2012 Goodwood Festival of Speed

The Goodwood Festival of Speed is an annual event held on the grounds of the historic Goodwood House in West Sussex, England.  Founded in 1993 by the Earl of March, the FoS is truly a celebration of all things Speed that includes everything from open wheel Formula One racecars to RAF jet fighters.  However the highlight of the weekend is the hill climb that takes place along a one mile stretch of pavement lined only with bales of hay and normally serves as the Earl’s private driveway.  Since its inception, the Goodwood Festival of Speed has expanded into a three-day affair while adding massive sculptures, an upscale classic car show and, most recently, a forest rally stage where everything from flame spitting Group B cars to entry level JWRC machines to have some fun in the mud.

The beauty of Goodwood is that it allows the audience to get up-close and personal with exotic machinery, both on track and in the paddocks; something that would normally be impossible, especially in the world of F1.  Ticket holders to the 2012 Goodwood Festival of Speed were not only treated to another fantastic Lotus themed sculpture by Gerry Judah, but also the driving likes of Formula One Champion Sebastian Vettel, who was making his first ever trip to the Goodwood House.  The Red Bull Renault driver delighted the fans with low speed drive bys, smoky burnouts as well as a series of spectacular donuts: something you would never see on a race broadcast.

The Goodwood Festival of Speed is a pilgrimage that every racing enthusiast should make at least once in his or her lifetime.  So if you ever happen to be in England around late June/early July and have a hankering for some go fast excitement, a trip to the Goodwood house might just be what the doctor ordered.