While we in the German-speaking world tend to think of a "members' meeting" as a dull sit-down event with moderate entertainment value, in south-east England it is known as one of the best events in historic motorsport. On April 13 and 14, 2024, the 81st Goodwood Members' Meeting once again focused on the essentials: old cars driving fast in circles. Almost no supporting program (apart from an auction and a small fairground), no dress code, no mere 50-second individual time trial called a "hill climb", although the gentle ascent in the asphalt hardly justifies the term "hill".
At the Goodwood Members' Meeting, up to 30 cars - another thing you have to get right - are let loose on the 3.8-kilometer circuit at the same time to sort themselves out as best they can according to their speed in 20 laps. The only condition: all drivers must be members of the Goodwood Road Racing Club - hence the name. Otherwise, anything that goes fast and makes a noise is allowed: from a 120-year-old record-breaking car that consists of little more than a bare ladder frame with a 200 hp engine, to a racing touring car from the seventies that only looks like a well-behaved family limousine on the outside.
One man's sorrow...
Vehicles of the latter type battled it out over 50 minutes in the "Gordon Spice Trophy" on Saturday and again over half the distance in the "Gordon Spice Sprint" on Sunday. Here, the Mini 1275 GT and Rover 3500 clashed - literally. Nick Sleep's little fender nudge against Larry Warr was his own undoing, as Warr's white riot dwarf left the road shortly before Lavant Corner, was forced to take the shortcut across the wet meadow, skidded back onto the track without being able to steer or brake and cleared the nudging Marlboro Rover at the exit of the bend.
The moving 200 hp skeleton competed in the "S. F. Edge Trophy" for pre-1923 vehicles. As a record-breaking car designed more for high speed than rapid acceleration, the Darracq 200 HP with Mark Walker at the wheel initially dropped back to tenth place at the start. Once on the move, however, Walker started a brilliant race to catch up thanks to the superior performance of his vehicle, which ended in second place after five laps - just over two seconds behind the victorious Sunbeam Indianapolis of Julian Majzub, who had started the race from first on the grid.
John Spiers in the McLaren M1B led the field of the "Surtees Trophy" for sports prototypes of the sixties in a similarly dominant manner until a spin two and a half minutes before the end cost him the superior lead and victory. The two Chevron B8 drivers Ben Mitchell and Andrew Kirkaldy, who had already been dueling for several laps, pulled past and continued their battle until the final lap. Kirkaldy crossed the finish line first in his blue Chevron, but was handed a ten-second penalty for a false start, meaning that Mitchell was declared the winner.
Narrow track, close duels
The "Ken Miles Cup", in which 30 1965 Ford Mustangs took to the track for 50 minutes, was a tight race. Gordon Shedden with starting number 166 took a particularly brisk approach to the race, seeking body contact in every duel and soon had the nose of his black coupé flattened. However, the victory was secured by Andrew Jordan for the number 49 Mustang, who had fought his way from eighth position to the front within a few laps after the driver changeover and defended the lead to the finish.
This race also showed the dedication of the organizers, who not only repaired the damaged chicane before the start/finish after an accident involving number 14, but also hung up the fallen flower pots with the daffodils. Of course, the old equipment on the track didn't always keep up with the hard work until the end. Fuel pumps, gearboxes and entire engines capitulated under the constant load. At the Grover-Williams Trophy, the Bugatti with starting number 3 lost its right rear wheel and drive shaft.
However, the most exciting duel - it really was one, as the two duelists had a lead of over ten seconds on the rest of the field after just three laps - was the "Parnell Cup" for formula racing cars from 1935 to 1953. For five laps, William Nuthall in the Cooper T23 tried to oust John Ure in the Cooper T24 from the lead. The strengths of the cars and drivers were wonderfully evident: What Nuthall made up for in acceleration, Ure got back on the brakes - although they were never more than 0.3 seconds apart.
It was not until halfway through the race at the end of the fifth lap that Nuthall was able to pull ahead, but was unable to shake off Ure. The two Cooper drivers crossed the finish line just half a second apart.
Exhibition race with Lauda and Berger
The demo runs of historically significant racing cars were less spectacular in terms of driving, but still highly successful in terms of content. In honor of Niki Lauda, who passed away five years ago, Chris Goodwin drove the Austrian's McLaren MP4/2B around the Goodwood Circuit. Gerhard Berger got behind the wheel of his Ferrari 640 from the 1989 season once again.
It was packed once again when 24 of perhaps the most uncompromising racing cars of all time gathered on the circuit to commemorate the last season of the Canadian-American Challenge Cup - Can-Am for short. Some spectators would have liked to see these monsters pushed to the limit in a race. But even at half throttle, the sight and sound were an experience. Nevertheless, it is understandable that some people found the well-behaved parade run a little boring compared to the rest of the program. But you have to expect that. It's just a general meeting.
