Goodwood’s annual Members’ Meeting features flat-out displays from Kent racers Jake Hill, Nick Swift, Tim Reeves, Chris Goodwin and Rob Fenn

By Simon Hildrew

Platts Heath’s Jake Hill, along with Tenterden duo Nick Swift and Tim Reeves, Sevenoaks’ Chris Goodwin and Kings Hill’s Rob Fenn, joined in the fast and furious action when the historic Goodwood estate held their 81st annual Members’ Meeting.

British Touring Car Championship title contender Hill was behind the wheel of Ric Wood’s 1980 Mk3 Ford Capri 3.0S in the Gordon Spice Trophy Race for Group 1 saloon cars that raced between 1970 and 1982.

The duo finished seventh after some brilliant driving from Hill, who was in 17th place with 25 minutes remaining when he took the wheel and they were the first non-American V8.

Swift, another regular competitor in the Gordon Spice race, in his 1978 Mini 1275 GT, was paired with Alex Buncombe. With Swift starting from 14th he rose to third during the pit stops and came in on lap 12 to hand over to Buncombe, who rejoined in 15th, just ahead of the safety car period. Buncombe then made it up to 13th at the restart and held the position for the remaining 11 laps.

Swift made a sensational start in the next day’s 15-minute sprint race, going from fifth to the lead by the second corner. The race was shortlived, though, as halfway round the lap Nick Sleep’s Rover tagged the back of Larry Warr’s Swiftune Mini, sending him sliding across the damp grass, back onto the track and slamming into the side of Sleep.

Swift had pulled out a decent lead, but the safety car was deployed while the marshals tried to clear the stricken cars before the race was red-flagged.

Jack Tetley’s Camaro got the better of the Minis at the restart, with Swift heading the rest of the chasing pack. Seconds later Swift pulled off onto the grass and into retirement with a broken driveshaft.

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