The Goodwood Pageant of Velocity is many issues to many individuals. If you happen to’re a serious producer, privateer driver, dealer or spectator, you all have completely different experiences.

This 12 months’s even was fraught with torrential downpours, quite a lot of on-track incidents, and excessive winds which in the end led to the Saturday being cancelled – a primary in reminiscence. FOS 2023 additionally felt far busier than it did in earlier years. Whether or not this was right down to a bigger variety of tickets being offered or crowds concentrated in particular areas I’m not sure, however locations just like the Supercar Paddock I can solely liken to a Tokyo subway prepare at rush hour.

Speedhunters has coated this occasion since we’ve been exploring world automotive tradition, and its primary method has remained unchanged. Take one giant property with a non-public driveway in Chichester, West Sussex, add a few of the rarest, most revered and fascinating street and race vehicles on the planet, and pair them with well-known motorsport names. The remainder takes care of itself.

With this in thoughts, to kick off our 2023 Goodwood Pageant of Velocity protection I believed I’d concentrate on a few of my highlights from the occasion.

Quite a few celebrations came about over the course of the weekend, with one of many largest being the seventy fifth anniversary of Porsche’s first sports activities automotive. The milestone was mirrored within the Pageant of Velocity’s iconic garden sculpture, a gargantuan construction which this 12 months elegantly displayed six Porsches, every positioned on the information of beams which had been woven spherical like a ribbon.

Whereas the 911 is what Porsche is most recognized for, the Cartier Model et Luxe Garden instantly south of Goodwood Home, had a category to have a good time ‘Something however the 911’. The show showcased fashions from Porsche’s historical past, all particular in their very own manner.

Alongside this was a number of road-going homologation fashions from the Nineties and 2000s GT1 period – a few of the most excessive street vehicles to ever set tyres to tarmac. The time period ‘street automotive’ is one I exploit relatively loosely, as solely minimal concessions and quantity plates set these vehicles aside from their race equivalents. Count on a highlight on this group quickly.

Storage 56, recent from the 24 Hours of Le Mans race, introduced out their two transformed NASCARs – one for show and the opposite to run up the hill. The staff had no direct rivals within the Le Mans Experimental Class, however their major focus was to only end the race. And the NASCAR-turned-endurance-racer did simply that, putting thirty ninth out of 62 vehicles. Had the Storage 56 staff not misplaced an hour to a driveline situation, they’d have positioned manner forward of the GTE rivals.

FOS 2023 was the final time both automotive would flip a wheel in anger, and due to this, Jenson Button made certain to carry the automotive in use again to the pits with significantly much less rubber as an applicable send-off.

Are you able to really name your self an automotive fanatic if the sight of the Mazda 787B doesn’t make you even a little bit bit starstruck? It didn’t disappoint, and getting to listen to the long-lasting R26B four-rotor motor in individual is one thing I received’t quickly overlook.

A tribute to the late Ken Block was held in the course of the occasion, with 4 vehicles from his motorsport again catalogue in attendance over the weekend.

Thursday was relatively nice, in distinction to Friday which noticed biblical ranges of rain and powerful winds. The situations did nothing deter these in attendance, with many drivers (and groups that packed a set of wets) not holding again up the hill.

The climate continued to say no and in the end was the reason for Saturday’s cancellation. Not due to the rain as many within the feedback part of social media speculated, however the threat of sturdy winds damaging the paddock tents or the multi-storey producer shows, which might trigger harm to folks in and round them.

Quick ahead to Sunday and the occasion was again in full swing. Nonetheless, 4 days doesn’t go into three, and solely having restricted time on the occasion on Sunday, a judgement name needed to be made and my plans to go to the Rally Stage had been scuppered. An early morning stroll via the Supercar Paddock made for an appropriate substitution.

With the demise of the trendy motor present, increasingly more producers are utilizing occasions like this one to launch new fashions. Seven-figure supercars aren’t the primary issues I’d spend on ought to my lottery numbers are available in, however there’s no denying the innovation that these vehicles carry to the automotive trade. A devoted characteristic on these will comply with too.

The Goodwood Pageant of Velocity may be overwhelming. Just about every little thing, in all places you look is particular. And due to the sheer scale of all of it, because the title of this story alludes to, it’s all occurring without delay.

So should you do end up within the lucky place of attending the Pageant of Velocity, the perfect recommendation I might give is to plan forward if there’s one thing particular you’re hoping to see. Timetables, entry lists and the occasion map are all out there to help. However even should you don’t plan out your day or days, you’ll nonetheless have an incredible time. Each nook turned will shock you.

So, in spite of everything that, chances are you’ll surprise if it’s nonetheless price going to? Completely. As a result of even on a foul day, the Goodwood Pageant of Velocity is among the finest days out you may have.

Chaydon Ford
Instagram: chaycore