The Great Races #3:The Race of Giants, Macau 1978.

As many of you may have no doubt seen, last weekend saw the 75th annual Members Meeting at Goodwood Circuit and, featured many races & demonstrations from many different type and class of race car, many driven by enthusiasts and current owners, some by the drivers who raced the machinery at the time and, some drivers competing in various disciplines currently taking time out to try something different, and this got me thinking.

1978 saw the 25th anniversary of the Macau GP, an event that still takes place to this day but, to commemorate the silver jubilee if you like, a race was held and, saw many famous names from the world of motorsports compete against one another in identical MkII 1.6 Litre Ford Escorts. Yes you read that correctly.

Among the drivers turning out for this event were: 

Prince Bira

Baron Toulo de Graffenried

Phil Hill

Mike Hailwood

Stirling Moss

Jack Brabham

Dan Gurney 

Bobby Unser

Denny Hulme

Jacky Ickx

Teddy Yip, the then owner of the Theodore Formula 1 race team would also compete along with Bob Harper, another of the brains behind the idea.

So, a grid full of F1 champions and race winners, Indy 500 victors and Le Mans 24 hour conquerors, among others in identical family saloons and on an unfamiliar circuit.

Ickx, perhaps unsurprisingly being that he was the only active driver in the race took an early lead, ahead of Bobby Unser and Jack Brabham while Moss and Gurney followed closely behind, Moss was the first of the front pack to make a move when he battled past both Brabham and Unser to take second early on in the 12 lap encounter, it was to be short lived however as a puncture following contact with a kerb (Macau is, of course a street circuit) while dicing with Hailwood put an early end to his race. Hailwood however, more used to the roads around the Isle of Man - and two fewer wheels was showing the 3 time F1 champion Brabham and US racing expert Unser that he was more than here to just make up the numbers.

Up front mind, Ickx was away and cruising, lapping De Graffenried before the end the podium chasing pack caught the Swiss racer who, sensibly let them past. At the flag it was Ickx from Hailwood eventually Unser, Gurney and Brabham 5th. 

I often wonder if this race helped to pave the way for such events as The Race of Champions, The Festival of Speed, The Revival and other classic and more demonstration based events. Maybe it did, maybe not, but it must have been a fantastic event for the lucky few who got to see it first hand nearly 40 years ago.

Here's a taste of what went on: