In an effort to avoid similar conditions this year, the event was moved back to early April and a clash with the opening British Touring Car race at Brands Hatch. Nevertheless, there was a full house for a weekend of good quality historic racing with a Goodwood twist.

Saturday is qualifying until mid-afternoon interspersed with Goodwood’s now trademark demonstrations. This allowed for a relaxed wander through the paddock and a chance to visit a couple of friends who had stalls selling (no surprises) motorsport photos.

The Goodwood team are brilliant at sourcing interesting or unusual cars for the demos and this year included Le Mans prototypes, Porsche 917s, NASCARs and BMW M1 Procars.

The Le Mans winning Porsche 919 was a static demo only. Around the paddock I sometimes get lazy and use the iPhone rather than the Nikon DSLR – I’ll leave you to try to work out which photos are taken with which camera.

There’s always motorsport royalty to be seen in and around the paddock – on this occasion, Vic Elford was being interviewed for TV with the Gulf Porsche 917 in the background.

For NASCAR fans #24 means multiple champion and Daytona 24 Hours winner Jeff Gordon’s car.

You can also get to the collecting area where the competitors wait for their time on track. I grabbed a quick word with Will Nuthall who was driving a 1952 F2 Alta – something of a contrast to the historic Formula Ford the week before at the HSCC Donington meeting. I also got the chance to talk to Ewen Sergison who would be driving Nigel Griffith’s Maserati 6CM – he had found a useful hanging point for his goggles...

There’s also creative possibilities with the circuit furniture with this Chequered Flag Brabham waiting for F3 qualifying.

With some sunshine emerging, whilst still chilly, I headed to Woodcote to watch some of qualifying, starting with the bikes which this year was for Formula 750 motorcycles of the type raced in the early 70s. The daffodils were out and add a distinctive element to photos.

Late 50s sports and GTs were next up with cars as disparate as the Daimler SP250 and a very early Lotus 7 driven by regular historic hot shoe, Sam Wilson.

Ever seen a Bentley drifting ? A 1929 Bentley ? You have now from Martin Overington – in qualifying for the John Duff Trophy. He was certainly up for it as he then spun out after the chicane brushing the barriers. No damage ensued to the Bentley …

It was then Porsche 917 time – perhaps best known for Steve McQueen’s Gulf car from the film Le Mans. The very first 917, a Gulf Le Mans 917 and three later variants with the Sunoco car running 1,500 bhp in period all ran over the weekend. 

Mark Webber had only brought his open-faced helmet which was less than ideal in the Sunoco car …

The longest race for Sunday would be the Graham Hill Trophy for early 60s GTs. There was no lack of enthusiasm in practice …

The Mustang of Sleep and Wykeham provided spectacular flames when lifting off for Woodcote, while the Porsche 904 of Clark and Kadoorie were consistent in their line and smoke signals.

One of the highlights of Members Meetings has been the Edwardian specials – cars built before 1923. Many have re-purposed aero engines and aerodynamics were rarely considered.

Star of the show is Duncan Pittaway’s Beast of Turin – the Fiat S76 with a 28 litre, 4 cylinder engine originally designed to take the world speed record – which it did !

It’s not however, the quickest car for racing and Julian Mazjub in his Sunbeam set fastest lap despite an early setback.

Heading out to Madgwick ready for the first race of the day, we got the last few minutes of the 50s sports car qualifying – featuring the Jaguar D-Type.

In 1979 BMW created a one make race series to support F1 Grand Prix using their road car the M1. The Procars went on to entertain the Grand Prix crowds and subsequently spawned more developed versions that raced at Le Mans into the mid 80s.

So, to the racing. This year is the 60th anniversary of the Mini and therefore a field of 60 Minis was assembled to celebrate. 

The last race of Saturday was for Group 1 saloons from 1970 to 1982. This was a two driver, 45 minute race due to run into the dusk. 

After the start we headed up to the pit straight and chicane. Headlights, three wheeling motoring ensued.

The final action of the day was much anticipated – the Le Mans prototypes mostly from the early years of this century would run in the dusk – although it was pretty much dark by the time they got going. 

Sunday dawned hazy and grey and apart from occasional periods of sunshine never really got any better. The photo of the grid of the first race really does set the scene for the day’s photos.

Will Nuthall went on to win the race for single seaters between 1935 and 1953 whilst Ewen Sergison had a good run through to the finish in the Maserati – giving an affectionate pat for a job well done after the chequered flag.

The following race was perhaps the best of the day – for 60s F3 cars. A close race with no quarter asked or given but driven without the need for dubious tactics of more recent years. 

Next up was the 50s GT race with a chap called David Coulthard in the Gullwing Mercedes. Last year’s race, where he drove the same car was a rather tame debut, but this year he seemed to have more confidence – which turned out to be well placed as he won by a narrow margin.

The Le Mans prototypes were out again, so I dropped the shutter speed to 1/160 for the Peugeot and ever-dramatic looking Panoz as they came through St Marys. The latter sounds even better than it looks (if that makes any sense at all).

Ettore Bugatti once declared that Bentleys were the world’s fastest lorries. You be the judge from the phots below – but remember that Bentley won five pre-war Le Mans 24 Hour races to Bugatti’s two …

Longest race of Sunday was the Graham Hill Trophy with a two driver 45 minute race – out at St Marys allowed for a head on shot through No Name, the previous corner, using the 200-500mm zoom, or into or out of St Marys using the 70-200mm zoom.

Next up was the Edwardians and the fiery Fiat which puts on a superb show – either fire or smoke ! Between Fordwater and No Name provides an excellent spot for panning with minimal “stuff” in the background of the shot.

The Mini final was a frantic affair with close – and clean – racing all the way. Looking back from Fordwater provides a lovely long shot for the first lap. I have contrasted that with the acknowledgements after the flag between Nick Swift the winner, Darren Turner and Lars Kristian Ekorness.

Into the home leg now, as the misty, murky weather became more November than April. A pair of Porsche 910s from the Gurney Cup and the dramatic looking Ford Thunderbird Battlebird from the Peter Collins Trophy. 

So that’s my summary of 2 days of action at the 77th Members Meeting. There will be race coverage on Goodwood’s YouTube channel over the coming weeks and I will be loading more photos race by race to my Flickr account shortly.

Thanks to David Harbey Photography for this article and giving us a comprehensive guide to the 77th Members Meeting at Goodwood.