Events

Video: A look inside the Boeing 787 Dreamliner at the Farnborough Airshow

This video gives you a sneak preview of Boeing’s new 787 Dreamliner passenger cabin. Read more

Aircraft and air display details at the 2010 Goodwood Festival of Speed

Aircraft and air display details at the 2010 Goodwood Festival of Speed Read more

Motorcycles join the sports cars and aircraft at the 2010 Goodwood Festival of Speed

This year’s Festival of Speed (2-4 July) is set to be a great event for lovers of two wheels, as Goodwood brings together a record number of competition motorcycles and many of the most talented riders ever to have graced the world stage Read more

‘Cars, Stars and Guitars’ to perform at Goodwood Festival of Speed 2010

From 2-4 July the hallowed Goodwood cricket pitch – where the rules of the game were written at the world’s oldest pitch still in its original location – will rock to the sound of 20 car-related songs at the 2010 Festival of Speed.

A display of 20 cars immortalised in each song’s title or lyrics will be shown around the Goodwood cricket pitch, with a troupe of dancers performing around each appropriate car as the corresponding song is played on a special radio show compiled and presented by the legendary disc jockey Johnnie Walker. 

This special display supports the exceptional ‘Cars, Stars and Guitars’ musical ‘moments’ with top car-loving guitarists set to perform live at this year’s Festival of Speed, including Jeff Beck, ZZ Top founder Billy Gibbons and leading American blues guitarist Jimmie Vaughn. Each of these musicians will play live at the event, appearing with their famous custom cars and signature guitars, including Billy Gibbons amazing CadZZilla, and Jimmie Vaughn’s pistachio green 1961 Cadillac. 

In addition, Festival visitors will also be able to admire the amazing Voxmobile for the first time ever outside the USA.  Built by California custom car building legend George Barris in the late 1960s, the guitar-shaped Voxmobile roadster seats two, and acts as a giant amplifier with 32 input jacks to plug in compatible VOX guitars.

Another famed guitar maker, Fender, celebrates its 60^th anniversary this year, and one lucky Festival spectator will be taking home a special edition Telecaster Anniversary guitar as part of a raffle prize competition being held during the event.

The list of songs and corresponding cars set to be played on the Goodwood cricket pitch for all three days of the Festival of Speed are as follows:

Admission to the 2010 Festival of Speed is strictly by advanced ticket only.  To order advance Festival tickets, please contact the Goodwood Ticket Hotline on  +44 (0)1243 755055 or click here.

The Moving Motor Show

Title: The Moving Motor Show
Location: Goodwood
Link out: Click here
Description:

Thursday 1 July marks Goodwood’s first dedicated Manufacturer Preview Day, dubbed the ‘Moving Motor Show’. It is a one-day extension to the Festival of Speed, which now becomes a four-day event.

New car buyers will be able see the very latest new car models on display, but also in some case climb aboard and experience the vehicles first-hand strictly at each manufacturer’s invitation.

“The Moving Motor Show is a direct response to the continued enthusiasm for an annual motor show in Britain. It is an opportunity for manufacturers to showcase their products in a stunning setting and a relaxed environment.” Lord March

Start Time: 07:00
Date: 2010-07-01

All sectors of the new car market will be represented at Goodwood, from economy hatchbacks to MPVs, family saloons to SUVs and prestige limousines to supercars, with manufacturers having their own stands and display areas to showcase their new products.

Around 25 vehicle manufacturers will be in attendance at the 2010 Moving Motor Show, including many marques that do not usually exhibit at motor show events in the UK.  Important new models making their British public debut at Goodwood are set to include the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG, Alfa Romeo Giulietta, Volvo S60, MG6, and Peugeot RCZ. 

Confirmed manufacturers include the following:

Hannes Arch wins Windsor Red Bull Air Race

Austria’s Hannes Arch won his third straight race in the Red Bull Air Race World Championship with a stirring performance in Windsor on Sunday, bouncing back with an emphatic victory in Canada just two days after suffering one of the worst pylon hits of his career. Britain’s Paul Bonhomme took a close second in the difficult track that straddles the Canada-U.S. border over the Detroit River, his 11th straight podium, while American Kirby Chambliss made the top 3 for the first time this year with third place. Canada’s Pete McLeod was a disappointing ninth in front of his home crowd.

Arch and Bonhomme were locked in another classic duel on a cool and overcast day in front of a huge crowd of 110,000 watching from Windsor and Detroit with about 160,000 spectators in attendance for the two days of high-speed, low-altitude racing. Arch, the 2008 World Champion, saved his best for last and shattered the track record with a time of 1:05:96 in the final.

Bonhomme, the reigning champion, put up a gallant effort to try to beat Arch. The British ace was leading by a fraction of a second after the first of four intervals through the 5-kilometre long race track but couldn’t maintain the lead and ended up behind Arch in 1:06:59, just 0.63 seconds off the pace. Chambliss, looking forward to more glory in his home race in New York in two weeks, was 3.03 seconds behind the Austrian in 1:08:99. Britain’s Nigel Lamb came fourth in 1:13:34 after hitting a pylon in the final.

“I’m really happy to win the race after this difficult week,” said Arch, who had a heavy pylon hit in training on Friday that damaged his plane and left him visibly shaken. “The team stayed behind me all the way. We tried to fix our problems. You need to have a strong team and we’ve got that. I just tried to stay calm and let the others make mistakes. I’m elated right now.”

Arch’s close call came just 24 hours before another dramatic turn of events for Australia’s Matt Hall.

The plane of the former Royal Australian Air Force fighter pilot suffered an aerodynamic wing stall in a tight turn on the windswept track, causing it to dip towards the Detroit River. Hall’s wings and right wheel splashed off the top of the water but he was able to quickly regain control of the MXS-R and return safely to the Race Airport.

Bonhomme, who is still leading the championship with 41 points to Arch’s 39, said he was disappointed to lose to his great rival from Austria but added he was delighted to be in the thick of such a tense battle in Windsor.

“I don’t know about you guys but I think that was a brilliant afternoon of racing,” said Bonhomme. “It was fantastic. Everyone raised their game. It was close for all of us. We’re sad we didn’t get the win but it was a great race. It’s going to be exciting right down to the end of the season.”

2006 World Champion Chambliss, now on 26 points overall, moved up a notch ahead of Hall to fourth place in the championship. The pilot from Arizona, who won the race on the same track in 2008 and also took third here last year, said he wanted to win the next race in his home country on 19 and 20 June.  “If we could win the race in New York it would be awesome,” said Chambliss.

Goodwood Festival of Speed 2010

Title: Goodwood Festival of Speed
Location: Goodwood
To Book Tickets Just Click here

If you have never been – Go!

We’re not sure how Lord March and has team do it but the Goodwood Festival of Speed just gets more spectacular year on year.

You don’t have to be a realpetrolhead to enjoy the Festival of Speed but it helps! There is something for everyone spread out across this glorious location and Goodwood offers the chance to get close to drivers and cars alike. Normally this is only available to the select few at motorsport events but here in the Sussex countryside you could be standing next to a Bugatti Veyron while Lewis Hamilton strolls by with Sir Jackie Stewart.

This event really does take your breath away and you do need the three days to take it all in.

This year’s theme is ‘Viva Veloce! – The Passion for Speed’ and Goodwood will be celebrating the influence of Italy in motorsport over the years. There will, no doubt, be an amazing display in front of Goodwood House with various Italian sports and race cars displayed on huge sculptures.

As well as a huge automotive display the Festival of Speed provides some breathtaking air displays. Over the years Goodwood has been the backdrop for such aircraft as the Apache Helicopter, Spitfire, Harrier, F3 Tornado, a Boeing 747 and of course the Red Arrows to be put through their paces.

So whether it is historic or modern, automotive or aviation there is something for everyone at the Festival of Speed.

Start Date: 2010-07-02
Start Time: 07:00
End Date: 2010-07-04
End Time: 19:00

To Book Tickets Just Click here

Arch wins Red Bull Air Race in Perth, Hall comes second

Hannes Arch of Austria won the Red Bull Air Race on Sunday with Matt Hall of Australia getting a career-best second place in front of an enormous crowd of 140,000 watching from the banks of the Swan River in Perth, Australia. Championship leader Paul Bonhomme of Great Britain took third place.

Bonhomme retains the overall championship lead with 22 points after the first two races of the 2010 season. Nigel Lamb of Britain, who was fourth on Sunday, is in second place on 18 points. Arch jumps into third place overall with 14 points and Hall moves up to fourth, also on 14 points.

It was a thrill-filled final under brilliant blue skies with Hall starting out the Final 4 by laying down a fabulous time of 1:26.51, his best of the week. It was all the more astonishing considering the huge expectations from the home crowd, the biggest at a sporting event in Australia this year.

Hannes Arch of Austria won the Red Bull Air Race on Sunday with Matt Hall of Australia second and Championship leader Paul Bonhomme of Great Britain third.

Lamb had been posting strong times all week but couldn’t top Hall’s time. Arch, starting third, moved into the lead with a time of 1:26.03. Bonhomme was flying well and poised to win the race but stumbled in the fourth and final sector to fall to third place with a time of 1:26.82.

Another success story in Perth was Pete McLeod, who took a strong fifth place. It was also a career-best for the Canadian ace who had struggled at the bottom of the pack in his rookie season last year with a comparatively slow plane. Nicolas Ivanoff of France, who won the Perth race in 2007, was sixth. Matthias Dolderer of Germany was seventh.

A great Red Bull Race in the Perth sunshine

It was a disappointing race for Americans Kirby Chambliss and Michael Goulian. Chambliss, who clinched his 2006 world championship here in Perth, was back in eighth place and Goulian, who was fourth in the season-opener last month in Abu Dhabi, could do no better than 11th place when he sliced open a pylon in the Top 12 round.

Arch’s triumph in Perth helped erase memories of his disappointing 11th place in Abu Dhabi last month due to a disqualification in the Top 12. The 12 points Arch collected for the win in Perth, after a mere 2 in Abu Dhabi, puts the 2008 championship winner back into the title hunt. The Austrian was seen flashing a wide smile in his cockpit when the times were read out to the four finalists by the Race Director.

“This is definitely the way we’re going forward,” said Arch. “Everything starts with vision and this was my vision. I was really struggling during the week. Should I attack or should I just slow down? I’m very pleased.”

“Fantastic result,” said a clearly delighted Matt Hall, whose best result was third place in Porto last year as a rookie. “I’ve been aiming for that for over a year. The Perth race was always going to be my focus. This is what I’ve been looking forward to since I started in the Red Bull Air Race – a great performance in front of my home crowd in Australia.”

Bonhomme, who has now been on the podium for nine straight races going back to the 2008 season, was clearly disappointed.

“Third place wasn’t planned but we didn’t get fourth so that’s good,” said Bonhomme. “I’ve not really looked at the times so I don’t know what I did wrong. But it sounds like I relaxed a bit in the track.”

The next race takes place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on 8/9th  May.

Bonhomme wins in Abu Dhabi at Red Bull Air Race season opener

Defending champion Paul Bonhomme of Britain won the first Red Bull Air Race of the 2010 season in Abu Dhabi on Saturday with a hard-fought victory in scorching heat, finishing just ahead of compatriot Nigel Lamb (2nd) and Hungary’s Peter Besenyei (3rd) in an eventful battle over the turquoise waters of the Arabian Gulf. Austria’s Hannes Arch finished a disappointing 11th after posting the fastest Qualifying time on Friday.

Arch, who had won the Abu Dhabi race last year and was the favourite going in after winning the one Qualifying point on Friday, was disqualified in the Top 12 round for dangerous flying. Many other front-runners were also knocked out early on a day of upsets due to disqualifications or technical malfunctions. With temperatures rising above 40 degrees and the strong desert winds suddenly shifting direction just hours before the race, the 2010 season opener turned into one of the most dramatic races in the six-year history of the Red Bull Air Race World Championship.

Michael Goulian took a strong fourth place but the American’s day nevertheless ended in disappointment as well when he was unable to fly in the final due to technical problems. Canada’s Pete McLeod, a rookie last year, got a career-best fifth place. Australia’s Matt Hall was flying well and was poised for a spot on the podium but was also forced to retire ahead of the Super 8 round with a technical problem that dropped him to eighth place.

“It’s a great start to the new year,” said Bonhomme, who took 12 points and picked up his 12th career victory. Bonhomme, like fellow Red Bull Air Race veterans Lamb and Besenyei, was a master of the difficult weather conditions and managed to stay calm despite some extraordinary challenges. Bonhomme’s winning time was 1:14.06. Lamb was 0.86 seconds behind and Besenyei was 7.12 behind.

“It’s fascinating what we’ve seen today”, said Bonhomme. “The wind changed direction and it sorts everyone out. The temperature was also a factor. To keep your concentration up in these conditions is quite a task. I don’t think it’s a coincidence (that only veterans were on the podium). Experience helps on days like today. You have to keep an eye on what happens and play the tactics just right.”

Lamb and Besenyei, who both struggled somewhat in fair weather training earlier in the week, rose to the occasion in the heat and treacherous winds. Visibility was also hampered by desert winds filled with sand.

“Today was a day of race tactics and strategy,” said Lamb. The Team Breitling pilot added that he hoped to make a habit of getting on the podium after taking an identical second place in Barcelona. “One would be deluded to think it’s going to be easy. There are at least 12 pilots this year who have been putting in times that are within a few seconds of each other. It’s going to be a very interesting season.”

Arch of Team Abu Dhabi was clearly upset with the disqualification, which stunned thousands of the local fans watching along the Corniche. “I don’t have a clue about what the stewards saw,” he said. “It was a normal racing situation.”

The first race of the 2010 season was also a learning experience for the two rookies. Martin Sonka of the Czech Republic, who celebrated his 32nd birthday with a strong performance in Qualifying on Friday, picked up 20 penalty points on Saturday and ended up 13th. Brazil’s Adilson Kindlemann had an even more eventful race, picking up 28 penalty points including 12 for hitting two Air Gates.

The next stop of the 8-race season takes place in Perth, Western Australia on the 17th – 18th April.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SfHp5TbOJGs

Red Bull Air Race

Title: Red Bull Air Race
Location: Abu Dhabi
Link out: Click here

Description: First settled by nomadic tribesmen in 1761, Abu Dhabi is now the capital of the United Arab Emirates and is the largest of the seven emirates which make up the country. It is a dynamic, vibrant and modern city. The name literally means “Father of the gazelle’, and the city still retains much of the grace and elegance of its namesake. Bold urban architecture and lush gardens characterise the Emirates’ seat of government – an oil capital. Zayed Port and Abu Dhabi Airport are the hallmarks of a world-class city which boasts superb amenities of every description.

In close partnership with the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority, the 2010 Red Bull Air Race World Championship season will open in Abu Dhabi. This is the sixth consecutive year that Abu Dhabi has hosted the Red Bull Air Race. The action will take place at the Abu Dhabi Corniche on 26 and 27 March, with qualifying taking place on the first day followed by flat-out racing on Friday.

Start Date: 2010-03-26
Start Time: 12:00
End Date: 2010-03-27
End Time: 17:00

The race track in Abu Dhabi is one of the most challenging in the world – for reasons that range from the shifting winds, high-G turns, a changing landscape, an ever-expanding skyline as well as the general pressure of being the season opener.
Abu Dhabi is anything but a routine track for the pilots even though the race box has remained in a similar location. A new beach on the Corniche side of the track will give spectators an excellent vantage point to see the action. The chicane has been moved right in front of the new beach as a tribute to the landmark. The popular turning manoeuvre has also been positioned this year so that the high-G force pull-up is facing the new hotel buildings next to the iconic Emirates Palace.

The Abu Dhabi Race Box has always been tight and this year is even tighter due to the expanded beach area. Another new aspect to the 2010 race in Abu Dhabi is a new location for the Race Airport at Municipality Harbour where a customised runway and the Race Team aircraft hangars are set up on what is normally a shipping pier.

Abu Dhabi is a location that can frustrate even the most experienced pilots. The prevailing winds are typically moderate from one direction in the morning and then switch to strong winds from the exact opposite direction in the afternoon. That makes it difficult for the pilots to use the same race line as the influence of the wind on the planes has the opposite effect in each run. Pilots often say that means there are in essence two different tracks in Abu Dhabi, depending on the wind. Once the competition heats up, it often results in numerous pylon hits as even the slightest misjudgment can result in planes carving through the Air Gates rather than between them.