GRR

Five incredible cars you can see at 78MM

13th February 2020
Ben Miles

The 78th Goodwood Members’ Meeting will be a weekend to remember, with hundreds of cars packed into the Goodwood Motor Circuit ready to fight for victory. Even with new races added every year and a slew of incredible demonstrations to wow the crowds, two familiar competitions still manage to steal the show year after year.

The Gerry Marshall Trophy for Group 1 Touring Cars and S.F. Edge Trophy for pre-1923 Edwardian Specials return as perennial favourites; we’ll release a full entry list closer to race day, but as a teaser here’s a selection of cars from those iconic races that we already know will be at 78MM.

1971 Vauxhall Firenza “Old Nail”

Born as a development of the unloved Vauxhall Viva, the droop-snouted Vauxhall Firenza would go on to become a touring car legend, thanks to the prolific Gerry Marshall. The Castrol-liveried “Old Nail” had a highly successful career, both in and out of the hands of Marshall. A seven-year racing history took in 59 race victories and championship wins in the Special Saloon Car Championship (1972 overall and 1973 over-1,300cc class), Simoniz Saloon car Championship (1974 over-1,300cc class) and Scottish Saloon Car Championship (1975 over-1,300cc class). A real touring car icon, Old Nail has since been owned by the family and will compete in the race named after Gerry in the hands of his son Gregor.

Image courtesy of Racecarsdirect

Image courtesy of Racecarsdirect

1978 Chevrolet Camaro

The Camaro is one of the mainstays of the Gerry Marshall Trophy. Its mighty V8 grunt going up against the lighter, perhaps more manoeuvrable British Capris and SD1s in a transatlantic battle for the ages. This particular Camaro, which is appearing for the first time at Goodwood, has some proper racing pedigree. Among its racing career is an appearance at the 1978 Spa 24 Hours, where it would qualify on pole in the hands of female Dutch racing driver, and future Dutch Touring Car Champion, Hemmy Hemmes.

toyota-celica-win-percy-goodwood-78mm.jpg

1979 Toyota Celica

Another first-timer at Goodwood, this ‘Hughes’ liveried Toyota was raced in period by non-other than Win Percy – the three-time British Saloon Car Champion, who was named in Autosport as “the world’s number one touring car driver” in the 1980s. While Percy did not win the championship in this car, he did finish second two years running in a similar Celica in 1975 and ’76. The little 1.6-litre Celica seeing off much bigger-engined machines in the process.

1905 Darracq 200hp

One of the most extraordinary, and popular, cars ever to appear at Goodwood. Nicknamed the ‘engine on wheels’ by many this incredible machine is pretty much just that, designed to reach over 100mph in Land Speed Record competition over 110 years ago. Now owned by veteran racer, and Goodwood regular, Mark Walker, the Darracq has competed in both the Members’ Meeting and the Festival of Speed presented by Mastercard over the last decade, with Mark’s always-enthusiastic driving making it a crowd favourite. This will be the Darracq’s first return to Goodwood since the first S.F. Edge Trophy at the 74th Members’ Meeting. Not being designed for corners (this was the first car to complete a two miles in a minute) it can mostly be found completely sideways at almost every opportunity, with Mark appearing to hold on for dear life, while remaining in complete control.

1914 Sunbeam Indianapolis

An incredible machine and, with Julian Majzub at the wheel, one of the most spectacular seen at Goodwood. One of only two ‘GP Sunbeams’ built in 1914 ready for the Indy 500 in 1915, this mighty Sunbeam (which looks like something from a science fiction film) finished fourth. More recently it was the winner of the S.F. Edge Trophy at the last Goodwood Members’ Meeting (the 77th), in the hands of Majzub, clinching victory right on the line after a titanic race-long battle with a Vauxhall Viper Special in the hands of Tony Lees. Expect it to be right in the victory fight again in 2020.

Tickets for the 78th Goodwood Members' Meeting are on sale now! For more information or to buy tickets click here.

  • 78MM

  • Members' Meeting

  • Vauxhall

  • Firenza

  • Darracq

  • Chevrolet

  • Camaro

  • Sunbeam

  • Indianapolis

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