An amazing weekend, full of the highs and lows of motorsport and the very lows of vintage motorsport…
What a story to be told, first a bit of background to the journey of “Getting to Goodwood” way back in February this year none of us knew if Goodwood was even on the horizon, with the dedicated help and support of all the team at Gun Hill Studios we were introduced to new friends and the feedback from the launch party at Rupert’s studio was outstanding to say the least. A real buzz began and Goodwood was a possibility…. a “possibility” being the key phrase, slowly, slowly that dream started to become a reality, with the car being invited to some really prestigious events and being seen by many.
Then one day a letter arrived…. the invitation from His Grace the Duke of Richmond inviting the car AND to race in The Goodwood Trophy! (a lot more happened in between and lot of will we won’t we? will it happen won’t it happen….. car testing, checking, scrutineering…. breakdowns; mechanically and mentally)
So what transpired on that faithful (wet) weekend in September at a posh country house down in West Sussex…
A lot, that’s what happened a LOT! We raced and qualified 15th on the grid! Oh My Days! middle of the grid outstanding drive by Gareth (in the pouring rain) and the team at Pace Technologies, if we’re honest, without him, Dale and the rest of the team there is no car, there is no racing…
Come the day of the race Saturday morning, an early start, the race was at 9:30am, we had to prep the car get it warmed up, get it on the grid… all going smoothly nerves running high adrenaline maxed out, stomach churning… oh my this is actually happening, we’re racing in The Goodwood Trophy on a World Stage!
Start your engines! formation lap completed, all looking good, Gareth lines up on the grid, all going great, car sounding amazing…. boom! no gear selection, gearbox jammed can’t get it in gear, it’s got too hot waiting on the grid…. Gareth’s arm in the air! pulled from the track…. pushed into the pit lane….
Game over!
Looking back, what a journey, to get to Goodwood in the first place was truly an honour and Naomi & I can’t thank everyone enough for their total unwavering support and dedication to the car and to us. To say the words “Thank You” doesn’t quite cover it, Gun Hill Studios for the media coverage and introductions, the help and support with that aspect of the journey, a whole new world has been opened up to us with Rupert’s help. To Gareth and the team at Pace Technologies, honestly without them there simply is no car, there is no racing, the just a box of nuts & bolts inside a rusting body sat in the corner of a garage…