At first glance, yes, this does seem like an unduly hyperbolic title.
Stories about the Goodwood Festival of Speed tend to elicit such statements – we can’t say this enough, but it is that special. Before opening fire in the comments section, I implore you to first read on, scroll down, take in the images and scattering of words I’ve provided and consider if you’ve ever seen a better selection of cars just parked in a field.
Personally, I haven’t. Ever.
Shooting an event like the Festival Of Speed (edit: there is no event like FOS). Shooting the Festival of Speed is insanely hectic. At any one time there are always at least five things happening in different parts of the festival that you simply have to see. Having returned to the media centre from shooting the hillclimb, setting the contents of my memory cards downloading, and with my laptop whirring away and quickly reaching the surface temperature of the sun, I figured what better way to kill some downtime with… relaxing for a minute?
Don’t be daft – at the Festival of Speed there is no sleep, only more speed.
So I grabbed my cameras, loaded in several gigabytes of ammo and headed out the media centre door into the first car park to bring you a look at some of the metal that didn’t even make it into the main show.
You see, this isn’t your ordinary event car park. Goodwood’s Festival of Speed is so mind-blowingly good, that even the car park itself is a better car show than any other car show.
Performance ParkingStretching pretty much as far as the eye can see, rows upon rows of automotive goodness had been packed into the ‘performance parking’ area, closest to the main gate.
Initially I was unsure of what the criteria that had to be met was to qualify for such a convenient destination. Was it a pay to display? An area reserved for VIPs only? Maybe there was a parking attendant at the gate who let you in if your car impressed them enough.
After some digging, it turned out to be none of the above – Goodwood simply publishes a list of qualifying cars, and if your motor fits the bill, you’re in. Someone really should’ve told this guy, whose car I spotted in the public car park…
That means that if your car has a Lamborghini, Ferrari, McLaren or Maserati badge on the bonnet, you get an automatic entry.
Own a Porsche? Well, as long as it’s not a Cayenne or a Macan then you’re welcome too (their words, not mine!).
Some other marques are covered by more specific rules. If you own a BMW, for example, and it’s not an M Model, Z1, Z8, I8, or any Alpina/Hartge edition, then you’re parking with Joe Public I’m afraid.
Ford RS, V8 Mustang, Galaxie, and Falcon owners can share this exclusive space too. This Escort RS Turbo’s owner was taking full advantage of the reduced walk to the main event here.
In the eyes of Goodwood, the only Nissan worthy of the performance parking is the GT-R – sorry 350Z/370Z and S-chassis owners.
This lovely stock grey R32 GT-R obviously meets the criteria, parked up behind by its newer and much bigger brother.
If you’re a Honda owner then only the NSX will do, I’m afraid.
This red example from the Netherlands was sporting a set of what looked like double-staggered white Desmond Regamasters – ultimate wheel goals right here.
Once you’re in the gate, the parking is a free-for-all affair, meaning that there’s no rule or order with where you’re positioned. This creates an eclectic jumble of different cars sitting side-by-side, adding to the fascination when walking down each row.
A Lotus Exige, Maserati GranTurismo, Aventador SV and 911 GT3 RS in a variety of hues keep close company.
Just over my shoulder, a 993 Turbo, 360 Modena Spider and imposing Mercedes SLR lay dormant.
Every which way you turn sits a machine that some people will go their entire lives without seeing in the flesh. Is that a… New Holland T4 model in the background?!
The word ridiculous doesn’t even begin to cover it.
Amongst the newer metal sat classic performance machines too. I’d just been looking the brand new Alpine A110 from Renault a few hours earlier, so this pristine classic A110 Berlinette caught my eye.
The Lancia Delta Integrale in classic Martini Racing colours was equally as stunning. It’s sad that you don’t see cars like this on the road any more, but getting to walk around them in a setting such as this makes up for it.
Not Your Average FieldBefore I’d walked 10 feet outside of the media centre this gleaming white, caged 964 stole my heart straight away.
Then I spotted a 911R a couple of cars down from it. Sweet Jesus, the things I’d do.
Great choice of numberplate too.
I’m not sure if I prefer the more understated looks of the 911R or the balls-out audacity of the GT3 RS. As much as I love the concept of how much of a weapon the R is for its subtle exterior, the idea of a wide, winged, road-going race car really does appeal.
Quick quiz: name the car that these two funky and bonkers OEM design features are from…
An unknown hero brought his Diablo SV out for a weekend drive too. Memories of posters on my childhood bedroom walls are flooding back right now.
A 2017 BMW M3 and 996 GT2 would make for a very tasteful garage combo. One for the week, and one for the weekend.
Or for something a bit more practical, how about an ABT RS6-R Avant? Room for the family and dog, and 730bhp to boot.
As a gaggle of mini Casey Neistat YouTubers scurried around the newer and more exotic metal with unparalleled excitement (‘What’s UP guys, I’m here at Goodwood Festival Of Speed…’), while a group of more senior connoisseurs who were clearly in the know had also spotted what I had seen and were admiring a Lotus Carlton with nods of appreciation.
After taking a moment with the Carlton, I wandered over to see what the fuss was about a few rows down, right at the back of the parking lot. It turns out it was justified – it’s one thing parking your supercar up in a field, but another bringing your hypercar out for the day.
This is the first 918 Spyder I’ve seen in person and it really is a thing of beauty. That’s not a show plate either – someone has all of the disposable income then.
The walk back down the hill to the media centre took just as long, as I discovered cars that I’d missed in my excitement on the way up.
I could go on for hours, but there’s lots more hunting of speed to come from both myself and Paddy this week. If you thought the car park was good, wait until you see more of what’s inside the main event!
Jordan Butters
Instagram: jordanbutters
Facebook: Jordan Butters Photography
jordan@speedhunters.com
That's quite the car park there...
TVR Sagaris?
Winner, winner, chicken dinner.
Fairly rare (these days anyway) use of a Gurney flap on a production car, too. Interesting man, Dan Gurney. First to spray champagne on the podium, apparently.
dangit, opportunity stolen... ;;
The glass spoiler belongs to a TVR Sagaris
Both bits belong to a sagaris. Blocked off vents over the front wings because stop chips are worse than true aero.
Amazing car, wish I had bought one before they started commanding £70k price tags.
I was sure it was a Sagaris, but wondered about the blocked off vents. That makes a lot of sense though... still can't see a GT3 RS owner doing it though:P
Stop telling people in the first 2 sentences not to come to the comments section. Do you like reading articles where the intro is a disclaimer?
Tell someone not to do something, and they'll probably do it. Case in point.
Yes?
Odd. I don't see why you guys always feel the need to tell us not to blow up the comments section. That's not an enticing intro, doesn't grab attention. Take Dino's intro in his latest preview post, it makes me excited
Always is a bit strong. Feel free to click on my name at the top – a list of my stories will come up – and find the last time I've done this. From memory it was the drift E-Type Jag, in 2016, and it was kinda justified then. Still, thanks for the feedback.
How about yesterday's gtr? I could go through the archives, but I don't think it's necessary.
And I've been a daily patron of this site since it's inception, so please don't think that just because I come on here bitching means that I don't read every word and look at every picture.
You appear to be a bitch
Is that an Opel Manta with the american flag on it?
My neighbour had a Manta B2 GT/E when I was a kid. Dream car for many years!
Yes, Manta Thundersaloon.
Man, Thundersaloons were amazing back in the day.
What I wouldn't give to own a car that could park amongst those!
Gah, I'd love a ride in a Lotus Carlton and I'd give my left nut to own one! The 177mph saloon coupled with the fact that one was used as a getaway car as local plod had nothing that could touch it! As well as all the controversy that surrounded it, it just oozes council-house-cool.
Same here. I remember my days of playing NFS Hot Pursuit and High Stakes on my computer as a kid. Good times...
These pictures were taken on the Saturday but on the Sunday there were another two 918s and a LaFerrari too!
But did you see the FD-3S? Phwoar.
Of course I did! Even had the bonnet up when I was there, I hope it was just to look at the engine and not for some infamous rotary reliability issue!
the silver FD was mine, Glad you guys liked it!
I'm pretty sure you still had to pay to go in that car park... but to be fair the regular car parks were just as full of interesting stuff.
So they let Civics in this car park, but not Z or S chassis? Ok. Don't care, just find that strange. Especially for a older model Z, that's one of the most classic sports cars of all time.
Z-Chassis and S-Chassis don't fit in to Goodwood.
I spotted the two Civics and there's a TDI A6 in there too. Not sure how they got by
The A6 must've had a beast of a remap ;D
It was easily the craziest car park I have ever seen, either. I shot a quick IG Live post on Friday of it, which has since vanished into the ether. There were a couple more additions to it on Sunday, too.
That C292 didn't drive in, did it?!
Holy shitsticks.
TVR. Sadly, the company went under. Loved it. The "no fucks given" attitude of that company was great. Reliability was questionable... on a good day but, the cars were amazing nonetheless.
-Alex
They're debuting their new car at the Revival this year!
TVR Sagaris!
Last year that parking lot was pretty decent, but the threat of rain all weekend really kept a lot of cars out. Although there was a color changing P1 there for a little.
Oh the neighbours are gonna haaaate the event when it's time for everyone to leave (any estimates on the collective amount of bhp/whp for the event?)
I AirBnB'd at a family house down the road and they'd just moved to the area and hadn't heard of the FOS before. Rest assured they know its a bit of a big thing now!
all of the horsepowers
Is that really a Holden Monaro (Vauxhall for the UK) next to the 996 GT2 and BMW M3?
You can find them in the US fairly easy as a Pontiac GTO.
Indeed it is! They're not so rare in the UK.
I was more surprised that it would be allowed in to the parking zone. As an Aussie, we see them everywhere - I park my Evo next to one everyday
According to the list, any HSV Holden is allowed, as are the Vauxhall VXR8 and Monaro models.
Bucket list. Amazing.
So how does an Audi RS6 become an RS6-R?
It's an ABT tuning creation - http://www.abt-sportsline.de/en/audi-tuning/a6/abt-rs6-r-facelift/equipment/abt-rs6-r/
The thing is, even the normal car park was full of amazing cars. You know you're at petrolhead heaven when there's an example of every super station wagon created. I saw a Mitsubiwho Evo VIII Wagon, Mercedes E and C 63, V10 RS6 and new RS6, a very clean e46 m3 station wagon (was this a factory ofering?)....
The E46 M3 Touring was never made by BMW, but there are a handful of converted cars in the U.K.
You know you're at petrolhead heaven when you see all the fast wagons you've dreamed about. Examples being a Mitsubishi Evo VIII wagon or a BMW E46 M3 station wagon (was this a factory offering?)
Golden spirit of ectasy!
Well, this is just how I park all my cars, all my Hot Wheels cars.