Past Events
Goodwood 2006
*Caution: The content on this page reflects the cultural, social, and political norms of the time it was first published. Reader discretion is advised.
Goodwood 2006
*Caution: The content on this page reflects the cultural, social, and political norms of the time it was first published. Reader discretion is advised.
The Goodwood Festival of Speed is one of the world’s most popular historic motorsports events, bringing together racing machines from throughout the history of motorsports.
Honda has a long history of competing in motorsports on the world stage since its entry in the Isle of Man TT races in 1959, making it an especially prominent presence at this event.
Almost a year has passed since Honda became the first Japanese company to become the “host car manufacturer” of the Goodwood Festival of Speed. This year, the event will once again be filled with a wide array of racing machines.
This report shares the beauty and excitement of Honda racing machines at the event, brought back to life in their original form.
About the Goodwood Festival of Speed
The Goodwood Festival of Speed is a historic motorsports event that has been held in England since 1993 by British nobleman Sir Charles March.
The fact that fans can see up close a variety of racing cars that have left their mark on motorsports history makes this event well worth their while. But the biggest attraction of the Goodwood Festival of Speed is the chance to see the all-time greatest riders and drivers on or in their racing machines as they did in their prime years.
Over the three-day event, around 140,000 visitors attend, approaching the popularity of a Formula 1 event. Although the event is relatively young, its popularity is evident. The venue is Lord March’s estate in the vast hills of southern England, which includes the Goodwood Circuit, founded by his grandfather, a race track, a golf course, a resort hotel, and a nature park.
Lord March also established the star attraction of the event, a hill-climb course where riders and drivers of the past would pilot their racing machines.
The course runs almost in a straight line from the front of the Goodwood House pavilion through the grounds, flanked by old-fashioned hay barriers, rather than the spongy modern barriers. From just behind the barriers, spectators get a close view of the racing machines thundering up the track. This was Lord March’s idea to share the excitement and love of racing machines with everyone.
Visitors can see the bikes and cars, and the pilots who have a special place in their hearts, and watch the famous riders and drivers of the past and current drivers mingling. There are enjoyable stores selling a variety of goods. An auction of historic cars is also held. The Goodwood Festival of Speed is truly a dream come true for motorsports enthusiasts.
Honda is familiar to many people in the UK as the Japanese manufacturer that boldly took on the challenges of motorsports for many years. As evidence, engine-starting demonstrations at the Honda booth has become a special feature of the event with crowds gathering to enjoy the sound of Honda engines roaring. Each time, the audience responds with their own roars and applause. This is a testament to the fact that Honda is recognized by the British public as a long-established name in motorsports.
Last year, Jenson Button drove the B-A-R Honda 007, and Anthony Davidson drove the NSX-R GT in the hill climb, treating visitors to the latest “Honda Music.”
Although Honda has participated in this event since its inauguration in 1993, it was in 1999 that the company first began participating with historic machines, as it does today, to a warm welcome from motorsports fans in the U.K.
Officials at the time assisted the Honda staff, who were unaccustomed in their first-time participation, and long-time fans who knew of Honda’s success in the race encouraged the staff saying “Welcome back.”
Honda’s consistent involvement and passion for motorsports since its participation in the Isle of Man TT races in 1959 and F1 in 1964 has earned it the affection of fans and a reputation as a long-established company. This reputation is not gained overnight, but is something that only Honda, challenging the world of racing for many years, has earned.
