Gallery: Taming Edwardian racers in the S.F. Edge Trophy Part 2 | GRR
Racing types are a special breed. Whatever they drive. But witnessing a field of aero-engined, fire-breathing machines thunder past during the second S.F. Edge Trophy at Goodwood SpeedWeek presented by Mastercard proved just how much talent and bravery it takes to tame these beasts in their natural environment.
The latest bit of kit in this category is a Bugatti Type 13 ‘Brescia' that was built only 10 years after the start of World War I. Aviation was merely 20 years old. And George V was still on the throne. The oldest car in the field is a 1903 Mercedes 60hp, which came out of the workshop during a time when Battle of Waterloo veterans were still knocking about telling their war stories. These things are from a very different time indeed.
Watching them race in the here and now however is much more exciting than a stale history lesson. And the racer’s competitive spirit was out in its Sunday Best to squeeze every bit of juice out of the ageing engineering.
Hughie Walker took a Theophile Schneider Aero from 1913 to first place with Mark Walker finishing two seconds behind in the Darracq 200hp from 1905. Third place went to one of our all-time favourite historic racers Julian Majzub in a Sunbeam 'Indianapolis' from 1916. Sometimes the oldies really are the best.
Photography by Jordan Butters.