Goodwood Revival Races 2008

Monday: We immediately see that local products and foods abound such as bramble preserve, lime curd, bramley apple, scotch eggs, white stilton with mango and ginger (hey ‘fusion cheese”?), extra mature black wax cheddar cheese and of course pork pie. A sandwich shop in Chichester called “Serious Sandwich” had sandwiches titled- chicken lickin’, rooster booster, easy cheesy, egg and I, French Connection, and the cool “Christmas Dinner” sandwich (turkey- cranberry- sage-onion with stuffing). The famous “West Cornish Pasty” shop had steak – stilton- potatoes and added diced turnip if you were a Swede.

Tuesday: Tuesday we went to Arundel to visit the Poor Clares Convent as I promised to return one day. When I lost my sister just days before our prior Goodwood trip we had arrived in Arundel just across the Poor Clares Convent and the Sister allow me to sit during their private early morning prayers with wonderful ‘chants’ with angelic voices and I never forgot that quiet moment. We had a quiet nice lunch at the Bay Tree Restaurant in Arundel and the highlight was the “leek spinach ‘blackstick blue cheese’ risotto and the sticky black date and ginger sponge with custard (note custard is just a simple sauce in UK). There are great TV Food programs with ordinary people competing against professional chefs with judging like American Idol and Dancing with the Stars and novice chefs against the top level professional chefs exciting to watch and will come to USA I am sure. The global markets are crashing and there is a story about the use of “trotters” and similar products now being used in the “pinch” instead of prime cuts of meat the recipe was for braised Trotters and sugar beans.

Wednesday: It was a shopping day and it is always great to visit Mark and Spencer and the food section is incredible. They even had “vegetable suet” used for puddings, dumplings. and mincemeat pies (not sure how good of a substitute it can be), 'Fair Trade' teas and coffees, small Anya potatoes, Brunswick ham and a good looking tart with glazed cranberries on top called “Christmas Tart” (filled with turkey and pork). At the Millstream Hotel we picked up the “Driver -Entrants Rolex Box armbands, Rolex medallions (for entry into the Driver’s Lounge and special areas), Black Tie Gala Dinner (theme Chinese - lucky for Elaine), lapel medallions and other items. More food items to notice such as “runner beans” (like a long fava bean) and “Roly Poly” which is like a swirl bun and words in UK like bangers and mash, bubble and squeak, spanner, cream tea, potato jackets, bloke, cheeky digs, piccies, bakewell tart and “mind your step- look right”. We go to the track to meet all the “Goodwood Marshals” as we are now an Honorary Member from this year and signed on for an informal go around with a track instructor (Goodwood is one of the fastest and dangerous tracks and it can “bite you” big time).

Thursday: This day is called “Build Up Day” as the Old Yeller II is delivered to the paddock. We prep the car with fuel (it had to be drained for shipping), connected the battery and changed the numbers on the car to #5. The signs are posted at the paddock entrances – “No Hawking”, ladies dress smartly, no jeans, no training shoes, period clothing or coat and tie is mandatory”. One time coming from the drivers Mess Hall I was told to hide the contemporary plastic soda bottle. Next time I had a banana and I winked this is as a “period fruit”. This was the day to sign in with all of the required International Driving / Racing licenses and FIA papers for the car as well as to have helmets and uniforms checked. We all went to the Goodwood Cricket Matches where they presented the mandatory Drivers Meeting much caution is given as a warning as the track is fast and difficult. Tea and sandwiches are served with scones and desserts in the proper English style. We hand out our smart team shirts embroidered by John Dishman of Pep Supply with “Hollywood Motors” across the back.

Friday: This was a critical day as it is a one- time Qualifying session for each group. Goodwood had over 135,000 race fans/ staff over the weekend and it was a sight to see...and most everyone in period/historic dress. We were overwhelmed as the Old Yeller II was made a feature car in the Official Goodwood Race Program for the Sussex Trophy race of 30 of the most rarest and expensive race sports car. We raced against the very best and fastest Costin- Listers (4), D Jaguars, Birdcage Maseratis, Ferraris, Lister Jags and the drivers were absolutely the best I have ever faced anywhere ... as they were incredibly fast and most were "hired guns" by the wealthy owners with a "take no prisoners" attitude on the sometimes dangerous and ultra fast Goodwood Race Circuit. Since we had to rebuild the entire Old Yeller II in 4 ½ weeks with the great help of Big Bill and Will we did not want any big “offs” this time and our goal was to finish the race. The Rolex Drivers Lounge was spectacular with the entire interior decorated like a WWII Military Mess Hall complete with posters of Winston Churchill and military items everywhere and tables covered with paper maps of Europe. Outside of the Mess Hall were the legendary P-51 Mustangs and Spitfires along with proper looking pilots and their military crew. The Official Marching Band marched down the track to open the festivities of the day. The race fans are coming and so many we have met before as they say over and over “We are glad to have you back to Goodwood”. We take the track to test the limits of the car and the competition is the very best in the world as they fly by with incredible speed and skill watching my mirrors carefully. Our brakes started to grab at the front left which gets our attention and we finish the session staying on the “black part” (we crunched the entire left side of the car 4 years ago and we were lucky to be invited back by Lord Charles March again). We were off to the Mess Hall for late afternoon tea after fixing the brake problem. Big Erik from the Netherlands is crewing for the 7th event for us and Mike Lilywhite has helped us in the past very capable and very upbeat for the team. Bryan Somen has been on the team and he has a Press Credential to shoot some great photos.

Saturday: Whew . . . Saturday is the big day for the OYII as it is race day in the early afternoon. This is a good time as the sun can glare in the eyes in later races. The races at Goodwood are like F1 starts which is a standing start and like historic days at Goodwood it is the dropping of the British flag and everything breaks loose with smoke from tires and everyone weaving around trying to find their position to the first turn- Madwick. I had the crew remind me over and over not to go fender to fender but to just finish the race as we have not had a good history of finishing races at Goodwood “You need to keep the shiny part up”. During the races the brakes get soft and spongy so caution is the word to finish the race. All the fans like friends now said “Hey- no prangs this year”, “Please don’t knock out the chicane this year“ we are glad it is back together again” warning enough for me. I never raced where the Checkered flag was so welcome to my eyes the team was so happy and by finishing maybe we can come back again to Goodwood and be in the good graces of Lord Charles March (we are so lucky to have raced 4 times with the OYII and once with the Shelby Cobra out of ten years of the Revival Meeting races. We had our own team “Prize Giving” as they call it in UK with Elaine handing out trophies to Big Erik and Mike. We rush back to the cottage to get ready for the Grand Ball as they convert an entire hanger into a Theme for the party. It was transformed into a Chinese Palace and Elaine with her elegant shiny glittering Chinese Cham Sung long sequined dress was the star of the Ball and all the ladies looked in envy as she was the one authentic person at the Ball. We sat with some “heavy hitters” in Motorsport and we are in awe constantly to be able to participate at Goodwood. Everyone was eyeing her as she passed by and at the end of the evening I told her ”Everyone should have that one moment in their lives to re-live the memory many times to come”.

Sunday: We were at the track early as usual and had the best “porridge” at the Drivers Mess Hall and tried “fried bread” (which is a slice of toast which is deep fried!!) and not very heart friendly, but oh so crispy. I went to the very spiritual “Holy Eucharist” Sunday Service at the track, as the small British Band in period dress opened with the playing of “Oh Danny Boy”. The morning was perfect with the skies so blue with billowy white clouds. There was Communion and ending with prayers for Phil Hill- a dear friend to so many and wishing him a safe journey home to his maker and prayers for Roy Salvadori. It was a day to catch up as we had finished racing as we had a chance to talk to the many fans again. We had to drain the fuel and disconnect the battery to prepare the Old Yeller II for shipping to Sydney in a week. There was the Lord Charles March Prize Giving at the end of the day with the serving of Champagne and tea cakes and such a perfect ending to a great weekend could not be better. All of the major sponsors for Elegance, Style, and Excitement were there as Rolex, Veuve Clicquot, Maserati, Moet- Hennessy, and Rolls- Royce were visible everywhere. We had a team dinner at the Berkley Arms Pub and cheers for all. It was as perfect as can be.

Ernest Nagamatsu


1959 Balchowsky Buick Special