Our family had the absolute pleasure of running perhaps this nation’s most famous racing machine at the Goodwood Festival Of Speed; The Allan Moffat 1969 Trans Am Mustang (known to us as the ‘Moffstang’).
This invite-only event is for the cream of international racing machinery so naturally when the envelope arrived at Dad’s post box with an invitation to attend, we could not get our flights organised quick enough!
The Festival Of Speed is hosted by the very enthusiastic Lord March who’s deep passion for motorsport conceived this unique speed event. Held annually on his family’s grand estate of Goodwood, near Chichester in the UK, where over 300 significant racing cars from all eras and forms of motorsport (including rallying, bikes, drag cars, F1, sports and touring cars) get shipped in and raced up the estates driveway. It is impossible to list all the cars and drivers who attended but it was the biggest drool fest we ever have had the pleasure to participate in. It was three incredible days of wonderment at just how good of a show the poms can put on.
Sadly, Moffat was not able to take the driving duties for the ‘Moffstang’ as he had other commitments here in Australia. However the two Bowden boys eagerly filled his seat.
The car ran like a dream all weekend and again we found that it is just as good to drive as it looks. It stops, handles and accelerates fantastically which makes it ideal for the hill-climb. The car really is a credit to Moffat as it is still quite untouched from how it came off the track 34 years ago. After a weekend of racing it I can totally understand why Moffat became so attached to this beautiful racing machine.
With its tough poise and glorious note it made more than a few new fans in the UK. We look forward to hopefully being invited back again next year with another car and continue teaching them all about Aussie racing muscle!
Event Highlights: It is hard to pick just one... Chris coming back into the pits and using the engines roar to clear a path through the crowd. The looks of terror as they tried to flee from the angry sounding ‘Moffstang’ was a joyous occasion. Having racing legends like Derek Bell and Jochen Mass come up and greet us like long lost friends due to the relationship they have had with Moffat. We really felt like the biggest imposters! And getting a heap of laps around the famous Goodwood race circuit on the Monday after the event. Awesomely fast and technical track!
Event Hero: Phillip Venables, our enthusiastic local (yet he is Aussie)mechanic. Always there when we needed him allowing us to relax that bit more and enjoy the event as a family.
Favourite Car(s): This is nearly impossible to choose just one, but seeing the Gulf Porsche 917 roaring up the hill with Jackie Oliver at the wheel was pretty special! Likewise, Peter Hardman speedily drifting in the mega dollar DBR-1 Le Mans/ Mille Milia winning Aston Martin was just as impressive as well.
