Story and photos by Jonathan Sharp
This week we present forty photos of drivers, GT cars and Le Mans Prototypes at the Goodwood Members’ Meeting. But I also must tell you that my ‘House’ won at Goodwood! Perhaps I had best explain.
Unlike any other historic car racing event that I am aware of, at the Goodwood members meeting it is not just the drivers who win. Firstly, to attend the event you need to be a member (hence Goodwood Members’ Meeting) of either the Goodwood Road Racing Club (GRRC), or the recently formed GRRC Fellowship (you can join for £39 a year).
Like the students in the Harry Potter series, each ticket holder, and driver, is assigned to one of four Houses. (No Sorting Hat though!) While the Potter houses are famously Gryffindor, Slytherin, Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff, each one a name of a founder of the school of Hogwarts, at Goodwood the four Houses are take their names from rather obscure titles belonging to the Duke of Richmond, and each led by a race driver; Aubiney, team captain Nicolas Minassian, Darnley, team captain Jochen Mass, Tourbolton, team captain Emanuele Pirro, and Methuen, team captain Anthony Read.
The drivers win points for their House by racing, and the spectators can earn points for their House by taking part in the extracurricular activities that take place in and around the circuit. You can choose to play croquet, enter the tug of war, play darts and other pub games in the Goodwood Social club, or even Ferret racing, assuming that is, that you can drag yourself way from the fantastic racing.
On Saturday evening a huge party, open to all, takes place on the infield of the track, and on Sunday evening the prize giving takes place in the great hall that I like to call it “Hogwarts” where very strong Bull Shots (Google them for the recipe) are served to all. So which House won? Aubiney, of course!
In the meantime, the editor reminded me not to forget about taking photos. We covered the pre 1953 Grand Prix cars last week, and here are forty more selected photos from this year’s Members’ Meeting.
Story and Photos by Jonathan Sharp
Drivers
Bruno Senna
The shot of David Coultard and Steve Boltbee Brooks was taken just prior to the launch of the IWC Racing Teams Gull Wing which David drove to victory in the Tony Gaze trophy for Road going Sports and GT cars of a type that raced between 1954 and 1959. IWC are also sponsoring the Silver Spitfire which later in the year will depart from Goodwood and fly around the world.
Karun Chandhok and Bruno Senna discuss the finer points of the new McLaren Senna GTR
David-Coultard in the IWC-3 Mercedes Gullwing.
Derek had to be there, he drove the ex Siffert 917/10 during the 917 parade on Saturday.
Mark Webber drove the Porsche 917/30 Sunoco car on Saturday.
Bentley Belle Katarina Kyvalova
GT Cars
AC Ace of Mark Aldridge
Neill Winterbourne’s 1956 AC Aceca in the Tony Gaze Trophy for road going sports and GT cars of a type which raced between 1954 and 1959.
Entered by Malcolm Young this 1963 AC Cobra was driven by Nicholas Minassian and Anthony Reid in the Graham Hill Trophy for closed cockpit GT and Prototypes in the spirit of the RAC TT races 1960 to 1966.
Alexander Van de Lof, 1965 Bizzarini 5300GT.
Bugatti at night.
A gaggle of closed cockpit GT cars exit the chicane during the Graham Hill Trophy.
An unusual entrant in the Tony Gaze trophy was John Abel’s 1959 Daimler SP250 driven by Murray Shepherd.
This 1958 Ferrari 250 GT was entered and driven by Kim Taylor Smith in the Tony Gaze Trophy.
James Cottingham/Nicky Pastorelli in Piet Roelof’s Ferrari 250 GTO/64 chases the 1964 Sunbeam Lister Tiger entered by Tony Eckford and driven by Chris Beighton/Nigel Greensall out of the chicane.
Another mouth-watering entrant in the Graham Hill Trophy was the Vincent Gaye/Neil Twyman 1966 Ferrari 275 GTB/C.
Battlebird, a 1957 Ford Thunderbird special driven by Bill Shepherd, Peter Collins Trophy.
Steve Brooks and Ben Mitchell shared this 1965 ISO A3/C in the Graham Hill Trophy for closed cockpit GT cars and prototypes in the spirit of the RAC TT 1960-66.
Richard Meins 1961 Jaguar E Type CUT 7, which he shared with Andrew Bentley, brakes for the chicane.
Read Gomm/Andrew Keith Lucas shared this great looking 1963 Jaguar E Type light weight in the Graham Hill Trophy.
Josef Otto Rettenmaier’s 1957 Maserati 450S is one of the first to arrive in the assembly area prior to the start of the Peter Collins Trophy.
Maserati A6GCS, Carlos Seilecki.
Mark Daniell in his 1958 MGA Twin Cam Le Mans pursues Mark Ellis in his MGA Twin cam of the same vintage during the Tony Gaze Trophy.
Penske Zerex Special
David Coultard, the winner of the Tony Gaze Trophy is seen here powering out of the chicane in the IWC racing Team 1955 Mercedes 300SL Gullwing.
Thomas Pead in his ex Jim Clark 1957 Porsche 356 catches Kim Taylor Smith’s 1958 Ferrari 250GT at the exit of the chicane during the Tony Gaze Trophy.
The smokey 1965 Porsche 904 GTS of David Clark/Phillip Kadoorie chases the Vincent Gaye/Neill Twyman 1966 Ferrari 275 GTB/C.
The John Spiers/Tiff Needell 1965 TVR Griffiths locks up before entering the chicane.
Le Mans Prototypes
Florent Moulin’s Alpine 450b during Sunday’s Le Mans prototype demonstration.
A pair of 2003 Bentley Speed 8s. Mr Le Mans Tom Kristensen drove Car 7 as part of the high speed demo.
BMW M1 Procar, ex Regazzoni.
Part of the Le Mans prototype demonstration line up for closer inspection by the spectators.
Nicolas Minassian crosses the finishing line in Kriton Lendoudis’ 2012 Peugeot 908 HDi/FAP during the Saturday night Le Mans prototype demonstration.
Porsche 917/30 awaits the arrival of Mark Webber.
The Sunoco 917 on Sunday, this time driven by Andrew Frankel.
The open door tells you, Porsche 917K from the Porsche Museum and enjoyed on the high speed demos by Top Gear’s Chris Harris and Neel Jani.
917s at night.
Lovely images!
Penske Zerex Special last race was on Puerto Rico Grand Prix 1962. SCCA/FÍA Outlaw the car. Was a F1 Copper and a custom body. Have the spare tire and the second seat (small mechanic). For next race on Bahamas they outlaw the car. Was fast and beautiful and on PR was red and use 6#. The car on the photo don’t have the space for the passenger. Look similar. Is a beautiful. I just Email to Penske the photo. I was there. Thanks. Jaime I