July 18, 2002

Story and photos by Marcel Massini

"On the Limit - a History of Heroes" was the theme for this year's Goodwood Festival of Speed. Already in its 10th year this sensational event is clearly THE highlight of every season. Once again, Lord Charles March and his team managed to bring together motorsport's greats - both men and machines. The three day affair took place on the weekend of 12-14 July 2002, and was strongly supported by 14 motorsport industry giants. The quality and diversity of the attractions at Goodwood once again brought about 120,000 spectators from all over the world to the English countryside in West Sussex. Better than most Formula One races and definitely with much more charm, since everybody can touch the cars--there are no fences at all!

The list of race drivers and superstars of automobile racing at this year's festival truly read like the who's who of motorsport: Stirling Moss, Emmanuele Pirro, Gianclaudio Regazzoni, Marc Surer, Jensen Button, Allan McNish, Ralf Schumacher, Luciano Burti, Vic Elford, Emerson Fittipaldi, Jacky Ickx, Jochen Mass, René Arnoux, Jack Brabham, Phil Hill, John Surtees, Jackie Stewart, Alexander Wurz, Al Unser Sr., Alan Jones, and many more. Among the team managers present in Goodwood were Ross Brawn and Patrick Head.

Taking place just a week after the British Grand Prix at Silverstone, Goodwood attracted a number of Formula One teams: Renault, Toyota, Ferrari, McLaren-Mercedes, BMW Williams and BAR-Honda. Speed freaks watched as many world champions took on the Freddie March hillclimb course, a demanding ribbon of asphalt at the center of the show.

2002 marks the 75th anniversaries of the legendary Nürburgring and the brutal Mille Miglia. Special classes honoured both of these motorsport challenges. This year Renault had a major presence and there was a special array of the French Formula One cars in front of Goodwood house. Among the big players was General Motors, who had a sensational display of dragsters. Audi entered all three of their silver arrows fresh from their third successive victory at Le Mans and proudly displayed the huge French trophies. Other competition cars coming from the Sarthe circuit were Chevrolets and the Bentley.

Mercedes-Benz emptied half of their factory museum, BMW brought super sports cars, and there were Alfa-Romeos, Aston Martins and Porsches in all colors. This mouthwatering group also included many Ferraris. Factory test driver Luciano Burti was available with last year's Formula One Ferrari, while Dutchman John Bosch had the ex-Schumacher chassis number 200 on hand. US collector Jonathan Ciener of Florida showed his F1 87/88 ex-Michele Alboreto and there was also an ex-Niki Lauda 312 T of 1975. The 1951 Mille Miglia-winning Ferrari 340 America Coupé Vignale was parked next to a 212/225 Export Coupé Vignale. Jean Sage drove his ex-Carrera Panamericana 375 MM Berlinetta Pinin Farina. Bernie Carl, who had brought the ultrarare 268 SP for Phil Hill to drive, had a long chat with Belgium Ferrari driver Jacky Ickx. David Franklin raced Carlos Monteverde's 212 E Montagna Spider and Phil Collins' manager Tony Smith drove the ex-Neil Corner 246 Dino Formula One car of 1959.

Cartier Style et Luxe is one of the world's most relaxed concours d'elégance competitions Among the Ferraris, a brown-metallic 365 GT4 Berlinetta Boxer, plus Paul Vestey's 250 GT LWB TDF Berlinetta. The author also liked a light blue ("Azzurro Messico") RHD Lamborghini Miura SV, one of only seven built. This car originally belonged to a potato farmer in Scotland, was later owned by Aston Martin guru Simon Draper and is now apparently in the garage of Ferrari collector Anthony P. Bamford. Another supercar was the spectacular Alfa Romeo Tipo 33 Stradale, which was on loan from the Alfa Romeo Museum in Italy. Chip Connor's black Alfa Romeo 2900 B Superleggera Touring was also on display as was a Lola T70, a Jaguar XKSS and a rare De Tomaso Mangusta.

Current supercars included an Aston Martin Vanquish V12, the Lamborghini Murcielago, the Alfa Romeo Brera and a Spyker C8. Mercedes had a special display with four unique and historic Maybachs. Of interest was the Goodwood Gravity Racing Club's soapbox challenge attracted an entry of 27 machines with futuristic wind-cheating bodies. Bonhams held its auction of automobilia and interesting sports cars during the weekend. Motorbikes of all ages and types were shown and raced up the hill as well. There were helicopter flights available and Britain's Red Arrows airfighter team showed their skills on the mostly blue sky.

Goodwood's 2002 Festival of Speed was an enormous success. There was something for everyone, no matter what automobile taste one has. Lord March and his enthusiastic team have to be congratulated for assembling once again a most comprehensive spectacle which pleased every enthusiast.