Here is the iconic TwentyTurin T. Fiat is being acquired this year Goodwood Festival of Speed. It should be stimulated by the people who claim it exists. But now everything is different, and very strange.
This year, both the Goodwood Festival Speed Speed and Revival have been rocked by a mega-event called Speedweek. It’s a back door event that will be shared from the Goodwood Estate, so no one is allowed except a few journalists, drivers, owners and Goodwood staff. I was one of the lucky ones invited to keep a nose around. And see what it is.
(Full announcement: Udi DA called and asked if I would like to take part in a parade in Goodwood to celebrate its Quattro 40th anniversary. They sent me a car and sorted my access. Udi de UK provided some pictures; Others were taken by me.)
The Goodwood Festival of Speed is usually a hive of activity. You can barely move on for people taking photos and videos, and in general they are all excited about shiny cars. Goodwood House usually has a big sculpture up front, but this year ક્યાં Where did it go? Why don’t we have a mixture of metal and car in a dangerous way?
The view of the house is usually grandstands, productive exhibitions and a bunch of people. Instead, it is now empty farms and sheep. At least now we know where Goodwood’s Lamb Chops came from. I haven’t had to think about it before.
One of the highlights of the Gati Mahotsav is the Hill Run. The sophisticated and great supercar thunder goes up and down, it is very pleasing to the viewers. They are fun, but require time commitment from run drivers. You need to get in your car an hour before you go to get there, and you sit in a (very fancy) traffic jam while hoping that currently no one comes up the hill and causes a big jam. This year, do you think traffic is a problem? Well .. some Aud dis.
It’s deftly quiet, save for the car, because sadly no one there is cheering you on the side. It seems kind of… empty. The lack of hay bales is a must for anyone who doesn’t know Goodwood without them, but at least this year you’ll get a better view of the landscape.
With no traffic, you can go up and down Richmond’s Duke Drive Way as often as you like without incident. Unless you drive like a Muppet, that’s it.
Following the world’s fastest hill run we went into the circuit for some parade lps. The circuit is where most of the speedwick is transmitted.
We were told to be discreet in our respective cars We were not.
After the -n-track stupidity, I went to check out the surrounding site, and it should be honest, mostly uncomfortable.
In any other year, the Goodwood Supercar Paddock will be full of people who stick to everything from a face-stripping paint job and a flash badge. Instead it was empty.
A few industry executives ran but with their cars, but a crowd doesn’t mean they all felt a little showroom ecstasy.
There really should be kids taking pictures of this camera phone.
Or a bunch of Vananabe influencers trying to record pieces around this place.
Walking further into the track revealed more people, all hidden for obvious reasons. The thing is, they weren’t enough to make the space feel special. It felt like the beginning of a party, when only a few guests come and your place feels very empty. The atmosphere was pleasant, but also shocking.
The paddock, as you would expect, was full of rare, exciting cars. But hardly anyone except the owners and drivers had to see them.
The weather is a little scary since October is October and England. Thoughtfully, Goodwood has set fire pits to keep people warm. But it all looks a little “people around the oil drum,” isn’t it? Despite having an oil drum next to an incredible parking lot.
On the tracks, the pit lane was full of cars but a few people. That meant the noise was low to bounce, though. (Note that below, Elvina’s rollover protection system is active because it’s a prototype, and it’s about sticking to McLaren. Silly rules that ruin beautiful cars.)
The show Goodwood Neu was undoubtedly excellent for Speed Week – races, noisy supercars, interviews, good stuff.. But there wasn’t much in the background. No screaming fans. The general atmosphere is nothing. It’s been a weird year full of weird things, and without people Goodwood is a reminder that cars and events like this can’t function without energy release without sharing what enthusiasts care about.
