Membership Has Its Perks

A grand motoring experience at the GOODWOOD MEMBERS’ MEETING with Audrain Motorsport

THE SUN RISES on a track damp with morning dew. The sound of a Jaguar straight-six purrs like a contented cat and muddles with the friendly banter echoing through the paddocks. You couldn’t dream of anything better. You’re in the perfect place.

Nestled in the heart of West Sussex, an otherwise quiet English countryside, is the Goodwood race circuit. Permitted only five days per year of unrestricted noise, there’s no room for half-hearted efforts. What emerges from these parameters are three, spectacular, meticulously curated events, the Festival of Speed, Revival, and the most- exclusive Members’ Meeting — a delightful and exhilarating celebration of motorsport that revels in a time when speed, mettle, and style were synonymous.

The Members’ Meeting has roots steeped in tradition, with its origins tracing back to Initially, the 9th Duke of Richmond opened the circuit to host a series of races for the British Automobile Racing Club (BARC). These meetings had a remarkable run with 71 gatherings held before they were terminated in July of 1966. From then on, racing at Goodwood ceased. That is until demand from members of the Goodwood Road Racing Club (GRRC) persuaded the already intrigued Charles Gordon-Lennox, 11th Duke of Richmond, to revive the meetings. In 2014, the Members’ Meeting returned as an annual event, now serving as a nostalgic nod to the golden era of motor racing.

It’s more than an event, it’s a reunion for those who share an insatiable passion for spirited competition, machines that live off high octane fuel, and drivers that push the limits — a reminder of the void we are left with in an age of overbearing committees and restrictions. Truthfully, two days just doesn’t feel like enough, even when your ears are left ringing from the percussive wails of a high-compression small block Chevy and the screeches of a straight-piped V12 Vantage GT3.

An honor and a privilege

For the past four years, Audrain Motorsport has had the privilege to partner with the GRRC in hosting the Goodwood Members’ Meeting. In short, this honor comes with its perks. For starters, the best seat in the house — The Jackie Stewart Pavilion. There are no grandstands here, only a track-facing balcony overlooking the front straight and tumultuous chicane, where all the action happens. But even more than that is the access it provides to organize an unforgettable week leading up to the two-day racing spectacle.

Grand estate

The first days are relaxed. Arrival at the stately but unpretentious Goodwood Hotel, just over a mile from the track, is the first sign of what’s to come. The hotel not only serves as comfortable lodging, but also as a window into what the weekend will bring. As the parking lot starts to fill up with 250 Short-Wheelbase Ferraris, pristine 911s, and various other sporty coupes, you recognize you’re in for a real treat. It’s as if you’ve stepped back in time, perhaps into the shoes of one of the BARC drivers just settling in for a few days of racing. A welcoming cocktail hour and dinner Sunday evening is a chance for guests to become acquainted with one another. It’s a funny thing to witness because although everyone is cordial, naturally, relationships have yet to form. By the following Sunday this dynamic will have completely changed. Once strangers, some will leave as fast friends, regularly checking in on each other and their latest four-wheeled acquisitions. The next morning brings a leisurely tour of the grounds and Goodwood House, which you become increasingly more accustomed to as the week runs its course.

Start Your Engines

Tuesday’s track day is perhaps the mcrowd favorite. Through its Revival Racing Experience, Goodwood serves up a fleet of race-prepped vintage automobiles — classic ’50s and ’60s saloons and GTs — no less than perfect for the historical 2.4-mile road course. But it doesn’t end there. If you find yourself tired of chasing apexes, you can hit the trails in a classic Land Rover Defender, take to the stands and try your aim at some clay pigeons, or slow down and enjoy a little self-care with a spa treatment.

However one chooses to spend their time, Audrain Motorsport knows how to throw an on-track party, and this year it did not disappoint. Accompanying the typical Goodwood fleet was a prime selection of guest stars, the first being Vintage Bentley returning with their 3 and 4 ½ Litre models. Even guests that own original Bentleys can’t get enough of the thrill ride, being thrown around the track with flamboyant precision, at speeds unfathomable for a car of that age and size.

On the complete opposite end of the spectrum, Mythron Cars turned up with their tiny Austin-Healey “Sebring Sprite” — small enough to fit inside a vintage Bentley, but in turn, extremely communicative and a brilliant restomod for a very reasonable price. And at 160bhp, it has plenty of power to entertain, even on the straights.

Derek and Pat Drinkwater, legends in their own right, came with a pair of Briggs Cunningham Cadillac recreations in tow. Now, talk about big cars defying everything you think you know about automobile agility. These column-shift Series 61 Cadillacs are actually quite nimble and fast. You have to remember, the original versions of these cars emerged from the ’50s, and they weren’t particularly successful. So, the fact that they perform as well as they do, is extremely impressive. Plus, they make for great pictures, especially when framing one of the rarest and most original Lightweight Jaguar E-Types in existence, raced by Briggs Cunningham in 1963, and currently in the care of William I’Anson Ltd.

The cherry on top was a 991.2 Porsche 911 GT3 Cup, piloted by pro-driver Charles Rainford, that put everything into perspective. The sheer braking power alone was well above anything else on the track. And seeing as though only a brave few decided to strap into the passenger seat, a hot lap in this thing must’ve felt like the world was ending — it sure sounded like it at wide-open throttle.

To wrap up the exhilarating day, there was dinner with His Grace at his private estate, Goodwood House. Stepping back to a more genteel era, guests adorned in formal attire enjoy a champagne reception in the Front Hall followed by a sumptuous meal in the Egyptian Dining Room. Simply put, a splendid evening.

The long way

A perfect motto for a driving tour is taking the road less-traveled, even better if it’s to a destination hidden away in an unassuming town. Driving through Cobham, you would never know the premiere Aston Martin restoration shop, RS Williams, is hard at work between houses and shrubbery. The mind game continues as the seemingly small building goes deeper and deeper, revealing a showroom, full garage, engine room, and engine dynamometer — all with pieces of rare Astons in various states of teardown and completion.

Separated by meals and a return journey to the Goodwood Hotel for some much- needed rest, a long drive precedes a tour of Blenheim Palace. But again, on occasions
such as this, the motorway seems like an easy way out. Country roads were favored until roundabouts had their final say, pushing cars onto the M4. Just off the A44, through towering metal gates, is the tourist- riddled path to the Woodstock, Oxfordshire country house known as the birthplace of Winston Churchill. It’s an awe-inspiring piece of history within palace walls, only overshadowed by the magnificent gardens just outside, the incredible library, and breathtaking view from the roof. Following a few precautionary signatures, up several floors of scaffolding, lies a glimpse at the noble task underway — the comprehensive restoration of architecture overwhelmingly difficult but necessary to preserve.

The final stop of the week, McLaren Technology Centre, was a familiar one. Having been on past itineraries of this experience, it was known what to expect, or so you might think. However, on the eve of a Grand Prix, the energy shifts. All immediate focus is on that race, and even for those not directly involved, it’s still a thought in the midst of the daily hustle. On this particular day, you’re reminded by tour guides that much of what is seen is an uncommon sight. Getting to watch Lando Norris qualify first at Bahrain from the Engineers’ Room? Priceless.

A VIP moment

Coming off that high, a relaxing afternoon carries you into the last bit of fanfare before the rubber meets the circuit — a black-tie dinner held at the infamous Goodwood House. Comprising more than 500 guests, and taking over every dining room, to be in attendance is surreal. The “pinch” signifying it’s real is the chest- vibrating revs of two-stroke motorcycles ripping through the front doorway, across a red carpet running through the center of the foyer. Even once they’ve departed, the smoke and wonderfully intoxicating smell lingers. At some point in the evening, when conversations halt, recalling the people from history books that graced these halls and the caliber of company that fills the room provides a sense of being part of an inner circle with a greater connection to the events soon to unfold — a point of pride to be associated with the GRRC.

No comparison

The weekend arrives with pomp and circumstance; hounds and horses make their way down the front straight in a tradition honoring the fox hunting heritage of the estate. A quiet, almost ceremonial appreciation quickly turns to a roaring symphony of cars and chatter.

Seen from the perfect perch of the Jackie Stewart Pavilion, Alfa Romeo Giulias shout down the straight with their under two litre, yet mighty presence, packs of 427 Cobras snarl like vicious dogs entering the first corner, IndyCar champion Dario Franchitti behind the wheel of a GMA T.50, slices through the air with a woosh and a siren’s scream, and then almost immediately drops into the seat of an ex-Striling Moss DB4 GT to thrash it about as if it’s a dime a dozen automobile.

The balcony fills and empties in waves as the day passes. Patrons come and go between the paddock and viewing area, with new friendships formed and surprise drop-ins from people like Hammond. Yes, that Hammond, the chap from Top Gear. There isn’t another racing event, historical or otherwise, that’s quite like this one — they’re all missing certain elements that Goodwood so effortlessly possesses.

Along the way

It’s impossible to encapsulate every memory and connection made during a trip like this. Every driving tour comes with challenges — the burdens welcomed in exchange for the joy of driving vintage automobiles. And unless you’re from the English countryside or have traversed it in great depth, there’s really no preparing for the nerve racking, breath holding adventure of just barely squeezing by on a road that has no business being two lanes. But the minor challenges are swiftly rounded out by monumental experiences and moments of pure bliss.

The sun begins to fall behind the trees, allowing the pavement to grow cold once again, forcing drivers to dig deeper as the bias-ply tires they’re riding on slide through the corners, fighting for grip. The final lap hasn’t been made, and the chequered flag has yet to be waved, but for all intents and purposes the week has come to an end. It’s all over as quickly as a turn around the circuit, and you’re left longing for the next time you’ll get to go flat-out through Fordwater… or perhaps just watch the professionals do it with poise.

About The Author