Entered into the Salvadori cup for sports racing cars of a type which raced between 1955 and 1960, the 1957 Ferrari 500 TRC of David Cottingham (DK Engineering) at speed. To celebrate the spring equinox the Goodwood team planted 300 thousand daffodil bulbs hence the splash of color.
Story and photos by Jonathan Sharp
Click on photos to enlarge
Read about the Bugattis at Members Meeting
To the uninitiated it must have seemed strange to call a new race meeting the 72nd Members meeting, held on March 29-30 2014.
This was not technically a new event, but a revival of older and very well established event. Years ago, the members meetings at Goodwood were run for members of the British Automobile Racing club. The first Members Meeting took place on the 18th September 1948. The 71st Members meeting (they were more than annual) was the final race meeting held at the Goodwood Motor Circuit on the 2nd July 1966, just before the circuit’s closure. These meetings attracted many a future top driver as well as the more down to earth club racers and were as popular for the members for the social side as to the racing itself.
Matra and Porsche waiting their turn on the track.
It was very much with this idea in mind that Lord March and his team, which having managed to secure five noise limit-free racing days of which three are used for the Revival meeting in September, decided to re-instate the event for members of the Goodwood Road Racing Club of which happily I am a member.
The 1959 EFAC Stanguelini Fiat of Pat Barford heads the line of entrants for the Threlfall cup for Formula Junior cars of a type which raced between 1958 and 1960.
Complete access
Unlike the much larger Revival Meeting, this event allowed access to all areas for members. No hospitality tents, or VIP enclosures, just members enjoying two full days of racing and demonstration runs, with a chance to also meet up with friends and enjoy catching up after a long winter. Deck chairs at the chicane replaced the normal hospitality units. One could happily sit in a deck chair happily having a baguette, whilst watching Emanuel Pirro charge through the field in his 3.0 Ford Capri.
Tipo 61's to be driven by Marino Franchitti and Josef Otto Rettenmeier, Salvadori Cup.
Twelve Races
There were twelve races, each named after a famous driver who excelled in that class of racing in period; the race for Grand Prix cars of a type which raced from 1954 to 1960 was named the Brabham Trophy, the race for sports racing cars 1955 to 1960, the Salvadori Trophy, etc.
In addition, the spectators were treated to a Group B Rally Sprint around the circuit each day. Demo runs included a group of 1980s Turbo F1 cars, and another favorite, “Low Drag” Le Mans cars which included everything from the 1966 Ford J Car (GT40 MKIV) to a 1989 Porsche 962.
1973 Matra MS670B ex-Graham Hill / Henri Pescarola and the 1971 Porsche 917 were part of the display of low drag Le Man cars.
House Rules
Another unique feature, designed to get the members more involved in the event, was the House points program. This idea harks back to Lord March’s school days. Each spectator plus all the drivers were allocated one of four “Houses”; Aubigny, whose house captain was Nicolas Minassian; Darnley headed by Jochen Mass; Tourbolton was Emanuele Pirro’s, and Methuen whose captain was Anthony Reid. Each driver scored points for their House, depending on their grid position and race placing. Spectators could also earn points for their own House by entering the various events which were held in the infield area. If you did not want to watch all the races, you could earn house points by reversing a Land Rover and Horse Box, throw a Wellington Boot (Welly Wanging), join your House in a tug of war, decorate a cake, mix a Martini or throw darts in the British pub set up in the Shell building.
Matra 670B next to a pair of Silk Cut Jaguar LMs, part of the low drag Le Mans Cars demonstration run.
Another example of low drag Le Mans cars, Flavien Marcais's 1975 Alpine Renault A441. The car next to it is Marc Devis's 1978 Rondeau Cosworth M378. During the demo runs the Rondeau was driven enthusiastically by Emanuel Pirro, the Alpine remained a static exhibit due to a mechanical issue.
Members Party
Saturday evening, once the racing and extracurricular activities had finished, it was time for the party. Billed as the largest party ever held at Goodwood, and again very much in keeping with the social side of the original meetings, it was open to all. Drivers ate and drank with spectators, no top tables just long benches and trestle tables in the great hall especially created in the center of the circuit. It was just like being at Hogwarts School in a Harry Potter story. I had to smile when I saw Sir Stirling and Lady Moss sitting on a bench next to Jochan Mass with other club members as dining companions; I wonder when Sir Stirling last sat at a school bench.
Fireworks at Goodwood's Members Party on Saturday night.
Vintage Fairground
The Goodwood team had also arranged for a Vintage Fairground to attend so visitors could enjoy all the fun of the fair, for free. This gave me an opportunity to watch a Wall of Death Motor Cycle show, something I have been meaning to do for many years. In addition to the Fair one could also enjoy various music tents, roving street entertainers, fire breathing dragons, a remote control horse of the apocalypse, a nun playing a motorized white grand piano whilst circulating around the crowds, and grannies on motorized shopping baskets. At 9.30 it was time for the firework display. I am told the biggest ever held at Goodwood and with £50,000 of fireworks going with a whoosh and a bang probably the most expensive! All this with another day’s racing still to come.
Sunday’s weather again was fantastic as was the racing. Prize giving was in the Great Hall; upon entering the hall each guest was given a hot toddy to drink. Lord March presided and each winner was greeted with hearty cheers and presented with a Pantone Blue and White school type cap, a specially commissioned medal and this being a members meeting, a bottle of beer. Not a normal brew but a large bottle of Goodwood Estate ale, and this being Goodwood, the bottle tops where made of solid Silver by the Jeweller Theo Fennell!
The biggest cheer of the night was given to Mr Goodwood himself Sir Stirling Moss who along with Emanuele Pirro gave a fine and heartfelt speech of thanks to Lord March and his team.
As to the winning House ? Methuen. My House, Aubigny ? Last. Perhaps I should have put down my camera and picked up a wellie and wanged it!
Fourteen more photos below.
917 Porsche Langheck from the ACO museum Le Mans gets ready for a run.
The 917 at speed, an impressive sight and sound!
Ferrari 512 BBLM is an active vintage racer and Le Mans veteran.
There will always be a Ford GT40 at Goodwood.
Furcgoni pane sounds much nicer than Bread Van. The Bizzarrini designed Ferrari 250 of Martin Holusa and driven by Rob Hall leads the pack during the early stages of the Moss Trophy for closed cockpit two seater;s of a type which raced at Goodwood between 1959 and 1962. Following the mandatory driver changed the car finished fifth.
Alfa Romeo GTV6 of Chris Snowden/Rupert Keegan in the Gerry Marshall Trophy for Group 1 Production cars of a type which raced between 1970 and 1982.
Qualifying for the Jack Sears Trophy, production saloons of the type which raced between 1959 and 1963, the Alfa Gulia Ti Super of Robert Barrie.
Jackie Oliver in Rohon Fernando's 1961 Ferrari 250GT SWB/C moves to pass the 1960 Porsche Abarth Carrera GTL of A Furiani and Bill Wykeham.
The Tony Gaze Trophy for production Sports and GT cars of the 1950's. David Cooke goes for a timed lap in Kim Taylor Smith's 1958 Ferrari 250 Tdf.
Lancia 037 of John Saunders during the Group B Rally Sprint on Sunday.
The 1961 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sprint, Jason Wright/I Salvadori.
Richard Frankel tops up his tank in his 1955 Ferrari 750 Monza as he waits for qualifying for the Peter Collin's trophy for sports racing cars of a type which raced between 1948 and 1955 to begin.
250Fs Stephan Rettenmeyer and Wolf Dieter Baumann go wheel to wheel in the Brabham Trophy for Grand Prix Cars of a type which raced between 1954 and 1960.
Driving into the sun, 1954 Maserati 250F of Stephen Rettenmayer heads of at speed into a glorious Goodwood sunset.