 |
 |
 |
      |
||
 |
 |
HISTORY |
| Goodwood Revival Meeting - 1998
|
 Stirling Moss tries our ELVA 'works' MkII. (Left-Right) Robbie, Andy, RAD (me), Steve, Charlie, Alan, Tony, Mick, John. |
On
Friday 18th September 1998, we were transported back in time to watch our
little ELVA Mk.II 'works' sports racing car practice and qualify for the
Saturday 'Sussex Trophy Race' at glorious Goodwood. It will take weeks to slowly sink back to Earth after the most wonderful and nostalgic motor sport event EVER - it was absolutely STUNNING! Probably the best organised and largest fancy dress party seen, the whole weekend was full of memories, recollections, fabulous historic (vintage) cars, world class drivers and some pretty serious racing too! Goodwood was actually West Hampnett airfield during WWII, and the sight of the Spitfires and a Mustang chasing off the Messerschmitt just a few feet from the grass was fantastic - a total re-enactment of the wartime activities which included period support vehicles and 'actors' dressed as RAF personnel on the ground. Magical. All the vehicles within the circuit had to be pre-1966 and it would have been very easy to think that this was a dream - the sight of the farm workers in the infield using 1940's equipment to thresh the corn provided a lovely backdrop, and the Saturday evening celebration party was beyond comparison. Described by regular and serious party-goers as the best ever, it once more confirmed that Lord March and his dedicated team had given full and meticulous attention to every possible detail - totally superb and much appreciated. As for the cars - STUPENDOUS ! There was Aston Martin, Maserati, Jaguar, Lister, Cooper, Ferrari, BRM, Vanwall, ERA, Lotus and Elva to name but a few. The historic bikes included Matchless, Manx Norton, AJS etc. Famous drivers included Stirling Moss, Derek Bell, John Surtees, Barry Sheene, Damon Hill, Phil Hill, Sir John Whitmore, Sir Jack Brabham, Tony Brooks, Jack Fairman, Martin Brundel, Roy Salvadori, Jackie Stewart, Peter Gethin, Les Leston, Ken Tyrrell, John Cooper, Frank Gardner, Jackie Oliver, Bob Bondurant and of course our Robbie F1 commentator Murray Walker told us on the 'Dream Grid' that these were the four most nostalgic days of his life - we all blinked back tears as I looked at our pretty little Elva Mk.II sitting on the grid amongst such illustrious company, next to two Vanwalls of Brooks and Moss, and the Aston Martin DBRI of Roy Salvadori. To say that Frank Nichols would have been 'chuffed to bits' would be the ultimate understatement - I know he would have wept buckets! Continued |
|
 Robbie takes the drivers seat with Steve Hudson of Hastings Direct Classic and the Elva 'old boys'. |
||
 Early Elva designer and great friend of Archie Scott-Brown, Peter Nott talks about the MkII to Robbie - and Andy listens in. |
||
 The 'works' MkII shares a paddock area with the Lolas of Stirling Moss and Derek Bell (owner Dick Berger). |
Top
 |
 |
 |
