Goodwood Festival Of Speed - A - Z

U

Unyielding

There are two types of unyielding, one is the physical elements such as the flint wall, any impact against that thing and there is really only going to be one winner, almost the perfect example of unyielding.

I want to focus on the other type of unyielding, the one that refers to someone’s character and their belief’s and for this there can be only one choice, the man who made it all possible Lord March. Now I have only ever briefly seen Lord March from some distance and never directly interacted with him however I have seen and read a lot of interviews he has done over the years along with bits and pieces you hear around the festival.

I think unyielding can sometimes give the impression of someone who will not change or bend to pressure or opinion, as someone who can be set in their ways however, I think it's much more nuanced than that and actually while he may not be prepared to give up on his plans and goals there is much more flexibility and lateral thinking that goes into the decision making which is heavily influenced by the team, he has built around him.

You have to be absolutely resolute in what you are doing to not only get something of this size off of the ground but to make it so good that people will come back year after year and never be disappointed even as we approach its 30th anniversary in 2023.

The ultimate aim was to prove that having motorsport at Goodwood, would, be both viable financially as well as proving that it could be run successfully with the main aim to be re-opening the motor circuit. Having held the UK’s first professionally-organised post-war motor racing event in 1948 and attracting over 1,500 spectators too then sadly closing its doors to contemporary motor racing in 1966. Whilst there were still test days and it was used as a track day venue there was always the feeling that the classic circuit needed and deserved more.

This overarching vision for motorsport needs to start somewhere and taking the lead from his grandfather, Freddie March who had run a hill climb event for a group of pre-war Lancia Enthusiasts, Lord March decided to plan something similar, however, after initial meetings and conversations with Doug Nye, Robert Brooks and Rob Widdows, the original idea was modified to be run using classic cars, the connections and friends this group had would surely bring a wider variety of not only cars but also spectators.

So almost on day one, you can see the character that Lord March has to not only create an idea but also take on board other’s suggestions and thoughts of others, it has been suggested that even the name of the festival came from someone else within the group. The decision to have open paddocks with easy access to the cars and drivers was borne from the memories of rubbing shoulders with drivers rather than queuing up in a designated spot for an autograph. This endures to this very day but even back then you had people like Nick Mason referring to the paddocks as “a complete zoo” but finishing the sentence with “But don’t ever change it” and they haven’t.

I have spoken a lot about the changes that have happened over the years, the additions and removal of aspects of the festival, the relentless drive forwards that we see every year and this is all driven by one man’s unyielding desire to put on the best motor show in the world every single time.

I also like that the dual aim of re-opening the Goodwood Circuit has also been achieved. After doing such an extraordinary job of restoring and remaking the circuit along with the buildings so they looked the same as they did back in 1948, on the 18th of September 1998, 50 years to the day since the Goodwood Circuit first opened, the Earl of March re-enacted the opening of the track in the same Bristol 400 that his grandfather had used half a century earlier.

What a reward for such a fantastic man.

Unrivalled

I have been to many car shows and displays of various sizes and whilst each of them has bought something different and with their unique twists such as beachfront locations, hill climb action or industrial chic I just can’t stop comparing them to Goodwood, and it's not a fair comparison to make, for the organisers they are offering the cream of the crop in their field or their event and you really cannot, and I would suggest would not, want to find any fault with what they are offering.

At the same time it does always feel limited compared to Goodwood, the vastness of the event is unmatched and the ability to flick from cars to bikes, from petrol to electric, from classic to future, from tarmac to gravel all in one place and in under a day just cannot be matched.

Of course, there are other prestigious events in the world, the Pebble Beach Concours, a beautiful beachside (obviously) car show where a parade of classic cars competes to be named as best in show, to use a sporting analogy I would look at this as the Wimbledon of motor shows, very refined, sun shining opportunity to dress up in your absolute best clothes and outfits to see some wonderful cars.

There is the huge Frankfurt International auto show which is held every couple of years, this is where you will find many of the new models and latest concept cars, you can gauge the direction of travel for most of the largest car manufacturers in the world, being in Germany there are clearly going to be more German and European cars on show but having a whole hall dedicated solely to Mercedes and BMW complete with all the decorations and dressings, the bright lights and LED displays that got from floor to ceiling is, to use another sports metaphor, Like the Superbowl with the glitz, the glam and constant media attention on it.

I should probably have saved the Superbowl option for the North American International Auto Show held in Detroit, as you would expect there are a lot more American cars here and they are heavily competing against their European counterparts who have an ever-growing presence in the USA. Yes, I know Japanese cars are also among the top car brands in America but I need another analogy so bear with me.

As you would imagine the North American Auto Show is a bit louder than The Frankfurt International auto show, the people are allowed that little bit closer to the action and being Detroit there is that blue-collar vibe, yes you are seeing some beautiful cars and of course, there is a lot of respect but you are dealing with hard-working people now they demand and celebrate the best in class with vigour so with this in mind it can only be compared to the Ryder cup.

And this directly leads to my next word, Unique

Unique

These are pretty big words I am banding around right now, referring to the festival of speed as unique and unrivalled are pretty big claims, I think I can back them up, not only this but I think I can do it quite easily.

With such big hitters to compete against what moves Goodwood to that unique and unrivalled status, it’s simple, Goodwood is the Olympics of the motorsport world

I will just let you re-read and let that sentence sink in a little…

Right so let’s break it down a little It has the refined elements of Pebble beach / Wimbledon, you have the historic grade 1 listed building as its main backdrop, you have the immaculate presentation within the Cartier Style Et Luxe, any of which cars on display could be a serious contender for best in show at Pebble beach. You even have the opportunity to wear your best outfits whilst soaking in the atmosphere around you.

How to complete with the Frankfurt International auto show / The Superbowl, well it has you covered here too, with car launches, concept cars, and displays of motorsport excellence. The highly polished offerings on the exhibitor stands, the Jumbotron’s streaming live-action and pre-recorded scenes with cars from across the motor sporting world.

The blue-collar hard-working feel of the North American Auto Show is clear to see, each and every one of us who attends the event is given equal status and standing with the person who is sharing the experience with you. You can get up close and inspect the cars, you can share your thoughts and opinions directly with a driver or owner.

As with the Olympics, every top-level driver, every owner, team, manufacturer and even a whole phonebook full of celebrities wants to attend and be seen at this prestigious event. You can bring the whole family and each of them will see something which they love, so much so you may end up splitting up to visit different parts before meeting back up to discuss it all later. The festival might even be better than the Olympics because you don’t have to wait four years until the next one.

Us

On the subject of us, of course, there’s an us, we are the most important people at the festival right…. Right.

You could run the event without the crowds and in 2020 they did just that with the introduction of Speedweek but it’s not the same is it. Every effort was made to make the experience interactive and as entertaining as possible but you just can’t recreate the atmosphere and general feeling that you get by being there in person.

The interactions between fans and drivers, fans and owners, fans and exhibitors, even fans and other fans is a huge part of the reason we all turn up year after year. It’s such a different feeling to being at a race or an event, the rivalries melt away the supporters, whilst still having a favourite, are able to enjoy seeing and interacting with people they would normally be rooting against.

It’s also amazing to see some of those riders and drivers becoming fans again, they turn into one of us as they walk the festival and take the opportunity to look over the vehicles they were inspired by as children. The most fortunate of them even get to experience driving or riding those machines which must be just as mind-blowing as it is for anyone lucky enough to go for a ride along with them.

Unforgettable

Throughout this list, I have talked through my thoughts and my memories and the things I have seen thought out the years I have attended the festival. Now my wife will gladly tell you that my ability to tell you when something happened is very limited. I often say things like the other day about something that happened two and maybe even three years ago. This point has been rightly hammered home to me as I have tried to pinpoint a certain moment or event that happened.

Even when looking through my old files for photos I have pretty much always been off by at least a year or two, now normally this does not make any difference to me but what it has made me realise is just how clear some of those memories are in my mind, just what an indelible mark these moments in time have made on me. These are memories that still appear in my mind at random in full 4k with surround sound and bring a smile to my face.

I promise you that no matter if it is your first, third, tenth or even twentieth visit you will walk away with at least one memory that will live with you forever.