|
|
|
Festival of Speed - Event News 2003 Review - Friday
|
18:36 BST - 11/7/2003
First day draws to a close
The weather at Goodwood is overcast and cool, with the promise of breaking into bright sunshine later.
As the golden sun lowers in the western sky and the crowds disperse, it is time to reflect on the first day of the Tenth Anniversary Festival of Speed.
From the moment the course was opened this morning, it has been non-stop action, the stars of yesteryear joining forces with the stars of the future to bring a class of unrivalled motor sport entertainment to the thousands who descended today on this gorgeous corner of West Sussex.
Perhaps the final words today should go to Dan Gurney, a staunch supporter of the event, and all that motor sport at Goodwood represents. "As we get older, nostalgia gets more potent in our lives, and the quality of the nostalgia at Goodwood is the best in the world."
See you all tomorrow.
|
17:09 BST - 11/7/2003
Evolution of F1 cars played out on track
|
|
| Above: Few would argue that the Lotus 49B was not one of Colin Chapman's greatest creations, with Ford DFV power used as the rear half of the chassis, paving the way for F1 designers for ever more. At the wheel is Jackie Oliver. |
 |
|
|
| Above: One of Renault's foremost F1 drivers in the 70s, here is Rene Arnoux at the wheel of the Renault RS01, the car that began the turbocharging era, and set the trend for over a decade. |
| |
|
|
| Above: The very car in which Jackie Stewart won the Spanish Grand Prix in 1970, the March-Cosworth 701 was the first F1 car from March, with sidepods that would later be developed by designer Peter Wright into the ground-effect cars at Lotus. |
|
|
|
| Above: By 1970 Jackie Stewart was a force to be reckoned with. Signed to Ken Tyrrell, he insisted on having the de riguer Cosworth DFV engine. Matra wouldn't sell a chassis without their engine, so the Tyrrell-Cosworth 001 was born. |
|
|
|
| Above: This McLaren-Cosworth M23 is the very car that took Emerson Fittipaldi to his title in 1976, and then James Hunt to Championship victory in 1976. Hunt won the British, German and French GPs in this car. |
|
16:45 BST - 11/7/2003
Ex Steve McQueen Baja Bug romps the course
One of the dune buggies driven by movie legend Steve McQueen in the famous Baja 1000 is here at Goodwood today, thanks to Evert Louwman.
The Baja Bug is typical of the esoteric machinery to be found in the Goodwood paddocks, and made slightly more sedate progress up the hill than when McQueen last raced this across the desert sands of Mexico's Baja California peninsula against other bugs, motorcycles and trucks back in the 70s.
|
|
|
| |
|
16:33 BST - 11/7/2003
Bjorn Waldegard back in the Toyota saddle
Rallying superstar Bjorn Waldegard has been reunited with his multiple rally-winning Toyota Celica Twin Cam Turbo for the first time since he won the Safari Rally in 1986.
"Until today, I've not driven the car since the 80s," he said, "and with rear wheel drive only and so much power it is lots of fun." Extremely fast, rugged and simple to fix in the field, the 320bhp Toyota Celica Twin Cam Turbo was perfect for African events, and Bjorn dominated the Ivory Coast rally and Safari from 1983 to 1986.
Back in the car for the first time since then, he was quite clearly having fun, with lots of fishtailing off the line and huge handfuls of oversteer, controlled to perfection as only a master can.
On the Festival of Speed itself, Bjorn is just as much a fan as every other star driver here this weekend. "I have not been for seven years, and it is amazing now - so big. It is just amazing."
|
|
15:02 BST - 11/7/2003
Scalextric Hillclimb Challenge pulls in the crowds
Using an exact three-dimensional replica of the Goodwood hill-climb course, visitors are trying their luck up the hill, in miniature.
A new sponsor to Goodwood this year, Scalextric have created a 40ft-long hill-climb course on which, for the payment of one pound towards the Festival's chosen charity Chase, visitors can attempt to set the fastest time of the day.
"It has been remarkably busy already," said Scalextric Marketing Manager David Lubliner. "The fastest time so far stands at 5.41 seconds, which is very quick indeed."
The course has taken a total of about seven weeks to build and dress, having been initially prepared for the Press day held here at Goodwood in March this year. Since then it has been landscaped by Tony Hill to recreate an amazingly realistic parkland setting.
Running against the clock, visitors are using Scalextric's new Ford GT40 car, which is also available as a complete set of three cars, in tribute to the 1966 Le Mans victorious trio.
|
|
14:52 BST - 11/7/2003
Sir John Whitmore joins in the Party Atmosphere
Former Touring Car Champion Sir John Whitmore is back at Goodwood doing what he loves best - driving cars fast.
Reunited with the cars he raced in the 60s, Sir John remembers the good old days fondly when he raced the likes of Lotus Cortinas, AC Cobras and Shelby Cobra Coupes. "We didn't have any commercial pressures in those days," he said. You drove the car as fast as you could, and if you were too slow you got fired, that's how it was. But is was also a period of huge danger in motor sport, and the constant reality of injury and death created a tremendous bond between all us drivers. I am still great friends now with lots of them, and it's great to meet up again here at Goodwood and reminis about the good old days."
|
|
14:35 BST - 11/7/2003
Legendary Sir Jack Sears back with Ford Galaxie
Reunited with the 1963 Ford Galaxie with which he won the British Saloon Car Championship in that year, Sir Jack Sears is on fine form.
Joining in the Ford centenary celebrations, Sir Jack thoroughly enjoyed his blast up the narrow, demanding hill, despite the emnormity of the huge 7-litre V8-engined car.
"When this car arrived from the States in 1963, everybody thought it wouldn't handle and it wouldn't stop," remembers Sir Jack, "but it did and it surprised everyone. I bet the Jags in this car, always, they never beat me, even on the twisty tracks like Crystal Palace. The handling is very acceptable, but it has no power steering, so it is quite heavy at low speeds.
"I raced this car for the John Willment Racing Team in 63 and 64, but it was sold in 1965 to Bob Olthoff, who won the South African Saloon Car Championship in 66. then it was kept in mothballs for 25 years before I bought it in 1989. I got my mechanic from the 60s, Mike Brown, to restore it, and spike Winter rebuilt the engine - basically I got the old team back together," Sears reminised. "I've brought the car here before, but I so glad to come back, it is so friendly."
That's the thing about the Festival of Speed. Old stars, old cars, and a friendly atmosphere where you really can rub shoulders with the famous.
|
12:56 BST - 11/7/2003
Temperatures are soaring, the action is relentless
|
|
| Above: With temperatures heading for the high 20s, the Park bathed in sunshine and the assembled throng revelling to the sounds of live jazz and thunderous engines, already people are saying this is the best Festival of Speed ever, and it's still only Friday |
|
|
|
| Above: Russ Swift gets his Peugeot 206 up on two wheels for a bit of crowd-thrilling action, with Autocar journalist Colin Goodwin on board |
| |
|
|
| Above: George Wingard wrestles the mighty Fiat S74 up the hill, the car packing a might 700lb ft of torque from its 14-litre four-cylinder engine. With no front brakes and spindly tyres, the car was a bit of a handful. |
|
|
|
| Above: Tom Brogden's incredibly rare Hancock Steam Carriage 'Enterprise', built for the London and Paddington Steam Carriage Company. |
|
|
|
| Above: Supercars line up and prepare to do battle, with entries from all of the top manufacturers. The Supercar run this morning has included the very first production Porsche Carrera GT, and the amazing Spyker C8 Spyder from Holland. |
|
|
|
| Above: There's thousands of horsepower here at Goodwood this weekend, but pedal power hasn't been forgotten, this Rudge Whitworth Companion Sociable veteran 'tandem' cycle been pedalled hard in the sun by Eileen and Allan Maurer. |
|
12:24 BST - 11/7/2003
Forty years of Porsche 911 Celebrated in Cartier Style et Luxe
The Cartier Style et Luxe concours is unique. There is nothing else like it in the world, thanks not only to the glorious setting, but also to the eclectic mix of cars gathered on the Goodwood lawns.
Notable among the entry this year is the celebration of 40 years of Porsche 911 production. For one car to have been in production for that time is amazing, and for the basic design and rear-engined concpet to have survived for so long jsut shows how right 'Butzi' Porsche got it when he penned the original design.
The celebratory entry here this weekend ranges from the very first right hand drive 911 ever built, through the outrageous 930 Turbo (in Guards red, naturally) to the the fully race-speced GT1 and GT2 cars of the late 90s.
|
|
12:10 BST - 11/7/2003
Rock Star Jay Kay of Jamiroquai takes his Ferrari Enzo for a spin
Jamiroquai's front man Jay Kay put some canned heat in the feet this morning and let rip up the famous Sussex hillclimb in his jet-black Ferrari Enzo.
There's something about rock stars and fast cars, and Jay Kay happily sat in his car talking to the crowd and signing autographs before spearing off up the sinuous tarmac.
"I'm a big fan of the Festival," he smiled, and I really admire what Lord March and his team have achieved here. The crowd is enthusiastic, and that's great to see."
|
|
12:05 BST - 11/7/2003
Rally Star Hannu Mikkola is back at Goodwood
World Rally star Hannu Mikkola, one of Ford's most successful rally drivers ever, is back at Goodwood this year to help celebrate the Festival's 10th anniversary.
Speaking just before his first run of the day, in Ford's most potent rally weapon - the Focus WRC, he declared his love of the event.
"This is just the most spectactular ocassion," he said. I am delighted to be back here at Goodwood, and am honoured to have been asked by Ford to drive the WRC. I have never driven it before, but I expect it has a lot more grip than the Escort I drove here a few years ago."
That car was the Escort he so famously won the London to Mexico rally in in 1970, and which he again took to victory (also with Gunnar Palm) in the 1995 celebratory rerun. It too, is here today as part of Ford's centenary celebrations. "That is my most memorable moment - so far - driving that Escort up the hill here in 1996, and realizing how much progress we have made with rally cars in the last 30 years." That car, FEV 1H, is being driven here today by Malcolm Wilson, head of Ford's Cumbrian-based World Rally team.
|
|
11:55 BST - 11/7/2003
The Goodwood Website will be continuously updated during the Festival of Speed
If you can't make it to the event, then you can at least follow all the action, from 9am on Friday, all day every day, here on the Goodwood website.
Our roving reporter will be out and about, capturing the unique flavour and atmosphere of the event, talking to the stars, picturing the cars and generally keeping you up to date with the event's progress. So do please come back. We'll be live from first thing Friday morning.
|
|
11:26 BST - 11/7/2003
Mako Shark leads tribute to 50 years of Corvette
The stunning 1961 Chevrolet Mako Shark is here at Goodwood this weekend, one of the entries in the Cartier Style et Luxe concours.
Celebrating 50 years of the Corvette, arguably America's favourite sports car, the amazing Mako Shark leads the tibute, along with one of every important Corvette model since production began in 1953. Nestling among other rare and important cars on the lawns here at Goodwood House, the Mako Shark was designed by Larry Shinoda for Bill Mitchell, then head of design at GM, and was reputedly inspired by a Mako Shark that Mitchell caught off the Florida coast.
Looking quite startling under glorious sunshine, with its irredescent blue-fading-to-white colour scheme, the Mako Shark set the design trend for the Sting Ray to come.
|
|
8:32 BST - 11/7/2003
Ford Central Display stuns crowd
Focal point of Ford's centenary celebrations at Goodwood this year is the stunning central display created by master craftsman and stage setter Gerry Judah.
Sixty five tons of steel and Lexan polycarbonate create the ultimate Le Mans tribute Ford's greatest Le Mans victory, that amazing photo finish in 1966 when Henry Ford finally achieved his dream of beating Ferrari at La Sarthe.
"It's been eight months in the planning," says Gerry Judah, who has created the stunning central display signature pieces every year at the Festival since 1997. "Sixty people have been involved in the design, assembly and construction, but it has been an amazing project to work on."
Towering above Goodwood's domed roof, the 40m tall, 40m wide display with its speed strakes and jaunty angle, carries replicas of the three GT40s which finished that Le Mans race so triumphantly, positioned exactly as they crossed the line back in 66. Why replicas? Because the real cars, all here at Goodwood this weekend, will be thrilling the crowds and blasting their way up the hill during the weekend.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|