The grounds around Cholmondeley Castle, Cheshire, England, were alive to the sound of horsepower! On land, water, and in the air, there was much for the 35,000 “Pageant of Power” crowd to enjoy. For the second running of this event, subtitled the “Goodwood Festival of the North,” the displays of magnificent racing cars, bikes, boats, helicopters and tanks were quite breathtaking. The British summer played its part, too, and added to the spectacle. While Saturday was bright and dry seeing good competition for the fastest time around the 1.2-mile course, Sunday proved wet, rendering the course slippery, frustrating those wanting to challenge the leaders and leaving them no chance to improve their time.
Local racer, Justin Law, was overall fastest in his Lister-Jaguar GT Prototype with a time of 68.40 secs netting himself the top prize of a 2009 Breitling Watch. Nigel Bancroft was quickest of the open-wheel brigade aboard his F3 Chevron B17. On two wheels, Stuart Graham wowed the crowds driving the AJS Porcupine racing bike on which his father was crowned the very first 500-cc World Champion in 1949.
The weekend was more than racing; on the Concours d’Elegance, there was over £15 million pounds worth of Bugatti cars, ranging from the Donington Collection’s priceless Royal to the very latest Veyron Grand Sport. On Saturday night, the weekend was crowned with the fireworks concert and military tattoo. Massed bands from the Royal Engineers and Royal Artillery set the tone and the large crowd, entertained by the Manchester Camera Orchestra, accompanied for the first time by live firing from the Royal Artillery’s Field Guns to the “1812 Overture.”
Many may say that Cholmondeley has a lot to learn if it wishes to compete with the likes of Goodwood, but some credit must be given to those who simply want to bring motor sport to the masses.
By Mike Jiggle
