61 Years Ago Today
On the 19th of August 1961, Goodwood Motor Circuit hosted the annual Goodwood Tourist Trophy, hosting an array of British motor racing talent including Stirling Moss, Jim Clark, Graham Hill, Roy Salvadori, Innes Ireland and Mike Parkes.
Parkes started ahead of Moss, the duo racing in a pair of private Ferrari 250 GT SWB cars. Behind them were three Aston Martin DB4 GTs piloted by Salvadori and Clark in Zagato-bodied variants and Ireland who was behind the wheel of a normal-bodied version. Parkes started well, retaining the lead into the first corner, followed closely by Moss and the Astons. A slightly slower start for Salvadori dropped him to fourth behind Clark by the end of the first lap, though Salvadori regained this place soon after as the trunk of Clark’s Aston had opened itself and he had to pull into the pits to fix the issue.
On lap eight, Moss overtook Parkes for the lead and set off, slowly establishing an increasing lead. One by one the contenders made their pit stops, the race order alternating according to who was in the pits and how long they stayed, but it was clear Moss's less flamboyant style was allowing him to go several more laps than Parkes on each set of tyres, hoping for one less change before the chequered flag.
Around halfway through the race, Parkes was black-flagged when part of his undertray began to drag on the road after an off-course excursion behind the bushes at Woodcote, allowing Salvadori and Ireland up into second and third places and allowing Moss a clear run to the end. This was not to last for the Astons though, as Parkes made a tactical surprise on his fourth and final pit stop, managing to undercut both Salvadori and Ireland to regain second place. Moss passed the chequered flag to claim his seventh TT victory, Parkes taking second position and Salvadori eventually claimed the final podium place. It seemed that the British Automobile Racing Club were so sure that Stirling "Mr Goodwood" Moss would win that they then presented him with a cake complete with seven candles to celebrate his seventh win.
Ferrari 250 GT SWB
As raced to victory by Stirling Moss
Described by Moss as “the best GT car in the world”, the SWB Berlinetta won Ferrari the GT class of the 1961 Constructor's Championship. It was also victorious at the 1960, 1961 and 1962 Tour de France Automobile before being replaced by the equally legendary 250 GTO. 1:8 scale models of the 250 GT SWB are currently available to order.
Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato
'1 VEV' as raced to third by Roy Salvadori
To faithfully recreate 1 VEV, we were honoured to be given access to the original car to capture every detail with a very precise digital scan, and make a photoshoot of around 1000 high resolution images. Primary references have been taken from photographs shot at the 1961 Goodwood TT, with secondary references from other races of the period, and from the car today which was carefully restored to its original specification in 2007. Models at 1:8 scale are currently available to order.