5 cool cars competing in the Sussex Trophy

Sadler MkII

The second of several racing cars built by Canadian designer Bill Sadler, the Sadler MkII was intended to be an upgrade for his original MkI that was plagued with handling issues. He developed a whole new ladder chassis from chromoly steel that would comply with the FIA regulations at that time, and incorporated Jowett wishbones and a Morris Minor steering rack. He developed his own rear suspension and powered the whole thing with a 4.6-litre Chevrolet V8. The brakes were eventually upgraded to Triumph disks, and the Sadler MkII was ultimately pretty competitive when it hit the track.

Bill drove the car to victory at Watkins Glen in 1958, but it wasn’t long until he caught the attention of an Earl Nisonger, who commissioned a new MkIII version which would render the MkII obsolete.

Fortunately, the MkII survived and we can now enjoy it in action at the Goodwood Revival in the Sussex Trophy. Owned by Julian Majzub, who will share driving duties with Alasdair McCraig, this is one of several cars to look out for on Friday.

Lister ‘Costin’

Frank Costin was one of the pre-eminent aerodynamicists in the 1950s. He introduced the idea of a new, more aero-efficient design for the Lister ‘Knobbly’ to Brian Lister, and after a period of persuasion was brought on board at Lister to implement his grand idea.

The plan was to build a new lightweight space frame chassis and cover it in a new streamlined body. Work on the chassis took far longer than initially planned, and so the new bodywork was instead put to use on existing Lister chassis; it was these cars that came to be known as the ‘Costin’ Listers.

In all, 17 Costins were built, and four of them are scheduled to participate in the 2024 Sussex Trophy at the Goodwood Revival. They’re distinguishable from their Knobbly kin by their sleeker wheel spats.

Kellison J4

Another upstart in 1950s sportscars was Jim Kellison, who founded his own car company and developed a series of cars including this Kellison J4. In roadster form, production was limited to somewhere between 20 and 25 cars from 1957-’58 and it was designed primarily as a car for the road. Very little is known about its competitive motorsport history, but we’re certain its big Chevrolet engine will have plenty to say when it fires up for the Sussex Trophy.

The Kellison J4’s distinct shape will set it apart from basically everything else on the grid on Friday. Its square grille and sloped front end are a departure from the rounded beauties we’re used to seeing in the Sussex Trophy.

Tojeiro

Next, we have the Tojeiro-Jaguar that was built for the Ecurie Ecosse team’s entry to the 1959 Le Mans 24 Hours. John Tojeiro had become renowned for his racing cars that had borne engines from Jaguar, Buick, Bristol and Climax, and this was the fourth and final Jaguar-engined car he built.

It ran well in the first 12 hours of the race; it was embroiled in a tough battle for the podium places when it began to leak fluids and eventually succumbed to engine failure. It also crashed out of that year’s RAC Tourist Trophy, when a certain Jim Clark was sharing driving duties with Masten Gregory, and despite some pretty hefty damage sustained in that accident it survives to this day, and is set to race in the Sussex Trophy this weekend.

Ferrari 250TR

The yellow and black Ferrari 250TR is difficult to miss when it's out on the Motor Circuit, and it’s flying the flag solo for Scuderia Ferrari in the Sussex Trophy in 2024. Pressure indeed. It’s a beautiful thing, emitting an equally awe-inspiring sound from its 3.0-litre Colombo V12.

The 250 TR was a hugely successful sportscar. It won the Le Mans 24 Hours and Sebring 12 Hours three times apiece and the Targa Florio in 1958. It also won Ferrari the World Sportscar Championship in 1958, 1960 and ’61 with a list of drivers that included Phil Hill, Peter Collins, Dan Gurney, Wolfgang von Trips and Mike Hawthorn.

Memories of those great performances will be at the front of our minds when the 250 TR heads out for the Sussex Trophy on Friday evening.