BigPower Sprint Champ. Round 4: Goodwood

Gerry H · Post by **Gerry H** » Fri Jun 26, 2009 7:12 am

[quote="stuart"]Camping at Chichester Lakeside is booked @

russ979 · Post by **russ979** » Fri Jun 26, 2009 7:08 pm

Good luck guys! Hope you all have a great day. full report please of what it was like!

Gerry H · Post by **Gerry H** » Sat Jun 27, 2009 3:42 am

Cheers chaps and good luck to Stu and Mike.

Er, well not too much though eh?

Can't wait for Stu's write up to see how I did

duncan · Post by **duncan** » Sat Jun 27, 2009 7:35 am

Good luck all - give the circuit some respect, as Logan will tell you it can bite. :thumb:

AdrianP · Post by **AdrianP** » Sat Jun 27, 2009 7:43 am

Have fun Guys,

Shame I can't be there to take photos this time...

Tk · Post by Tk » Sat Jun 27, 2009 7:24 pm

looking forward to the results

anyone home yet :-D

Post by **Stuart** » Sat Jun 27, 2009 7:34 pm

Words and photo's very soon young Jedi

What a track!!

pablo · Post by **pablo** » Sat Jun 27, 2009 7:42 pm

Hopefully really soon as I have to go to bed :?

Post by **Stuart** » Sat Jun 27, 2009 8:35 pm

Goodwood

It may sound like the name of a 70's porn icon, but I'm here to tell you that it's probably one of the finest driving experiences I've yet sampled

Mr Houghton and Sir Black have both opined about the circuit at some length. How it thrills. How it bites. How it is simply one of the fastest tracks out there and there is no run off. Gulp

With this in mind I donned my brave pants and asked Tan to come with me just in case I hit something very solid and couldn't drive back (I didn't tell her that bit) We stopped in Chichester the night before at a camp site/holiday park and the setting was lovely, were it not for the A27 running along side it!

Nothing that Stella and her 10 mates couldn't sort out though so the good lady and I necked them, consumed 6 large home reared Pork sausages with buns and retired for the night, blissfully unaware of what lay in wait.

There is nothing that can prepare you for arriving at Goodwood. It's like a realisation of what you would buy or build if you really did win the Euro Millions. The sheer scale of the place from the huge gates at the entrance, the enormous grass verges everywhere and immaculate one and all. To be blessed with the opportunity to drive here where genuine racing icons have driven, used the lavs, eaten fine foods post race...........I felt privileged.

This tunnel takes you into the paddock area. The retro clocks are in keeping with an entire venue dedicated to resisting the advances of time. I swear if Jackie Stewart had rocked up in an old '60's F1 car I wouldn't have been surprised

In the paddock Mike Blackmore was already there and busy doing something that looked important on the cruise missile he's disguised as an Impreza. Betty was unloaded with plenty of derisive looks in the paddock and stashed in the bike sheds whilst I got rid of the trailer which wasn't welcome in that area. Mr Shearing was along soon enough and the main event, Lord Houghton arrived looking decidedly petal fresh! Bastard

I had hoped a 4am start would have taken the edge off of him.

Tanya and I walked up to the grand stand on the start finish straight to see what the views were like

That'll be stunning then. A varied plethora of cars were all gagging for an opportunity to drive Goodwood and our motley crew of Subaru's was met with this lot

420bhp and pedalled by one of the quickest drivers of the day

The only car I beat!

What can you say? Sublime

............ (lost for words)

All cars should sound like this

Lord March and two people who were lost

Just look at the detail. Can you imagine a proper classic race car meet at this place?

The start/finish straight

East meets West

:notworthy:

The real Stig

Mr Grimes and the cruelest Impreza in the known kingdom. This car has a far more generous owner than me........I'd have set fire to that fucker months ago

On this occasion, the oil fire ruined his day. I've known Richard for about 18 months and I have never seen this car not go wrong and it's nothing to do with the man himself. My condolences go to you Dick :thumb:

The 'garages' at Goodwood really are bike sheds and I loved them for it too. Simple and so 'right' for the venue

The main stand

On your marks.......

Just for Andy

Electric pink and 500bhp per tonne!! That'll do it

At this point I should thank my sponsors

and

Thanks you lovely lot

Results Gerry, let's talk about results. I got slaughtered

I went 21 seconds faster between my practice and first run and the other guys just dissssssssaappeared. My lack of competitiveness didn't put my off. I had a great laugh and enjoyed the day for what it was supposed to be. Trying new tracks, having a laugh and chewing the cud with friends.

When I left in a field of 10 cars and drivers I was about....................last

A mesmeric track though and something that is well worth driving to try if you get the chance. A trackday or two there and I might be more on the money but you can safely say the memories of handing Gerry his arse at Cadwell seem like a very long time ago

:thumb:

Onwards and upwards all

Tk · Post by Tk » Sat Jun 27, 2009 8:53 pm

enjoyed reading / looking and good to here everyone stayed on the black stuff :thumb:

how did the battle between gerry / mike get on ?

bloody shame i was not there to battle it out with you stu (next time) and hopefully i'l be in d10 soonish