Is anyone going?

This year the Goodwood Festival of Speed (FOS) is being held from the 26th June - 29th June.

Thursday 26th is the Moving Motor Show, which is not the actual FOS, but instead a day showing off the new models of car from each manufacturer, so think of it like a car show. However it is a good day to go because all of the car paddocks and manufacturers stands are in place so you can look around the whole event without the masses of crowds you get on the actual FOS days. The only thing you don't get to see on the Thursday are the cars running up the hill.

If you get the requests in early you can even book test drives for any manufacturer you like for their current and new models, for anything from a Fiat to a Ferrari.

You can often also get free tickets for the Thursday Moving Motor show. I just secured some via the AA through a direct invitation from them.

But the main weekend event is the one to really go to. Everyone needs to go at least once as it is one of the best motoring events in the world, if not the best. No where else will you ever see so many cars brought together from across the whole history of motor racing, right from the very first dating from over 100 years ago, right up to the latest F1 cars, and they all get driven up the hill track, so you get to see them all running, and when not running you can walk right around them in the paddock areas. It is a brilliant event.

And even greater are the drivers attending. Over 50% of all current F1 drivers normally attend. Regulars every year are Jenson, Hamilton and many others. You also get some of the greats such as Sir Sterling Moss still driving his original racing cars up the hill to entertain fans. Plus loads of other current and past drivers from F1, GT, Rally and every other type of motor racing you can think off. And in more recent years motorbikes and rally cars have been added... with a special rally stage set within the Goodwood estate woods at the top of the main hill climb.. it's amazing seeing famous vintage rally cars actually being raced around a timed rally stage, and some even crashing!

This year the Peugeot 208 T16 peaks Pike special driven by Sebastien Loeb is going to try and beat the beat the current hill climb record, held by Nick Heidfeld since 1999 in an F1 car. Sadly the F1 cars are no longer allowed to attempt to set a real timed run because it is too dangerous and there were some crashes in previous years.
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