Graham Goode Explained

Graham Goode
Nationality: British
Birth Date:24 February 1949
Birth Place:Leicester, Leicestershire, England
Last Series:British Saloon / Touring Car Championship
Years Active:10
Teams:Graham Goode Racing
Starts:92
Wins:0 (9 in class)
Poles:0
Fastest Laps:9
Best Finish:7th
Year:1984
Titles:British Saloon Car Championship - Class B
Title Years:1985

Graham Derek Goode (born 24 February 1949) is a British former racing driver and car tuning specialist.

Goode worked as an engineer for Broadspeed alongside his contemporary Andy Rouse, before he won the Forward Trust Saloon Car Championship in a self built Ford Anglia in 1974. He founded his own preparation company, Graham Goode Performance Centre in 1976, specialising in Ford vehicles.[1]

BTCC career

After winning several championships in national motorsport, Goode moved up to the British Saloon Car Championship in 1984 driving his own company's Nissan Bluebird. Results came quickly, with several wins scored and a 3rd place in class in his first season. The following season saw another competitive showing. Taking advantage of his relationship with Ford, Goode was one of the first drivers to race the Ford Sierra RS500 in 1987, in fact taking the type's first ever victory.[2] Goode continued his relationship with the RS500 in the following seasons, building his own cars independently to race in the series. He expanded and ran his team with Listerine sponsorship and took on Sean Walker and Mike Newman as drivers alongside himself. While the team's results were solid, Goode could not repeat his earlier good form.[3] Ford were not investing in any one team and without sufficient funds, results were hard to come by.[4]

Following the switch from the class system to the super touring regulations in 1991, Goode ran the car for Andy Middlehurst, and despite having very little money, managed to have a competitive season.[3] Goode left the BTCC and began racing in the far east, winning races in Malaysia.[5]

Graham Goode Performance Centre

Today, Goode continues to run his car preparation business, based in Leicestershire. Employing 25 people, the company offers performance parts, tuning and restoration of Ford, Subaru and Mitsubishi vehicles.

Racing record

Complete British Saloon / Touring Car Championship results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap – 1 point awarded ?–1989 in class)

YearTeamCarClass12345678910111213DCPtsClass
1980Kamasa ToolsFord Capri III 3.0sMAL
5†
OUL
4†
THR
Ret
SIL
5
SIL
Ret
BRH
?
MALBRH
Ret
THR
DNS
SIL
12
27th87th
1981Bestmoor SilencersFord Capri III 3.0sMAL
7†
SILOUL
10†
THR
8
BRHSIL
?
SIL
9
DON
9†
BRHTHRSIL
Ret
41st114th
1982Graham Goode RacingFord Capri III 3.0sSILMAL
6†
OULTHRTHR
6
SIL
7
DON
Ret
BRHDON
4
BRHSIL
Ret
31st59th
1983Graham Goode RacingFord Capri III 3.0sSIL
Ret
OULTHRBRHTHR
5
SILDON
Ret
SIL
Ret
DONBRHSIL26th313th
1984Graham Goode RacingNissan Bluebird TurboDON
18
SIL
14
OUL
12
THR
13
THR
Ret
SIL
11
SNE
Ret
BRH
Ret
BRH
7
DON
6
SIL
DSQ
7th403rd
1985Graham Goode RacingNissan Bluebird TurboSIL
4
OUL
3
THR
Ret
DON
5
THR
6
SIL
DSQ
DON
3
SIL
DSQ
SNE
6
BRH
6
BRHSIL10th37‡1st
1987Listerine Racing TeamFord Sierra RS CosworthSIL
5
OUL
2
THR
2
THR
Ret
SIL
3
SIL
4
BRH
15
SNE
5
9th344th
Ford Sierra RS500DON
2
OUL
Ret
DONSIL
1988Listerine-Texaco RacingFord Sierra RS500SIL
Ret
OUL
Ret
THR
11
DON
Ret
THR
7
SIL
7
SIL
9
BRH
13
SNE
5
BRH
6
BIR
C
DON
5
SIL
Ret
39th514th
1989Listerine Racing TeamFord Sierra RS500OUL
Ret
SIL
4
THR
DNS
DON
DNQ
THR
10
SIL
Ret
SIL
6
BRH
Ret
SNE
11
BRH
6
BIR
9
DON
6
SIL
Ret
35th612th
1990Listerine Racing TeamFord Sierra RS500OUL
Ret
DON
5
THR
6
SIL
Ret
OUL
7
SIL
5
BRH
Ret
SNE
5
BRH
6
BIR
Ret
DON
4
THR
4
SIL
3
11th726th

† Events with 2 races staged for the different classes.

‡ Docked 20 points for technical infringements.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Graham Goode Racing, Leicester, Performance Engine Tuning Parts Specialist, Leisure, Workshop, Shop online.
  2. Web site: Road Cars of Touring Car Racing: Ford Sierra.
  3. Web site: ford-sierra-cosworth. 7 July 2014.
  4. Web site: Payment - Driver Database.
  5. Web site: Graham Goode Racing - Racing History.