15.7.10

“Viva Veloce – The Passion for Speed”

Now in its eighteenth year and with an increased 4 day attendance, the Festival of Speed remains a pre-eminent celebration of endeavour on 2 and 4 wheels. With multiple exhibits from global motor manufacturers and renowned private collections, combined with the stars who have shaped our sport…the event remains unmissable, whatever your preferred discipline!

Celebrating its centenary, Alfa Romeo was this year’s featured marque, with Gerry Judah’s “sculpture” outside Goodwood House, pairing the pre-war P2 with the latest 8C supercar.

• 60 years of World Championship Grand Prix
• 50 years of Bathurst and the “Great Race”
• 60 years of La Carrera Panamericana
• 45 years since Jimmy Clark’s Indianapolis 500 win 

The 3 established paddocks located either side of the House, were split by entrants of the Cartier Style et Luxe Concours and with an eclectic entry of 40 cars (including 6 from Alfa Romeo Museo Storico) ranging from 4 variants of the pre war Alfa 8C, via the unique Michelotti bodied  Ferrari 330GT, to a very rare Pegaso Z102B - there was a car to suit every taste! Catching my eye, were Bill Ainscough’s pair of Alfa 8C2900B’s , Martin Kent’s Lamborghini Monza and the overall winner – Franco Lombardi’s  Maserati A6GCS.

The adjacent supercar display has evolved into a global showroom - this year, 30 manufacturers displayed production models, prototypes or design concepts. Ferrari UK presented a 458 Italia, a 599GTO and a California, Citroen its stunning 2008 “GT by Citroen” concept car and Bugatti, 2 Veyrons in Pur Sang and Grand Sport body styles. Very popular with visitors were the sold-out Lexus LFA roadster and new McLaren MP4, whilst award for the most ungainly car on display must go to the Bristol Fighter, not to mention the peppermint green Bentley GTC Supersports!

The well attended Bonhams Auction had something for every pocket – (all figures include buyer’s premium) a very rare Aston Martin DB5 Vantage convertible, achieved a world record £551.5k, a superb Bentley 4 1/4 realised a healthy £221.5k and a much raced, non original Lister Jaguar £232.5k. All 3 Ferraris sold - a rare Mondiale Valeo Cabriolet (£20.7k), a 2 owner 8.5k mile from new Testa Rossa (£42.2k) and a seldom used 512BB (£73k)….. sadly, “my” car of the sale - the gorgeous Maserati Mistral Spyder didn’t.

On the “hill”, the Ferrari enthusiast was well catered for. Scuderia Ferrari F1 test driver, Marc Gene, drove last year’s F60, former bike and F1 World Champion John Surtees enjoyed his title winning 158, historic racer Paul Knapfield hustled his 312PB, Sally Mason-Styrron was quick in her Competition Daytona and Chip Connor drove his 1960 Le Mans winning 250 TR. Paul Vestey and Doug Nye shared the former’s 375MM, Derek Bell was at the wheel of Carlos Monteverde’s 512S, street furniture specialist Jean Francois Decaux enjoyed his ex Chris Amon 312 and Lorenzo Prandina his unique, sonorous 312 Spazzaneve. 

With the F1 season at halfway point, 6 teams stopped off en route to Silverstone to entertain in the sunshine of the Sussex countryside – Williams, McLaren, Ferrari, Mercedes, Red Bull and Lotus shared the limelight with Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton, driving the ex Prost McLaren MP4. Elsewhere, 3 times world champions Jackie Stewart and Emerson Fittipaldi were reunited with period machinery and the former commemorated Jimmy Clark’s 1965 Indianapolis victory, with a demonstration of the recently rebuilt Lotus 38.

The continuing popularity of  Goodwood can be seen from the number of famous drivers and riders, past and present, who relish the opportunity to be reunited with their original charges – this year the Drivers' Club welcomed amongst others Mikka Hakkinen, John Surtees, Jochen Mass, Sir Stirling Moss, Sir Jackie Stewart, Damon Hill, Giacomo Agostini, Michael Waltrip, Bobby Unser, Steve Soper, Jean Ragnotti and Kevin Schwantz.

Personal highlights – there were many:

• Alfa Romeo Museo Storico had all but emptied it’s museum and brought 34 cars to the Festival – including the Auto Union lookalike 512 and Group C SE048SP, both of which have never raced.
  
  
• 5 time Le Mans and twice Sebring 12 hrs winner, Emmanuele Pirro drove the Boyle Valve Special (a re-painted Maserati 8CTF) with which Wilbur Shaw won the Indianapolis 500 in 1939 and 1940.
  
  
• Californian Larry Bowman, demonstrated his ground shaking 616 hp ’63 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport. One of only 5 built, it was conceived to race against the AC Cobra,  250 GTO and Lightweight Jaguar E Type.
  
  
• Daytona 500 winner, Michael Waltrip and NASCAR Craftsman truck champion Mike Skinner, brought their 820 hpToyota Camrys and thankfully plenty of slicks! Skinner was named Dunhill Driver of the Day for this great burnout.
  
  
• Driven by Tony Dron and Jochen Mass, the “Uhlenhaut Coupe” was a 1955 Mercedes 300SLR, with a roof. An ideal entry for La Carrera , it was conceived by Mercedes Benz, British born, chief engineer Rudolf Uhlenhaut…. as his road car!
  
  
• Now retired after a short DTM career, I chatted with the twice World Champion Mikka Hakkinen, prior to his demonstration of a Mercedes Benz W196 and whilst he misses his racing, sharing a 300 SL Gullwing in the Mille Miglia retrospective with David Coulthard, is all the excitement he needs!!  

Since its inception, the Festival of Speed has been supported by many benefactors, none more so than the late Tom Wheatcroft - owner of the Donington Collection. Best described as the “enthusiasts enthusiast”, Tom’s racing passion will be celebrated at the forthcoming Cholmondeley Pageant of Power this coming weekend.... see you there!!

Click here for a slideshow.