RAC TT celebration
Discussion
Firstly I wish to point out that I absolutely love the Revival, I do all three days every year and I haven’t missed one since 2005.
The RAC TT celebration together with the St Mary’s has always been the highlight of my weekend. The TT been described as the blue ribbon race for many years (I know the grid isn’t worth quite as much as the Friday night race grid but that’s nitpicking) but is it just me or have the variety and quality of the grid declined somewhat in recent years? It seems now to be all about Cobras and E-Types with a few other cars thrown in but in times gone by we had Ferrari’s (250GTOs, SWBs, the Breadvan, the mighty 330LMB etc), Astons (DB4GTs, the project cars) as well as some really interesting stuff such as Bizzarrini’s thrown into the mix.
Just wondering if anyone else thinks it’s not quite the spectacle it used to be? And to reaffirm I still think we’re incredibly lucky to see any of these cars being raced at Goodwood so no criticism being levelled….
The RAC TT celebration together with the St Mary’s has always been the highlight of my weekend. The TT been described as the blue ribbon race for many years (I know the grid isn’t worth quite as much as the Friday night race grid but that’s nitpicking) but is it just me or have the variety and quality of the grid declined somewhat in recent years? It seems now to be all about Cobras and E-Types with a few other cars thrown in but in times gone by we had Ferrari’s (250GTOs, SWBs, the Breadvan, the mighty 330LMB etc), Astons (DB4GTs, the project cars) as well as some really interesting stuff such as Bizzarrini’s thrown into the mix.
Just wondering if anyone else thinks it’s not quite the spectacle it used to be? And to reaffirm I still think we’re incredibly lucky to see any of these cars being raced at Goodwood so no criticism being levelled….
Maybe covid impacting European/foreign entries? 2018/2019 had the Bizarini 5300GT, Aston Martin Project 212 (until it turned into a puff of smoke and left oil all down the levant straight) etc, all the Ferraris were in the Kinrara last time. There has been a good mix of cars in the past few years but a good few regulars missing this year.
Didnt seem to impact the quality of the racing, that was a cracking finish today and great entertainment all race!
Didnt seem to impact the quality of the racing, that was a cracking finish today and great entertainment all race!
The pre 62 Friday evening race has taken a fair chunk of the field. The DB4GTs are now in that race, along with, usually, the Breadvan and the SWBs. Not sure where Hadfield and 212/214 were this year for the TT race. The Lotus coupe thing was also missing this yr. If memory serves 26R’s have been part of the field in the past.
RichB said:
Personally I prefered the Friday evening race (I believe it was named the Stirling Moss Memorial Trophy this year) to the RAC Cobra race. DOn't get me wrong the RAC was a great race but I think the first 5 on the grip were all Cobras. I guess they're cheaper to race?
I always think the Friday evening race is the best. As it happens I was only there for the Friday this year, but did see some of the other stuff on the live stream over the weekend. Slight issue with the SC comming out near the end, but if I followed it correctly some time was added on (or it came in, in time) so that the end of the race took place 'properly'.Friday seems better in that most people seem to be there to watch the racing rather than just to be 'seen at Goodwood' - it seems to be a bit of a better atmosphere. There wes hardly anyone around at St Mary's late in the afternoon - most cilvilised.
Yes, I had similar thoughts. Apart from the three token Porsches at the back, every car was either Jaguar or American V8 powered. I think it must be the first year without a single Ferrari or Aston Martin in the TT race. It seems to be that the TT and St Marys/Mini race are more about the drivers than the cars now. They seem to be wanting a field of ex F1 and Le Mans drivers in (mostly) newly-built historic spec cars, which is no bad thing in itself, but it does seem to have pushed most of the original cars away.
I suppose the thing is, these cars are now so far developed and so fast, if you own an original GTO or something that is now worth tens of millions, would you want to race it in a field of hard-charging professional drivers in much less valuable cars, and would you want to face the choice of developing your own car away from original performance levels in a bid to remain competitive, or be lapped several times by cars you would have beaten in period because they have developed and you haven't.
I suppose the thing is, these cars are now so far developed and so fast, if you own an original GTO or something that is now worth tens of millions, would you want to race it in a field of hard-charging professional drivers in much less valuable cars, and would you want to face the choice of developing your own car away from original performance levels in a bid to remain competitive, or be lapped several times by cars you would have beaten in period because they have developed and you haven't.
Well you don’t get much more “original car” than the Alan Mann Cobra which won this yr (finally) or CUT 7. Yes, yes, yes we all know they are as original as Triggers Broom but so race car, so c’est la vie.
The big Vettes and Daytonas come and gone from the TT field, as do the Bizzas tbh.
In general though I somewhat agree…a return to some more variety would be nice. Let’s see what turns up for the similar race at the MM. And if the Mikes can get the 400 repaired/sorted.
More importantly of course…the tin top race at the MM may well be Swiftys last ride!! He can’t bow out 2nd in Owlet surely?
The big Vettes and Daytonas come and gone from the TT field, as do the Bizzas tbh.
In general though I somewhat agree…a return to some more variety would be nice. Let’s see what turns up for the similar race at the MM. And if the Mikes can get the 400 repaired/sorted.
More importantly of course…the tin top race at the MM may well be Swiftys last ride!! He can’t bow out 2nd in Owlet surely?
thegreenhell said:
Yes, I had similar thoughts. Apart from the three token Porsches at the back, every car was either Jaguar or American V8 powered. I think it must be the first year without a single Ferrari or Aston Martin in the TT race. It seems to be that the TT and St Marys/Mini race are more about the drivers than the cars now. They seem to be wanting a field of ex F1 and Le Mans drivers in (mostly) newly-built historic spec cars, which is no bad thing in itself, but it does seem to have pushed most of the original cars away.
I suppose the thing is, these cars are now so far developed and so fast, if you own an original GTO or something that is now worth tens of millions, would you want to race it in a field of hard-charging professional drivers in much less valuable cars, and would you want to face the choice of developing your own car away from original performance levels in a bid to remain competitive, or be lapped several times by cars you would have beaten in period because they have developed and you haven't.
I think youve hit the nail on the head. The RACTT became an arms race where (relatively) cheap E Types and Cobras could be highly developed to point where original and valuable Italian race cars couldnt compete and risked getting badly damaged by hotshoes or hotheads in other cars. I believe this was why the Kinrara trophy was created and i personally think it was an excellent solution. I suppose the thing is, these cars are now so far developed and so fast, if you own an original GTO or something that is now worth tens of millions, would you want to race it in a field of hard-charging professional drivers in much less valuable cars, and would you want to face the choice of developing your own car away from original performance levels in a bid to remain competitive, or be lapped several times by cars you would have beaten in period because they have developed and you haven't.
I found the fawning over F1 & BTTC drivers annoying. They were fawning over over Jean EricVergne who didnt acheive a great deal in F1 whilst ignoring drivers that had won Le Mans on multiple occasions
After the Whitmore win he was pretty adamant that he was retiring after this. Done n dusted. I think prepping basically the entire Whitmore grid, plus getting his own car sorted out - special paint job, etc had taken a LOT of effort.
I didn’t know he would be in Owlet, Im not sure many did or PB-E was meant to be in 2 cars at once. I did presume that he would be in the GT for the Gerry next month and that would be his retirement, I guess we will have to wait and see.
As to JEV and ignoring multiple LM winners…well not really. Tom K regularly is fawned over and Lotterer gets lauded on a regular basis at GW for stunning drives. Pirro is regarded as part of the GW furniture and Ricky Roy Dumas was given a lot of air time as he always is.
The Revival has ALWAYS had some of the best hot shoes in the biz driving. It’s just 2021, not 1998 anymore. The hot shot pros of the past have retired retired and/or died.
I didn’t know he would be in Owlet, Im not sure many did or PB-E was meant to be in 2 cars at once. I did presume that he would be in the GT for the Gerry next month and that would be his retirement, I guess we will have to wait and see.
As to JEV and ignoring multiple LM winners…well not really. Tom K regularly is fawned over and Lotterer gets lauded on a regular basis at GW for stunning drives. Pirro is regarded as part of the GW furniture and Ricky Roy Dumas was given a lot of air time as he always is.
The Revival has ALWAYS had some of the best hot shoes in the biz driving. It’s just 2021, not 1998 anymore. The hot shot pros of the past have retired retired and/or died.
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