Goodwood Festival Of Speed - A - Z

L

Launches / debuts

Having already mentioned the displays of concept cars you also get to see some cars on debut too, the most special examples even get their own special displays, I have seen the Lancia inspired Kimera Evo37 following hot on the heels of the sublime De Tomaso p72 and the amazing Brabham BT62 to name just a few, and as with everything at the festival these cars are not just there to be looked at, they are there to be driven, yes they arrive in single-car trailers and be rolled out by hand and delicately placed onto a plinth or meticulously placed ramps but they do not stay there for long.

 I know that I may never see these cars again and it is even less likely that I will see them in real life so to have these moments and memories

Loiterers

I would say that pretty much every person at the festival of speed is courteous and you can’t help but be aware of the people around you and when someone is waiting to take a photo people will often step back or try and duck under the lens so everyone is doing their bit.

Unfortunately, as a photographer, I am often looking to get a specific angle and this might not always be straight on or obvious so you do have to be patient sometimes.

In fact, there will be some people who see me waiting and would point the finger at me for loitering however I always try and do it in the main walkway area rather than in and around the cars. In the same way, I would never hurry anyone along and especially if it is a parent and child looking through the windows or when someone is heavily engaged with a team member or driver, all of this is much more important than me getting a shot however it is something you need to factor in if you want to enjoy your day.

Leap (Ford)

I have made a real effort not to just fill out my list with brands and models however I wanted to add, the Leap on the Ford stand as it is one of a few unique stands that pushes forward with interactivity and brings fans in not just for the cars but also with the chance to do something a little different.

With loud music pumping and periodic displays from a dance / stunt team climbing jumping and flipping off of the roof, it instantly grabs your attention as you make your way through the exhibitors. Then once you have finished watching you can go up and try the leap for yourself. Once you had braved the leap and managed to roll off the giant stunt bag you even got a photo of yourself mid-leap so you could take it home with you.

The first time we decided to do it, it had been raining all day and the mat had a puddle forming in the small groove when most people had been landing so very luckily, it was one of the last things we did before heading home otherwise it would have been a long-wet day.

Luxury

As it has no doubt become clear I am a very busy and active attendee at the festival and I don’t take a lot of time to enjoy the calm and slower-paced offerings but I can assure you these options are there and it starts even before the gates open, there is a whole raft of luxury local hotels within 15minutes drive of the event. If you want to be even closer than that then you have a variety of camping options complete with electricity, fire points, transfers to and from the event and even access to Goodwood Health club and Spa.

When you get into the event instead of scrambling around like an 8year old who just ate a whole tube of blue smarties you can instead take a calm and relaxed meander through the luxury marques such as Bentley, Ferrari and Rolls Royce, you can even take the time to sit inside these refined machines with their warm leather upholstery and rich wooden interiors, taking in the feel and smell of a top-level car.

Then instead of trudging up a dusty hill, you can head across to your pick of places to eat and just relax in the (hopefully) warm summer sun be it by trackside at the Clark Pavilion, in the fabulous surroundings of the putting green and the Library Lawn. You can experience everything you want to without having to walk further than the bar or to the trackside. A truly serene way to spend a day or weekend.

Lineage

Nearly every single exhibitor wants to display their lineage and heritage when they are at the festival, the central displays and the stable yard are the two main points where this can be celebrated and more often than not you will have a classic or vintage iconic car from that brand's history right there alongside the newest offering.

In terms of the teams, when they have something to celebrate, they empty the warehouses and storage units to fill every square inch of space that they have been allotted. I have seen rows of cars from Aston Martin, the Williams F1 team and more recently the Roger Penske teams. It’s such a rare opportunity to see 2 or 3 of these cars together let alone 8-10 and to have the ability to step through the years side by side looking at the design tweaks and amendments to the livery and sponsorships from my youth bringing back memories of races or drivers it almost makes you feel part of the history alongside the cars in front of you.

It is the ultimate immersive experience and journey through history as any car enthusiast could dream of.