For safety reasons F1 cars can no longer do official timed runs so instead perform stunning demonstrations!
Our replica of the famous motor show showcases the "cars of the future" in true Revival style
King Edward VII (who came almost every year) famously dubbed Glorious Goodwood “a garden party with racing tacked on”.
The first public race meeting took place in 1802 and, through the nineteenth century, ‘Glorious Goodwood,’ as the press named it, became a highlight of the summer season
A 20m woodland rue, from Halnaker to Lavant, was planted by our forestry teams & volunteers, featuring native species like oak, beech, & hornbeam
The first thing ever dropped at Goodwood was a cuddly elephant which landed in 1932 just as the 9th Duke of Richmonds passion for flying was taking off.
David Edney, head Butler dons a morning suit "and a smile" every day and has been woking at Goodwood for over 25 years!
Built in 1787 by celebrated architect James Wyatt to house the third Duke of Richmond’s prized fox hounds, The Kennels was known as one of the most luxurious dog houses in the world!
The Motor Circuit was known as RAF Westhampnett, active from 1940 to 1946 as a Battle of Britain station.
Each room is named after one of the hounds documented in January 1718, including Dido, Ruby and Drummer.
Easy boy! The charismatic Farnham Flyer loved to celebrate every win with a pint of beer. His Boxer dog, Grogger, did too and had a tendancy to steal sips straight from the glass.
Festival of Speed is our longest-standing Motorsport event, starting in 1993 when it opened to 25,00 people. We were expecting 2000!
Legend of Goodwood's golden racing era and Le Mans winner Roy Salvadori once famously said "give me Goodwood on a summer's day and you can forget the rest".
Future Lab is Goodwood's innovation pavilion, inspiring industry enthusiasts and future scientists with dynamic tech
Flying jetpacks doesn't have to just be a spectator sport at FOS, you can have a go at our very own Aerodrome!
Goodwood Motor Circuit was officially opened in September 1948 when Freddie March, the 9th Duke and renowned amateur racer, tore around the track in a Bristol 400
Flying jetpacks doesn't have to just be a spectator sport at FOS, you can have a go at our very own Aerodrome!
The first ever horsebox was used from Goodwood to Doncaster for the 1836 St. Leger. Elis arrived fresh and easily won his owner a £12k bet.
Leading women of business, sport, fashion and media, take part in one of the most exciting horseracing events in the world.
King Edward VII (who came almost every year) famously dubbed Glorious Goodwood “a garden party with racing tacked on”.
The first ever horsebox was used from Goodwood to Doncaster for the 1836 St. Leger. Elis arrived fresh and easily won his owner a £12k bet.
Whoa Simon! A horse so determined and headstrong, he not only won the 1883 Goodwood Cup by 20 lengths, but couldn't be stopped and carried on running over the top of Trundle hill
King Edward VII (who came almost every year) famously dubbed Glorious Goodwood “a garden party with racing tacked on”.
Whoa Simon! A horse so determined and headstrong, he not only won the 1883 Goodwood Cup by 20 lengths, but couldn't be stopped and carried on running over the top of Trundle hill
The iconic spitfire covered almost 43,000 kilometres and visited over 20 countries on its epic journey and currently resides at our Aerodrome.
Ray Hanna famously flew straight down Goodwood’s pit straight below the height of the grandstands at the first Revival in 1998
Just beyond Goodwood House along the Hillclimb, the 2nd Dukes banqueting house was also known as "one of the finest rooms in England" (George Vertue 1747).
Just beyond Goodwood House along the Hillclimb, the 2nd Dukes banqueting house was also known as "one of the finest rooms in England" (George Vertue 1747).
The Motor Circuit was known as RAF Westhampnett, active from 1940 to 1946 as a Battle of Britain station.
One of the greatest golfers of all time, James Braid designed Goodwood’s iconic Downland course, opened in 1914.
The first ever round of golf played at Goodwood was in 1914 when the 6th Duke of Richmond opened the course on the Downs above Goodwood House.
The Motor Circuit was known as RAF Westhampnett, active from 1940 to 1946 as a Battle of Britain station.
Flying jetpacks doesn't have to just be a spectator sport at FOS, you can have a go at our very own Aerodrome!
We have been host to many incredible film crews using Goodwood as a backdrop for shows like Downton Abbey, Hollywood Blockbusters like Venom: let there be Carnage and the Man from U.N.C.L.E.
As the private clubhouse for all of the Estate’s sporting and social members, it offers personal service and a relaxed atmosphere
Ensure you take a little time out together to pause and take in the celebration of all the hard work you put in will be a treasured memory.
King Edward VII (who came almost every year) famously dubbed Glorious Goodwood “a garden party with racing tacked on”.
One of the greatest golfers of all time, James Braid designed Goodwood’s iconic Downland course, opened in 1914.
The Motor Circuit was known as RAF Westhampnett, active from 1940 to 1946 as a Battle of Britain station.
As the private clubhouse for all of the Estate’s sporting and social members, it offers personal service and a relaxed atmosphere
Easy boy! The charismatic Farnham Flyer loved to celebrate every win with a pint of beer. His Boxer dog, Grogger, did too and had a tendancy to steal sips straight from the glass.
Testament to the 19th-century fascination with ancient Egypt and decorative opulence. The room is richly detailed with gilded cartouches, sphinxes, birds and crocodiles.
Flying training began at Goodwood in 1940 when pilots were taught operational flying techniques in Hurricanes and Spitfires.
The iconic spitfire covered almost 43,000 kilometres and visited over 20 countries on its epic journey and currently resides at our Aerodrome.
Inspired by the legendary racer, Masten Gregory, who famously leapt from the cockpit of his car before impact when approaching Woodcote Corner in 1959.
The oldest existing rules for the game were drawn up for a match between the 2nd Duke and a neighbour
Inspired by the legendary racer, Masten Gregory, who famously leapt from the cockpit of his car before impact when approaching Woodcote Corner in 1959.
The Martin-Baker ejector seat is an unsung British success story that continues to save lives.
goodwood newsletter
Flying
On 12 September 1942, Captain Valentine Baker, a hugely experienced pilot and World War I veteran of all three fighting forces, took his usual place at the controls of a prototype fighter plane. Baker was the co-founder, along with engineer James Martin, of British aviation manufacturer Martin-Baker Aircraft Company, established eight years earlier.
It should have been just another test flight – the 10th for this particular model, the MB3, commissioned by the Air Ministry. But it was not to be. Once airborne, the engine seized and during the resulting emergency landing the plane hit a tree stump and cartwheeled. Captain Baker was killed instantly.
James Martin was haunted by his friend’s death and dedicated the future of their company to pilot safety. It was a decision that would save thousands of lives.
From that dark moment, Martin-Baker went on to become an extraordinary but little-known British success story. Martin invented the modern ejector seat, and 75 years later his company has delivered some 70,000 to 93 air forces around the world. There are currently 17,000 Martin-Baker seats in service in 54 different aircraft types. A counter on the company’s homepage keeps a log of the lives it has saved. The number currently stands at 7,553.
These days, each seat can cost up to £200,000 and is fitted with enough power that, from a zero/zero position (at zero altitude and zero knots, ie, stationary), the pilot can be projected up to 300ft into the air. The parachute is not deployed until the seat “knows” it’s at a high enough altitude and speed to do so safely; all this happens without any action from the pilot. The company is now run by the two sons of James Martin and has received 11 Queen’s Awards for Enterprise across fields such as technological innovation, export achievement and international trade.
The new direction of the company was a labour of love for Sir James, who was knighted in 1965. After Captain Baker was killed, Sir James was invited to the MOD to investigate how to offer pilots a means of escape in flight. His innovation was a seat that propelled pilots into the air, and a year later an adventurous – and no doubt nervous – employee, one Bernard Lynch, successfully completed the first static ejection. Eighteen months later, Lynch conducted the first mid-air ejection, and went on to complete more than 30 tests in his lifetime. But it wasn’t until 1949 that a pilot was saved in action: Jo Lancaster was flying an Armstrong Whitworth A.W.52 aircraft and was forced to eject over Southam, Warwickshire. Since then, a special club has been established, the Ejection Tie Club, for those who owe their lives to a Martin-Baker seat. More than 6,000 members have received a club tie emblazoned with a red triangle – the recognised warning signal for ejection.
On the company’s website there are testimonials that make for humbling reading. “On July 27, 2003, Martin-Baker saved my life after my EA-6B Prowler caught fire after a catastrophic engine failure over the Persian Gulf,” writes Christina Portnoy. “I am lucky to be ejectee number 5305, with a safe water landing.”
Flight Lieutenant Ian Ferguson – ejectee number 3914 – has the distinction, if that’s the correct word, of experiencing the lowest and fastest survivable ejection in the history of the RAF when his Phantom FGR2 malfunctioned and he ejected at 250ft travelling at 600mph. “I would like to thank Martin-Baker Aircraft Company for saving my life,” he writes, simply. It’s fair to say that many, many others feel the same.
This article is taken from the Goodwood magazine, Winter 2017 issue
goodwood newsletter
Flying