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Went last weekend, a superb event. Here a few words about the two days I enjoyed at the festival:
The Goodwood Festival of Speed is held on the estate of the Earl of March and basically celebrates anything on wheels that is fast, beautiful or both! The emphasis is on cars with a mouth watering selection on display if you are into that kind of thing as much as I am!. However the world of bikes is not ignored with some of the finest and most historic machines spanning many decades on show, and making their way up the tight 1 mile long Hill climb course.
About 40 bikes were at the event this year and ranged from a Scott TT of 1927 vintage right the way through to a 2006 Team Ten Kate Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade and a pair of 2006 Alastare Corona Suzuki GSXR1000s. For me me though the highlight was seeing the 1980 Yamaha
OW48 YZR500 of Kenny Roberts, in those stunning Yellow and black colours that Rossi recently paid homage to in Moto GP. The King had even signed the tank!
Yamaha OW48 YZR500. King Kenny’s bike!
Signed by the great man himself!
Barry Sheene signature on his 1975 XR14 RG500Nearby was the XR-14 of Barry Sheene from 1975, with Barry’s signature emblazoned across the tank. Chris Vermurlen rode this machine up the hill, albeit a little gingerly. Great to see a modern hero astride a real legends bike. Chris was also playing with his band “Crash” on one of the entertainment stands between stints on the bike and was open and friendly when I nabbed him to autograph my programme.
John Reynolds was similarly friendly when signing my ticket and these kind of encounters are quite common at Goodwood. It is a special place.
John Reynolds with his 2004 BSB Suzuki GSXR1000Surtees was here again, and although a legend on bikes, his age restricted him to a spirited dash up the hill in a 60’s racing car.
Randy Momola was in fine form on the two seater Ducati Desmosedici with the pillion clinging on for dear life on every run up the hill. Great stuff to watch, and Mamola can still RIDE!
2004 Ducati Desmosedici two seater ~ a touch more fun than two up on a Goldwing!!
Brave pillion!!Despite all the fantatstic noise being kicked up by V8s, V10s, V12s and a even a V16, the little 750cc three cylinder Kawasaki Daytona H2R triple pretty much topped the lot, emitting a scream through its spannys that nearly had my ears bleeding! Pure magic!
What a sound! Two stroke armageddon!It was good see the hub steered Elf Honda piloted by “Rocket” Ron Haslam again, and next to it was the Honda RC174 of Mike Hailwood. 247cc and six cylinders!!
Other highlights included Charley Boorman pulling some commendable wheelies on his Paris Dakar F650 bike, although Karl Harris on the HM Plant Fireblade probably edged him out.
Nice wheelie Charlie Boy!
But this one is better!The bikes all took to the hill at once on the Saturday of the three day festival, and the sight and sound of all these different machines on the track together defies description, as they variously roared, wailed, thumped, wheelied or did rolling burnouts and stoppies in the case of the modern iron.
Other bikes there included a mint MV Augusta, a beautiful Gilera 500 Quattro, A Velocette, a Dresdon Triton and the rather odd looking Confederate B91 Wraith and F131 Hellcat.
1974 MV Augusta 500. 499cc, a thoroughbred machineA great event, you must try and get there at least once!
I went in 2005 and 2006. I went to the Revival in 2007. All events at Goodwood are amazing and well worth going to. I will go back
:D:D
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