The first turn comes up so much faster than a normal brain can process. The crowds on either side become a Technicolor blur. Are there really only hay bails between us and them? That doesn’t seem like enough. The car twitches over a blind crest. The Driver admits he doesn’t have much experience at Goodwood. We pass the turn where a Lamborghini smashed through five layers of hay bails. In a dark tunnel of trees, a stone wall comes up out of nowhere. I curse. And then we’re slowing down.
At the top of the hill, the drivers have a chance to chat, admire each others’ cars. It’s casual, relaxed. Sir Stirling Moss can have a cold drink and catch up with Sir Jackie Stewart.
Retreating back to McLaren House for one last gin and tonic, you realize that life is better beyond the velvet rope.
Over there is a Pagani Huayra, an eccentric Italian supercar with watch-like mechanical detailing. There’s one of two open-top Aston Martin CC100s in existence — each sold for about $1 million. Here’s Aston’s new Lagonda luxury limo painted gold. There’s Ferrari’s track only, Ferrari FXXK, which only sells to its most loyal (read: wealthy) customers. It’s the world’s most exclusive parking lot.
But, the most expensive car at Goodwood may be a McLaren. It’s one of three F1 GTs. For all the P1 GTRs McLaren brought here, it was the F1 GT that necessitated special insurance. Nobody knows how much it’s worth. Maybe $20 million at the low end? $30 million? McLaren won’t even say how much it’s insured for.
The PASSENGER wristband grants access to even more exclusivity. The paddock where a trio of ex-Le Mans Porches in matching blue and orange livery are getting ready.
Retreating back to McLaren House for one last gin and tonic, you realize that life is better beyond the velvet rope. It’s disheartening, of course. Because you want to come away from it all, and realize that, no, out there among the people, with the crowds at the food court, that’s where the fun is. And it is, to an extent. But in the private tent, up on the balcony, behind the wheel of the cars, behind the rope, there’s diversions that everyone else simply doesn’t get to have.
Word gets around that Valentino Rossi — the best motorcycle racer of his generation, and, well, maybe ever — has flown to Goodwood the day after winning the MotoGP race in Holland. He did an interview for TV up on the second floor balcony of the Estate house. Not even the VIP credential and PASSENGER wristband will get you access to that balcony.
