The 800 racing cars and 1000 drivers housed in two separate paddocks a mile apart, competing in 22 races on the new 3.6 mile Grand Prix circuit was just one ingredient in this now world class event should give you some idea of the scale of the Silverstone Classic.

But there's more. A massive car club presence focusing on celebrating 50 Years of the E-type Jaguar saw well over 1000 of the Coventry cats on site, with an estimated 800 taking to the track on Saturday for a special parade.

The weekend’s highlight for me was watching the spectacular Group C cars howling past the funfair at sunset, lights ablaze, while listening to one of my all time favourite bands, 10cc, playing just yards away.

Suzi Quatro, Wishbone Ash and Rolling Stones, Queen and Bob Marley tribute bands formed the “rocking” part of the “rocking and racing” theme, although, as they say, “other types of music” were available including classical performances and the excellent Dublin buskers Harry and Alfie, supported by talented young singer Hannah Rei.

Tasters of drag racing, historic rallying, trials riding, go karting and even lawnmower racing were dotted around, as were steam engines and the motorcycle Wall of Death. Aerobatic displays, a Spitfire and Mustang and the Red Devils Parachute team ensured there was something special going on all the time. A fleet of red London buses and jovial volunteers from Jaguar Heritage driving Jaguars tirelessly ferried folk around the enormous site and out to the new  F1 pit and paddock complex in the boondocks, which is just as well as it is a real hike.

Special racing moments were the two cracking Formula Junior races and the winning of Sunday’s RAC TT by Richard Attwood and Stuart Graham in an Aston Martin DB4 GT. Stuart, who has already won TTs in period on two wheels and four, has now added the historic TT,  making a unique set of victories.

Overall, a great effort - but I can’t help thinking that from a spectator point of view, the new track layout, which omits the cut and thrust chicane and “ballsy” Bridge corner appears somewhat sanitised. Before the tarmac on the old course is dug up, maybe it’s worth considering a “classic” layout?