The Goodwood Members Meeting finally returned, and we were there for every second

The 18-month wait finally came to an end when the popular club-style meet returned to the legendary English circuit.
If Goodwood Revival is the big show, then Member’s Meeting is the club’s laid-back race, and that’s why we love it! Make no mistake, Revival is a magical step back in time, but this weekend saw some very competitive races in cars that have spanned over 100 years.
As always, there were also some exceptional demonstrations. The Jaguar XJR-15 was celebrated with thirteen of them reunited on the track, including the recently discovered Fangio car on which we’ll be producing a full feature film soon.
Ayrton Senna is a name that runs deep with many of us, and his nephew Bruno Senna celebrated his uncle in style with jaw-dropping laps in the Honda V12-powered McLaren MP4 / 6. Hearing the car roll around the Sussex circuit without any further sound interruptions was a special moment for anyone who could have been there.
Gordon Murray also gave us the first dynamic glimpse of the T.50 at the hands of Dario Franchitti as the car took off around Goodwood at over 10,000 rpm. They also displayed a static version of the runway-focused Niki Lauda model.
The race was intense, on all the races and on the whole grid. The MGs fought for the middle positions of the peloton as the Porsches pushed their way forward. The Pierpoint Cup on Saturday night provided tremendous thrills as Mustangs, Falcons and Galaxies all faced off in hotly contested sunset races.
The Saturday night offered a break from the action as the Duke of Richmond once again invited everyone to stay for a drink and enjoy some great food, music and entertainment, complemented by the bonfire. traditional artifice, which remains one of the best you will find anywhere.
Sunday was a serious race day, and the race did not disappoint! The Gerry Marshall Trophy was clearly crowd-pleaser at the weekend, featuring Group 1 sedans that raced between 1970 and 1982. This meant the Minis were fighting door to door with the Camaros, while the Ford Capris and Rover SD1 make their way. other and a few others to pick up the pieces.
Because the entry grid consisted of 58 cars, this year’s format was split into two rounds divided by their engine displacement. The top 15 in each round would then go on to race in a 30-car final – the final race of the event – as the sun set on a fantastic weekend.
In the end, British Touring Car Championship ace Jake Hill took the win in his Capri, while ROFGO’s Jack Tetley finished second in the Camaro. The race featured many exciting battles, a two-wheeled Volkswagen Scirocco, a slightly curved Camaro that still finished fourth despite two starts, but unfortunately no Nick Swift, who had a rare mechanical issue during his race.
We also have to discuss the SF Edge trophy for cars that raced until 1923. We’ve all seen the incredible Fiat S76 “Beast of Turin”, however, to watch it run in the wet and slide around the corners, all of which. spitting flames, when the car is almost 6 feet tall, it really is a sight to behold. Bare engines with clearly exposed moving parts, those gorgeous worn out Chesterfield style seats, and a seat post that lets you perch on the rear axle make these the most remarkable sight, and these aren’t slow cars!
Once again, the Duke of Richmond and his team demonstrated why they put on the most touching historic motorsport events in the world, and today the dates for the 2022 events have been announced. The members’ meeting will resume on April 9 and 10. The Festival of Speed will take place from June 23 to 26 and the Revival from September 16 to 18. We’ll see you there, but if you can’t join us, then tune in to our live coverage to make sure you don’t miss a thing.
Photos: Huckleberry Mountain for Classic Driver © 2021