Goodwood SpeedWeek: Crazy Edwardian racing | GRR
The first S.F. Edge Trophy only took place in 2016, but it has already become a firm fan favourite at Goodwood with its enticing mixture of crazy almost home-built racing cars and brave-to-the-point of crazy drivers. So what can you expect when it comes to Goodwood SpeedWeek?
What is the S.F. Edge Trophy?
The S.F. Edge Trophy is made up of two short races for Edwardian ‘Specials’ that would have raced up until 1923. Selwyn Francis Edge was a British businessman, racing driver and record breaker in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He pioneered racing in its nascent form, competing against De Dion-Bouton, Gladiator, Clemént-Panhard, Napier and AC in their earliest days. After the Members’ Meetings were revived the team at Goodwood thought that the kind of ‘specials’ that Edge raced would be perfect for competition, and the S.F. Edge Trophy was born. Since then it has been held three times, all with a single race format, and has become one of the main attractions of each Members’ Meeting.
The racing sees drivers with no form of protection racing cars with giant, sometimes aircraft-derived, engines, in incredible wheel-to-wheel battle and has produced some of the most overtake-packed races we’ve seen at Goodwood. This year the competition will be split into two, shorter sprint races, compacting the action into an even tighter period, and giving some of the cars that have at times faded later in the race more of a chance to compete.
What cars will race in the S.F. Edge Trophy?
To be honest, completely crazy ones. Recent entry lists have featured marques that are still around today (Fiat, Bugatti, Vauxhall, Peugeot) and long dead ones (Toledo, Lorraine De Dietrich, Hudson) but all are united by one thing: they are a bit bonkers. The stars of the show at the front have been the ever-fun Julian Mazjub and his Sunbeam “Indianapolis” Tony Lees in his Vauxhall Viper, and various drivers in Duncan Pittaway’s GN Curtis. All eyes though often remain on Pittaway as he pilots his other car through the field, the bonkers Fiat S76 “Beast of Turin”.
What drivers will I see in the S.F. Edge Trophy?
In the past motoring journalist, and GRR contributor, Andrew Frankel has been a competitor, racing the giant Bentley T16 5.0-litre. Alongside him is a who’s who of vintage racing, from the aforementioned Julian Majzub, the star of many a video on our YouTube channel, always piloting something big-engined and pre-war with absolutely no fear, Duncan Pittaway, Richard Scaldwell, Ben Collings, Simon Diffey and more. We will announce more details about who is racing in this year’s S.F. Edge Trophy closer to the event.
When and how can I watch the race?
The cars may be antiquated but our coverage of Goodwood SpeedWeek is cutting edge. All the racing – including practice and qualifying – will be digitally broadcast on the Goodwood Road & Racing website or on our social media channels over 16th-18th October 2020.
Main image by Tom Shaxson.