The 5th Goodwood Revival was not only another outstanding success for Lord March and the Goodwood team, but it brought to the podium some significant names from racing history, as well as continuing to attract a huge crowd resplendent in period dress. Fashion aside, the racing was extremely competitive right from the first event on Saturday – the Goodwood Trophy for Grand Prix, F2 and Libre cars from 1948 to 1954 – was won in fine style by Barrie “Whizzo” Williams, who drove in no less than five races over the weekend – thrilling the crowd with his “sideways-only” style. Williams won the Goodwood Trophy race driving a Connaught A-Type.
In addition to the cars and the aerial displays, there were also two closely fought and emotional vintage motorcycle races which saw former World Champion Barry Sheene claim a very popular victory. Sheene had not been expected to race following his recent diagnosis of cancer but he was on good racing form and determined to show he was fit.
Saturday ended with a 90-minute twilight tribute to the Goodwood Nine-Hour Sports Car Races of the past – this time for the Freddie March Trophy – which fell to the steadily driven Aston-Martin DB3S of VRJ subscriber Frank Sytner. The cars were required to make a fuel stop which took place in the paddock to avoid the disastrous Aston Martin fire which burned down the pits in the late 1950s! Historical re-enactments can only be taken so far! Other notable participants in the twilight race included Sir Stirling Moss driving a C-Type to 5th place, while fastest lap went to the Cooper Jag driven by Desire Wilson.
This year’s Formula Junior battle featured rear-engine cars and was eventually won by Martin Walford, whereas the Fordwater Trophy for production-based sports and GT machines saw a Morgan claim victory, though a stunning drive was put in by Jon Gross in an Aston Martin DB2/4Mk III. Other notables in the GT thrash were former rally star Rauno Altonen who drove his MGA Twin Cam through the field to 8th, while the unfortunate Charles Fripp rolled his Jaguar XK150S.
After some serious clashes in the race for 1954-’61 F1 cars, the RAC TT One-Hour race saw a wonderful win by the exuberant Patrick Tambay and the ever-sliding Henri Pescarolo. Alex Gurney (son of Dan) and Dirk Layer came over from the USA with Jack Croul’s Porsche Abarth Carrera but had numerous problems. Unfortunately, Gurney managed only one lap until the clutch gave up. Other American entrants included Ernie Nagamatsu in his Ol Yeller and Bobby Rahal who had difficulty in the St. Mary’s saloon race where the Alfa TZ that he shared with Nick Mason expired on lap one with driveshaft breakage. However, Rahal had no trouble in the Glover Trophy race for 1961-’65 F1 cars, where he won with his Cooper Climax T79.
Submitted by Ed McDonough
Photo: Peter Collins
