Motorcycle racing makes Goodwood 74th Goodwood Members' Meeting debut

IN NEW HAILWOOD TROPHY

Motorcycle racing will be part of the programme for the very first time at this year’s 74th Goodwood Members’ Meeting on March 19-20.

The Hailwood Trophy – for two-stroke 250cc and 350cc Grand Prix motorcycles that raced between 1970 and 1982 – will signal the first time that post-1966 bikes have ever raced at Goodwood Motor Circuit.

The 30-strong grid of motorcycles will be decked out in their evocative period liveries and several riders who raced the bikes in period will also be present.

As was the case in the 1970s and ’80s, the field will be populated with many Yamahas but interlopers from manufacturers as diverse as Bimota, Harley Davidson, Harris, Juchem, Rhinghini and Spondon will also be battling for honours.

Lord March said: “At the Goodwood Revival, we have enjoyed for many years the epic battles fought out on track in the Barry Sheene Memorial Trophy races, where hordes of bikes from the 1950s and ‘60s scrap for honours.

“Now it is the turn of the Members’ Meeting to welcome the leather-clad heroes. The bikes that will be featured in the Hailwood Trophy race are from a golden era of motorcycle racing, when heroes such as Phil Read, Walter Villa, Giacomo Agostini, Johnny Cecotto and Kork Ballington won numerous world titles. It promises to be a treat for the eyes and the ears.”

The famous names from the world of motorcycle racing who will be at the event include Ian Simpson, who rode works Hondas and rotary-powered Nortons during his career, as well as TT legend Charlie Williams.

The Hailwood Trophy race has been added to the Members’ Meeting programme with help from consultant and ex-GP rider, Gordon Russell. He said: “This was a truly golden era in motorcycle racing, when anyone could effectively go Grand Prix racing. These were simple bikes that pretty much anyone could work on and they were much scarier to ride than modern bikes – you had to be a real man to race Grand Prix bikes of the 1970s and ‘80s.”

Tickets for the 74th Members’ Meeting are now sold out to Goodwood Road Racing Club members and members of the public. Member attendance will be the best since the event was revived in 2014, with tickets selling out earlier than ever.

Grandstand tickets are still available to ticket-holders who wish to upgrade and those who missed out on tickets will be able to view the entire event, streamed live on Goodwood Road and Racing. Highlights packages will follow on ITV.

EDITORS’ NOTES:

Created by Goodwood owner, Lord March, to recreate the atmosphere and camaraderie of the original BARC Members’ Meetings held at Goodwood Motor Circuit in the 1950s and ‘60s, the Goodwood Members’ Meeting conjures up some of the most evocative sights and sounds from the golden era of motor racing.

The 2016 Members’ Meeting will feature 12 races in total over the two days of the event. Three of the most iconic periods in motorsport history will also be celebrated with high-speed demonstration runs – the Super Touring cars of the 1990s, ground effect Formula 1 cars and Group 5 sports cars of the 1970s.

As well as the action on the famous Goodwood Motor Circuit, the Members’ Meeting features a huge range of attractions for all the family off-track, including an exclusive event on Saturday evening and a wide variety of food and entertainment, live music and a fairground, on offer throughout.


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