2009 Goodwood Festival of Speed

The Festival featured a selection of pre-war two wheeled machines, including a 1925 JAP V-twin Brough Superior SS100 and a three cylinder supercharged 1939 DKW350SS. Post warlegends included the ex-John Surtees 1957 MV Agusta 500, a 1957 prototype'big head' Gilera 500 designed to beat the MVs, and the 1971 Ducati 500GPresponsible for the beginning of the Ducati V-twin dynasty.

Retro classics on show included the ex-Barry Sheene 1975 SuzukiXR14 RG500, ex-Mick Grant 1981 Yamaha OW53 YZR500 and ex-Randy Mamola 1989Cagiva V589, plus the 1978 Ducati 900SS on which Mike Hailwood completed one ofthe most legendary TT comebacks ever witnessed.

In recognition of the new found strength of the World Superbike and World Supersport Championships, this year's Festival of Speed also featuredsix current works World Super-bike and World Supersport teams in each category. Double World Champion, Troy Corser, rode his BMW S1000R, while Makoto Tamada, Max Biaggi and Carlos Checa also ran their WSB machines around the circuit.

Representing World Supersport was former Grand Prix and now WWS front runner Garry McCoy on his Triumph 675 Daytona.

Many stars from world motorcycle racing were also in attendance, including three-time 125cc World GP Champion Luigi Taveri, Mick Doohan, John Surtees, Eddie Lawson and local hero, Carl Fogarty. An array of famous motorcycles and world class riders are now an annual fixtureat the Festival and this year Goodwood paid homage to 60 years of Motorcycle Grand Prix racing.

Easy Rider rolls into Goodwood
The Goodwood Festival of Speed was brought to a rousing close witha special appearance by Peter Fonda, leading a group of bikes from Krazy Horse Custom Cycles around the track. In their first major appearance at Goodwood,the custom bikes proved to be oneof the biggest draws of the whole weekend.
Krazy Horse's 'Zeroesque' was voted best in the bike class at theCartier 'Style et Luxe' concours by a panel of celebrity judges, and adelighted Paul Beamish collected his silver trophy from Peter Fonda himself.

Fonda was reportedly overwhelmed with the crowd's reaction to hisguest appearance, which also celebrated the 40th anniversary of Fonda's mostfamous role in 'Easy Rider' . Hannover Harley-Davidson supplied a replica of the famous 'Captain America' chopper from Easy Rider for Fonda to ride around the Goodwood circuit.

Custom bikes on show at Goodwood
The prestigious Cartier 'Style et Luxe' concours d'elegance was another attraction at Goodwood - the first time custom bikes had been invited to display.

'Techno Bobber'was awild Ducati-based custom created byformer Rover engineer, Roger Allmond. It uses a 996cc L-twin engine from a Ducati Monster that's capable of almost 150 mph. The tubular frame, swing arm, tank and even the wheels were all Allmond's own handiwork, made in his Allmond Cycle Design workshop in Oxford. With open pipes, the Techno Bobber is said to sound, "like a TopFuel dragster"! KHC Cycles creation was another take on the Bobber style. Note the broadly-spaced handlebars.

Jesse James takes to four wheels at Goodwood
Jesse James was one of many special guests at this year's Festival of Speed, but rather than take to the circuit in one of the two wheel creations out of West Coast Choppers, James lapped the circuit in his off-road 'Trophy Truck' that's used in the Baja races in the USA, as well as off road racing here in Australia.Prior to his appearance at Goodwood, James set a new world speed record for a hydrogen-powered vehicle.

Images courtesy of Rob Lang.