The Tony Brooks Trophy grid is almost a perfect reflection of the 1959-60 season. Barry Cannell’s 1959 Cooper Climax T51 leads this pack away at the start.
Story and photos by Jonathan Sharp
The weather forecast for the 74th Goodwood members meeting kept getting worse as the event approached. By Saturday morning, March 19, it was on with the walking boots, two pairs of socks, thick corduroy trousers, a vest, thick country style shirt, a tie (there is a dress code you know) tweed jacket and a very worn old wax jacket and off to Goodwood where at least the racing would be hot even if the weather was going to be cold.
It turned out that on a few occasions over the weekend the racing was rather too hot for comfort. The first race of the Sunday program was for 1960s single seaters. The ex-Innes Ireland Lotus of Steven Bond was hit in the side by another car. The Lotus then hit the tire wall which turned the car on its side. It then proceeded to tumble end-over-end before plunging head long into the pedestrian foot tunnel under the track.
One wheel had departed the chassis and was headed straight towards the disabled viewing area which is by the side of the tunnel. Amazingly, no one was in the tunnel and the wheel missed the people viewing in the disabled area. When we left the Lotus was still bolt upright in the tunnel covered by a tarpaulin. Later in the afternoon a Lola T70 crashed into the tire wall at the end of the Lavant straight. Whilst I did not see either crash the resultant damage to the tire wall following the Lola crash was extensive and took over an hour to clear. As it says on the ticket Motor Racing can be dangerous.
This year’s invitation came in the form of a chassis number id tag.
This year there were 12 races, 3 high speed demonstrations and courtesy of an expensive watch brand, Mika Häkkinen and Jochen Mass drove a pair of W196 Mercedes, one open wheeled and the other a streamliner. This brought forth a comment from one of the old hands in the paddock that perhaps to make the demo even more realistic maybe his Lordship could put out some oil drums so that Jochen Mass could then hit them just like Fangio did in 1954. (Even for Fangio it was hard to see the wheels with the streamliner).
One of the most popular races as far as the spectators are concerned has to be the two-part Gerry Marshall Trophy for Group 1 production saloons of a type that raced in the 1970s and early 1980s. Rover SDis against 3 liter Ford Capris with Chevy Camaros, Triumph Dolomites, BMW 530, Golf GTi, Mazda RX7s and one lone Alfa GTV6 all of which were challenged by the crowds favorite, Nick Swift’s giant-killing 1275GT Mini.
Mika Häkkinen leads Jochen Mass out of the assembly area and onto the track at the start of the Silver Arrows demo on Saturday.
The fastest race had to be Sunday’s Bruce McLaren Trophy for Can Am and Group 7 prototypes of a type which raced up to 1966. I am told that some of the Lola T70s where reaching speeds of around 175 mph on the Lavant straight. To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Ford GT40s Le Mans win in 1966 the Alan Mann trophy was run into darkness on the Saturday night. Twenty seven (how many were built?) GT40s went on with all lights ablaze and brake discs glowing.
To round off the first day of the event, everybody, whether they be a driver, mechanic or spectator is invited to the Saturday evening party where one could enjoy several live music venues, a vintage Wall of Death Motor Bike act, various street entertainers which included the Nun on the motorized piano that my pal finds so funny, and various street food type outlets.
Sundays racing included a brace of events for various types of Grand Prix and touring cars. Drum braked sports cars, F3 1 liter screamers, 250 and 350cc two stroke motor bikes and the SF Edge Trophy for Edwardian specials. As one of the high speed demos held each day was for ground effect F1 cars, you could subtitle the members meeting as being from chain driver to ground effect.
The Goodwood Member’s meeting is a a superb event which is not crowded as entry is restricted, and nearly all areas are open to all.
“I have no idea what you are saying.” Jochen would seem to be trying to spook Mika.
Mercedes Benz lockup at night. The ultimate “What’s in your Garage” story. The pit garage also contained the W25 from the 1930s.
Two Alfa RLTFs in the paddock.
And one on the track but the program was unclear as to car and driver.
Martin Chisholm’s 5.0 Liter 1912 Bugatti T16.
Bugatti T16 out on the track. Don’t follow this one too closely.
Parked in a line of cars in the assembly area which included a Ferrari 246 and a Lancia D50 was this 1959 Cooper Maserati T51 in the colors of Scuderia Centro Sud. Entered by John Saunders and driven by William Nuthall.
The first race on the Sunday morning was the Brooks Trophy for 2.5 liter front and rear engined Grand Prix cars of a type which raced between 1954 and 1960 contained a good cross section of familiar types, and some not so familiar like Tim Bailey’s 1959 JBW Maserati shown here.
Another unusual entrant in the Brooks Trophy was the 1960 Ferguson Climax Project 99 four wheel drive Grand Prix car entered by Stuart Rolt and driven by Nick Adams. Interesting but the engine was in the wrong place and the wrong time.
Marc Valvekens looks a little cramped in his 1952 Gordini Type 16 as entered in the Parnell Cup.
The Parnell cup, a race for Grand Prix, Formula 2 and Voiturette cars of a type which raced up to 1953 had an eclectic mix of entrants. Not the fastest but great to see nevertheless was Federico Buratti’s Ferrari 125/166.
Night shot of the Ferrari 125 in the paddock.
The changing of the guard; Gregor Fisken in the Steve Tillack entered front-engined 1959 Ferrari Dino 246 dices with the rear engined 1960 Lotus Climax 18 of John Chisholm.
Fresh from Retromobile, Steve Tillack in his Lancia D50 moves to pass Marc Valvekens’ 1959 Aston Martin DBR4.
We go back in time now.The race organizers at Goodwood always try to bring the crowd something new. This year it was the SF Edge Trophy, a race for Edwardian Racing Specials, many of which were powered by aero engines. Richard Scaldwell employs a traditional method to start his 130HP 1909 Lorraine De Dietrich.
1909 Lorraine De Dietrich on the move.
Darracq warms up with TV presenter Nicki Sheilds. I have photographed Mark Walker’s 1905 200HP Darracq at Prescott but never at the Goodwood circuit.
The Darracq on the track.
Entered by Martin Chisholm and driven to a fine second place by Mathias Sielecki this world land speed record breaking 10.6 litre Delage V12 dates from 1924.
Here’s the story on this monster: In 1905 following a change in the rules governing the Land Speed Record Fiat abandoned work on the 200HP Modello LSR Project. Then 25 years ago the blue prints were discovered buried in the FIAT archives. The chassis still existed but the two 100 hp 4 cylinder engines did not. Mike Vardy decided to modify the design around a 16.5 liter 250hp six cylinder Isotta Fraschini Air Ship engine that had once belonged to World Water Speed record holder Gar Woods. Twenty five thousand hours later the car bust back into life on the 5th December 2012. In a race which contained more than its fair share of large cars this was probably the largest, certainly if measured in length.
We really do have to talk to that driver and find out what it’s like to drive this thing.
Paul-Emile Bessade gets ready to qualify his 1904 Gladiator. Car beside the Gladiator is Edward Way’s 1911 Austin Hall Scott.
Gladiator at speed.
Paul Scaldwell’s 5 liter JAP V8 powered 1908 GN cycle car. A car which he designed and built for his wife Annie to drive!
Monarch Entered by Duncan Pittaway and driven by Ben Collins the Monarch Special is a replica of the Monarch that won the 1916 Pikes Peak, built by Mark Walker.
Not all of the SF Edge Trophy entrants were monster aero-engined specials as can be seen in the form of Simon Diffey’s 1922 Bugatti T13.
Gareth Graham looks rather noble perched up high on Ben Collin’s 1903 60 hp Mercedes Benz.
Neil Dyer’s Mors leads the pack out of the assembly area at the start of the SF Edge Trophy.
Neil at speed with the Mors.
Andrew Howe Davies in his 1911 Scat Type C Targa Florio Racer moves to pass John Polson in his 1917 Hudson Super Six.
Get rid of those bloody full faced helmets with pre-1930 car drivers.
John Polson in Hugh Mackintosh’s Hudson Super Six racer was passing Andrew Howe-Davies in the SCAT. Have a look at their relative lap times!
Now now Ian , do i detect a little jealously ,
if i remember correc ly i was just lapping him again!!