UKMotorTalk: rev17

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Tuesday, 12 September 2017

Goodwood Revival - Further after thoughts

The second most often heard question I am asked at Goodwood - after "Where is Stirling Moss?" - is some variant on "How is" or "Where is Murray Walker?".

Again, a founding supporter of the Goodwood motor sport events, and widely known as "the voice of Formula 1", Murray is now nearly 94, and has not been to Goodwood this or last year. His health is not so good.

He still makes frequent TV appearances, they are all now filmed at his home, and he is as witty, incisive and perceptive as ever. Apparently he is also as prone to the odd gaffe as he ever was, but now, unfortunately for us, because they are recorded pieces, they are usually edited out.

I have known and talked to Murray for well over 25 years and he is one of most engaging people I have ever met.

I spent a couple of hours trapped in a location catering van in a rainstorm with just Murray as company. Two survivors of a downpour that obliterated the event we were both at. He was that day - one I will long remember - charming, friendly, knowledgeable thoughtful observant and provocative in equal measures.

The man whose adrenalin rush delivery made it sound "like a man with his trousers on fire" is calmer and even more charming to just chat with.

Over the years I have spent much time in his company and enjoyed every moment of that time.

For many many years to come, we will hear his voice on the TV coverage of F1. But, for many who met the man himself at Goodwood, and drew such warmth from his company, it is a lesser place without him.

Perhaps next year's Revival theme should be "the Murray Walker years"? There is certainly plenty of scope there!!!

Join me in wishing Murray good health and hope we may see him again soon.

Graham Benge

Goodwood Revival - After thoughts

This year's Goodwood Revival was different in many ways to the previous 19 I've attended...

The most striking way for me was the absence of many of the legends that I have talked to so often over the years, some that I consider friends.

In recent times we have lost John Surtees, Jack Sears and many others of that generation of racers who were active during what is often regarded as the golden age of motor sport.

There are others whose advancing age and infirmity has meant they can no longer come and add to the Goodwood events in person, events they helped create and evolve, and make the global successes that they are.

Over the weekend, one of the questions that I heard being asked many times, indeed including many times when it was asked of me; "Where is Stirling Moss?"

I have been interviewing Sir Stirling for nigh on 30 years, and consider both him and Lady Susie as friends. At nearly 88, his health has not been good since his illness in Singapore last December.

I spoke to Susie a week or so before Revival, and she said that, sadly, Stirling was not fit enough to attend. It was good to subsequently hear that, even on the Friday morning of the event, he had still wanted to come!

As patron and one of the founders of the Goodwood Revival, he has only previously missed one event in 19 years, and that was through illness.

His willingness to talk to everyone, to sign endless autographs, to lend his great personality to the proceedings, and to charm everyone who encountered him, has made the event what it has become.

Not only have I enjoyed interviewing such a perceptive observer of both the events of his time, and the current scene, but I valued the long sometimes meandering chats, often before and after the formal interviews.

Perhaps the inevitable gradual passing of the generation who actually raced in period at Goodwood will alter, perhaps detract from, the events which they have championed for a quarter century.

For me the presence of such legends made the Goodwood Festival of Speed and Goodwood Revival the global events they have become, their absence for me could reduce those events in stature. It will be interesting to see how the vacuums they have left are filled.

I earnestly hope we shall see both Stirling and Susie back at Goodwood. If not those questions will continue to be asked for many years yet, such is the power of Stirling's legend.

Graham Benge

Monday, 11 September 2017

TVR Griffith Launched at Goodwood Revival

So here it is; the latest offering from TVR.

Revealed at Goodwood’s Earls Court Motorshow, at the aptly named Revival, the brand new Griffith boasts a (tantalisingly close to 500bhp) 480bhp 5-litre V8 borrowed from Mustang and fettled by Cosworth.

TVRs of old were… well… a bit of a handful. Not particularly famed for their sophistication but always, in the most brilliantly British way, absolutely bonkers. The Sagaris was maybe the best example of this; exhausts projecting sideways out of the rear bumper as if the rest of the car was fighting to keep the powerplant under the body. Then there’s the noise, a baleful wail; a jet-fighter of a car you always heard coming before you saw it – streaking past as a ballistic, flip-painted blur.

The new ‘Tiv’ results in a bit of a quandary. It both needs to be and can’t be more of the same. It’s 2017 now and times have moved on.

When the last of the previous TVRs rolled off of the production line and out the door in 2012, the quirky foibles were only borderline acceptable and the bi-polar drive meant that the throttle acted more like a mood switch that when provoked, could end up with you watching as lamp-posts and scenery switched sides. It wasn’t great news if you did have an ‘off’ either. Despite its rawness and its failings, we ended up loving it all the more.

But that was then and this is now.

Drivers, especially those paying around £90k expect more and the TVR will have to deliver if it is to be anything other than very niche or produced only for the 500 early-adopters due to see their new Griffith in 2019.

Retaining all the character and heritage whilst producing a thoroughly modern sports-car will be one hell of a challenge and one their engineers have been working on since 2013.

The new TVR will be quick, there, there is no doubt; 400ish bhp per tonne will allegedly catapult the car in sub-4 seconds to 62mph and topping out at 200mph – proper supercar stats, but without all the AWD electronic trickery that allows mere mortals the ability to progressively pedal around offerings from the likes of Audi or Lamborghini, and arguably removing some of the fun. Instead the car will employ an all-new carbon fibre bonded body and chassis, 50/50 weight distribution and, refreshingly, a six speed manual box. Undoubtedly not the quickest way to swap cogs, but arguably far better for driver involvement.

It’s good looking too if not outlandish, with definite ques from past models, but with a splash of AMG SLR, F-Type, Maserati and [G1] Corvette thrown in for good measure. It’s good to see the signature handle-less doors make a re-appearance too. The interior has also evolved, but as with niche sports-cars and TVR in general, it is clear that certain bits of switchgear have been borrowed from other vehicles. The keen-eyed will notice the steering column, switchgear and air vents all borrowed from the outgoing Fiesta.

We haven’t driven it yet – TVR themselves aren’t running the car here at Goodwood Revival, but with so much invested, there is no doubt that success will be make or break. Meanwhile, we’ll be first in line for the keys.

Michael Gates