Goodwood Festival of Speed - Our Friday highlights in pictures - Part 1

Go to Part Two...

Tiff Needell's Forbidden Drives

What cars can't you find in America..? The list is quite long, with some of the world's greatest cars on it! Based on this, Tiff Needell is currently making a TV series with motor sport online streaming channel, Motor Trend On Demand...

UKMotorTalk - Tiff Needell's Forbidden Drives - New TV show on Motor Trend

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Karun Chandhok and the history of Formula One

Always fascinating to talk to, Karun Chandhok certainly knows his stuff...


UKMotorTalk - Karun Chandhok and the history of Formula One

Keep up with the NEW UKMT Podcast.... http://shoutengine.com/UKMotorTalk/

It's Go at Goodwood

So here we are again, and after a day spent perusing the wares of the World's motor manufacturers at yesterday's Moving Motor Show the Festival of Speed 2017 is now in full-swing.

Lengthy queues to get into the event - whilst a chore on the clutch foot - (you're getting old, Ed) are a sign that it's going to be another sell-out weekend and already the place is fair bustling with devotees of all things automotive.

Our intrepid team shall be out and about all  weekend soaking up the sights, sounds and smells of  - if you'll permit us just the one oft-repeated cliche - a most unique event.

As I write this, a Metro 6R4 - possibly one of the more unlikely but incredibly successful rally cars of the 80s is just darting its way past the fearsome flint wall as it heads for the finish line at the top of the hill, whilst endurance racers old and new - some fresh from pounding the tarmac at Le Mans - are lining up, ready for their turn to do the same.

And as the howl of multi-cylindered exotics reverberates around the estate, in a fitting reminder that nothing ever stands still - especially motorsport - we'll be treated to the sight later on - if not perhaps the sound - of the somewhat less frantic-sounding, yet equally-exciting Mahindra Formula E racer  which is making its debut here at the Festival.

Piloted by a man who's held the Hill record for 18 years & who plans to best it - former F1 driver Nick Heidfeld - this really would be a remarkable achievement and proof - if ever any were needed - that alternative power is very much today's technology.

Stay tuned - we're here all weekend..

Panasonic Jaguar Formula E drivers - Adam Carroll and Mitch Evans

The still relatively new Formula E is growing rapidly, both in popularity and budgets! We speak to Panasonic Jaguar drivers Adam Carroll and Mitch Evans about the world of Formula E...

UKMotorTalk - Panasonic Jaguar Formula E drivers - Adam Carroll and Mitch Evans

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Bonhams auction at Festival of Speed - Chairman, Robert Brooks

At the Goodwood Festival of Speed, Chairman of Bonhams, Robert Brooks, talks to Graham Benge about the classic car market, how Maserati is the name of everybody's lips, and a nice little Porsche speedster!

UKMotorTalk - Bonhams Auction - Chairman, Robert Brooks

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Flying Cars - Marco van den Bosch of Pal-V

A vision of the not too distant future... A gyrocopter based flying car, the Pal-V Liberty...

UKMT's Graham Benge talks to Pal-V's Marco van den Bosch.

UKMotorTalk - Flying Cars - Marco van den Bosch of Pal-V

Visit https://www.pal-v.com/en/ for more details

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Audi R8 Spyder V10 Plus - Stephan Winkelmann, Audi Sport CEO

At the unveiling of the new Audi R8 Spyder V10 Plus, Graham Benge speaks to Audi Sport CEO Stephan Winkelmann about its place in the Audi stable, and the future of the marque.

UKMotorTalk - Stephan Winkelmann - CEO Audi Sport

Keep up with the NEW UKMT Podcast.... http://shoutengine.com/UKMotorTalk/

From The Archive - Charley Boorman at Goodwood Festival of Speed 2006

In the drivers' garden of the Goodwood Festival of Speed 2006, UKMotorTalk's Graham Benge talks to Charley Boorman about the stresses of the Dakar Rally, and how hard it REALLY is...


UKMotorTalk - From The Archive - Charley Boorman at Goodwood Festival of Speed 2006

Keep up with the NEW UKMT Podcast.... http://shoutengine.com/UKMotorTalk/

From The Archive - Renault F1 car sings La Marseillaise at Goodwood Festival of Speed 2006

From The Archive: Goodwood Festival of Speed 2006

Renault's F1 team show off their engine's party trick...

UKMotorTalk - From The Archive - Renault F1 cars sings La Marseillaise at Goodwood Festival of Speed 2006

Keep up with the NEW UKMT Podcast.... http://shoutengine.com/UKMotorTalk/

From The Archive - Sir Frank Williams at the Goodwood Festival of Speed

The second interview as we look back into our archive is Graham Benge talking to Sir Frank Williams...

UKMotorTalk - From The Archive - Sir Frank Williams at the Goodwood Festival of Speed

Keep up with the NEW UKMT Podcast.... http://shoutengine.com/UKMotorTalk/

From The Archive - Nico Rosberg at the Goodwood Festival of Speed

In the run up to this year's Goodwood Festival of Speed, we look back through the archive to find some classic interviews....

Here UKMotorTalk's Graham Benge talks to Nico Rosberg back in the days when he was at Williams.

UKMotorTalk - From The Archive - Nico Rosberg at the Goodwood Festival of Speed

Keep up with the NEW UKMT Podcast.... http://shoutengine.com/UKMotorTalk/

How TV used to be... Fiat X19 review

Thames Television's "Drive In" reporter, Tony Bastable, demonstrates the sporty Fiat X19.

Is the new car market still doing well?

With so much uncertainty with the economy and changes to road tax and emission legislation, are we still buying new cars in the same numbers?

UKMT's Graham Benge talks to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) Chief Executive, Mike Hawes, to find out...

AWDC Safari - Glanusk Estate - 14th May 2017

What will Alonso be driving at Indy 500..?

If you've been wondering what Fernando Alonso will be driving at Indianapolis, Motorsport.tv have kindly produced a 3D model of the McLaren Honda Andretti indycar with mention on many of the differences between it and Fernando's usual runabout....

Mclaren Honda Andretti by Motorsport.tv on Sketchfab

AWDC 4x4 Off-Road event - Kemeys House Farm - 26th March 2017

It's not every day that you get the chance to enjoy the Welsh countryside accompanied by a symphony of spec'd up hardware! Well, not for me anyway...

Apparently, this kind of thing is going on all the time, and the All Wheel Drive Club (http://www.awdc.co.uk/) are the organisation behind a large percentage of it.

Many thanks to all concerned, the competitors and support teams. A most welcoming bunch.

For more of Mike's photos from the day go to our flickr album:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/ukmotortalk/albums/72157682695025406

Silverstone Classic 2017 - Press Day

This year's Silverstone Classic event will take place over the long weekend of Friday 28th - Sunday 30th July. For more information, including how you can buy tickets, go to www.silverstoneclassic.com.

To see the full album, go to our Flickr site.

Mercedes F1 launch video

Women in Motor Sport - The Trailblazers

Select Car Leasing

Using Emergency Puncture Repair and Tyre Inflators

You've just noticed that one of your tyres is looking flat, and you can't see any big holes in it.... Now is the time to try an Emergency Tyre Inflator canister.... and we'll show you how!

Whilst these cans are not appropriate for every tyre deflation problem, we'll guide you through the times that you'll be thankful that you keep one in your boot!

Keep up to date with the series by saving the Forecourt Fixes playlist and follow the UKMotorTalk channel.

Looking After Your Tyres - Pressure, Tread and Condition

As the only points of contact that your vehicle has with the road surface, keeping your tyres at the optimum pressure, tread depth and general condition is of the utmost importance.

In this episode we guide you through the checks that you should regularly perform on your car.... Tyre pressures, where to find the manufacturer's recommended pressures, and how to pump up your tyres when needed.... Tyre tread depth to help you stop in an emergency... and looking for cracks and damage...

Keep up to date with the series by saving the Forecourt Fixes playlist and follow the UKMotorTalk channel.

Under the Bonnet - How complicated is it really?

UKMotorTalk's Forecourt Fixes guides you through the major components that are under the bonnet of your car.

Keep up to date with the series by saving the Forecourt Fixes playlist and follow the UKMotorTalk channel.

Forecourt Fixes - New Video Series

In response to the various maintenance related questions that we are often asked, the UKMotorTalk team are producing a series of "back to basics" videos to help you keep your car and passengers safe, and perhaps save a few quid... Forecourt Fixes guides you through the various tasks that can easily be performed by ANY driver...

Keep up to date with the series by saving the Forecourt Fixes playlist and follow the UKMotorTalk channel.

John Surtees dies aged 83

I was sad to hear of the death of John Surtees CBE, famously the only man to win world championships on both 2 wheels and 4.

Our thoughts go out to his family.

John Surtees won the Formula One World Championship for Ferrari in 1964, and before that, the son of a motorcycle dealer, dominated motorcycling’s highest levels, winning four world motorcycling titles from 1956 to 1960.

In 1962  he transferred his massive skills from 2 to 4 wheels, coming second in only his 2nd F1 race when pitted against such luminaries as Graham Hill. His talents soon caught the eye of Ferrari boss Enzo Ferrari whom he joined in 1963, and won his world title with the following season.

Truly a champion of champions, and having met and interviewed Sir John, yes, I believe  he should have been knighted such were his contributions to motor sports. John was a champion gentleman too,  a very unaggressive and unassuming man and a gentle man, yet in interviewing him many times one one sensed an iron will within.

But John seemed to lose heart after the untimely death of his son Henry in a freak motor racing accident. John devoted his tireless energies thereafter to charity works raising millions for charities concerned with head injuries, even selling at auction recently his treasured F1 champions book, a massive tome, an exhaustive history of F1, its ownership limited to only those who had reached the absolute pinnacle of motor sports. 

It is extremely unlikely that anyone will ever repeat John's feats, the times are very different. Like his contemporaries, John could and did drive anything and everything. He was competitive in everything, saloons, sports cars, even the mighty CanAm cars. But it was in the rather fragile Ferrari that his smooth driving style shone, forming a strong relationship with “il Commendatore”, Enzo Ferrari, the legendary boss of Ferrari, though they were later to fall out mostly over safety.

For all his time on 2 wheels and 4, John not only survived in an era when many didn't, but he had very few crashes, again a testament to his smooth driving. 

I will miss his willingness to chat any time we met, especially at Goodwood events which he came to every year. Many will miss him for his talents, others who met him for his charm. His name will stay in the record books for ever and that's entirely fitting. He achieved every goal he set himself, and there are few who can say that.

RIP John Surtees. 

Graham Benge