Goodwood Revival 2002

So many fabulous historic sports and racing cars were taking part in the programme that I decided to focus attention on the MGs present. Our favourite marque featured prominently in two races which were to be held on Sunday morning, the first was the Fordwater Trophy for production based sports and GT cars between 1958 and 1964. With an entry list that featured many ‘Goodwood Revival’ MG veterans, such as Bob West’s Le Mans MGA twin cam, Barry Siddery Smith’s Le Mans MGB, Bill Wykeham’s historic MGB and the pretty Jacobs Midget coupe of James Willis, also the MGA twin cams of Steve Dixon and Phillipe Douchet. Steve Dixon’s twin cam was driven by BMC ex-works rally driver Rauno Aaltonen. Other Abingdon products were Robert Waterhouse’s Austin Healey 100S an ex-works car driven by the ever flamboyant Gerry Marshall and a Healey 3000 owned by Paul Roberts and driven by Chris Keith-Lucas. Also in the field for the Fordwater Trophy were the MG powered TVR MK2 Grantura of Simon Peach and Michael Lucas’ Elva Courier driven by David Boston. While Saturday evening’s Freddie March Memorial Trophy had the Lester MG owned by George Edney driven by him and co-driven by Peter Edney.

Next was the St Mary’s Trophy for production saloon cars of the type that raced between 1951 and 1959 and the entry list featured an MG Magnette ZB and a Magnette ZA. The ZB was to be co-driven by entrant Mike Yarney and David Leslie and a ZA which belongs to Richard Dodkins and was to be driven by Glenn Price and MG Touring Cars/Le Mans driver Anthony Reid.

Practice sessions were lively and exciting with all these 50s sports and saloon cars being driven with every bit as much verve as when they first raced. It is a pure thrill to see a driver, particularly those in an open cockpit car, working hard on the steering to correct their driving line as they leave a bend or negotiate the chicane. You can clearly observe how the car is balanced on the very limit of adhesion. Occasionally a driver will push just that bit too hard and a screech from the narrow tyres and cloud of dust will accompany their spin off the line, usually leaving them temporarily facing the wrong way, but after rapidly collecting themselves they rejoin the fray.

There were many stars in the free practice sessions but in my view Anthony Reid conducting the ZA Magnette for the St Mary’s Trophy was a joy to watch. The Magnette was an accomplished car in its day and the MGZS Touring Car driver seemed to easily make the transition from his modern MG race car but he was up against some pretty stiff competition with the MK I Jaguars dominating the practice times. These Jaguars all had to be fitted with 2.4 engines in order to compete in this company but they certainly held sway over the rest of the field. Other practice stars were Rae Davis who shared his A35 with Grand Prix presenter Tony Jardine; Rae hustled his tiny Austin around the course with amazing skill regularly dicing with much more powerful opposition. Johnny Herbert the F1 and Le Mans star found himself at the wheel of a DKW 1000 entered by Audi UK, a stark contrast to his usual machinery but he made a valiant effort to squeeze as much power as he could from this game little car. When the times were posted it was the Jaguars in the first row of the grid but the Glenn Price/Anthony Reid team had put the ZA Magnette on the third row.

As well as the highly competent MK I Jaguars there were also four MK VIIs taking part, piloted by Graham Love/Mike Salmon, Charles Fripp/Tiff Needell, Neil Hadfield/Desire Wilson and Stirling Moss with Rowan Atkinson. These MKVIIs were quite something to watch on the track with their huge heavy bodies lurching through the bends, despite its bulk and weight the Love/Salmon MK VII was placed on the fifth row of the grid. Meanwhile the very big cat of Moss and Atkinson seemed jinxed with mechanical problems and although it made row ten of the grid, on the race day it had to be push started and finished up starting from the back of the field. However, the saddest news for MG fans was when the differential of the ZA Magnette failed on the grid and we were denied the pleasure of watching Anthony Reid in action for the race.

Practice for the Fordwater Trophy was also particularly fierce with some amazing battles for the front row, the Morgan’s of Doug Blaine and Adrain Van der Kroft performing very strongly. Among the other front runners were Gerry Marshall in an ex-works Healey 100S and Bill Wykeham in his 1964 MGB which competes with the very distinctive Le Mans specification bodywork.

On Sunday morning it was Adrian van der Kroft in his Morgan Plus 4, with Gerry Marshall in the Healey and Bill Wykeham’s MGB, on the front row of the grid with Barry Siddery Smith’s MGB and Jon Gross’ Aston Martin on the second row.

The start was the usual frantic affair with Adrian van der Kroft in the Morgan quickly grabbing the lead closely pursued by Gerry Marshall in the Healey with Nigel Wincester’s AC just behind. Doug Blain third in the Morgan kept ahead of Jon Gross in the Aston, while the two MGBs were in close contention for fifth place as Adrian van der Kroft began to extend his lead. On lap four, after some confusion and overtaking against a yellow flag, Adrian van der Kroft allowed Gerry Marshall in the Healey to pass and Marshall briefly led the field. Potentially the most serious incident occurred when Charles Fripp rolled his Jaguar XK 150S but fortunately without injury to the driver. However by the fifth lap Kroft’s Morgan took the lead once more with Marshall second, Blain third and Wykeham fourth, Jon Goss was in sixth place very closely followed by Barry Siddery Smith. On lap nine coming through the chicane Jon Goss in the Aston spun which rather bulked Siddery Smith who was following very closely but he neatly managed to avoid the revolving Aston. The Aston came to rest with its tailgate open but as Goss roared off to rejoin the race the tailgate closed as if by remote control. In the final lap it was Dutchman Adrian Van der Kroft’s Morgan first to reach the chequered flag as he won the race for the second year in succession with Gerry Marshall in the Healey 100S close behind in second place, then Doug Blain third in his Morgan plus 4. Bill Wykeham in the MGB was fourth with Barry Siddery-Smith MGB fifth. After the race Gerry Marshall explained that his Healey was such a genuine 55 car that it still had the original tiny bucket seats which allowed him to slide around in the cockpit too much while Doug Blain was delighted with his first podium position at Goodwood.

MK I Jaguars on the front row of the grid with the teams of Leo Voyazides/ Win Percy, Grant Williams/Derek Bell and Justin Law/ Gerry Marshall. Second row was Adam Gittings/ John Fitzpatrick in a Ford Zodiac MK II and Ivor Miller/Perry McCarthy in an Austin A40. Rae Davis/Tony Jardine in the A35 were on the fourth row while the ZB Magnette of Mike Yarney/David Leslie was back on row seven.

This was a two driver event of 18 laps with a change over of driver during the race. The Jaguars roared off in close formation with Win Percy in the lead and Derick Bell close behind. Rowan Atkinson made a valiant effort starting from the back and made up six places but his Jaguar MK VII only managed five laps before coming to a halt. This race offered a great deal of spectacle, Rae Davis powering out of the chicane with his A35 on three wheels or Tiff Needell in the huge Jaguar MK VII dicing with the very potent Ford Anglia 100E.

The Magnette ZB was putting up a good show in mid field and after six laps it swept into the pits for a driver change and David Leslie took the wheel. The MK I Jaguars were in very close contention with Win Percy leading until he coasted to a stop with a failed diff. Grant Williams in a Jaguar MK I was then in the lead.

If the MK VII Jaguars seemed big the Lincoln Cosmopolitan was of gargantuan proportions. As the Lincoln swayed through the chicane it occupied so much of the track that the quick thinking Tony Dron in the Zephyr had to overtake it on the grass which he did with consumate ease neatly avoiding the sign for the pit lane and then pulling smoothly ahead. Other drivers who deserve a mention were Oliver Whale in the A35 who put up a splendid show dicing with the Jaguars and Barrie Williams in the Morris Minor who delighted the crowd with his amazing side-on slides around Woodcote and out of the chicane.

It is wonderful to watch these cars being driven with so much skill and enthusiasm in such appropriate surroundings, once again the Goodwood Revival time machine had recreated a perfect 50s setting for really exciting classic car racing.