On Thursday 15 September Sir Stirling Moss OBE officially opened a new seafood restaurant and cocktail bar at the Royal Automobile Club’s Woodcote Park clubhouse.

On Thursday 15 September Sir Stirling Moss OBE officially opened a new seafood restaurant and cocktail bar at the Royal Automobile Club’s Woodcote Park clubhouse in Epsom. Leading a cavalcade of classic Jaguars, Sir Stirling made a spectacular entrance down the Captain’s Drive to the delight of members and guests.

Sir Stirling led the procession in a Jaguar XK120, the same model he drove on the eve of his 21^st birthday, when he won the Royal Automobile Club International Tourist Trophy on the Dundrod circuit in Northern Ireland. During 1951 and 1961 Stirling won the race a further six times. Also taking part in the parade was the Jaguar C-type commemorating his win in 1951 and the famous long nose D-type which won the 12-hour race at Reims in 1956.

Historically, there are few racing drivers whose success extends to every category of motor sport. Sir Stirling Moss OBE can lay claim to that accolade. In 1955 he raced to victory in the British Grand Prix at Aintree, the Mille Miglia and the Targo Florio. The Club’s new destination restaurant was truly inspired by the life and tastes of Sir Stirling, featuring classic seafood dishes and his signature cocktails.

Sir Stirling and his wife, Lady Moss, played an integral role in developing the menus.  Sir Stirling said: “I have been eating at the Club for over 60 years and this new restaurant reflects my love of seafood, the appreciation of lavish surroundings and attentive service”.  He went on to say that, “the restaurant has a wonderful ambience and will make for a truly great dining experience”.

Sir Stirling has had a long and fruitful relationship with the Royal Automobile Club. In 1954 he was given honorary life membership and Club Chairman, Tom Purves, said it was imperative that the new restaurant truly encapsulated the spirit of Sir Stirling. ‘We had a lot to live up to. I hope that members will enjoy Stirling’s as much as we have enjoyed trying to create something special, something memorable, in the name of our most famous, most heralded, most loved member. A true racer and a fine gentleman.’

The Club’s Executive Head Chef, Philip Corrick, commented: ‘We developed dishes inspired by discussions I had with Sir Stirling, and by the many achievements he is credited with. Monaco is his favourite destination, which had a huge influence on the menu. One of the signature dishes is Ravioli Mille Miglia, a seafood ravioli with lobster sauce.’ Because of Sir Stirling’s close relationship with Goodwood, all the meat and dairy produce in the restaurant is from Goodwood Estates Home Farm and the focus is on the best of British food. Sir Stirling and Lady Moss also lent inspiration to the signature cocktails on offer. The ‘No.7’, a modern twist on the classic Champagne cocktail, takes its name from Sir Stirling’s favourite race car number and is mixed with his favourite ingredients. ‘Stirling’s Moss’ is a long and refreshing drink that gets its vibrant hue from locally-sourced fresh ingredients and is inspired by the Woodcote racing green colour.

Also on display in the restaurant was a range of iconic and personal artefacts from Stirling’s private collection including the original steering wheel from his dramatic crash at Goodwood, navigator Denis Jenkinson’s pace notes from the triumphant Mille Miglia win in 1955, plus Sir Stirling’s racing gloves, boots, trophies and other significant memorabilia.

The event concluded with a special presentation to Sir Stirling and a  birthday cake to celebrate his 87^th birthday (17 September).

The Royal Automobile Club:

The Royal Automobile Club was founded in 1897 and its distinguished history mirrors that of motoring itself. In 1907, the Club was awarded its Royal title by King Edward VII, sealing the Club’s status as Britain’s oldest and most influential motoring organisation.

The Club’s early years were focused on promoting the motor car and its place in society, which developed into motoring events such as the 1000 Mile Trial, first held in 1900. In 1905, the Club held the first Tourist Trophy, which remains the oldest continuously competed for motor sports event. The Club promoted the first pre-war and post-war Grands Prix at Brooklands in 1926 and Silverstone in 1948 respectively, whilst continuing to campaign for the rights of the motorist, including introducing the first driving licences.

Today, the Club continues to develop and support automobilism through representation on the Motor Sport Association (MSA), Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) and RAC Foundation. It also  promotes its own motoring events, such as the free-to-attend Regent Street Motor Show and the Bonhams London to Brighton Veteran Car Run supported by Hiscox, which are two of the highlights of the Club’s London Motor Week, which this year runs from Monday 31 October to Sunday 6 November 2016.

The Royal Automobile Club also awards a series of historic trophies and medals celebrating motoring achievements. These include the Segrave Trophy, the Tourist Trophy, the Simms Medal, the Dewar Trophy, the Torrens Trophy and the Diamond Jubilee Trophy.

The 2015 Beaujolais Run® was set off on its jouney by John Surtees OBE, who joined in the fun, in a Ferrari FF.

Over 30 crews participated in this year’s Beaujolais Run® which was flagged off by John Surtees from the Royal Automobile Club, Woodcote Park, Epsom on Monday 16^th November.

The Beaujolais Run® was initially a race to get the first bottle of the new season’s Beaujolais wine back to England; it has taken place 45 times since its inception in 1970.  Following the death of his son in 2009, John Surtees OBE became patron, and sponsorship funds raised by participants is donated to the Henry Surtees Foundation.

The Beaujolais Run® is a navigational trail through a cryptic checkpoint course that begins in the UK and ends in Burgundy, France. 

It is designed to give a level playing field for all types of vehicles, be they classic cars, supercars, Classic Cars, off-roaders, daily drivers and/or touring motorcycles of any age. With navigation classes for ‘maps only’ and ‘any assistance’ (satellite navigation, etc.).

The four day rally prides itself on its unique, unprecedented access to chateaux, historic battle fields, famous vineyards and encounters at world renowned motor racing circuits, plus fantastic driving through Belgium and France and this year was no exception. 

The 1200 mile rally also visited the diamond city of Antwerp (a location favoured by Napoleon), visiting the Battle of Waterloo site. They were guest of the Mayor of Beaujolais for the celebrations of the release of the 2015 Nouveau vintage. 

All the participants were then driven to the chateau and home of the Taittinger Champagne family in Reims, where they were able to enjoy a superb dinner accompanied by a champagne from the Taittinger cellars chosen for each course.

Two and four-wheeled World Champion, and Patron of the Beaujolais Run® - John Surtees OBE joined the run participants in Reims on Thursday 19^th November driving the Ferrari FF after having seen them off at the start at RAC Woodcote Park. 

He was pictured loading a case of this year's Beaujolais Nouveau in a very wet pit lane at Reims (Gueux Circuit) in amongst meeting local fans.

John Surtees said “it was a delight to join the participants on the Beaujolais Run, and we are grateful to the Taittinger family for their hospitality, we all swapped the wheel for a coach  that night, as the champagne was flowing generously!”

Guest speaker Malcolm Barber, of Bonhams joined the dinner and shared stories of his involvement in some fantastic sales that he was involved with, including that of a Ferrari 250GTO that John was very conversant with, having raced one on numerous occasions.

John Surtees continued “I enjoyed visiting the start line of the old Reims Circuit; it holds many memories to me of racing both in sports cars and F1 cars. 

I met with French motor racing enthusiasts and got to hear about the terrific restoration work that they are carrying out to preserve the historic track and pit buildings. Back on the open road, I really had to resist temptation driving the FF, it’s so responsive, and with those wonderful French roads, no traffic, and a 12 cylinder engine – the temptation was difficult.”

The Run’s participants had plenty of fun and frustration on route as they tried to cover the course in the shortest distance to win the coveted ‘P2’ position on the following year’s start line. P1 is reserved for the highest fundraising team. 

All crews headed for deepest Burgundy and return, aiming to be the first that brings back the Beaujolais after its midnight release.

The Beaujolais Run® 2015 was generously supported by a number of key partners, including Partridge and Co., Champagne Taittinger, Ssangyong, Louise Latour, Rose and White Tailoring, The Review and Screaming Eagles, as well as Bentley Motors, Ferrari North Europe, Jaguar Cars and Artemis.