Goodwood Festival Of Speed - A - Z

Z

Zoom Lenses

Ahhh back on home turf with talk of cameras and lenses, there are some examples I have seen where a canon sized lens and supporting tripod or monopod have been set up to capture every detail that is happening over the hay bale barriers that prevent any further encroachment onto the track itself. I have also seen much smaller lenses being used in and around the paddocks as people look to get the macro-detailing from a machined part they have found.

Lenses are everywhere and I have often wondered (because I am a little sad like that) if you were to take every single lens that is bought into Goodwood across the four days of the festival, sell them off and buy a car with them, what car could you buy, I think it’s a strange paradox where it's probably a much more expensive car than you think but also not quite as expensive as you might think either.

I carry a little bit of kit with me and I have three lenses that I lean on the most, I have seen people with one lens and even those that don’t have changeable lenses but rely instead on smaller cameras with electronic zooms built-in, then there are the holy grail people in the white bibs who wander around with 3 or more cameras all with different lenses attached so they can quickly change between them for different shots.

I have often been caught out with the wrong lens and had to make a very rapid swap to the right one, complete with a few blasts from the rocket air that is resident in one of my many pockets to make sure there is no dust in there. I will one day be able to have multiple cameras and lenses ready to go but sadly not right now.

I would also need somewhere to store it all because carrying that lot around with you all day is going to put a strain on your legs, arms and back but boy would it be worth it.

The other thing I would also make very clear is that as long as you are polite and courteous it does not matter what camera, lens or even phone you are using to take your pictures, I have taken and seen some absolutely stunning photos taken on a phone and have no problem with anyone getting involved using one.

Do not think that just because I or anyone around me has an expensive kit and multiple lenses that we should be entitled to get our picture first or that you should stay out of the way, to be honest, you jumping in and out for a few seconds is probably going to help me get the shot I want, or even better, those extra seconds mean I have now seen something a little different that I can focus in on. Also, if you want me to take your picture please just ask, I am always more than willing to help I will probably ask you to get one of me in return. 

Zinc (And other metals)

Cars and bikes have gone through quite the transformation throughout the years, from the basic rudimentary shapes and bodywork through to sleek sweeping lines and perfectly formed light clusters, wing mirrors and even window wipers.

A significant move has also been occurring with the construction materials being used, from plastics and aluminium as well as steel. One of the more hidden metals however is Zinc and more specifically Zinc Die Casting. In many newer cars, a lot of the fittings are made of Zinc, the advantages come from the fact it can be easily transformed into all kinds of shapes, even down to the very thinnest parts whilst also having a narrow scope of tolerance and being very robust.

The silky-smooth result of die casting and its appearance makes it very desirable for high-end cars whilst its ratio of weight to strength also makes it possible to construct a lightweight vehicle while not compromising on the structure. It is also highly resistant to corrosion and looking forwards to the future it will also be used to house and protect against electromagnetic and electrical influences.

It is also much more sustainable as it can be recycled time and time again, being returned to the materials cycle ensuring a responsible and sustainable future, even when a full part cannot be made from Zinc, a thin coating can be applied which will provide added benefits to all parts even with the thinnest of applications.  

Zig-Zag

If I had or was to share one of those walking tracking app maps with you then you would see how much I flick from side to side when walking in the paddock, I am one of the worst for jumping across the rows when I see something. I always approach it with a very clear intention of walking down one side, taking in one row of cars before I switch to the opposite side and walk back down the row. I know this is the most efficient way of doing the festival and it takes me roughly a couple of minutes before I swerve off to look at something else.

Now it's not always my fault, sometimes there is a very popular car on my side and I know I am not going to get close to it for a while, I could just walk around it and carry on my way but then the opposite happens, I spot a car on the other side that has nobody around it and I would be some kind of mad fool to pass up that opportunity so off I run.

I return to the original side and carry on my way; I notice that the very busy car has got a bit quieter so let me just nip back and get that one now then I will come back and carry on from here. It's mad, I have just tripled my distance just to see two cars, and I will do this over and over again, all day long, every day I can attend.

It's even more obvious when I am running back and forth between two areas like the stand that’s just past the flint wall then quickly over to the offroad arena between groups, a quick 20 minutes here then back to the stand ready for the next group, again I will do this a several times across the weekend.

Then there are the big call-backs, Something I saw this morning when I arrived but it was under a cover, I am kinda nearby so maybe I should just go across and get that now otherwise (and trust me this has happened) It was under the covers when I arrived and I have gone back to get it on my way out and lo and behold its back under its cover for the evening, well add that to the list for tomorrows visit then.

So yes, I count my steps and my overall distance but I don’t look at the map because it will just be a mess of lines crossing over themselves time and time again.

Zenith

When you reach the Zenith, you’re at the top, the pinnacle, the peak.

What can you do when you reach the top, well you keep on going, you make yourself better you set the standard for those around you and for those that hope to emulate you.

I am hoping that by now you have been convinced that the Goodwood Festival of Speed is the absolute pinnacle of motorsport festivals, I hope I have convinced you to buy your tickets and visit alongside me next time.

I also mainly hope I have managed to be engaging enough to keep you reading to the end, and as such…

Zzzz’s

No matter if it is one day or four, at the end of it you need to sleep, some people don’t even make it to the end of the day, people laying down, pulling a hat over their eyes and grabbing a quick power nap becomes even more evident as the warm summer afternoon rolls in, some settling on the grass or on top of an exhibitors stand. Some parents carrying sleepy kids, drooling into their shoulders as they go.

If you are lucky enough to make it to the end of the day and be being driven then it’s a fair bet you will be asleep before you reach home, if you are doing the driving it will be as soon as your head hits the pillow.

Everything will ache but it's all worth it, you might even take a day or two to start feeling normal again, at which point you will already be thinking about when can I go again.

So as the list started with Alarms and ends with sleep so must the festival, as the infrastructure is removed and trucks and trailers laden with equipment and cars roll on to their next locations or back into storage, the house and the grounds grow quiet once more, this motor sporting giant slumbers, hibernating through those long winter months, dreaming of the noise, the smell, the atmosphere and experience that will come once more.