Full race list for 78th Members’ Meeting confirmed

Next year’s event promises to be more thrilling than ever, with a breadth of cars dating from the Edwardian era to the 1980s, all tracing the historic tarmac of the Motor Circuit. 

Over the weekend, the 78MM will see 15 races and three demonstrations. Of the 15, the Gerry Marshall Trophy will feature heavily, with two 20-minute heats on day one and a 20-minute final on Sunday. Open to Group 1 saloon cars of a type that raced between 1970 and 1982, expect to see Chevy Camaros, Ford Capris, Rover SD1s, Triumph Dolomite Sprints, Mini 1275 GTs and Escort RS 2000s battling it out for victory, with their respective owners at the wheel. Previously, this was a two-driver owner/celebrity race, however, that honour has now been passed on to the Pierpoint Cup. 

Taking place last on Saturday, the Pierpoint Cup will be a two-driver event for V8 saloon cars of a type that raced up until 1966. That means Plymouth Barracudas and Ford Falcons will face up against Mustangs and Galaxies, in a 45-minute race.

Also taking place on Saturday is the S.F. Edge Trophy. Another two-parter, this race is designated for Edwardian Specials of a type that raced up to 1923, so you can expect to see pure aero-engined action, with century-old racing cars going wheel to wheel on the 2.4-mile circuit. 

Not far removed from the Edwardian era is the Earl Howe Trophy. Named after the fifth Earl Howe, Francis Curzon, it is in the vague style of the early French Grand Prix, for two-seater Grand Prix and Voiturette cars of a type that raced up until 1933. Curzon, himself a racing driver, was the co-founder of the British Racing Drivers Club, and it is for this that the Members’ Meeting honours him with a namesake race. In celebration of the centenary of Bugatti’s debut race win, expect to see a large number of the French cars taking part. 

Jumping forward a decade or three, Sunday will be opened with the Arundell Cup featuring the Taylor Trophy. The 20-minute long race will welcome rear-engined Formula Junior cars of a type that raced up to 1964, with the Taylor Trophy awarded to the first drum-braked car that crosses the line. In this exciting race, models by Lotus, Cooper, Brabham and many more will fight in close contention for victory.

For 500cc Formula 3 cars, the Don Parker Trophy is the second shortest race of the weekend, with just 15 minutes for the open-wheeled, single-seaters to contest victory. The engines? They’re 500cc motorcycle engines, predominantly from Nortons and JAPs. 

Featuring RAC TT-derived closed-cockpit GT cars and prototypes of a similar age (1958 to ‘62), the Moss Trophy promises 20 minutes of stunning action on Sunday, with full road trim E-types facing up against narrow-bodied AC Cobras. Of course we don’t need to explain who this race is named after…

The only two-wheeled event of the weekend, the Hailwood Trophy will pit pre-1983 250cc and 350cc Grand Prix motorcycles against one another on the fast, flowing circuit. The grid will be Yamaha-heavy, with a swarm of TZ250 and 350s dominating the field.

Following on from the Moss Trophy in the prototype stakes is the Gurney Cup, which will pit world championship sports prototypes dating from 1960-1966 against one another. The longest race of Sunday, this 45-minute, two-driver race will feature some of the most exciting cars of the weekend, including Lotus 23Rs and 30s and McLaren M1As. On the American side there will be a number of Ford GT40s, while representing the Germans will be Porsche 906 and 910s. Named after American racing driver Dan Gurney, this race promises spectacular sports prototype driver changes – a first for the Members’ Meeting. 

Named after Le Mans 24hr winner Roy Salvadori, who famously stormed to victory with Caroll Shelby in 1959, the Salvadori Cup is open to world championship sports cars that competed from 1955 to 1960. Jaguar D-type long-noses, Lotus 15s, Lister Knobblys, Cooper T59 Monacos and Maserati Tipo 61 Birdcages will all contest this 20-minute cup, which is easily the most curvaceous race of the weekend.

The honour of Sunday’s closing race goes to the 20-minute Ronnie Hoare Trophy, a race that was last held in 2018. Named after Colonel Ronnie Hoare, Maranello Concessionaires founder and the ‘60’s premier Ferrari importer, the race will be open to roadgoing and sports GT cars that raced internationally from 1960 to ‘66. A battle between British and continental cars is predicted, with the likes of Triumph TR4s facing up against the continental cohort of Abarth Simcas, 275 GTB Ferraris and Porsche 904s and 911 SWBs. 

And not to forget the demonstrations, which will provide a welcome respite from the weekend’s fast-paced racing. Firstly, ‘The 72 Years’ will feature Formula 1 cars dating from 1970 to ‘75 , giving spectators a glance at more than just a blur of car.  

Whatever your racing inclination, the 78^thMembers’ Meeting should have something to suit, with the most inclusive entry list of any Goodwood event. Come and see for yourself next March – tickets are on sale now to Goodwood Road and Racing Club Members and those part of the GRRC Fellowship.

Photography by Jayson Fong, Chris Ison and Jochen Van Cauwenberge.