British summer festivals have been growing in popularity over the last few years. Depending on what flavour of fun you prefer, you can choose whatever blows your hair back, quite literally. One festival in particular which has reached its zenith in terms of popularity is the annual Festival of Speed, held in the pristine grounds of the Goodwood House estate.
Described as the ‘largest motoring garden party in the world’, 2011’s edition was awarded the ‘Event of the Year’ title, after a vote by the readers of the MSA (Motor Sport Association) Journal. The MSA themselves credit that ‘there’s just no other event that combines such a range and collection of cars and motorcycles in one place at one time.’ Short of the Signature Car Hire experience centre, it appears there is no better place for a day out for lovers of beautiful motor vehicles.
It is no surprise that the event has been heralded in such a way. It has grown into a unique summer weekend, blending the passion, performance and excitement of a variety of cars, personalities, and motoring legends, human and otherwise. It has come to represent the ‘largest car culture event in the world’.
For those initiates to the Festival of Speed it is an event which has its roots in the heady days of early motor sport. The name of Goodwood House and its annual hill-climb may ring bells even for those less familiar with motoring. The heritage in the event runs in the bloodline at Goodwood. It was in a summer almost eighty years ago that the Earl of March and 9th Duke of Richmond, a personage more likely to be remembered as the talented car designer, engineer, racing driver and Brooklands winner Freddie March, first held a hillclimb for his friends of the Lancia Car Club in the grounds of his estate. In winning it, he inspired his grandson, the present Earl of March, to pay homage to these marvellous men in their motoring machines.
What came next was the inaugural Festival of Speed in 1993 with 25,000 visitors. Given that this has grown into what has been nicknamed ‘Petrol Head Nirvana’, the event is now so popular that it is capped at 150,000 guests only, so advance ticket purchase is well advised for this popular event. Not surprisingly, guests travel from all over the world to attend.
Each year the festival is described as ‘a diverse and authentic collection of cars and motorbikes with a star-studded line-up of drivers in one place.’ That is, guests will be able to luxuriate in everything that could be found in motorsport heaven. There are today’s F1 and supercars, as well as steam-powered carriages from the nineteenth century. Classic rally cars can be found wing to wing with 3000bhp petrol-guzzling dragsters.
The annual theme gives owners and enthusiasts the opportunity to present all vehicles in their original pristine condition and authentic livery. In conjunction with such ‘Cartier Style et Luxe’ concours d’elegance, privileged guests can also enjoy world debuts of newly-released models, the FoS-TECH technology pavilion which displays the latest in auto advances, and of course some superb displays of speed. These can be found in the Supercar Run, and loose-surface challenge of the Forest rally Stage.
Given such a wealth of festivities for motoring enthusiasts, it is no surprise that the award was bestowed this year. Comments on the Facebook page of this honoured event ranged from ‘The only contender really, Congrats Goodwood!!’, to ‘I’m only surprised it doesn’t win every year!’
First-time visitor Fred Smith said ‘of all motoring events on the calendar, Festival of Speed is THE event to go to. This was my first year and I was amazed at the scale of the show as well as a wonderfully positive and friendly atmosphere. Veteran guest of the Festival Kenneth Wilkinson said ‘of all the eleven years I have been invited, 2011 was certainly the best’.
It would seem just the place that can inspire you to rent a superb car from Signature Car Hire and enjoy a self-drive weekend away, where both the journey and the destination are out of this world.