The Goodwoocd Festival Of Speed

A Memory of Petworth.

The "Festival of Speed" was founded in 1993 by Lord Marsh, the event displaying and actively demonstrating racing machine from the present day and those stretching back to the beginning of the motor racing era back in the earliest days of motor car development. The main feature being a timed hill climb when cars and motorcycles spanning this period race against the clock to compete for the fastest time of the annual event.
I first attended in around 1995 when the event was seen more as a pure enthusiasts day or weekend out before becoming more of a corporate event as it is today.
Competitors from all over Europe and the USA are once again paired with their race winning machines of their day although quite naturally not directly competing with modern day formula one cars or moto-gp motorcycles.
The noise and smells of motor racing fill the air as mechanics struggle with last minute adjustments to machines, many not having had their engines started for years, others perhaps raced as recently as the previous weekend.
The pubic can mingle with competitors, walk freely throughout the paddock area and compare notes and stories with mechanics and fellow enthusiasts, with perhaps the odd touch of enhancement!
Open stalls sold memorabilia, some items genuine some less so together with tools, books, models, clothing and of course food and drink. In more recent years the champagne and oyster boys arrived as the event became more and more upmarket, nevertheless the spirit remains and atmosphere is second to none in nostalgia terms, the event being sold out weeks or months before opening day and never to be missed. See you there shortly?
John Russell
1st June 2016

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