If you’re an automotive events organiser putting on a show at Goodwood Circuit, you know you’ve made it.
The Retro Rides Weekender is unlike other events hosted at the prestigious motor circuit/airfield. Not for any bad reason, but because of the wholesome vibe it carries. Let me explain…
I didn’t know what to expect as I arrived; I only have my annual pilgrimage to Players Classic as a benchmark for a Goodwood Motor Circuit show. But I soon found myself sipping an espresso and enjoying a pistachio cookie, watching (and listening to) a pair of classic Alfa Romeo Giulia Sprints fly past on the main straight.
After psyching myself up for the scorcher on the hottest day of the year, I grabbed my camera and slowly began making my way around the venue, admiring the cars on display and thanking people for getting out of my shots without me asking them to.
It was only when I got to this DR30 Nissan Skyline RS-Turbo that it dawned on me: I didn’t feel the need to rush like a maniac to find an angle or shoot in between crowds of people not paying attention.
What was going on? Had that cookie taken me to another universe?
No, it was just a good cookie, and the crowd was unlike any other I had experienced.
Retro Rides is a decidedly old-school entity, having been around as a forum for over a decade. But unlike most popular groups that have transitioned to a social media-only approach, Retro Rides is still an incredibly active and popular forum for enthusiasts of older and modified cars.
I miss forums. They were full of people taking a genuine interest in each others’ projects, having discussions and checking daily for updates on their internet friends’ cars, which they were getting ready to reveal at show X or event Y.
I was an Edition38 man myself. It’s where I learned to write for an audience and part of what led me to fall into the Audi/VW scene as a teenager. My thread wasn’t anything special – my Audi wasn’t old or cool enough to get much attention – but I took pride in my posts and appreciated the conversations with others.
Social media apps just aren’t the same. Most of the interactions on a post these days are someone commenting three fireballs and some little emoji geezer drooling. It sucks we are regressing as enthusiasts.
But the Retro Rides Weekender took me back to a period in time when people actually seemed to give a sh*t about the cars in front of them.
I heard some bloke talking to himself about how an Aston Martin DB7 is the most affordable model you can buy right now, while at the other end of the spectrum were crowds of spectators cheering every time a drift-spec BMW E36 threw up clouds of smoke on the Autosolo (autocross) course that was set up on Sunday.
Families watched in awe as the V8-powered Special Saloon race cars thundered through the last chicane, their young kids giggling through the barriers behind me while I was shooting trackside.
In fact, that ridiculous bunch of race cars even stopped on the main straight so spectators could check them out. Drivers answered questions from fans and happily posed for photos with their cars. I’ll go more in-depth on these beasts in a separate post.
All of this just adds to the fact that Retro Rides attracts a mix of the quirkiest, rarest and downright coolest classic cars in the UK right now. I’d be amiss if I didn’t point out some of my favourites to go with my social commentary.
This combination of Group A and Group B heroes was phenomenal. The drivers of the Lancia Delta and SWB-converted Audi quattro were grabbing them by the scruffs of their necks and sending them on track.
Yet, no matter what, my heart still leans towards an E30 BMW M3.
But it’s not just race cars that capture my attention.
A Beach Buggy on the move is always fun…
Shoutout to everyone who took part in the Autosolo in machines simply not designed for aggressive precision driving. Along with the absolute hero who took the storage container Toyota van out on track…
…James Yarrow gets a special mention for tackling the course at some speed without de-beading the stretched tyres on his recently built VW Corrado VR6.
There could only be one car of the show for me though, and that was this sensational Ford Mustang Boss. A black-on-black leather example with wood inlay trim, a 4-speed manual, polished wheels and what appears to be a 408ci stroker V8 engine. In my eyes, it was the most perfect car there.
From the outside, it may be ‘just’ another car show with a track day in the mix, but I’ve learned it’s not the basic ingredients that make the Retro Rides Weekender what it is.
It’s a safe space for car enthusiasts to be car enthusiasts, with no ego or stigma attached, and to nerd out to their hearts’ content.
Long live the Retro Rides Weekender! Enjoy the HUGE gallery below and don’t forget to tell us which weird and wonderful car is your favourite.
Mario Christou
Instagram: mcwpn
mariochristou.world
OFFICIAL SPEEDHUNTERS SUPPLIERS
I also miss forums. They were so much more social than any form of social media and the best ones built a real sense of community which sometimes spilled over into real life like what Retro Rides has achieved. Now everything is just an FB owners group with people posting the same questions every single day with "pic for attention".
I used to be really active on RR but I don't run an old car anymore. I've been completely priced out of the game.
I miss forums too. Was so much better reading progress blogs and getting little updates on what people were doing in their garages etc. I know you get a bit of this on instagram but forums felt more friendly and like a community.
PGAC was my forum of choice owning a Peugeot 106 back in the day!
What I would give to participate/attend/shoot at an event like this.
Loved the variety and quality of cars. Loved that it wasn't just hard-parking.
Awesome article.
Good grief! That EF Civic, the little red breadvan (Hillman, I think), and that gorgeous stretched Volvo with the trailer are absolute favs! Thanks for showing me some really rad rides, Mario.
Ratro Rides are a fanalous group of people and I belong to the SW Retro Rides. Want to attend a good Classic Vehicle show then consider attending their show on Sunday the 9th June, 2024 at Ilmonster, Somerset on the recreation ground. Attendance has reached 350 cars and makes a good day out with other entertainment and a variety of food. It is under the umbrella of Ilminster Experience. I have returned from the show for personal reasons but it is continuing with a new leader. Sorry no taking. The whole show is run by a very small band of people and has attracted people with a similar attitude as described above in Goodwood.
Complex subject, apologize in advance for the long write:
The death of forums and the replacing of them with social media has been the single greatest detriment to the intelligence of the automotive community I have ever seen. Cars and the love of them used to be a very niche thing for people to really be into. Then BOOM fast and the furious hits, drifting becomes mainstream to the average consumer via Xgames etc, and social media starts really taking off.
The combination of these three things lead to the average person getting into cars without really understanding them to any real depth. This is why so many people argue with me when I write something like "wow that's amazing X car does this lap time. But car Y will go faster for cheaper because it's a real racing car." And 90% of the comments are imbeciles losing their minds "BECAUSE THAT'S NOT A ROAD CAR AND KARTS / FORMULA CARS ARE FOR CHILREN."
The average IQ knuckle dragging ape has his keyboard and his little following of 50,000 people that make it appear he is in the know. In reality 99.999% of people in this hobby have never built an engine, or transmission, never participated in real racing, and doesn't have a clue how to even approach something like this. 50 years ago this was the standard as the industry didn't have parts and a plethora of people to build stuff for you if you have money.
I made a comment a few weeks ago about the death of forums leading to the rise in stupidity and most of the people who wrote me back--regulars in these comment sections--did nothing but say how crazy I was to say social media has lead to the over all degradation of automotive intelligence. This is why I've learned after 25 years in the industry the best stuff to be into is the super super niche stuff that no one has any interest in.
Social media has ruined a lot of stuff and forums leaving the internet are one of the biggest tragedies to happen to automotive culture post year 2000. RWB, Fast and the Furious, and many of the people featured as "automotive experts" on here are getting laughed at by the old heads who still know where the forums / good information is.
Just the other day I was having a laugh at how stupid Bisi is for the turbo fans he put on a Honda Civic and then claimed they made "downforce just like the factory RSR Porsche team." Total fking lie that would have him laughed out of any forum where people are worth their salt. But on the internet and social media? He's a good. Why? Because people have dumbed down to extraordinary levels!
Cheers guys!
Sure, a race car would be faster around a track, but sometimes watching people modify their street cars to absurd levels to achieve similar lap times is fun to watch too.
Sure. I can understand that from a tinkering standpoint definitely. If a mini van goes as fast as a McLaren we’re going to find that hilarious and awesome.
However once we get into actual racing that is irrelevant. Here is a great quote that summarizes it better than I ever could:
“ “Before we can do anything intelligent with any piece of machinery we had better figure out the exact function of the piece—if all else fails, read directions. In the case of the racing car that function is deceptively simple. The racing car exists only to allow one man to negotiate a certain fixed distance in less time than any other combination of man and machine present on that day. Whether the distance happens to be the 440 yards of a drag strip, 200 laps of Indianapolis, 14 laps of the Nurburgring or 1000 miles of Baja landscape is immaterial. The racing car is not a technical exercise. It is not an art object. The racing car is simply a tool for the racing driver.” - Carrol Smith
And it’s funny I’ve quoted data right from some of his books (which comes from credible factory racing teams as sources) and people in these comments have said I’m stupid out of my mind etc etc.
Most people have no clue about actual racing anymore. It becomes laughable to people who have spent decades learning and mastering this stuff. Then I make a comment and the dummies light me up like a Christmas tree. Very funny to watch but super sad to see what has happened to average joe intelligence in this space.
I think a lot of these tuners are pretty much building up cars just to advertise their workmanship. I doubt they think much about street usability and all-round performance, like Bisimoto's Odyssey. 1000 hp in a front-wheel-drive minivan will never make sense in reality and for everyday usability, but it does make an interesting conversation starter.
Exactly what I say I just call out the journalists and casuals who try to tell me it’s bc I don’t really understand what’s going on. It’s funny you’re proving the same point you’re argued against in previous posts.
the problem is you’re coming to a place we enjoy to tell us we’re not enjoying them right. if you think speedhunters is full of idiots, i’m sure we won’t miss you. bye!
Because you've been nothing but a clown in previous posts. I'm more than happy to engage in your dialogue if you can keep it civlized.
Ive spotted myself in the background of speedhunters articles before, its always a novelty, but to spot my car on this site made me so excited.
I'm merely an average American mustang enjoyer, but I tell you what when I sees me an Anglia, whale tail or four door Sierra, or a boss overseas something really tickles inside me!
I'm saddened that I didn't get to enjoy any era of car shows like this. My home town has always just been either lowriders or 30s-70s hot rods (and now street takeover crews because I'm in the poorer side of town). It's not to say I don't maintain an appreciation for these styles of car but the fatigue I feel in seeing them anywhere is very real. Something as simple as a hodge podge of cars new/old/clean/beat-to-hell feels so refreshing and lovely, but maybe that's just the rose-colored glasses talking about the grass on the other side ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Chase the dream bro. I started from a hand me down Volvo now I get paid to drive Ferraris. You can do anything you put your mind to but if you choose to live your own way be mentally strong. Have fun. Life is wild and cars are fun. Get after it buddy!!!
The Attitude, Chilled vibe and appreciation for every type of retro vehicle is what makes this the BEST show of the year for me, no one seems to be to cool or at least think they are or better than anyone else , Which in todays Insta famous scene is so refreshing to see, I have been building my truck for nearly 4 years now and it was its first outing to a show, and its first show was always going to be RetroRides for the reasons above, it made it all the way from South Wales to GoodWood and back to , shame i wasn't there on Sunday , So here's a photo.
Me and my dad loved your truck the second it pulled onto the camping field, you was only a few cars down from us in the 300e thames van
Forums were good indeed. I think where they might have possibly failed was with the ability to adapt to mobile viewing in a way that felt natural. There is also that ugly matter of advertising that makes forums difficult to view nowadays—necessary but ugly. Perhaps there is still development to be had with forums and a gap for their return?
On a side note, does anyone know who the DT livery Mk2 Golf belongs to?