Goodwood Revival 2011

[escondidoron]

This material is a cross-post on British Speed WRT my travels this week. However I think it is most relevant here so this is where I will put the whole story.

I will start to post some pictures that I have taken on my current travels now that I am having a chance to get a bit of good internet access.

Here we go:
Work has taken me back to Europe this week. The timing of this trip has allowed me to combine my work with my hobbies and attend the Goodwood Revival this past weekend. Since the work aspect allowed for significant advance planning I did some research and together with friends abroad I determined that the most opportune time for the trip would be this week. It allows visiting the UK on the front end and Munich on the back b efore returning home next weekend. I will start with our travel to the Revival.

My friends Erik, Mark, Roger, Stein, Pascal and his wife picked me up at the airport in Brussels on Friday morning. From there we caravanned to the U.K. in three home built variants of the Lotus Seven with Erik's Corrado following along as chase/luggage vehicle. The weather on the continent was beautiful azure skies and warm, with temperatures around 25C. We drove in the open air on the motorway to the French border:


Once into France we took local roads through small towns and the rolling French country side near Dunkirk:



Our initial goal was the Chunnel departure point at Calais:



This was my first time to travel by car in the train in the Chunnel. It is very efficient and easy. Once your train is ready to board you simply drive on. You sit in your car during the under channel journey. It takes about 35 minutes to travel the 50km to Folkestone. The round-trip tickets cost only 135 Euros per car. Here is a view of our accommodations on the train (note that flash photography is prohibited on the train so as not to disturb the fire alarms):


Once in the U.K. our good fortune with weather continued and we were able to take full advantage of the Sevens in their native environ in southern England between Folkestone and Bognor Regis:

Stopping a couple of times to swap rides so that all got to take full advantage of the Sevens:

And of course we had to stop whenever we felt the need to refuel along the way:


Upon arrival at our lodgings we put the hoods up on the Sevens and called it a day. We shared a few beers and tales of our day's adventure while we finalized our plans for Saturday's outing at Lord March's estate. We also fretted about the weather that lay ahead. In the parking lot we found that Aston Martins appear in the area near Chichester are as common as Chevrolets in the USA (at least during the Revival weekend):

[slomove]

Oh man, fabulous...

[escondidoron]

I'd like to say that Saturday dawned clear and bright. But that was not the case. It rained off and on all night and into the morning. After Breakfast we headed out to the parking lot and decided that the show was just beginning. Just next to our cars was this interesting little Suzuki:

The finned brake drums reminds me of the old Subaru 360:


Because of the weather forecast we left the Sevens at the hotel and we all piled into the Corrado to make the trek out to the track. Here is the scene upon walking up to the entrance:


For an auto race, we noticed a much higher number of ladies in attendance that at other events. I'm guessing that the fashion atmosphere sparks a higher level of interest, sort of like horse acing. Access to the facility is pretty much wide open. Upon entry at ~0800 we were able to walk around on the track freely. This view is looking down the main straight toward the start/finishe line from the direction of the chicane:

[escondidoron]

We crossed the track and went into the infield and the paddock. Even at this early hour admission to the paddock was restricted:


As a result, we wandered about and peeked in to see whatever we could view from the outside, through the fence. I say this with tongue in cheek because our access was very good, even if we could not enter the main paddock directly. Immediately on crossing the track we came upon this wonderful stable of cars from Morris Garage:

This group of cars made me think of Don Stanford's wonderful book, The Red Car. I read this book when I was a boy and it has stuck with me ever since. I halfway expected to see Frenchy poke his head up from under the bonnet of one of the cars as I looked on....


As we walked a bit farther on we came to the corner of the restricted paddock. Inside we could see beautiful examples of cars that I had read of in my youth:


We walked along the edge of the paddock and gawked, like schoolboys gazing at a photo of a nude Sophia Loren or Marilyn Monroe, or any beautiful naked woman for the first time. Inside paddock, such was the array of magnificent and famous machines of years past:



A bit farther on from the GP cars, we came upon the sports and GT cars of the 60s. Wonderful old Group 7 / Can Am cars in the center of the paddock:

The Group 7 cars were sourrounded by gorgeous 60's sports and GT cars, many beginning with the Letter F. Anyone for Pizza?:

[sevenhead]

Fabulous!