Back in the days when we all knew our place there was a fixed social season in London, where all true gentlemen would gather, “The Right Crowd and no Crowding”

Many of the events on the season were sporting in nature, Royal Ascot, the Boat Race, Wimbledon, Cowes Week, Henley Regatta etc. etc. After the demise of Brooklands, motorsport was not really represented in this social whirl, a Formula One Grand Prix at the charmless Silverstone airfield could not cut mustard.

So some 16 years ago Lord March, owner of the Goodwood Estate, spotted a gap in the market and with the Festival of Speed created a celebration of things that go fast or as they put it “automotive culture”.

It was a simple idea that was well executed well and it has proved extremely popular, almost too popular according to some of the regulars.

So here we are in July with the Festival happening this coming weekend, so of course the rain is falling……….and is scheduled to continue till Monday……the delights of an English summer……

Sitting in an English garden waiting for the sun,
If the sun don't come, you get a tan from
Standing in the English rain

As the Beatles put it.

OK what is there to keep us all amused for three days?

Well something for every taste………cars, stars, stars and cars………

….actually cars includes almost every form of motorised transport, road cars, supercars, open wheelers, motorbikes. And of course there is the Hill Climb……..will the record go this year or will the weather defeat the efforts of the racers?

Each Festival has a theme set for it and in 2008 it’s “Hawthorne to Hamiltion” saluting the 50th anniversary of Britain’s first Formula One World Champion and acknowledging the popularity of the current title contender.  There will be six current F1 teams represented and plenty of the more classical cars and drivers……..so if F1 floats your boat there will be something for you.

Plus……….access will be at levels only dreamed of by those who actually pay to go Grand Prix………at Silverstone the public are not allowed to reach the interior of the track, reserved for VIPs and The Paddock Club and of course the teams and drivers. At Goodwood you might get to actually touch Lew-is. Yes, fresh from pulverising the opposition last weekend he will be there with Jenson Button and Sebastian Bourdais from the current F1 grid. Legends from past who are due to make an appearance include Sir John Surtees, Sir Stirling Moss (wouldn’t be Goodwood without him), Damon Hill, John Watson and Johnny Herbert.

For those of us not bothered about F1 in its current incarnation there are plenty of other attractions………..the Goodwood Forest Rally special stage with over 40 cars in action plus a special tribute display to the late Colin McRae.

The two wheel fraternity is also fully represented from TT roadsters such as John McGuinness to legends of the circuits such as Mick Doohan and Carl Fogerty.

Sportscars will have its champions on display too with Allan McNish and Nic Minassian joining Derek Bell and Brian Redman.

Jostling for attention with all this will be flypasts of the Airbus A380, the Red Arrows and located on the oldest cricket pitch in the world will be a collection of top fuel dragsters.

For those who prefer road car exotica there will be a Super Car Rally and static exhibitions with Cartier sponsored “Style et Luxe” including a bunch of 007 James Bond cars.

So something exclusively for everyone………..

Editor Rod spotted an early Nissan that he reckons that we should do a piece on…………..anyone else got requests?   

I'll make some attempt to keep you readers happy.

-John Brooks

Goodwood Festival of Speed