

FOS Favourite Mad Mike Whiddett can be caught melting tyres in his incredible collection of cars (and trucks) up the hillclimb


Sir Stirling Moss was one of the founding patrons of the Festival of Speed, and a regular competitor at the Revival.




Whoa Simon! A horse so determined and headstrong, he not only won the 1883 Goodwood Cup by 20 lengths, but couldn't be stopped and carried on running over the top of Trundle hill




The first ever horsebox was used from Goodwood to Doncaster for the 1836 St. Leger. Elis arrived fresh and easily won his owner a £12k bet.




...plan strategy in an ancient woodland, enjoy award-winning dining then drive around a racetrack?


The iconic spitfire covered almost 43,000 kilometres and visited over 20 countries on its epic journey and currently resides at our Aerodrome.


The oldest existing rules for the game were drawn up for a match between the 2nd Duke and a neighbour



The exquisite mirror in the Ballroom of Goodwood House it so big they had to raise the ceiling to get it inside!











The first thing ever dropped at Goodwood was a cuddly elephant which landed in 1932 just as the 9th Duke of Richmonds passion for flying was taking off.






A bell under each place at the table to signal if butlers can come back in to the dining room, a guests privacy is always paramount.


Easy boy! The charismatic Farnham Flyer loved to celebrate every win with a pint of beer. His Boxer dog, Grogger, did too and had a tendancy to steal sips straight from the glass.


From 2005 to present there has been a demonstration area for the rally cars at the top of the hill


Spectate from the chicane at the Revival to see plenty of classic cars going sideways as they exit this infamous point of our Motor Circuit.


Spectate from the chicane at the Revival to see plenty of classic cars going sideways as they exit this infamous point of our Motor Circuit.


For the last two years, 5,800 bales have been recylced into the biomass energy centre to be used for energy generation




For the last two years, 5,800 bales have been recylced into the biomass energy centre to be used for energy generation


From 2005 to present there has been a demonstration area for the rally cars at the top of the hill


The red & yellow of the Racecourse can be traced back hundreds of years, even captured in our stunning Stubbs paintings in the Goodwood Collection


Leading women of business, sport, fashion and media, take part in one of the most exciting horseracing events in the world.


Whoa Simon! A horse so determined and headstrong, he not only won the 1883 Goodwood Cup by 20 lengths, but couldn't be stopped and carried on running over the top of Trundle hill












Whoa Simon! A horse so determined and headstrong, he not only won the 1883 Goodwood Cup by 20 lengths, but couldn't be stopped and carried on running over the top of Trundle hill


The first public race meeting took place in 1802 and, through the nineteenth century, ‘Glorious Goodwood,’ as the press named it, became a highlight of the summer season


King Edward VII (who came almost every year) famously dubbed Glorious Goodwood “a garden party with racing tacked on”.


Future Lab is Goodwood's innovation pavilion, inspiring industry enthusiasts and future scientists with dynamic tech


The Motor Circuit was known as RAF Westhampnett, active from 1940 to 1946 as a Battle of Britain station.


One of the greatest golfers of all time, James Braid designed Goodwood’s iconic Downland course, opened in 1914.


Testament to the 19th-century fascination with ancient Egypt and decorative opulence. The room is richly detailed with gilded cartouches, sphinxes, birds and crocodiles.


"En la rose je fleurie" or "Like the rose, I flourish" is part of the Richmond coat of Arms and motto




Ray Hanna famously flew straight down Goodwood’s pit straight below the height of the grandstands at the first Revival in 1998


...plan strategy in an ancient woodland, enjoy award-winning dining then drive around a racetrack?


The first ever round of golf played at Goodwood was in 1914 when the 6th Duke of Richmond opened the course on the Downs above Goodwood House.


The first ever round of golf played at Goodwood was in 1914 when the 6th Duke of Richmond opened the course on the Downs above Goodwood House.


One of the greatest golfers of all time, James Braid designed Goodwood’s iconic Downland course, opened in 1914.


The first ever round of golf played at Goodwood was in 1914 when the 6th Duke of Richmond opened the course on the Downs above Goodwood House.







The iconic spitfire covered almost 43,000 kilometres and visited over 20 countries on its epic journey and currently resides at our Aerodrome.


...plan strategy in an ancient woodland, enjoy award-winning dining then drive around a racetrack?


...plan strategy in an ancient woodland, enjoy award-winning dining then drive around a racetrack?



...plan strategy in an ancient woodland, enjoy award-winning dining then drive around a racetrack?



We have been host to many incredible film crews using Goodwood as a backdrop for shows like Downton Abbey, Hollywood Blockbusters like Venom: let there be Carnage and the Man from U.N.C.L.E.


The Gordon Tartan has been worn by the Dukes and Duchesses over the last 300 years.


Built in 1787 by celebrated architect James Wyatt to house the third Duke of Richmond’s prized fox hounds, The Kennels was known as one of the most luxurious dog houses in the world!


...plan strategy in an ancient woodland, enjoy award-winning dining then drive around a racetrack?




The red & yellow of the Racecourse can be traced back hundreds of years, even captured in our stunning Stubbs paintings in the Goodwood Collection


The first ever round of golf played at Goodwood was in 1914 when the 6th Duke of Richmond opened the course on the Downs above Goodwood House.


The famous fighter ace, who flew his last sortie from Goodwood Aerodrome, formerly RAF Westhampnett has a statue in his honor within the airfield.






Built in 1787 by celebrated architect James Wyatt to house the third Duke of Richmond’s prized fox hounds, The Kennels was known as one of the most luxurious dog houses in the world!



The first thing ever dropped at Goodwood was a cuddly elephant which landed in 1932 just as the 9th Duke of Richmonds passion for flying was taking off.


Just beyond Goodwood House along the Hillclimb, the 2nd Dukes banqueting house was also known as "one of the finest rooms in England" (George Vertue 1747).


Flying training began at Goodwood in 1940 when pilots were taught operational flying techniques in Hurricanes and Spitfires.


The iconic spitfire covered almost 43,000 kilometres and visited over 20 countries on its epic journey and currently resides at our Aerodrome.




Testament to the 19th-century fascination with ancient Egypt and decorative opulence. The room is richly detailed with gilded cartouches, sphinxes, birds and crocodiles.


Just beyond Goodwood House along the Hillclimb, the 2nd Dukes banqueting house was also known as "one of the finest rooms in England" (George Vertue 1747).



From humble beginnings helping his mother run a hardware shop, Alan wrote to the RAF in 1939, explaining his education had been curtailed at just 14, after his father had been lost at sea. He made it clear that he would be willing to attend night school to do everything he could to reach the required standard to become a pilot, and joined the RAFVR to attend lectures in the town centre three nights a week on technical subjects.
He was accepted and initially trained on the Tiger Moth in the spring of 1939, aged 22. He then went on to Miles Magisters and North American Harvards in 1940.
Alan joined No 616 Squadron as a Sergeant pilot in January 1941 as the squadron moved south to RAF Tangmere and it was soon in action over northern France on offensive sweeps.
On 18 March, Wing Commander Douglas Bader, previously of 242 Squadron, arrived to take command of three Spitfire squadrons of Tangmere wing including 610, 616 and 145 Squadrons, then based at Westhampnett, Tangmere and Merston. He always led 616 in his personal Spitfire marked ‘DB’.
Bader selected Smith to be his wingman which Alan was very surprised with as he was just a lowly Sergeant pilot. The Wing Commander's only comment on choosing Smith was
God help you if you let any Hun get on my tail.
Sir Douglas Bader
Alan went on to survive the war and became a successful fighter pilot himself.
Sadly, Flt Lt Sir Alan Smith CBE, DFC and BAR, DL passed away just before his 96th Birthday, the last survivor of ‘Dogsbody’ section.
This story was collated by Mark Hillier who will soon be launching his book 'Best Foot Forward'. To order please visit www.frontline-books.com.
Goodwood Aerodrome
WWII
RAF Westhampnett