Miscellany, December 1997

The Innovation Years is the theme of next year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed, on June 12-14. “We have moved the meeting forward a week so as to avoid clashes with either Formula One or Indycar races, and as a result hope it will continue to attract leading teams,” said promoter Lord March.

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Watkins Glen, the wonderfully spectacular New York state track which hosted the American Grands Prix from 1961 until 1980, is in discussion with Thoroughbred Grand Prix organisers with a view to staging next year’s FIA Cup finale. The event would mark the 50th anniversary of Cameron Argetsinger opening the first road circuit there in October 1948.

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The diminutive BRP-BRM Grand Prix car which limes Ireland raced in the 1963 season is being prepared by Hall & Fowler to run in Historic events in 1998. The British Racing Partnership, founded by Alfred Moss and Ken Gregory, only fielded its own GP cars for a year.

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A Gold Leaf Team Lotus 72, a McLaren M19 and the M23 Formula 1 car (which started life as the unique F5000 M25) from the late John Foulston’s collection are for sale by Brooks at Olympia on December 4. David Permell’s ex-Paco Godia Maserati 250F ‘2524’ and the ex-Jackie Stewart 200mph Lola 1260 and VDS-spec T530 Can-Am cars are also under the hammer.

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Motoring broadcaster Richard Hudson-Evans and Michael Valentine have won this season’s Safety Devices Historic Rally Championship in their Porsche 911.