Goodwood Revival 2000 Review

 
A McQueen Quattlebaum with the LECO MG photo Richard Hampson

The Goodwood Revival just goes on from strength to strength and this year’s meeting provided yet another dazzling weekend of classic motor racing at its very best. The organisers make a great effort to recreate the authentic atmosphere of the meetings of the 50s and 60s. Race entry is restricted to cars that have actually raced at Goodwood in the past or to cars that could have been eligible at the time. All vehicles inside the perimeter of the circuit including bicycles and motorcyles must have been built before 1966. All drivers, crew and supporters are expected to wear authentic fifties fashions in the paddock and within the circuit area. It is good to observe that everyone seems to enjoy entering into the spirit of the occasion and co-operates with this directive and a variety of remarkably authentic outfits are worn, which really adds to

 
Stewart Penfold’s 1955 Lester MG T51 in the feddie March Memorial Trophy photo Richard Hampson

A most striking aspect of the Goodwood Revival is the wonderful cacophony of engine and exhaust noise as you move in close proximity to so many glorious classic race cars. Famous names were present in abundance with AC Cobras, Maseratis, Ferraris, Aston Martins, Jaguars and also MGs, all making their presence felt as they passed back and forth through the crowds of onlookers on their way between the circuit and paddock.

 
MGA Mille Miglia with Carol Spagg’s 61 Alfa SZ and Jeff Moyes in a 57 Porche 356A Coupe photo Richard Hampson

Once again there was a very strong MG contingent and a chance to see some great historic examples of the marque performing on the track. Running in the Freddie March Memorial Trophy were the Dargue MG, LECO MG, Lotus MG-9 and Lester MG T51 while a Le Mans MGB ran in the RAC TT Celebration race and a Le Mans MGA and a ex-works Midget ran in the Fordwater Trophy.

 

 
Barry Sidery Smith’s MGB Le Mans put a spirited performance practising in the wet on Friday

Barry Sidery-Smith was there with his 1964 MGB which was prepared by the factory for the Le Mans 24 hour race, where it finished 11th overall and second in class with Paddy Hopkirk and Andrew Hedges driving. Barry has owned the historic MGB for 27 years and during that time has campaigned it very enthusiastically, this year it was entered in the RAC TT Celebration one-hour race. Sharing the driving was the celebrated motoring journalist and editor of Motor Sport Andrew Frankel. In the wet practice on Friday the Le Mans MGB acquitted itself very well but in Sunday’s TT Celebration race itself, after three laps a UJ failed causing the propshaft to break which unfortunately put DRX 255C out of the race.

MGA specialist Bob West was at Goodwood with his superbly original 1959 MGA Twin Cam, the most successful MG to run at Le Mans. In 1960 this MGA was driven by Ted lund and Colin Escott it finished 13th overall and 1st in class in the 24 hour race. This Twin Cam has a special coupe’ style fastback body conversion complete with a deeper windscreen that was specially designed by Don Hayter of Abingdon’s design office. For the 24-hour race the engine was bored out to 1762cc and ran with 2in SU carburettors and 4.1 axle which gave the car a top speed of 130 mph. At Le Mans it averaged 91.12 mph and achieved a fastest lap of 99.46 mph.

The MGA Twin Cam Le Mans was entered in the Fordwater Trophy race for production sports and GT cars at Goodwood and was driven by Mike Entwisle. The Fordwater Trophy was eventually won by Brendan Roberts in a Lotus Elite Climax.

 
Works Midget leads Le Mans MGA photo Malcolm McKay

Bob Neville’s historic MG Midget began its complex racing career as a factory development car. Originally a GAN3 Midget with wind up windows and half-elliptic rear springs, this development Midget was first registered by the MG Car Company on the 7th October 1963 on the plate MG 1 but this registration number was transferred in 1964 to another factory car and eventually became John Thornley’s personal plate. During its early days 138 DMO went through numerous changes and modifications; in 1965 it was fitted with a experimental special purpose 1275cc engine based on the Cooper S block. In addition to improving power output the little MG’s weight was reduced from 700kg down to 620kg, this involved such drastic measures as even drilling the door handles and striker plates.

Authentic dress and 50’s accessories were apparent within the confines of the circuit

 
MGA Mille Miglia complete with trophies photo Richard Hampson

This 1955 MGA was entered in the 1956 Mille Miglia driven by Nancy Mitchell and Pat Faichney were it finished 72nd overall and 5th in class. Nancy Mitchell was the highest placed lady driver and was presented with a special trophy by the local MG dealer. In the same year it also took part in the Alpine Rally with the same crew where it came 15th overall, 3rd in class and Nancy Mitchell won the Coupe des Dames.

Owned by Stephen Dixin and driven by Adrain Kermode the MGA Mille Miglia was also an entrant in the Fordwater Trophy.

Roger Enever enjoyed a series of victories with the Midget until in 1966 a crash at Castle Co destroyed the shell, it was rebuilt and painted black. Bob Neville acquired the Midget in 1969 and has campaigned it with great success. Although Neville sold the car in 1974 and it passed through the hands of many distinguished drivers until 1993 when he bought it back and restored the Midget.

Driven by Steve Cox 138 DMO was also entered in the Fordwater Trophy on Sunday.

 
MGA Police cars were out in force to provide transport for the clerk of the course

Highlights of the weekend were Ludovic Lindsay with his spirited and masterly drive and in the 1936 ERA B-type R5B ‘Remus’ to win the Goodwood Trophy race. It was also a joy to watch John Surtees’ smoothly conduct David Piper’s Ferrari 275 LM into a comfortable lead in the TT Celebration race. However the TT was a two-driver event and a lengthy change over in the pits meant that co-driver David Piper finished in second place to Steve Hitchins and Danny Sullivan in a Shelby Cobra Daytona. Of course its always a pleasure to see MGs out on the track dicing with Astons, Cobras, Ferraris and Jaguars. Overall Goodwood presented a weekend of excitement and drama that remains quite unique in the historic racing calendar.

 
Bob West’s MGA Le Mans practising on Saturday