The Goodwood Members Meeting 2017 was staged over the weekend of 18-19 March at the iconic 2.4-mile Goodwood Motor Circuit in West Sussex, England. The visitors on-site over the 75th Members’ Meeting weekend were treated to some real edge-of-the-seat competition, with close wheel-to-wheel racing.
From Edwardian racing specials up to 1923 to the mighty GT1 racing machines of the 1990s, this year’s event was overflowing with exceptional races and exhibitions.
Shrieking ’70s sports-racing cars took to the track for high-speed demonstrations over the race weekend. The 3-litre era produced many iconic machines, with 16 different makes and models circulating at speed, some with period drivers. A highlight for many was seeing — and hearing — the one-off McLaren-DFV M8C which was driven by Alain de Cadenet whose Ecurie Evergreen fielded that car originally. De Cadenet’s other former mounts, the Brabham F1-based ‘Duckhams Special’ and Lola T380 also ventured out on track. Former Formula Three hot-shoe Martin O’Connell put on a show aboard the dramatic-looking TOJ-Cosworth SC303, but nothing could match the Rob Hall-driven Matra MS670 for sheer noise and drama.
Also not be missed was the high-speed demonstration celebrating 1990s GT1 cars that raced in the original FIA GT Championship. Race cars around this historic venue included a brace of Porsche 911 GT1, Mercedes-Benz CLK-GTR, an ultra-rare Lotus Elise GT1, Ferrari F40 LM and the McLaren F1 GTR.
Touring car racing has long been a central theme at Goodwood, both in period and since the circuit reopened in 1998. This year, the Members Meeting honoured the much-missed Group A category that blossomed during the 1980s. A wide variety of cars that competed in period took to the track over the course of the weekend, ranging from the sublime (Jaguar XJ-S) to the faintly ridiculous (the ultra-rapid Volvo 240 Turbo ‘Flying Brick) via Rover SD1 Vitesse, BMW M3 and Sierra RS500. Not only that, ’80s tin-top heroes such as Steve Soper and Roberto Ravaglia got behind the wheel steering them agai.
The Goodwood Members Meeting 2017 drew to a close with a convincing win for Simon Hadfield during a spectacular Surtees Trophy encounter. The fastest race of the weekend for sports-prototypes that ran from 1962-66 saw the veteran driver blast his Lola T70 into an immediate lead as soon as the flag descended. He was never headed despite a safety car period after Laurie Bennett went off at St. Mary’s following a robust challenge, with other cars colliding after he regained the track. Once the race restarted, Hadfield scampered away, with Tony Sinclair’s Lola T70 leading home Ford GT40 driver Sam Hancock after fighting for the podium positions.
Similar to 2015 and 2016, Sports Car Digest also documented the 2017 Goodwood Members Meeting with the following selections from the 75th Goodwood Road and Racing Club event. Hope you enjoy.
Goodwood Members Meeting 2017 – Photo Gallery (photos as credited)
Monopostos, Goodwood Members Meeting 2017- Jayson Fong
Alfa Romeo Sedan, Goodwood Members Meeting 2017- Jayson Fong
Alfa Romeo T33, Goodwood Members Meeting 2017- Jayson Fong
2-stroke motorcycles, Goodwood Members Meeting 2017- Jayson Fong
Pre-war Madness, Goodwood Members Meeting 2017- Jayson Fong
Pre-war Madness, Goodwood Members Meeting 2017- Jayson Fong
Goodwood Members Meeting 2017- Stephanie O’Callaghan
Goodwood Members Meeting 2017- Stephanie O’Callaghan
Goodwood Members Meeting 2017- Stephanie O’Callaghan
Goodwood Members Meeting 2017- Stephanie O’Callaghan
Goodwood Members Meeting 2017- Stephanie O’Callaghan
#75MM Goodwood Members Meeting, Chichester, UK, on March 18, 2017. Dominic James Photography
#75MM Goodwood Members Meeting, Chichester, UK, on March 18, 2017. Dominic James Photography
#75MM Goodwood Members Meeting, Chichester, UK, on March 18, 2017. Dominic James Photography
Lord March, Goodwood Members Meeting, Chichester, UK, on March 18, 2017. Dominic James Photography
Goodwood Members Meeting 2017- Dominic James
Gerry Marshall Trophy, 2017 Goodwood Members Meeting, Goodwood, England.
18th – 19th March 2017.
Photo: Drew Gibson.
2017 Goodwood Members Meeting, Gerhard Berger
Goodwood, England.
18th – 19th March 2017.
Photo: Drew Gibson.
High Speed Demonstration GT1, 2017 Goodwood Members Meeting, Goodwood, England.
18th – 19th March 2017.
Photo: Drew Gibson.
Surtees Trophy, 2017 Goodwood Members Meeting, Goodwood, England.
18th – 19th March 2017.
Photo: Drew Gibson.
Gerry Marshall Trophy, Start, 2017 Goodwood Members Meeting, Goodwood, England.
18th – 19th March 2017.
Photo: Drew Gibson.
Gerry Marshall Trophy, 2017 Goodwood Members Meeting, Goodwood, England.
18th – 19th March 2017.
Photo: Nick Dungan.
Gerry Marshall Trophy, 2017 Goodwood Members Meeting, Goodwood, England.
18th – 19th March 2017.
Photo: Nick Dungan.
Gerry Marshall Trophy, 2017 Goodwood Members Meeting, Goodwood, England.
18th – 19th March 2017.
Photo: Nick Dungan.
3-Litre Demonstration -Goodwood, Members Meeting, Nigel Harniman
David Coulthard, Goodwood Members Meeting 2017- Paul Melbert
GT1 Demonstration, Goodwood Members Meeting 2017- Paul Melbert
AC Cobra 289, Goodwood Members Meeting 2017- Paul Melbert
Porsche 911 GT1, Goodwood Members Meeting 2017- Paul Melbert
3-Litre Demonstration, Goodwood Members Meeting 2017- Paul Melbert
Alfa Romeo T33/2, Goodwood Members Meeting 2017- Paul Melbert
3-Litre Demonstration, Goodwood Members Meeting 2017- Paul Melbert
Goodwood Members Meeting 2017- Stephanie O’Callaghan
Goodwood Members Meeting 2017- Stephanie O’Callaghan
Goodwood Members Meeting 2017- Stephanie O’Callaghan
Group A Demonstration at Goodwood photo: Jayson Fong
Lord March in the ex-John Surtees Lola photo: Stephanie O’Callaghan
Weslake Cup at Goodwood, Member’s Meeting photo: Jayson Fong
Ford V8 power slides at the 2017 Goodwood Members Meeting Photo: Drew Gibson.
Surtees Trophy for big bangers at the Goodwood Members Meeting photo: Jayson Fong
Grid for the Derek Bell Cup photo: Jayson Fong
Goodwood Members Meeting photo: Jayson Fong
Loads of American horsepower in the Graham Hill Trophy photo: Jayson Fong
BMW 635 CSI driven by Gerhard Berger photo: Jayson Fong
AC Cobra 289 biting hard into the corner photo: Drew Gibson
1973 Maxton Yamaha TZ350 photo: Drew Gibson
Cooper-Maserati T51 photo: Drew Gibson
Cooper-Climax was a popular mount for the Brabham Trophy photo: Drew Gibson
Ex-John Surtees Lola photo: Dominic James
NASCAR Toyota Tundra burning up the track photo: Dominic James
Dario Franchitti in the 1998 Porsche 911 GT1-98 photo: George Gunn
S.F. Edge Trophy for pre-war racers photo: George Gunn
Early Alfa Romeo was a fan favorite at Goodwood photo: George Gunn
Scott Brown Trophy featuring a full grid of Lister sports racers at Goodwood photo: George Gunn
Andy Priaux, 2017 Goodwood Members Meeting, 18-19th March, Goodwood, England., Photo: Nick Dungan
75MM, 2017, David Coulthard, Goodwood, Members Meeting, Nigel Harniman
Max Chilton and Dario Franchitti, Goodwood Members Meeting, Chichester, UK, on March 18, 2017. Dominic James Photography
Tiff Needell, 2017 Goodwood Members Meeting, 18-19th March Goodwood, England. Photo: Nick Dungan
Tom Kristensen, 2017 Goodwood Members Meeting
18-19th March, Goodwood, England. Photo: Nick Dungan
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