“Interest in the Betty Richmond Trophy has been incredible,” said Goodwood’s motorsport content manager Matt Hearn, “with well over 100 great cars and drivers to choose from. We were poised to turn down a lot of fantastic cars. Clearly love for this British icon is unfaltering.” Elizabeth ‘Betty’ Richmond, after whom the Mini race’s Trophy is named, is the grandmother of the Goodwood racing events’ founder the current Duke of Richmond. It was Elizabeth’s husband, Frederick ‘Freddie’ Gordon-Lennox, the 9th Duke of Richmond, who turned the perimeter road around RAF Westhampnett into the Goodwood Motor Circuit that opened in 1948. He was a friend of Mini designer Alec Issigonis as well as was an admirer of small, cleverly designed cars, so he therefore took delivery of one of the first Minis available, 60 years ago in 1959. Yet it was Betty who fell in love with the car and was known to thrash it around the Goodwood Estate. The Goodwood Members’ Meeting is established as UK historic racing’s annual curtain-raiser and takes pride in its ability to recreate race meetings held there in the 1950s and ‘60s. Further it describes itself as "the world's most exclusive race meeting", as it is only Goodwood Road Racing Club (GRRC) members who can buy tickets to attend. And it gets a little more exclusive this year as only members will be able to watch the event’s live online streaming too. If you’re worried about the lengthy waiting list to become a GRRC member though then fear not, as you can instead buy tickets or watch the live streaming by joining the GRRC Fellowship for £39 a year. In addition highlight clips and a selection of live races will still be available for us all to view online. Images courtesy ofGoodwood
