For three days in September the Goodwood Circuit, near Chichester, West Sussex, will be the scene of the very finest historic motor racing you can see in the world. We can give you a full timetable of the event and how best to enjoy the meeting.

Friday September 6th –

The meeting will be officially opened at 08.45 by a flying display, (Goodwood is very proud of its WW2 history as a fighter base in the Battle of Britain), and from 09.00 to 14.45 the cars and motorbikes are free to practice for the coming weekend. Official practice starts at 15.15 and runs until 17.45. Friday is a great day to spend time walking around the circuit, getting autographs and taking photos in the paddock. The aeroplanes are also surprisingly close and if you are as interested in Spitfires, Hurricanes and Mustangs as you are in Ferraris there is a lot to look at.

The Bonhams Auction starts at 17.30 commencing with a fine selection of Automobilia, including a magnificent 2/3 scale petrol driven Jaguar D-Type, as well as several Frederick Gordon Crosby drawings, and then running on to the sale of 35 Classic Motor Cars. Please see our full auction preview for a complete listing of car lots and the story behind the sale.

Saturday September 7 –

Once again an 08.45 air display starts proceedings and from then on it’s official practice, completed by 15.00, and racing proper starts at 15.20.

Race 1 Goodwood Trophy. For Formula 1 cars 1948-1954. This will include early Ferraris and Maseratis together with that extraordinary pre-war British ‘Voiturette’, the ERA, which was so popular immediately after the war in a country desperately short of competitive home-grown racing cars.

Race 2 Earl of March Trophy. For 500cc F3 cars, the ‘karts’ of their day, the ones that launched the careers of so many drivers in the ‘50s, including Sir Stirling Moss.

Race 3 Lennox Cup (Part 1). Motorcycles take to the track, many ridden by such greats as Barry Sheene and Phil Read.

Race 4 Freddie March Memorial Trophy. Named in honour of the 9th Duke of Richmond and Gordon, who founded the circuit, this is a race for sports cars in the spirit of the Goodwood Nine-Hour races, 1952-1955. A feature race for 2002 as for the first time the event will be run over 90 minutes, for two drivers, and will be held in the dusk of an English Summer’s evening, recollecting the spirit of the Nine Hours nightime races of the period. Expect to see C-Type Jaguars battling with Aston Martin DB3Ss for overall honours.

Sunday September 8 –

09.00 Racing begins with –

Race 5 Chichester Cup. For Formula 3 and Junior cars from 1957-1963.

Race 6 Fordwater Trophy. A race for more standard cars of the period, the sort of car you would drive to a circuit, compete, and drive home again. Such as AC Ace, Alfa Romeo Sprint Zagato, Jaguar XK150S, Mercedes-Benz 300SL, MGA and MGB, Morgan Plus 4 and Porsche 356.

Race 7 St Mary’s Trophy. A twenty lap, two driver race for production saloon cars of the period. Don’t be fooled by the mild sounding description of this event, with a plethora of professional saloon car drivers, (including ex-British Saloon Car Champion and Classic Driver contributor Tony Dron in a Ford Zephyr), it will be a riot. Rowan Atkinson is due to drive a colossal Jaguar MK VII whilst Aston Martin specialist Desmond Smail has the enviable job of piloting a works Audi entered DKW, partnered by Johnny Herbert and Emmanuelle Pirro.

Race 8 Richmond and Gordon Trophies. This is a race for classic front engined Formula 1 cars such as the Maserati 250F and Ferrari Dino 246. Look out for the rear engined Coopers; which changed the course of Grand Prix design forever.

Race 9 Lennox Cup (Part 2). More two-wheeled action from Messrs Sheene etc.

Race 10 Royal Automobile Club TT Celebration. Probably the highlight event of the weekend, with the most fantastic GT cars you are ever likely to see in the world. Ferrari 250 GTOs, Lightweight E-Types, Aston DB4GT, Zagato and Project Cars – they are all there. Together with support from Corvettes, Cobras, Healey 3000s and smaller capacity Alfa TZ1s. The scene of some very hot action indeed in the past. Just watching the likes of Jochen Mass, Pirro, Tambay and Pescarolo driving what to them would be ‘slow’ production cars is unforgettable. All the cars are original, no replicas or specials and many of them actually competed at the TT event at Goodwood in the Sixties.
Unmisseable.

Race 11 Glover Trophy. Probably the fastest race of the weekend; for rear-engined Formula 1 machines from 1961-1966.

Race 12 Sussex Trophy. For sports-racers of the late Fifties such as the Aston Martin DBR1 and Ferrari 246 (that man Dron again). Also included will be Lister Jaguars, D-Types and mid engined Coopers and Brabhams.

Race 14 Whitsun Trophy. Respecting every racer’s superstition there is no Race 13, this will be run for mid-engined prototype sports cars that raced between 1963 and 1967. Including Ferrari 275LM, 330 P2 and P4, Lotus 19, 23, 30 and 40, Ford GT40, Cooper-Chevrolet and many more. Drivers include F1 hopeful Darren Manning, as well as contemporary pilots such as Richard Attwood and Jackie Oliver. Look out for the small engined Lotuses – they can make the big-bangers look slow!

With racing finishing at 18.00 that is it until next year – believe me you will book up again.

Notes –

Period dress. Goodwood is transformed for the period of the event to a time when ladies were ladies, and men wore hats and smoked pipes. Whilst Lord March would not encourage you to get the briar off dad’s toucan shaped pipe rack, he does want as many people as possible to join in with the spirit of the occasion and either wear contemporary clothes or at least don a jacket and tie coupled with some cavalry twills. Jeans and trainers are not encouraged and will not admit you to the inside of the track. It is good fun and does add to the experience.

Paddock admission. Only team officials, drivers and members of the Goodwood Road Racing Club are allowed into the paddock with the correct badge. You cannot buy these at the circuit. In addition strict dress rules apply – see above.

For all enquires and to book tickets call - +44 (0) 1243 755055 or visit the website www.goodwood.co.uk

Story and photos: Steve Wakefield