81st Goodwood Members’ Meeting opens the season with a flyer

Thunder rolled over Goodwood’s 81st Members’ Meeting in April as 24 Can-Ams served up the audio highlight of another brilliant Sussex success melding famous names, great displays and sizzling racing in front of an enthusiastic crowd.

Jackie Oliver in his title-winning DN4 topped a spectacular seven Can-Am Shadows display mixing it with McLarens from M6B to M8F, Lola 222 and a brace of BRM-Chevrolets, the tiny wheels of the Shadow Mk 1 showcasing the ‘no rules’ ethos of the Group 7 series. In proof, Ferrari’s V12 712P barked against the shriek of a pair of Porsche 917/30s too, Timo Bernhard aboard one.

More Porsche power sent the ex-Lauda McLaren MP4/2 on a demo, Gerhard Berger adding grand prix vibes in his 1989 Ferrari 640, while Dario Franchitti’s laps in the 12,000rpm GMA T.50S made the ears ring. There’s always two-wheel action here, too, but on a three-wheeled sidecar that shows real commitment – the sprint-style Shootout was eye-opening for those of us who aren’t used to it.

Early Can-Ams and GT40s also featured in the later Surtees Trophy, though it was Ben Mitchell’s Chevron that scored over Andrew Kirkaldy’s first-but-penalised similar B8. Among the pioneers Mark Walker’s 1905 LSR Darracq bid fair, but not high enough, to lift the SF Edge Trophy from Julian Majzub’s Indianapolis Sunbeam; John Ure wrangled long over the Parnell Cup for GP and voiturette cars with Will Nuthall’s similar Cooper-Bristol; and Derek Bell led the formation lap for his eponymous trophy in a Cooper-BMC T72 before the 1-litre F3s served up their usual close combat.

F1 champion Jenson Button and Le Mans hero Tom Kristensen starred in the 45-minute all-Mustang contest celebrating 60 years of the model in the name of Shelby ace Ken Miles, and the Gordon Spice Trophy pitched Gp1 Capris, Rovers and Minis against Yankee Camaro and Mustang, Fred Shepherd/Timo Bernhard’s Boss example triumphant.

When you needed a breather from the relentless action, Bonhams displayed the historic Lotus 12, seen elsewhere in this issue, near those ever-tempting automobilia, fashion, books and art stalls.

It was a fairytale weekend in the Duke’s front yard – and it was even pleasant weather!