Formula Junior returned to the Goodwood Revival, which this year focussed on the later era cars. Despite the inevitable preponderance of representatives of Brabham, Lotus and Lola there was still the usual Goodwood variety to be found in the entry list, including Westie Mitchell’s de Tomaso, Stuart Roach (Alexis Mk4), Richard Smeeton (Wainer), Vern Williamson (Ausper T4), the Morton Lightning/Envoyette, the Merlyns of John Sykes and Jorgen Brynne and Cooperistes Steve Jones and Jon Milicevic. However, all of these are quite familiar cars in Millers Oils and Lurani races – the rarity was Australian visitor Roger Ealand with his colourful Rennmax BN1.
                  The usual massive crowds were present for qualifying in glorious weather – Sussex at its September best. It seemed that even more of the spectators had entered into the spirit with period style dress. For many that simply meant pulling a decent jacket out of the wardrobe and adding a tie. However some take it to extremes and military uniforms were often to be seen. Hardly authentic Goodwood – as Bob Birrell commented, you would never have seen spectators in uniform “in period”,  soldiers couldn’t wait to get in to civvies. Maybe the RAF uniforms were OK in the context of the venue’s former existence as RAF Westhampnett, though more than a few would have had the sergeant bawling “get your bloody ‘air cut, you ‘orrible man”! Not to mention the display of unearned medals…..
Hardly had the session started when the red-flag came out. Nick Grewal (Lotus 27-JM-18) – president of Formula Junior Historics North America – had misjudged the Chicane. Happily these days the Chicane is no longer brick and consequences were confined to a bent wishbone and slight damage to the pick-up point. Matt of MRM was able to effect repairs for the race. Once running resumed, Vern Williamson’s blue Ausper was seen heading in to the pits. Initial impressions were maybe a rotor arm, but it soon became clear that it was more serious and Vern was to be seen in the paddock stripping down the engine, hoping it was something like a head gasket that was repairable. Sadly it turned out to be two melted pistons and the Ausper was out for the rest of the weekend. Then the red flag flew again. This time Richard Smeeton had spun at Lavant, causing Caroline Rossi and David Methley to run off too. No harm was done to any of the cars.
When the cars came out of the pits again there was only about 5 minutes remaining. At this stage Sam Wilson (Lotus 20) was heading the timing from Andrew Hibberd (Lotus 22) who was quickly in to his stride, but the last few minutes were bound to be very hectic. Most of the quicker cars were running in a bunch, almost as though it were the race itself, but David Methley, in the ex-Bob Birrell BT6 with which Bob had his bad crash at Goodwood in 2011, was cannily looking for clear space. Although down in about 10th, this was clearly not representative and sure enough, right at the end of the session he banged in 1’24.493” to snatch pole. Second was Jonathon Hughes (BT6) 0.220” down with Jon Milicevic a further 0.171” behind. Fourth was Sam Wilson (-0.126”), then Andrew Hibberd (-0.097”) and Pierre Tonetti (-0.304”). Westie was seventh on 1’25.460” making seven cars within a second of each other! Stuart Roach’s Alexis had been well up before the red flag but seemed to be rather out-gunned afterwards, though traffic didn’t help.
The race was the second event on Saturday morning, again in excellent weather. Only Vern was missing from the line-up. Methley’s qualifying effort was set to naught when he botched the start and was only ninth or tenth into the first corner. Conversely, James Murray (Lola 5A) made a flier and was up to second from Hughes and Wilson. As the closely packed stream of cars poured in to Woodcote at the end of the first lap Milicevic was in front by 0.6” from Hughes, Wilson, Murray, Andrew Hibberd, Tonetti and Methley.    Sam Wilson moved into second on lap 2 and Methley had picked off Tonetti, followed soon after by Andrew Hibberd and Murray. On the fourth circuit Wilson grabbed the lead from Milicevic whilst Hughes spun out of third. At this point we had Wilson and Milicevic having one of their now customary wheel-to-wheel scraps for first, with a gap of 2.4” to a flying Methley. Two lap later and Methley, drifting impressively through Woodcote, had halved the deficit to the leaders whilst Hibberd and Murray were having a splendid dice for fourth. It was all change on lap 10. Milicevic ran wide at Madgwick, having a long grassy moment, when trying a move on Wilson, letting Methley into second and he wasted no time in pouncing on Wilson, taking the lead at the left-hander before St Mary’s. Murray also nipped by Hibberd, though that was to be reversed next time round.
Things settled down for the last few minutes, Methley eking out a 3.6” advantage at the flag, helped when Wilson ran wide at Woodcote. Sam in turn was 3.4” clear of Milicevic. Hibberd held fourth from Murray who had Tonetti not far behind after a somewhat quiet race. Mitchell had been sixth in the de Tomaso before a spin on some oil, probably from the Rennmax, relegated him behind Tonetti and a recovering Hughes, who had had his own “moment” at the Chicane earlier in the race.  David’s fastest lap was a stunning 1’23.792”/ 103.11 mph  –  virtually two seconds faster than the previous best by Milicevic in 2011. Incidentally the period FJ lap record was 1’25.6” set by Peter Arundell in August 1963. Does this mean David is in line for a F1 test ??
Further back, a gaggle of cars squabbled over 13th. After much place changing Phillipp Buhofer (Lola 5A) triumphed in this group from Martin Bullock (Lotus 27), Robin Longdon (Lola 5A), Manfredo Rossi (Lotus 22) – who had been in 10th early on before a grassy moment – and Iain Rowley (Lotus 22). Richard Smeeton had been in amongst them until a scary spin at Woodcote on the last lap dropped him back. The spin was the consequence of “no brakes” - the pads having been knocked-off running over the kerb at the previous corner. Rowley ended without a nosecone on the Lotus after tapping Caroline Rossi when lapping at Lavant on the final circuit. Caroline had felt a “bump” but happily the Brabham was unharmed and after the race she was full of enthusiasm for her first race at the circuit and very complimentary about the standard of marshalling. Whilst Ozzie Martin Bullock was well placed, the other visitors found the pace rather hot. The smoky Rennmax enjoyed a battle with Caroline Rossi for 25th – with Caroline emerging ahead – whilst Nick Grewal was anxious not to repeat his qualifying misdemeanour and brought up the tail.
Once again FJ had provided Goodwood with a splendid race, one of the best on a day of close fought races. But why only 20 minutes when other seemingly less attractive events got 25 minutes? Also, what a shame it wasn’t one of the races Motors TV choose to broadcast – they missed a “cracker”.

by Richard Page