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The Incredible Goodwood Festival of Speed

Once a year, at the start of summer, a British lord throws open the gates of his estate in the south of England to let tens of thousands wander around its grounds and have a look round some of the most special cars ever produced.
 
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Founded by Lord March back in 1993, the Goodwood Festival of Speed is a celebration of all things fast and expensive. The grounds of Goodwood House, covering some 12,000 acres, provide plenty of room for all the beautiful machinery that enthusiasts display each year.
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Hundreds upon hundreds of vehicles of every kind imaginable can be seen during the festival – from the world’s most expensive classics, to former Le Mans racers, motorbikes, and everything in between. Basically if it’s rare, pricey, has historical significance, or has a combination of all three, you’ll find it at Goodwood.
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The event centers on a hill-climb, in which attending cars race against the clock to the finish-line. More than a serious competition, this is done in order to demonstrate the cars for the benefit of people in attendance.
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On Goodwood House’s front lawn, a spectacular display devoted to a different manufacturer is erected each year. This display usually contains a few examples of the manufacturer’s most historically-important cars.
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Rally cars past and present have a forest rally stage that they can attack, while there’s also a supercar run for the latest road-going supercars to be demonstrated. Other attractions include overhead passes by airplanes operating in both civilian and military fields, as well as real-life Wacky Races cars to entertain the crowds at lunch.  
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Further complementing the event is a Concours d’Elegance, which is a by-invitation-only gathering of only the finest classic and vintage vehicles. Numerous celebrities have been known to make appearances at the Festival of Speed – from Formula 1 racing drivers, to Hollywood stars and musicians. Three-time Formula 1 World Champion, Jackie Stewart, is pictured below.
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Since its inception, the Festival of Speed has grown exponentially, starting off as a one-day event prior to being extended to two and three days in length. It's held annually in June, however it also has a sister event called Goodwood Revival, which is held in September.
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The Revival is full-on retro – attendees are invited to dress in period-correct garb, and they also have to bring period-correct cars to the event. In fact, any post-1966 cars are not allowed anywhere near the historic Goodwood Motor Circuit, where cars from 1948 through 1966 are put through their paces, to ensure a throwback to a bygone era that feels thoroughly authentic.
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If there was a god of speed, this is an event he'd definitely smile down upon!
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Image Sources: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11
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