Yes, the winners, the wheel-to-wheel racers are a big part of that. If anything though, a historically fortified grid is even more important than the front-runners. A Goodwood grid should be a gathering of the most storied machines in motorsport’s history, as well as the most succesful. This should be a place where drivers, owners and spectators alike can swap anecdotes and become ever-more engrossed in the history of our sport.
So, what did John Corrie’s pretty blue E-type bring to the table for the Moss Trophy at 76MM? If the avid Goodwood enthusiast and spectator is looking at 503 BBO and thinking “I’ve not seen that one before…” there’s a very good reason for that. This E-type hasn’t turned a wheel in anger since its debut at Le Mans in 1962, under the ownership of one Maurice Charles. It’s one of the three earliest E-types to first tackle La Sarthe and as of the conclusion of its participation, nearly 58 years ago, it was benched.
“As an early E-type with important period history [one of only eight E-types to ever have raced at Le Mans] the Moss Trophy at 76MM was the perfect event and race to bring the car back into the public eye," said John of his pride and joy. "This is an historic car which is still absolutely to original spec, and Goodwood is, therefore, the only place to race it”.
So, what comprises one of the first racing E-types? Fundamentally, it’s still a factory Fixed Head Coupe, so a Lightweight both in noun and adjective, it isn’t… It was, however, subject to significant modifications and enjoyed a degree of factory support for its run at Le Mans.
“The bonnet, doors and tailgate were replaced with alloy components." John told GRR. "Front and rear brakes were upgraded – as supplied by the factory. Chromework was removed and a forty-gallon fuel tank installed with an outside D-type filler cap through the rear tailgate… 1962 was a full year before the dozen factory lightweights were introduced, so this was really a heavily modified road car with considerable help from the Jaguar factory”.