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New Goodwood meeting promises even wider range – as long as you’re in the GRRC

We’ve become used to the double highlight each year of the Festival of Speed and the Revival. But now in 2014 a third event is to add a new, intriguing element to the Goodwood calendar. On July 2, 1966 the circuit hosted what would be its 71st – and seemingly last – Members’ Meeting, ahead of its closure as an active race track. But on March 29-30 next year the tradition will be resurrected with an event that should open up Goodwood to later generations of racing machinery.

The 72nd Member’s Meeting will cater for the familiar classes of the 1950s and ’60s, plus a one-make Bugatti race, but will also widen the scope with a race for Group 1 saloons of the ’70s and demonstrations of more modern F1 and sports car machinery – a nod to the circuit’s years as a popular test venue during its closure for racing. The possibility of witnessing 1980s turbo-era F1 and Group B rally cars lapping Goodwood is a titillating thought…

There is a catch, however. The meeting will be invitation-only, open to Goodwood Road Racing Club members and their guests. There are currently 5000 members within the GRRC, and the waiting list is long – which means the crowds next March will be far smaller than those that gather for the Revival. Great news then, but only if you are a member – or happen to know one who will invite you along. The addition of a second race meeting takes advantage of the provision for five ‘noisy days’ allowed at Goodwood each year. Since 1998, three have been used for the Revival. The other two will now be put to good use.