Sir Stirling Moss will forever be intertwined with the Goodwood Motor Circuit. In its one-time-only event coming up next month, Goodwood SpeedWeek will honor his memory by naming a race after one of the greatest drivers of Britain.
Winners of the 60-minute, two-driver race for GT cars of a type that raced before 1963 will be presented with the Stirling Moss Memorial Trophy, formerly known as the Kinrara Trophy. The race has been the highlight of the Revival since it was introduced in 2016.
Some of the most beautiful and iconic cars in the category, and even beyond, will be competing including the Ferrari 250 SWB, Jaguar E-Type, and the Aston Martin DB4 GT. These cars were raced by Stirling at the height of his career; which includes his Tourist Trophy win at Goodwood in 1960 and 1961.
“Stirling and I always received such a warm welcome at Goodwood from the family and the fans. He would have been touched to be remembered with a race in his name. In fact, he’d probably be raring to have a go at it himself,” Lady Susie Moss stated.
Over the years, Goodwood has been closely linked with Sir Stirling Moss as the circuit has been the scene of some of his greatest victory, though unfortunately, it was also the scene of the accident that ended his driving career. Stirling became a patron of the Festival of Speed when motorsport returned to Goodwood in 1993, and since 1998, has always been present at the Revival.
His accident never deterred him from going back behind the wheel, and he actually became a welcome and familiar sight to the fans, captivating and charming them in every appearance. Eventually, he earnt the nickname “Mr. Goodwood” and he was ever competitive in a variety of sports, single-seater cars, and touring well into his seventies.
“Stirling Moss was known as ‘Mr Goodwood’. More than anything, though, he was our friend and played a huge part in our history. We miss him terribly and felt there could be no better way of recognizing this than by naming a race in his honor,” stated the Duke of Richmond.
Preceding the inauguration of the Stirling Moss Memorial Trophy, there will be an on-track celebration of his great career. Part of the celebration will be a live performance of Stirling’s personal friend, former Dire Straits frontman Mark Knopfler, and the Lady Susie will also join The Duke of Richmond in the famous Rob Walker Racing Ferrari 250 GT SWB, the car used by Moss when he won the 1960 RAC Tourist Trophy.
Fans will be able to view the entirety of the Stirling Moss Memorial Trophy on the Goodwood Road & Racing website and social channels on the afternoon of 17 October, Saturday. It will be one of the 13 races that will be featured over the weekend, joining other favorites from the Revival and Members’ Meeting like the RACTT Celebration, Gerry Marshall Trophy, St. Marys Trophy, and SF Edge Trophy.
Goodwood SpeedWeek Race Schedule
Friday October 16th
Race 1: S.F. Edge Trophy Part 1 (5 laps)
For Edwardian Specials of a type that raced up to 1923
Race 2: Goodwood Trophy (20 mins)
For Grand Prix and Voiturette cars of a type that raced between 1935 and 1951
Race 3: Gerry Marshall Trophy (45 mins – two drivers)
For Group 1 saloon cars of a type that raced between 1970 and 1982
Saturday October 17th
Race 4: Glover Trophy (20 mins)
For 1.5-litre Grand Prix cars of a type that raced between 1961 and 1965
Race 5: St Marys Trophy Part 1 (20 mins)
For saloon cars of a type that raced up to 1966
Race 6: Whitsun Trophy Part 2 (20 mins)
For World Championship sports prototypes of a type that raced between 1960 and 1966
Race 7: Stirling Moss Memorial Trophy (60 mins – two drivers)
For closed-cockpit GT cars, of three litres and over, of a type that raced before 1963
Sunday October 18th
Race 8: Richmond & Gordon Trophies (20 mins)
For front- and rear-engined Grand Prix cars of a type that raced between 1954 and 1960
Race 9: St Mary’s Trophy Part 2 (20 mins)
For saloon cars of a type that raced up to 1966
Race 10: S.F. Edge Trophy Part 2 (5 laps)
For Edwardian Specials of a type that raced up to 1923
Race 11: Gerry Marshall Sprint (15 mins)
For Group 1 saloon cars of a type that raced between 1970 and 1982
Race 12: Lavant Cup (20 mins)
For sports racing cars of a type that raced between 1953 and 1960
Race 14: Royal Automobile Club TT Celebration (60 mins – two drivers)
For closed-cockpit GT cars in the spirit of the RAC TT races, 1960-1964
More information may be found at GoodWood SpeedWeek
[Source: GoodWood]
Great driver, a kind, attentive, interested, thoughtful, approachable and modest man.
I visited him several times over many years and got to know him well.
Thanks
I had the immense pleasure of meeting, shaking hands and speaking with Sir Stirling at the Amelia Island concours d’elegance several years ago. He was there as the Honoree and to promote a book signing, yet took the time to sign several of my old Automobile Year books and a copy of “The Cruel Sport”. Stirling was extremely kind, open and was the perfect gentleman. Later, after the book signing, he and Dan Gurney sat on the patio talking old times and when I asked them to sign a few more photos for me they took the books and spent an hour laughing and reminiscing about races in which they either shared a car (Maserati Birdcage) or competed against each other. I will always cherish those moments spent with two of my heroes.