1932 Miller Indy Car proves...
1932 Miller Indy Car proves fron't wheel drive isn't a modern invention
The CarsWhat's your favorite? Formula 1? Well, you could enjoy more than 32 classic and current GP cars, dating back to 1923, and going all the way up to six of the current cars from Ferrari, McLaren, Renault and Williams. There was also a class of hi-tech F1 cars that defined the sport, such as the 1.5 liter turbo cars, ground effects cars and the six-wheeled Tyrrell.
No good? How about endurance racers? These dated back to 1902, including classic Bentleys and Bugattis from the '20s and '30s, through the Jags and Mercedes of the '50s, Ferraris and Fords of the '60s, Porsches from the '70s and an array of Group C Le Mans cars from the '80s. Cars like the Rothmans Porsche 962 and Silk Cut Jaguar are legendary, so to see them running is an incredible experience. Only the latest Aston Martins and the hushed Audi R10 TDI topped it.
Still not what you want? How about touring cars? From the '70s Group 5 BMW 2002, Porsche 935 and BMW 3.0 CSL Batmobile, to the '80s DTM Mercedes 190 and BMW M3 to the latest BMW 320si WTCC, they had it all.
On the rally stage they went from classics of the '60s, through the awesome Group B cars to the giants of the WRC. Even Colin McRae brought out his own purpose-built R4 rally car in one of his last public appearances.
In addition, there were classes for the latest supercars, Indy Cars old and new, World Superbikes and CanAm racers. There was even a class for the incredibly powerful Pikes Peak racers.
Not enough? How about a cycle race featuring racers like Jenson Button, Damon Hill, Troy Bayliss, Alan McNish and Mark Webber?
Silk Cit Jaguar won Le Mans...
Silk Cit Jaguar won Le Mans and Group C series
There simply isn't space to list all the activities, so check out the website for details of this year's event as they're announced (www.goodwood.co.uk/fos). As the weekend approaches, more and more names are added to the Festival, guaranteeing a great weekend. During our visit they'd persuaded Lewis Hamilton to drive his McLaren up the hill, which increased the excitement considerably.
Each year, certain manufacturers are honored. In 2007 the theme was "Spark of Genius", featuring cars, people and events that have made a difference in our lives. It also celebrated 60 years of Ferrari, and Toyota was the featured marque, with an incredible 147ft "hanging" display in front of the house supporting some its greatest motorsport machinery. Some of the money raised from sponsors and ticket sales goes to charity, so everybody wins.
Getting ThereThe nearest airport is London Gatwick, but more flights from the US go to London Heathrow. Flights in the summer are typically around $800 but book early for savings - the 2008 Festival takes place July 11-13.
Goodwood is 60 miles from London and transport is limited. A rental car would be the most convenient, but the local roads are very narrow so traffic can be an issue. Allow plenty of time for delays.
It's possible to take a train from London to Chichester and then catch a bus to Goodwood. The website (www.goodwood.co.uk/fos) has information about transport, accommodation, etc.
Tickets are only available in advance. They sell out early, so use the above website to book. Assuming an exchange rate of $2 to one British pound, they cost approximately $60 for Friday and $100 for Saturday or Sunday. If you intend to go every day, you can get a weekend ticket for $200. If you book grandstand seats, the price is almost double, but seats are very limited, so do it now and avoid the rain.
Remember: the exchange rate between the dollar and the pound fluctuates constantly. At present, the pound is very strong, so the visit will be quite expensive - consider this when buying tickets, renting a car, booking a hotel and buying food or merchandise. If the rate drops, however, the above prices could be reduced considerably.
The Goodwood Festival of Speed is the chance of a lifetime to experience some of the world's most incredible road- and racecars, plus some of the most significant historic vehicles in the world, all in an incredible setting. As such, we encourage you to dig deep, find the money and make the journey. We promise you won't be disappointed. And maybe we'll see you there.