2024 Goodwood Members Meeting Races - Old Yeller II
The ‘Grandeur of Goodwood’
Goodwood Members Meeting Races, April 13-14, 2024
Grandeur: The noun grandeur is used to describe something that is splendid or magnificent, such as a lofty idea or an impressive building
Derived from the Old French word grand, meaning “great,” the word grandeur is used to describe things that are distinguished, extraordinary, and impressive in scope
We were humbled to have been invited to race the 1959 ‘Old Yeller II’ Buick Special at the 2024 April 13-14, 2024, 81st Goodwood Members Meeting Races. The Goodwood Racing events are considered to be the “World Cup” and the pinnacle of Historic Racing. Goodwood racing is a special curated, ‘by invite only,’ sold-out U.K. race event, staged by the Duke of Richmond, formerly titled Lord Charles March. The Old Yeller II was invited to the September 2023 Goodwood Revival Meeting Tribute to Carroll Shelby, as the Old Yeller II was raced by Carroll in 1960 at Santa Barbara and Road America. An invitation followed to leave the Old Yeller II in England and race at the April 2024 Goodwood Members Meeting Races. We arrived at Heathrow and it was a “Rassemblement” of our U.K. support crew and team, as Mike Lillywhite picked us up. In the year 2000, at our first invitation to Goodwood by the then titled Lord Charles March, we were instructed to provide our own personal petrol drums or containers. We met Mike in Emsworth and he readily went to his Sailing Club to bring us clean ‘Jerry Cans’ for our race fuel. This year, we booked a house in Havant and it was once an historic period Tanning building, as there was a fresh percolating fresh spring in the front area. Our first stop was a short trip to Chichester for the famous ‘Turners Pies’ with favorite being the ‘steak and ale’ choice. It is a long, when hungry, 20 minute wait if a hot pie is wanted, as it is oven heated just for you. Grandma Eva Turner started making the Meat Pies 90 years ago and also available are the legendary Pork, Apple, and Black Pudding Scotch Eggs. Sean McClurg has been our prior U.K. crew/Race Shop, who joined us in the classic “esprit de corp” feeling and also Erik van der Schaaf of NL joined us. Erik is a ‘Pro’ Photographer and he assisted us at the 2000 Goodwood Festival of Speed Event. John and Sandy (niece of Bruce McLaren) Chalmers, our “New Zealand team” came to join our U.K. team.
Friday was “Tech” Day and the Tech Scrutineers checked the OY II and our driving gear for International FIA Certification with a special check of our driving shoes and helmet. We had to mount and have “Spec” Dunlop hard compound tires, costing over $3000 for a set of tires. Seat belts were outdated... we scrambled and got it right.’ With all of the required ‘stickers’ on, including a ‘nomex’ fireproof ‘event’ patch to be sewed on with the needle and thread provided! New thin FIA Nomex undershirts are now selling at $200! We had a special invitation from the Duke of Richmond for a ‘Black Tie’ Dinner at the Goodwood House on Friday evening.
The Old Yeller II was in the Peter Collins Trophy Race Group. Racing at the iconic, hallowed Goodwood circuit is a… “bring your best game,” with laser focus and sensibility. The Peter Collins Trophy grid is a recalling of ‘the thrilling days of yesteryear’ and the epic Sports Car Racing era of the Le Mans 24 Hours, among other sports car races, following World War II. The selected grid included some of the rarest cars, which included the rare D’ and C’ Type Jaguars, Aston Martin DB3S and Maserati 300S. Peter Collins raced cars of this era, racing across Europe at the top of sportscar racing events.
Saturday: The Peter Collins Race was before the last Practice/ Quali’ session of the day. All of the Race Cars in the session were blindingly fast. It was puzzling, as the last race for the OY II was at the March 2023 Phillip Island in Australia and it was compliant in handling… and the handling became near progressively impossible, during the session. Upon returning to the paddock and the floor jack lift of the left rear… it was discovered that the entire inside of the left rear tire and rim was covered with oil, which was from the ‘overflow’ oil from the rear ‘differential!!.’ It was so very fortunate not to have had a fast excursion ‘off track’ as the track edge around the circuit was wet soggy grass from weeks of non-stop rain in U.K. that would result in a rapid, out of control ‘hydroplaning” across the grass into the tire barriers!!
There was non-stop greeting of the great fans stopping by, as so many recall the OY II from 2000 onward and Elaine is the perfect “Ambassador” rolling out historical stories about the car. She handed out cards and Samuel Chang joined us from Kent WA and he brought over 300 small toys for the children. There were some emotional and priceless moments and one was a reunion with Mark Sanders. In 2000, we were dressed for a Gala function held at the Goodwood house and we were near the front door when I told Elaine to wait, as I recalled seeing a young boy with ‘arm-hand’ disability, in a hooded jacket and in a wheelchair waiting to catch a glimpse of some of the ‘Super Stars’ of Motorsport, arriving near the front door. It was dark and with slight rain. I went back to the young boy, Mark Sanders, and gave him some pins and cards and invited him to visit us in the Paddock. He came the next day to visit us and we stayed in touch with Mark through the years. This year he and his proud father came to visit us and Mark was in a Motorized unit for him. There were tears and big hugs, as we had some gifts and were given biscuits. Mark proudly has sustained successfully having an intelligent bright mind, only limited with a muscular movement disability…priceless indeed and ‘over the moon’ for us. Another touching moment was to see Daniel Lloyd and his parents, as at the 2000 Goodwood Event, Daniel was 6 years old and we put him into the seat of the OY II as his father watched. Daniel went home and said, “Mum, please make some cupcakes for my friends!!” The next day, Daniel brought cupcakes and we stayed in touch through the many years. This year, Daniel came with his parents and his girlfriend… along with his ‘Mums’ freshly baked “Tea Bread” …to keep the touching tradition alive and well! Daniel is now an International Motorsports Journalist, priceless again!
Sunday Race: The Old Yeller was difficult with ‘under and oversteering’ handling issues and had to 'watch my mirrors’ with over half of the drivers being fast ‘hired guns’… Pro and Semi Pro drivers for the owners of the mega-million dollar race cars. Just before the end of the race, while coming down the front straight’… the 3rd gear completely locked out and fortunately for a large grassy area to the right to pull over as, I did not want to have the race stopped, if the car left in a precarious location adjacent to the track. The Marshals were quick and great in responding, as they had to first check if it was only a mechanical failure! It was a difficult ‘tow,’ as the gear was locked in 3rd. Being late in the day for the race, we faced the chilly biting cold winds, but we were warm in our hearts… that our team with the‘Esprit de Corp’ spirit prevailed, strong, proud, and intact!
Ernest Nagamatsu
Photographs by John Taylor