Part 4: Honda’s Racing Machines｜Goodwood 2005｜Goodwood Festival of Speed

The countdown has begun to Goodwood Festival of Speed, and for three days from Friday, June 24 through Sunday, June 26, historic car enthusiasts will be treated to the once-a-year celebration they have been waiting for.

The most exciting part of the event will be the time trial, a 1.16-mile (1.856 km) hill climb through the vast Goodwood grounds.

Here are the Honda machines that will be competing in this time trial, in which both old and new motorcycles and cars will be piloted by both legends of yesteryear and the current racing heroes.

Most of Honda’s racing machines in the time trial are shipped to the U.K. by air from the Honda Collection Hall in Twin Ring Motegi. Of course, they are not just transported, but are carefully restored beforehand. The main aim of restoration is to reproduce the machines’ original performance and exhaust sounds at the engine speeds of the era.

Restoration is conducted in the hope that the famous racers will be able to ride or drive as if they were back in the old days, and that visitors will be able to enjoy the unchanged performance and exhaust sounds.

The important aspect in terms of hardware is that the engine runs at a high speed, the brakes work correctly, and the machine is safe to ride or drive. These are the essential conditions for the machine to work as if it was back in the day. In addition, handling balance and other aspects are carefully worked out.

As mentioned before, a racing machine is basically only as durable as the race it will run in, so even getting the engine fired up is a major undertaking. It requires very delicate adjustments to restore deteriorated parts to the same level as they were at the time, and to raise the engine speed to the level at which it ran in its heyday.

Pedal positions and seats are also preserved in their original settings, and tests are conducted as much as possible in the style of that time period, without altering the settings.

For example, former WGP rider Freddie Spencer rode on the front end of the seat, so the test riders also ride toward the front end to check the balance of the racing bike. This policy was not only a hardware matter, but also about the way it was ridden.

The meticulous restoration work continues right up to the moment the machine is packed for transportation, and once it arrives in the U.K., components such as the carburetors are set up to suit the local climate.

The 2005 Goodwood Festival of Speed will feature an unprecedented number of Honda racing machines that have been carefully restored by Honda staff. Here are the machines and their riders and drivers who will be competing in the time trials:

Motorcycles

RC116

1966 Isle of Man TT race-winner (Rider: Ralph Bryans)

Honda introduced the RC112, the world’s first air-cooled 4-stroke, 2-cylinder engine in the 50cc class of the World Grand Prix. The RC116 was its final iteration. It boasted a maximum output of over 14 PS at 21,500 rpm and was equipped with a 9-speed transmission. In 1966, it won three out of six races to take the constructors’ title, and played a role in the first-ever domination of all five WGP classes by Honda racing bikes. Ralph Bryans, a RC116 rider from that era, will be riding the rider at Goodwood this year.

RC149

1966 WGP East German GP (Round 6) 125cc class-winner (Rider: Luigi Taveri)

The world's first road racer powered by a 125cc air-cooled 4-stroke, 5-cylinder engine. Its maximum output was 34 PS or more at 20,500 rpm. Its transmission was 8-speed. The RC149 was an evolution of the RC148 that finished second in the 1965 Japanese Grand Prix and won the constructors’ and riders’ titles with five wins in 1966. Luigi Taveri, the RC149 rider at the time, will be the rider at Goodwood.

RC166

1967 Isle of Man TT race-winner (Rider: Mike Hailwood)

As the two-stroke racing bikes gained dominance, Honda introduced the RC166, an even higher-revving 6-cylinder machine than its 4-cylinder engines in the 250cc class, which it had previously preferred 4-cylinder engines. Its maximum output was over 60 PS at 18,000 rpm and was equipped with a 7-speed gearbox. The RC166 won 7 of the 13 races in the 250cc class of the 1967 WGP. It won the constructors’ and riders’ titles for the second year in a row. Stewart Graham will ride the RC166 at Goodwood.

RC173

1966 WGP 350cc class-winner (Rider: Mike Hailwood)

A rarely seen racing machine, this bike was the model before the RC174 that won 7 out of 8 races in 1967. It was an evolution of the RC171, a specifically-designed bike which debuted in the WGP 350cc class. The RC173 won 6 out of 10 rounds in the WGP 350cc class in 1966, claiming the constructors' and riders' titles. Powered by an air-cooled 4-stroke 4-cylinder DOHC engine. Maximum output was over 62 PS at 13,500 rpm. It was equipped with a 6-speed transmission. Bob Heath will be riding this bike at this year’s Goodwood.

RC181

1967 WGP Dutch GP (Round 5) 500cc class-winner (Rider: Mike Hailwood)

The RC181 won the 1967 WGP Dutch TT (Assen, Holland) in the 500cc class setting a fastest lap record. Powered by an air-cooled 4-stroke, 4-cylinder DOHC engine. Maximum output wasriding over 85 PS at 12,000 rpm. 6-speed transmission. Tommy Robb and David Hailwood will be driving this machine at Goodwood this year.

NSR500

1985 WGP French GP (Round 6) 500cc class-winner (Rider: Freddie Spencer)

Winner of the 1985 WGP 500cc class with 8 wins in 12 races and the constructors’ and riders’ titles, the NSR500 was built with an ULF (ultralight frame). Powered by a water-cooled 2-stroke 90-degree V4 engine. Maximum power output was over 140 PS at 11,500 rpm. 6-speed transmission. Freddie Spencer won the double title in 1985 in the 500cc and 250cc classes. Freddie Spencer, who raced the NSR500 at the time, will ride at this year’s Goodwood.

NSR500

1988 WGP 500cc class (Rider: Wine Gardner)

Raced in the 1988 WGP season. The fifth year NSR model with an improved V4 engine and chassis, finished 2nd in the 500cc class. Powered by a water-cooled 2-stroke 90-degree V4 engine. Maximum output was over 150 PS at 12,500 rpm. Wayne Gardner, NSR500 rider at the time, will ride at this year’s Goodwood.

NSR500

1995 WGP 500cc class-winnier (Rider: Mick Doohan)

Won the 1994-1995 WGP 500cc class championship. Equipped with injection and PGM suspension tested since 1994, the NSR500 won 7 of the 13 rounds. The water-cooled, 2-stroke, 90-degree V-4 engine ignited two cylinders simultaneously, resulting in a maximum output of more than 180 PS at 12,200 rpm. It had a six-speed gearbox. Mick Doohan, NSR500 rider at the time, will ride at Goodwood.

RC211V

2002 WGP South Africa GP (Round 2) MotoGP class-winner (Rider: Tohru Ukawa)

In 2002, the WGP’s premier class (500cc class) was replaced by the MotoGP class. Honda entered a new machine powered by a 990cc water-cooled 4-stroke V5 engine. The RC211V won 14 of the 16 rounds, giving Honda the constructors’ and riders’ titles for the second straight year. Maximum output was more than 200 PS. Nicky Hayden, who currently competes in MotoGP on an RC211V with the Repsol Honda Team factory team will ride at Goodwood.

Automobiles

RA272

1965 F1 Mexico GP (Round 10), 5th place (Driver: Ronnie Bucknum)

The successor to the RA271, which debuted at the 1964 German Grand Prix as the first Japanese produced F1 car. The RA272/RA271 were also famous for their transversely mounted water-cooled 4-stroke V-12 DOHC engines. Maximum output was over 230 PS at 12,000 rpm, and top speed exceeded 300 km/h. The car at Goodwood is the same model as Honda’s first GP-winner at the 1965 Mexican Grand Prix (Round 10), drivven by the car that brought Honda its memorable first F1 victory in the 10th Mexican Grand Prix in 1965, driven by Richie Ginther. Jeff Bucknum, son of then driver Ronnie Bucknum, will drive at this year’s Goodwood.

Brabham Honda BT18

1966 European F2 championship winner (Driver: Jack Brabham)

Honda supplied the newly developed F2 engineto the Brabham Racing Team from 1965, and in 1966 the team won the European F2 Championship with 11 consecutive victories. Powered by a 994 cc water-cooled 4-stroke inline 4-cylinder DOHC engine. Maximum output was over 150 HP at 11,000 rpm, and top speed was over 270 km/h. Stewart Graham will drive the BT18 at Goodwood.

RA300

1967 F1 Italian GP (Round 9) winner (Driver: John Surtees)

The RA300 won its debut race at the Italian GP (Round 9) in 1967, the second year of the F1 engine displacement change to 3000 cc. It was powered by a water-cooled 4-stroke 90-degree V-12 DOHC engine. Maximum output was over 420 PS at 11,500 rpm, and its top speed was over 350 km/h. John Surtees will drive the RA300 at Goodwood.Surtees, after winning seven world championship titles in motorcycle racing, made his F1 debut in 1960 at the Monaco GP and went on to claim the world championship title in 1964. The racing prodigy joined Honda in 1967, won the RA300’s debut race in Italy, and brought Honda it’s second F1 win.

Williams Honda FW11

1986 F1 World Championship winner (Driver: Nelson Piquet)

A new car that complied with the new F1 fuel tank capacity regulations. Powered by a liquid-cooled 4-stroke 80-degree V6 DOHC 4-valve twin-turbo engine. Maximum output exceeded 1,000 PS. In 1986, Honda won its first constructors’ championship, thanks to the efforts of Piquet and Mansell. Nelson Angelo Piquet, son of Nelson Piquet, will drive at Goodwood. Piquet (Junior) was the youngest driver to win the British Formula 3 series in 2003 at the age of 19 years and 2 months. He has test driven for Williams BMW in 2004 and B-A-R Honda in February 2005.

McLaren Honda MP4/4

1988 F1 Belgium GP (Round 11) winner (Driver: Ayrton Senna)

In 1988, Honda won 15 out of 16 races, setting a record for most wins in a season and took the constructors’ and drivers’ titles. Powered by a water-cooled 4-stroke 80-degree V6 DOHC 4-valve twin-turbo engine. Anthony Davidson will drive the MP4/4 at Goodwood this year. Davidson, who competed in the 2001 British Formula 3 championship alongside Takuma Sato, joined B-A-R Honda in 2001 as a test driver.

B-A-R Honda 007

B-A-R Honda’s 2005 F1 car. The 007 was powered by the highly durable Honda RA005E, significantly redesigned to comply with the new 1 engine per 2 grands prix rule while lowering center of gravity in a more compact package. The car’s body was been further integrated with the engine in a sophisticated packaging that achieved a further reduction in weight. akuma Sato will drive the 007 on Saturday (25th) and Jenson Button on Sunday (26th).