Aston Martin – WrAnTz

Goodwood Revival – Test Day

They talk about Glorious Goodwood, but when they say that typically it’s the horse racing that they mean.

However, yesterday could equaly be described as Glorious Goodwood. The sun was shining, we were at the Goodwood Motor Racing Circuit as spectators for one of the Revival Weekend Test Days. We were surrounded by the sounds of hundreds, probably thousands, of horsepower. And instead of the smell of horse sweat and manure the smell of tyre smoke and racing fuel permeated the air.

Jon, my son-in-law, and I were here for the day. We really had no idea what to expect as this is not a public event. The Test Days are open, free of charge, to Goodwood Road Racing Club members. Much of the circuit is a construction site as the preparations proceed for the Revival weekend.

There were cars on the track but no schedule of events. No racing per se but tell that to a racing driver who is trying wring every last ounce of performance out of his car.

So, we arrived on circuit at around 09:45 and as there were cars already out on track we headed via the tunnel to the pit lane area where we could get an overview of the track.

We were just in time for the end of a session as we could see the red flag out and cars were being directed into the paddock area.

As we could see that cars were queuing in the pit lane for the next session we went for a closer look.

The beauty of days like these test days is that you can get up close with the cars, the drivers and their support teams.

Also, behind the pit lane area are the paddocks where the cars are prepared before heading out onto the track. This are will be filled to capacity over the revival weekend but for our visit there were only a few cars in residence.

From the paddock we headed across to the other side of the track to get a different perspective on the action.

By way of a change we were treated to a few open wheeled racers.

As this was only a test day we had been prewarned that there could be interruptions to proceedings, that certain areas of the circuit may be out of bounds due to construction activities.

And so it was that the track was shut down while a crane was brought out to lift some framework for one of the stands. Though this didn’t stop all activity as the next two pictures show. The lead car, with the hatch open, had a video film camerman sitting in the back, filming the following cars.

Once the cranework was completed the track was reopened and we were back to the action.

These remaining photos were taken from either opposite to the pit exit or from above the pit lane buildings.

Memorial To Mike Hawthorn and Lofty England

Well I hope I didn’t bore you to death with this post and all my snaps. If you got this far, thanks for sticking with me.

The thing that always amazes me is that the owners of these cars, worth millions of pounds, allow them to be raced. And believe me the drivers don’t hold back.

Goodwood Breakfast Club

1st May was Supercar Sunday at the Goodwood Racing Circuit. The first Breakfast Club of 2022.

Here are a few snaps that I took on my phone.

Lamborghini

Ferrari

Classic Car Sunday – Goodwood

Last Sunday, the Goodwood Motor Racing Circuit held the latest episode of their popular Breakfast Club series. These meets, as mentioned in a previous post, are held on the first Sunday of every month. And best of all, entry is ticketed, but free.

Once again, thanks to the prolonged dry spell that the UK is experiencing, the weather was perfect. Blue cloudless skies allowing the bright sunshine to show of the varied paint finishes and, in some cases, the imperfections.

Here are just some of the photos I captured. First up a selection of vehicles, presented by the Amberley Museum & Heritage Centre.

A Pair of Leyland Titan Buses – On the left and example from 1965, the one on the right is one from 1964

Bedford – 1936

Southdown Motor Services ran bus and coach services throughout East and West Sussex. The company was formed in 1915.

I guess there may be a slight delay while the “great British workman” has a tea break.

1969 Morris Mini Van – In the livery of Yarty Cordials

Austin A4 – In rally trim.

If my memory serves me right, the Austin A40 was the first British hatchback.

One of the most iconic of British marques is the Aston Martin. To be honest, there were so many Astons on display, I became a little blasé so I chose to post just this example, because of the fabulous colour.

1966 Aston Martin DB6 Vantage

The same was to become true for the number Jaguar E-types. Don’t get me wrong, I love to see them and I am really pleased to see so many classic cars being lovingly looked after.

But ever onwards, so much more to see and not all high end or high performance. For example…

1966 Unipower

1955 Lotus Six

1955 Ford Thunderbird

1986 Citroen 2CV

Austin Gypsy

1950 Cadillac 61 Series – DW Racing Livery

1958 Fiat Abarth 750

BMV 3.0 CSL

1950 Cadillac “Le Monstre” Tribute

1955 Ford Thunderbird

1950 Cadillac “Le Monstre” Tribute

1955 Ford Thunderbird

1958 Fiat Abarth 750

As I said above, not all of the vehicles on display are of the performance variety. Many, like the Ford Anglia “danglebox” below, were the cars that youngsters of my era started out in. And just like the young of today, we were not averse to “pimping” our rides. Fat tyres, lowered suspension, flared wheel arches etc. etc.

1968 Triumph TR5

1959 Austin Metropolitan

2016 Superformance GT40

1987 Ford GT40

1961 Ford Anglia

1967 Austin Healey 3000 Mk III

1959 Austin Metropolitan

The Austin Healy 3000, was my favourite “sports car” of all time. As a teenager, living in Battle, back in the mid-sixties, I used to see an aubergine 3000 with fat tyres, roll bars and bonnet straps. I really thought it was the business. And it has stuck with me right thru to my mid-sixties.

Sometimes, when the mood, light, atmosphere is just right a car will grab you. This, for me was the car of the day although the folks that were judging todays entries thought otherwise. What do they know ?

Bentley 4.25 litre Tourer

1938 62 Bentley 4.25 litre Tourer

This car has presence, poise, curves, is simply put, just beautiful.

1965 Gordon Keeble

1929 Ford Model A ?

1962 Sunbeam Rapier

1948 Land Rover

1973 Lotus Elan plus 2

1929 Ford Model A ?

1966 MG Magnette

1973 Jensen Healey

2016 Superformance GT40

Who remembers Barracuda by Heart , well here is the car. And, yes, I know it is also a fish with very sharp teeth. Looking under the “hood” I’m pretty sure this car has the automotive equivalent of teeth.

1970 Plymouth Baracuda

We had arrived at around 07:30 and the number of display cars kept on growing. From a photo stand point we aren’t even half way round. It’s interesting as we stroll along, how often we are saying stuff like “my Dad had one of those” or “that was my first car” or “we had one of those in blue” etc. etc. etc. A real nostalgia trip.

1969 VW Karmann Ghia

1969 Ford Cortina Mk2

1924 Bugatti Type 35 – A Veyron prototype ?

1967 Fiat 500

1957 Austin A35 – Somewhat modified !!

1969 VW Karmann Ghia

1959 Porsche 356

I should point out that Goodwood is an active airfield, so an unexpected bonus was a number of planes flying in and out. Including these …

But, hey, this post is about automobiles, so back to the main event …

2003 DAX Cobra

1953 Riley RM

1965 Austin Westminster Mk II

1939 Alvis Speed 25 ?

1935 Bentley

1972 Jaguar E-Type

1965 Ford Mustang

1970 Morris Minor – Far from original with a Rover 3.5L fitted

1958 Austin Healey Sprite

1952 Citroen Traction Avant

1947 Bentley

Alvis

1970 Morris Minor – Far from original with a Rover 3.5L fitted

1950 Bentley

1967 Chevrolet Corvette

1968 Jaguar E-Type

1939 Oldsmobile

1935 Bentley

1970 Morris Minor – Far from original with a Rover 3.5L fitted

1964 Austin A40 & 1957 Austin A35

1968 Porsche 911

1965 Austin Westminster Mk II

1974 Citroen DS

1935 Bentley

1965 VW Camper

1974 Citroen DS

2003 DAX Cobra

As you can see from the photos, the variety of vehicles on display was vast. The selection that I am posting here is just a fraction of the shots I took and is really only a taster of the caliber of this event.

1970 Dodge Coronet

Ford Capri

1965 Alfa Romeo Giulia

An Ageing Moddy Boy

1949 Dodge Pickup

1973 Hillman Imp – Heavily modified

1954 Jaguar XK120

1969 Triumph Herald 13/60

1958 MG Magnette

1965 Pontiac Bonneville

1974 Morris Marina TC

1962 Lancia Flaminia Sport

1963 Alfa Romeo Giulia

1965 Pontiac Bonneville

1955 Triumph TR2

And that is it folks. I hope I haven’t bored you with number of images. I am just amazed and the quality of the vehicles on display. The condition and finish is just a surface visual indication of the love that their owners lavish on them. We musn’t forget the mechanics underneath that classic bodywork.

I thank the owners for bringing their pride and joy along for my pleasure and I also thank the folks that organise these breakfast meets.

The next breakfast meet is Japanese Sunday, on October 7th. I hope to be there, let’s hope the weather is kind again.

Super Car Sunday – Goodwood

Today was Super Car Sunday, part of the Breakfast Club series, held on the first Sunday of every month at the Goodwood Motor Racing Circuit.

The weather was perfect, with bright sunshine to show of the varied paint finishes.

Here are just some of the photos I captured.

2004 Lamborghini – 4961 cc

1996 McLaren F1 GTR – 6064 cc

2010 Porsche – 3797 cc

2006 TVR Tuscan – 3996 cc

1964 Jaguar E-Type – 3781 cc

2008 KTM X-Box – 1984 cc

Audi R8

Lamborghini

1996 Chevrolet Corvette – 5733 cc

2016 Jaguar F-Type Project 7 – 5000 cc

2018 Rolls Royce – 6592 cc

1993 Aston Martin – 5340 cc – Nice leather but not much leg room in the back

2004 Noble M12 GTO – Sharks Fin Array

2008 KTM X-Box – 1984 cc

2000 Dodge – 8000 cc

McClaren

Curvaceous

2006 Ford GT40 – 5400 cc

2004 Noble M12 GTO – 2968 cc

2012 Lamborghini Murcielago – 6192 cc

Come Flying at Goodwood

2015 Lotus – 3456 cc

Aerial Nomad

1971 Ferrari – 4400 cc

2015 Aston Martin Vantage – 5935 cc

1993 Aston Martin – 5340 cc

1935 Dennis Tanker

Mike Hawthorn – World Champion 1958

Dodge Viper

2018 Lamborghini – 6498 cc

2000 Dodge – Breakfast Bar

1996 McLaren F1 GTR – 6064 cc

2011 Lexus – 4805 cc

Corvette Artwork

2015 Lamborghini – 5204 cc

2018 Ferrari – 6496 cc

Goodwood – Looking from Madgwick Corner back to startline. Theres a lot of cars here.

2017 McLaren – 3994 cc

Aerial Nomad

2008 KTM X-Box – 1984 cc

Ferrari

Corvette Artwork

1981 Delorean DMC12 – 2849 cc

2007 Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren 722 Edition – 5439 cc

2018 Porsche – 2497 cc

2018 Bentley – 5950 cc

I would just like to say thank you to the folks at Goodwood for hosting this event and to the owners of these fabulous machines for bringing them along for us to drool over.

And the best thing about this event, it is totally free.

Happy Birthday – 100 Years of Aston Martin

It was on January 15 1913 that Lionel Martin and Robert Bamford founded Bamford & Martin Ltd., the company that would later become Aston Martin. The name change was in recognition of Robert Bamford’s success at the Aston Hillclimb in Buckinghamshire. A suitable showcase for the very first Bamford & Martin cars.

The DB5 above, made famous as James Bonds vehicle of choice, is the model that will forever be indelibly etched in people’s memory. However, the company had already been producing cars for some fifty years before the DB5 made its debut. Although the lines have changed over the years, Aston Martins are always instantly recognisable and the latest from the stable are just beautiful.

Here’s to the next 100 years.

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