Automotive Meccas: Goodwood

Hopefully in July it’ll be a bit warmer. I say that because when the great and the good of British motoring gathered at Lord March’s Goodwood estate for his hillclimb’s media day we were battling through some of the coldest conditions this country has seen for decades. Not that it mattered of course, everyone still turned up…they would though, wouldn’t they? The Festival of Speed has become THE event on the motoring socialite’s calendar.

Goodwood is famed for more than the Festival though. The hillclimb has been there since 1936 and the motor racing circuit nearby has been in operation since 1948, holding Grand Prix and endurance events until 1966 when racing ceased, at least until Lord March’s passion for motorsport took hold.

Since 1993 the Festival of Speed has taken place every single year, without fail and with increasing success every single year. I was eight when it started and I went for the first ten years running, it was the ultimate automotive playground for a kid like me, and in 1998 I got what I had been waiting for: we drove up the hill in a Ferrari 250 California Spider SWBFerrari 250 GT SWB Califo...Italy, 1961 > present21 photos
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. It really was special, it wasn’t about the speed because we weren’t going very fast at all, but it was about the aura and the spectacle and the beauty. That’s the key, there isn’t any other place in the world that brings together so many beautiful cars year on year on year.

In those halcyon early days there were only a few tens of thousands of visitors. But now, after the attendance peaked at 158,000 in 2003 the maximum number of visitors has been capped at 150,000…fortunately the organizers have got very good at accommodating that number. So 2013 will be better than ever for the spectators.

One of the main focal points is the display that is created outside the entrance to the main house each year. In 2012 it was LotusLotusUnited Kingdom, 1952 > present68 models
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that was honoured with a sculpture that suspended contemporary F1 cars alongside the marque’s older Grand Prix machinery. This year who knows which manufacturer it’ll be?

Alongside the main display is the Cartier enclosure and the supercar paddock. In short there is something for everyone at Goodwood. And when you’ve got even slightly bored of poring over the static machinery it gets even better. Halfway up the hill is a rally stage and in the sky there are planes aplenty. After all Goodwood acted as an airfield in World War II!

If you’ve got the chance there is one other attraction nearby (and no, I’m not talking about the horse racing!), and that is the Rolls-RoyceRolls-RoyceUnited Kingdom, 1904 > present31 models
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factory, it’s only a stone’s throw away from the entrance to the Goodwood estate so you can see it even if you struggle to get them to throw you the keys to the front door!

I’m not going to ruin the 2013 edition of the Festival by telling you what I know about this year’s plans, you’ll just have to get on the internet and book some tickets and find out yourself. It’s taking place from July 11-14 and it’ll be a cracker!

One more thing:
You know how I said that no other place brings together so many cars? Well, that might have been a little white lie. Funnily enough, though, it is another of Lord March’s creations that runs it close and that is the Goodwood Revival, held at the circuit. I actually think that I prefer this event – heresy I know. But fewer people descend on the Revival, making it feel like a slightly more ‘clubby’ atmosphere. Add the period outfits into the equation, the period ice cream vans and high quality beef burgers and you’ve got yourself a concoction that guarantees a great day out.

Instead of explaining any more about what the revival is like I’m going to ask you to watch a couple of these videos:

And, if you’re not hooked after that you never will be!