The Goodwood Festival of Speed, held July 11–13, has grown every year since its inception in 1993 and now stands alone as the premier event offering something for everyone interested in four- or two-wheeled motor sport. What began as a historic motor sport garden party held in the grounds of the Duke of Richmond and Gordon’s Goodwood House, near Chichester, has evolved into a celebration of automotive culture and the world’s best-attended outdoor motor show.
The Duke’s son, the Earl of March, now runs the estate, and is the event’s CEO and driving force. Fortunately for vintage racecar enthusiasts the Festival’s roots are not overlooked, and the full spectrum of motor racing history is represented here, from every one of the surviving racers from 1908 to modern-day Formula One. This year’s headline theme was “Hawthorn to Hamilton – Britain’s Love Affair with World Motorsport.”
Mike Hawthorn was Britain’s first Formula One World Champion fifty years ago, and a selection of cars associated with his career were on hand, including a 1953 Ferrari 375MM Berlinetta, a 1954 Jaguar D-type and a Jaguar Mk1, similar to the car in which he lost his life in a road accident shortly after securing his World Championship for Ferrari. This is just about the only chance for modern-day fans of Formula One to get close to the cars and some of the drivers. Hero of the moment, Lewis Hamilton, drew large crowds as he demonstrated the McLaren MP4/22-Mercedes from last season.
The event headline may have been British but the entry was as international as ever. Stars from the United States have always been popular, and this year Festival debutants Paul Tracy (at the wheel of his 1997 Penske PC26-Mercedes), Tom Sneva (1986 March 86C-Cosworth) and Bobby Allison (Buick Regal) were having a ball, vowing to return as soon as invited. They were joined by Bobby Unser (1974 Eagle 73A-Chevrolet), Eddie Cheever (1988 Arrows A10B-Megatron), and Hurley Haywood (Brumos Porsche). A unique feature of Goodwood is the opportunity for fans to meet the drivers, but it also allows the drivers to meet other drivers and to see some cars for the first time. Some were amazed when their heroes asked to try their cars for size.
Past champions and Lola exponents, John Surtees and Damon Hill, founder Eric Broadley and the present owner of Lola Cars, Martin Birrane, were on hand to help the company continue its 50th anniversary celebrations that began at last year’s Festival. Damon Hill took the wheel of the sister car to his late father, Graham’s, 1966 Indy 500-winning Lola T90-Ford Red Ball Special, expressing some surprise at just how powerful this car was. David Hobbs was another first-time visitor, in a Lola T332-Chevrolet. Sebastian Bourdais brought a long line of Lolas up to date with his 2004 Champ Car-winning Lola B03/00-Cosworth.
Event patron Sir Stirling Moss was as enthusiastic as ever, clambering into both an 1954 Aston Martin DB3S and a Vanwall GP car. Among other standouts were examples of both Mercedes and Benz racers from a century ago, Pink Floyd drummer Nick Mason’s Crosthwaite and Gardner-built Auto Union type D, three-time Pikes Peak winner David Donner and his Donner DD3, the 1969 Eagle-Ford owned by Chuck Haines, the outrageous 1970 Can-Am AVS Shadow Mk1-Chevrolet, and a line of McLarens spanning the past forty years.
Photo: Pete Austin
Most entries are merely demonstrated up the 1.16-mile hill course, with some driven more enthusiastically than others. Just a few opt to be timed, yet an intense competition for fastest time of the day developed between Justin Law in his Jaguar XJR8/9 Le Mans and Anthony Reid in a 1999 Nissan Primera sedan from the group recognizing 50 years of the British Touring Car Championship. Law’s Jag narrowly emerged on top right at the end of the last day, clocking 44 seconds and a speed trap reading of over 144mph.
The 1.7-mile Rally Stage through the forest at the top of Goodwood Hill gains popularity every year, and features stars and cars from the illustrious history of rallying such as Stig Blomqvist (Audi Sport Quattro), Rauno Aaltonen (Opel Manta), Bjorn Waldergärd (Lancia Stratos) and Hannu Mikkola (Ford Escort).
If the action on Goodwood Hill and the varied selection of machinery in the paddock is not enough to retain your interest, then there are sideshows to keep any petrol head happy for a week. Dragsters were on static display on the cricket pitch, with a “cacklefest” taking place twice daily for those seeking deafness. The Cartier Style et Luxe featured a stunning display of exotica, including a number of cars with a James Bond theme. Modern supercars took to the hill while the Royal Air Force Red Arrows aerial display team performed overhead, twelve-time world motorcycle trials champ, Dougie Lampkin rode his bike through Goodwood House, up the stairs and onto the roof, before popping up around the park to perform further unexpected stunts.
The central display in front of Goodwood House is always a surprise, and this year a steel girder structure resembling a boulder some 110 feet high celebrated 60 years of Land Rover. Examples of the latest models were lashed to the structure and climbers ascended with ropes before abseiling down.
The eagerly awaited Goodwood Circuit Revival will be held September 19-21 with tickets, by advance booking only, available at www.goodwood.co.uk.
By Keith Booker
