21/2004  The Aintree Festival of Motorsport 2004  CCUK Media Ltd, Hanover House, Hanover Street, Liverpool, L1 3DZ      Mike Ashcroft  mja@afms.info
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The reason behind this year’s Festival is to celebrate 50 years since the creation and launch of “The Liverpool Circuit” within Aintree Racecourse. The Festival will be "non-competitive" but will permit cars to be driven at speed on the 3 Mile Grand Prix Circuit for the first time in 20 years - to the day. The circuit was first used in 1954 and last used in Nov 1984 for a Special Stage on The Lombard RAC International Rally and also included a parade of over 200 cars including John Surtees driving a Vanwall. The aim is run this event every year, ultimately to open up the circuit for racing again and therefore support is being provided from Vintage, Historic and Contemporary Racing circles. On the Friday, we will make use of the entire Aintree facility, including the 20,000 capacity stands, hotel standard hospitality and the historic Grand Prix Track. On the Saturday and Sunday the Festival will combine Motorsport and Steeplechasing. On these days track displays and parades will take place before 1pm and share with Steepchasing in the afternoons. During horse racing there will be static displays in the paddock area and trade/hospitality areas. Two gala dinners will celebrate the occasion and help raise funds for local charities Liverpool Habitat for Humanity; Give a Child a Chance and the Echo Sunrise Fund. Having such a high profile, unique event in association with a race meeting will enhance attendance at both events - putting Aintree on the map as a venue for spectacular events throughout the year rather than simply the Grand National meet. Attention is being paid to marketing and PR, obtaining sponsorship and support on a global scale. The creation and development of a strong ‘brand’ identity is being undertaken. In 1954, a journalist from the “Daily Telegraph” wrote: ‘Aintree – a Mecca of motor sport’. Therefore to revisit this fifty years on would be a poignant and momentous retrospective! Sir Stirling Moss OBE and Tony Brooks have kindly agreed to act as our hosts and hospitality track drivers.