The Goodwood Road Racing Club 81st Member’s Meeting

The modern version of the annual Goodwood Member’s Meeting started in 2014 with the 72nd version. Significantly and only for The Member’s Meeting, the age limit for cars racing on the circuit is increased to 1982, in order to permit the Group 1.5 cars of the 1970 to 1982 Group 1.5 British Saloon Car Championship. Initially this was the “Gerry Marshall Trophy (and Sprint)” and is now the “Gordon Spice Trophy (and Sprint)”.

This year saw the 81st running of the event, a two day affair including demonstration laps by various vehicles, among which this year we had a parade of Can Am cars. These big bangers were raced in the Canadian/American Challenge in period by the likes of Denny Hulme, Jackie Oliver, Jackie Stewart, Mark Donoghue, Peter Revson and many more. They are truly ground shaking even when poodling along in a parade!

I attended on the Saturday.

S F Edge Trophy

Whilst the headline race is the Gordon Spice Trophy, there are other races which more readily reflect the “pre 1966” cars of the Revival. Of these the stand out is probably the two S F Edge Trophy races. This race caters for the Edwardian/Vintage racers who are more often seen racing with the Vintage Sports Car Club (VSCC).

This year Julian Majzub was victorious in both races making good for last year where he finished second both times.

Ken Miles Cup

Anyone who likes their Le Mans History will be aware of Carrol Shelby and the development of the GT40 (based on a Lola Design) made famous by the movie Le Mans 1966 (or Ford v Ferrari). Ken Miles was a Brit living in the USA and as part of Shelby’s team he helped to develop the GT40. He is also credited with winning the first race for the Ford Mustang. Hence this year we had the Ken Miles Cup, a race for pre 1966 Ford Mustang “notchbacks”. This was won by the Whitaker/Jordan version.

Because this event is a member’s only affair there is a significantly smaller crowd than at the Revival so it is easier to get around the circuit. Watching the cars sweep through Madgewick and on towards Fordwater in the evening sun is almost magical. On the subject of Fordwater I, along with most others in the Group 1.5 cars, would take this flat out. But when I walked around the track this weekend, I was struck by just how sharp the turn is!

Parnell Cup

I was in need of sustenance when the 1000cc F3 “screamers” took to the track for practice in the Derek Bell Cup so I missed them. I did catch the earlier Formula 1 cars in the Parnell Cup. Pole was set by Will Nuthall in a Cooper Bristol. He went on to win on Sunday.

Graham Hill Trophy

The Graham Hill Trophy brought the pre ’66 GTs and prototypes out to play. Alex buncombe in his AC Cobra set the pole time on Saturday, whilst Miles Griffiths in his TVR Griffith took the win on Sunday.

Grover Williams Trophy

The Grover Williams Trophy for pre war GP Cars was effectively a Bugatti Type 35 affair. Julian Majzub in his Type 35B headed Duncan Pittaway for pole position on Saturday. These two would finish in the same order on Sunday.

Peter Colins Trophy

The Peter Colins Trophy for Sports Cars between 1949 and 1955 brought some gorgeous cars to the track. My particular favourite is the Aston Martin DB3s, not particularly successful in period but for me, a thing of beauty. Richard Wilson set pole in his Maserati 250S. He would go on to win on the Sunday.

Hailwood Trophy and the Sidecar Challenge

Motor Cycling had two opportunities to impress. The double header Hailwood Trophy for bikes that raced up to 1973. This provided a mix of four stroke and two stroke bikes each with their particular advantages and disadvantages. Races 1 and 2 were won by Phil Atkinson on a Yamaha TZ350G. We were also treated to the sight of competition sidecars in a shoot out which was won by Todd Ellis/ Emmanuelle Clement on a Yamaha YZF-R6.

Surtees Trophy

The Surtees Trophy brought out the unlimited sports prototypes from 1960 to 1966. John Spiers grabbed pole in his McLaren-Chevrolet M1B but he was beaten into second in the race buy Ben Mitchel in his Chevron-BMW B8.

Gordon Spice Trophy and Sprint

The Gordon Spice Trophy, a 45 minute, two driver race closed out the day’s proceedings. Practice had been interrupted when the Alex Brundle Rover SD1 lunched its engine exiting St Mary’s thereby sending a couple of unsuspecting cars into the gravel at Lavant. The pairing of Timo Bernhard and Fred Shephard in a Mustang Boss 302 took pole position for the race, but the similar car of Craig Davies and Ashley Sutton beat them into second in the evening encounter. Sunday’s “Sprint” was a fifteen minute race for the owners of the cars. This was set out to be a reverse order grid thus the front row comprised two minis and a Rover. There ensued a coming together on the first lap on the way from St Mary’s to Levant which resulted in a red flag and the removal of the Sleep Rover and the Warr Mini from further proceedings. There are, as ever lots of comments about this race, eligibility of cars, the dangers of reverse grids etc. but you can’t get away from its sheer spectacle.

The Sprint was won by Fred Shepherd, making up for his second place on Saturday.

“Duck herding was one such challenge.“

The racing is competitive, the cars are gorgeous but crucially, there’s definitely a relaxed feel to this event. I spotted Jamie Chadwick standing by the assembly area fencing with a big grin, as the Surtees Cup cars were being wheeled in. There is also involvement because you are part of a “house”, in my case Aubigny, and there are various challenges to occupy you and earn points for your house. Duck herding was one such challenge.

Should you wish to attend tickets for GRRC members are on sale for next year, but there is no set date yet. Visit https://www.goodwood.com/motorsport/ and keep an eye out for updates.

A full library of images taken by me can be found at: https://peter-mallett.smugmug.com/Goodwood-81st-Members-Meeting