Festival of Speed 2013-Goodwood Estate

Posted on July 19, 2013

Lord March invited me to attend the 20th Anniversary of The Festival of Speed to be held at his home, Goodwood. July 11th-14th 2013. I had ridden a replica of the bike I designed for the film Easy Rider in 2009 at The Festival of Speed.

Lord March heard the thunderous applause (thank you very much!) in 2009 as I rode up The Hill on the bike to the infamous song, Born To Be Wild written by Mars Bonfire, whose lyrics are forever imprinted in the minds of so many fans and bikers and he decided to have Parky and I back for the 20th. We were thrilled and jumped at the invitation.

Photo of Lord March of Goodwood

We flew to London on July 8th and stayed in London for a few nights to get ourselves in the time zone. While in London, we stayed at The Milestone Hotel in Kensington. It is such a beautiful hotel. Each room or suite has its own style and personality.

The first night, Pilar, Peter’s niece, picked us up and we had a wonderful dinner at her newly renovated home with her boys, Cosimo and Giacomo, and her best friend, Gillian. We laughed and talked and just felt that great feeling of just being in the company of family. My family is so difficult to get everyone together but when it does, its magic!

The next day, we had lunch at the Wolsey, went shopping at Selfridges, and then of course, High Tea at The Milestone Hotel. We also got to see a friend of ours, Theresa Scalia, who was in London at the same time. Her husband, Pietro Scalia is the brilliant editor on The Amazing Spider-Man I & in post production now on The Amazing Spiderman 2. He is a two time academy award winning editor and they are both great friends.

The following day we headed out to Goodwood in not one but two 2013 Audi A8’s; one for us and one for our luggage. Very cool! It was quite an adventure navigating the narrow country roads of West Sussex. The countryside was beautiful and green from all the rain they have had up until the past week.

We arrived and were greeted by Monty, Lord and Lady March’s butler. We stayed in the Kings Room, which has King Charles II bed. There is a fascinating story about how Goodwood came to be Lord and Lady March’s home. It involves a King and his french mistress. Oh la la…
The schedule at the festival was intense; dinners, interviews, a gala dinner and the best part of all, riding the replica of my Easy Rider bike twice a day on the Hill course. The Festival has such an amazing attendance. There were 150,000+ people attending over the three days.
Some of the highlights for me was meeting Giacomo Agostini who is a 155 times world champion motorcycle rider and John Surtees, a champion motorcycle rider and formula driver, seeing Stirling Moss again who drove a 1955 Mercedes Benz formula car, the spectacular fireworks on several nights, The Red Arrow aerobatics, a fly-over and low passes of a Vulcan bomber, The Cartier Concourses de Elegance car exhibit and garden party, and hanging out with all of the drivers in the Drivers Club.

Peter and Stirling Moss

Stirling Moss drives 1955 Mercedes Benz formula car

Staying in Lord and Lady March’s home, Goodwood, is absolutely the best ever!!! We were greeted each morning by Monty, their butler with a song, “Good Morning, Good Morning, you have slept the whole night thorough, Good Morning, Good Morning to you” bearing a silver tray of coffee and breakfast. The house guests have an intimate glimpse of the life of a royal British family. Lord and Lady March are absolutely wonderful and gracious to all of their guests.

I have included some photos of the event and a video a photographer shot in slow motion of me speeding around the track.

See Video http://vimeo.com/70478902

Enjoy!!! If you are ever have a chance to attend the Festival of Speed, GO!!!!

Red Arrow aerobatics