Great day out at the 20th running of the Goodwood Revival - lovely cars, fantastic racing and I spent time watching at the corner with no name and what a sight the quick cars were through there. Plus there was a magical tribute to Vanwall and referring back to specifically the 1957 British GP held at Aintree, with Tony Brooks present and reunited with the actual Vanwall he and Stirling Moss drove on their way to victory.
Firstly, I have to say a big Thank You to the very kind person who provided the ticket for me (you know who you are) - I had a great day despite the weather change late afternoon.
The first race I saw was the Richmond Trophy for front engine F1 cars, mainly dating back to the 1950's. This race was led from the start by poleman Miles Griffiths in a Lotus 16 and he looked quite comfortable in the lead until a gearbox problem saw him head for retirement in the pits. He had been a few secs ahead of a fascinating battle for 2nd that suddenly became the squabble for the lead - a race long battle between Julian Bronson's Scarab-Offenhauser (last years' winner), Tony Wood in his TecMec-Maserati and Joaquin Folch in another Lotus 16. These three put on a great show, with passing and repassing as they explored the limits and the varying advantages of their cars. Wood it was who eventually grabbed victory, ahead of Bronson (the Offenhauser suffering with a misfire) and Folch.
The St.Mary's Trophy for 1950's saloon cars is split into two parts and features different drivers in each part, with an aggregate result. Apparently Saturday's race had been a cracker, but Sunday's was to prove to be equally as exciting.
Mike Jordan fired his Austin A40 round the outside at Madgwick on the opening lap to grab the lead, chased hard by Dickie Meaden's Alfa Romeo Giulietta Ti. They were hotly pursued by the Jaguars of Grant Williams and Justin Law and the Austin A95 Westminster of Nick Naismith (with which Jason Plato had taken 2nd the day before). Jordan and Meaden enjoyed a race long dice that thrilled spectators - the Alfa being quicker on the straights and the A40 enjoying better cornering speed. Twice Meaden had heart-stopping moments at Fordwater, with his 'save' of the second one being particularly memorable. Jordan regained the lead during Meaden's save, but eventually Meaden managed a last lap move to reclaim the lead and take the win.
The RAC TT Celebration race is always one of the Revival highlights and proved to be the case again this year. The JD Classics run E-type Jaguar of Chris Ward and Gordon Shedden secured pole as they went in search of a win that would clinch a hat-trick - Shedden setting the time on the last lap of qualifying.
Ward however, was destined to make a less than impressive start from pole and slipped to an initial 4th place. Meanwhile, David Hart had fired his AC Cobra into a lead he was to extend quite quickly. Ward battled through to 2nd, passing Michael Gans' Cobra and another Cobra in the hands of Andrew Smith. He closed in on Hart, but then slid off at St.Mary's and fell back to 4th. He regained the lost places quite soon, but his second pass of Smith would later prove costly as contact had spun the Cobra exiting Fordwater. There followed several laps where Hart and Ward circulated close together at high speed (see below).
Ward pitted as soon as the 'pit window' was open and handed over to Shedden, while Hart followed a lap later and passed the baton to his son Oliver. The two cars resumed their battle until Hart's Cobra cried enough after running out of water. Shedden now led and would take the flag first, but a 30secs penalty from the stewards for Ward's touch on Smith earlier dropped the Jaguar to 2nd in the results - elevating the Cobra of Gans & Andy Wolfe to victors. Watching from Fordwater and then the corner with no name, this race was a joy to watch - the opposite lock and drifting at speed warming the heart.
That race had followed the lunch break, in which we were treated to a fabulous tribute to Vanwall in the form of a well presented video and story telling on the large screens and on the circuit tannoy and followed by a parade for a couple of laps - all relating specifically to the 1957 British GP at Aintree. Believe me, this tribute was wonderfully done and was made complete by Tony Brooks being reunited with the Vanwall he and Stirling Moss had claimed victory with in '57 and then driving it round with a huge smile on his face - hope I am still going as strong as Brooks when I am 85. This particular section of the day was as fascinating as any of the races.
The weather changed soon after the TT, with heavy rain accompanied by strong winds and I have to admit I didn't hang around to watch the last two races - if it had stayed dry I would have happily stayed to watch.