2017 Goodwood Festival of Speed

[Oskiinus]

changed one thing because of you fekin discord le mans nerds

Welcome to our stand!

We have always been visiting Goodwood. Not every year with a stand like today, but after all, we’re here and, instead of showing anything new (because we don’t have anything new that could be soon released), we’ll show five cars from our racing heritage.
Let’s begin from the oldest to newest.

1965 LM65

LM65. Airborne’s first attempt into Le Mans racing. It wasn’t very powerful, yet it wasn’t also very quick. It kept up with most sports cars, muscle cars and even early supercars of the era. It has modified 2.3 litre V6 engine from Mirage S2 tweaked to generate 180 hp, and in a car that weighs slightly above 900 kilograms this is a deadly mix. Combined with short ratios and excellent cornering possibilities made it great choice for twisty sections of the track. Sadly, due to short ratios it could only reach 220 km/h which basicly made this car weak on straights.
But, it had one advantage: reliability. When in 1965 Le Mans competitors broke down, needed to pit stop and such, LM65 was stopping only to refuel and, sometime, change tires.

Also, there was a short run of street-legal LM65, and the car you see is the first one out of 30 made. However, people had to wait for fully street-legal Airborne supercar to 1967, when Rome had appeared.

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1987 GSX

Group B was a great possibility to create mind-blowing cars without really any limitations. Companies like Lancia, Peugeot or Audi used that possibility. Airborne did not miss that opportunity too - it had a car coded as Gruppe B in works from 1984. However, when the car was almost finished in 1986 Group B had collapsed due to series of tragic incidents. When FIA informed that something called Group S could be founded, and the only real limitation would be company’s budget and 300 hp maximum power limit, Airborne quickly converted two of the Gruppe B prototypes to be another car: the GSX.

GSX name came from “Group S Experimental” and was meant to compete in so-called Group S. Final goal was meant to be AWD mid engined monster with performance comparable to Porsche 959 and 300 hp of power. Two of those goals were reached: mid engined monster and 300 hp. Sadly, in the prototype you see there’s only RWD. It does not mean that the car isn’t quick, because it is: After official presentation in 1987 during Geneva Motor Show FIA cancelled any plans with Group S and therefore Airborne aborted GSX project, leaving it only in form of single RWD prototype (AWD one got totaled during testing).

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1990 F90 Stage II

Sadly we can’t bring the car to Goodwood run because it uncontrollably throws flames from engine, therefore it’s dangerous to drive it unless we solve the issue (and if we will solve anyway). However, you can freely go to our paddock and see that car!

F90. Our entrance into short-lived revival of Formula Automation in 1990. Original F90 had raced only in one race of the competition series and with Norbert Nowicki behind the wheel got pretty good 3rd place. In hope of continuation of the series, Nowicki with Airborne Formula Team created continuation of F90: he named it Stage II.

The differences were seen even in exterior: Nowicki replaced characteristic F90 front with more streamlined one, he also got rid of wing of normal racer and replaced it with something that he was even surprised (his rememberable quote about the wing: Kurwa mać ale to wielkie) - from minor modifications there could be also two “exhaust boxes” sticking out of the body preventing it to catch fire, rear cover with more ventilation.

Engine and suspension mods covered replacing the suspension with pushrod one bought from unknown to this day tuning company (probably from Germany) and boosting the engine from 664 hp to values between 800 and 900 hp.

Sadly, F90 Stage II was never raced due to fact that Formula Automation got cancelled just after one race and AFT focused on preparing modified version for endurance racing called F91E (which failed anyway).

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##1998 Synth GT1 Stradale

Airborne’s greatest motorsport success to date. During qualifying sessions to Le Mans race race-spec Synth GT1 was so quick that it doubled several 911 GTs, one R390 and plenty of other racers.

Sadly, and luckily enough it was considered by both Airborne and FIA as too good for actual racing on track and got banned. Race spec Synth GT1 (chassis GT1-00000) was transformed into street legal car you can see here on Goodwood.
There are 12 GT1 Stradales ever made (including Chassis Zero). All of them are basicly race spec models tuned down to meet street legal regulations. While still being blisteringly quick with power of 674 hp, Synth GT1 could go 330 km/h (350 km/h in race spec) and has ~3.5 seconds to 100 km/h (race spec - below 3.0). Actually, the car presented still has it’s driver racing seat mounted into the car. The car is so legendary that there were rumors back in 2010-2011 that Airborne may prepare a successor for it, but those rumors were false.

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2015 F15 Patricia

F15 Patricia, Airborne’s currently last entry in endurance racing. It raced in 2015 season of Automation Motorsports World Endurance Championship and got 18th place overall. It wasn’t successful, however we revised this car after the final race.

Currently the car you see (it raced in AMWEC with this livery) has about 650 hp of power and is slightly quicker than before. It’s painted in special color called Devil Red, which we save only for best of the best from Airborne. It’s maybe not the best, but at least it won the opinion of the prettiest car in 2015 season of AMWEC.

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All the cars are available to view to public and except F90 you can ask for a test drive or just diving inside them. Also, don’t miss our bonus car which is Madoka Matsusaka’s Seishi SR that she raced recently in Gunma prefecture on legendary Mount Haruna. Search for a purple Seishi with AIRJAP bodykit with fixed headlights and license plate with localization indicator of Osaka and 31-92 numbers.

Gordon Anderson (born: 1937) today.

Also, don’t miss one guest from the past: another legend, Gordon Anderson! He’s Gavin Anderson’s grandfather, his most famous journalistic cover was 1960 Earls Court Show and after 15 year hiatus he came back to public life. Also, he’s like Edward Khil of automotive industry, so you can get trolled out (you have been warned). You can see him on our stand or talking on Bonham Classic exposition.

[DeusExMackia]

#Day 3

The sun shone on the south of England today as this year’s Festival of Speed entered its third day.

Canadian marque Toronto kicked off Saturday with a new 2+2 GT Coupe called the 705. Simple naming meets clean but bold design, perhaps only tainted by the odd chrome lines on the rear of this thing. Still, with a 6.5 V12 under the bonnet, you can hardly say this thing isn’t meeting all the GT cruiser requirements, and it’s pretty damn quick for such a big car, wafting up the climb in a smidgen over 56 seconds. We’ll be seeing it again sometime next year when it’s launched for real.

Cornaldie gave their display next with the, er, ‘Spaziale’, the name of which was taken with some odd glances from the British general public and a few “that sounds a little offensive” from some of the more upper class visitors at the show. That said, it did impress on the run up the climb; this 604 hp mid-engined coupe was very flat through all the corners and very nippy. Prices start at $82k, making it awfully cheap for a 600 hp mid-engined supercar. This is a one to watch if you’re looking for a proper budget supercar.

Zenshi ran a new GTE-spec version of the stunning Raizan X1, and somehow they’ve managed to make the rear of this thing look even better. I had to go to the Zenshi tent afterwards just to oggle at this thing. It also happens to be very fast, and even built specifically to the current GTE standards and being quite limited in its power, it’s one of the fastest cars of this year’s show so far. The dream of a new endurance series where we might get to see this and many other cars like it lives on.

A quick run to the burger van for lunch and I was back again for the Shromet Dragon’s run up the climb. The stylish coupe was revealed earlier this year, and its fair to say that any new sports coupe gets its christening by appearing here. It was shortly followed by a tuned version of their mid-size Mystic. What with 400 hp under the bonnet and a price of $30k brand new, it has the potential to be a real bargain, and was certainly quick for what it is on the climb.

Manson Motor Sport gave us an odd showing by not actually running anything up the climb and instead only showing us the side of two cars. Still, they were keen to point out that one of them was the 2002 MMS Goshawk, which was supposedly heralded as a “spiritual successor to the Ferrari F40” (though a flick through the S.A.M. archives reveals no such claims being made by this publication). Yet they showed us very little in the way of performance specs; odd. Still, 15 years later and they’re celebrating the company’s founding with a side profile of a very green, supposedly 1000 hp “old school” hypercar that doesn’t even have a sequential gearbox. Apparently, this new version of the Goshawk will be “the last few cars developed, engineered and assembled exclusively in Australia for years to come”. Apparently, MMS haven’t heard of DSD, ANZ, Gryphon Gear, or even the cars own engine manafacturer, Albury.

Bamford and Bamtech made their main showing today, having given us a plethora of classic racers to behold as they drive up the climb. Another BRC classic, the Shark GT made an excellent run, though the same could not be said for the modified IA Advance which rolled over on one of the last bends. The Bam/VW HA Shark, a former Le Mans winner, shouted its way up the course in glorious fashion before rounding off their display with a Teuton 301 Grp. B, which made a whole lot of noise and a whole lot of smoke. It did make it up though - just - sadly not posting the best of times. Still, plenty of drama.

Contendiente were back at it with its new experimental hyper thing, the Misil. The Spanish car maker have kept the details of this creation very quiet, and it blitzed the course in just under 46 seconds, making it a very strong contender for this years fastest time.

Orchid were also back again send the Jespar RR flying up the course. There’s been a bit of a deficit in the 90s cars department this year the RR made up for it, packing 534 hp under the bonnet and posting a decent time.

With the day drawing to a close, Maesima and Sachiuri took centre stage for some properly special runs up the climb. The Anikatian duo have two of the biggest stands at this year’s show, and they’re well worth a visit (though do try to avoid the people in smart clothes trying to sell you a new Maesima Devina), and both companies have sent some great cars up the climb this year, including the Prova MS-R01, fresh from the ATCC. But, they truly saved the best 'til last; a gorgeous NRX-085, B-spec, in full original MRD livery, certainly one of the 80s prettiest endurance racers, which was then followed by the gorgeous Sachiuri Sagitta GTE Prototype. In its simple, colour-only livery and rocking full aero packs and what not, it looked stunning. But not as stunning as the stunned look on the Sachiuri team’s faces when their GTE prototype wasn’t as fast as Zenshi’s. I’m sure there are already phonecalls being made to sort out an extensive tuning program for the Sagitta GTE right now.

The penultimate act today was Airborne, who’s stand has been frequented by many the automotive historian due to the range in age of cars on display. The company’s first prototype racer, the LM65, was on display, which owned the P 5.0 class that year. Also on show was a very special car from a sadly never-to-be-seen part of motorsport history, the GSX. Made to enter into the fated Group S category (the successor to Group B), this GSX is a RWD only model, after its AWD sister test car was ruined in a crash. Few other Group S prototypes remain, and to see one out on display like this is particularly special. Out on the climb, the Synth GT1 Stradale tore up the track and brought some much needed 90s GT1 action to the track, and it was followed by its younger relative the F15 Patricia, Airborne’s AMWEC 15 entrant.

Closing the show were newcomers Raidan who went up with a specially organised run of every single new trim of the Sorena midsize sedan. It is the single most un-designed car I’ve ever seen, with the coupe version looking a Chinese knock-off of an original Audi TT that came out of a fax machine poorly. And I’m sorry, but a 6.3l V8 pumping out 515hp and it can’t even push the fastest AWD variant below 57 seconds? Their turbo option isn’t exactly much better, with that extra 77 hp barely getting it up the climb any faster. So no, this car is not “very quick”. But what’s worst of all about this thing is that it has no passion. The Festival of Speed is a festival of speed. It’s about car makers and car enthusiasts showing off their love for automotive performance, and we’ve already seen just how much passion there is for making fast cars and displaying them here already. It’s what the show has always showcased so well. And that, as a result, makes the Sorena more than anything else, a shame. It is an unloved car that hasn’t been given the treatment and devotion to creating something brilliant that it deserves, unlike every other vehicle here.

And with that, another day closes. It’s the last day of the show tomorrow, and I’ve got a date with destiny; meeting the Bonham Owners Club and low and behold, my grandfather. What joy.

See you then!
- Gavin Anderson

[JJ2478]

Shameful, I know. But I make cars for fun and see how much power I can get out of a tiny engine.

[JJ2478]

And, just to prove that point… Introducing the Radian TCR1!
Despite less than 60 horsepower, this little car can move!
(Ugly styling, I know)

This car was designed to show that 4 or even 3-digit horsepower figures are NOT needed to make a fast car.

[abg7]

Correction: my company is called Mason, not Manson, and I changed the wording in my post about the Goshawk line. It is now referred to as “one of the best specialist cars” to reflect the presence of other Australian manufacturers (including mass-market brands like Albury). And to be fair, I was pressed for time, so I went with something that I had made many months earlier, albeit revised.

If I still have time to submit anything else, I will need to have a long hard think about it… Anyway, great job on the daily roundups!

[11alualhati]

AL Autos

Hello one and all! Welcome to the AL Autos exhibit! We have many cars with us here at our first appearance at Goodwood’s Festival of Speed!

Our next three vehicles were released at different points during the time AL Autos has existed. During our first few months as a car company, we produced the Berlina, a sports sedan of sorts. To be honest, it was more of a concept car than a car that would be released. Now that AL Autos has had more time to develop its designs, we proudly present to you the improved

AL Autos Berlina (Trim Shown: 537 Sv2)

The Body

AL Autos retained the original body style of the former Berlina and updated the looks to match our current crop of cars rolling off the line: The beautiful and aggressive looking front grilles, led xenon headlamps, and the new sharp looking rear end design.

The Performance

For the Berlina, we thought that the 5.5L Twin Turbo V6 in the old model was just way too much. In the newer model, we have a more sensible but no less fun 3.6L Twin Turbo V6 churning out 537 HP. This is all connected to a 6 Speed Manual transmission, 275 F and R AL Sports Compound Tires, Electric LSD, Longitudinal AWD system, and a Double Wishbone (F) / Multilink (R) suspension system. To add onto this, AL Autos has shed about 88.9 lbs / 40.3 kgs from the Berlina. This new recipe allows the Berlina to go from 0-62 MPH in 3.8 seconds, achieve a top speed of 184.7 MPH (297.2 KPH), and clock a quick 1:17.8 on the Top Gear Test Track.

The Run

Our professional driver took the Berlina to the hill climb today and clocked a quick 56.81.

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Our next car was debuted at the 2017 Antiyita International Motor Show. This car was meant to be a supercar that was desgined to be a looker while also performing at an astonishing level. Since then, AL Autos has redesigned the Actio to hopefully give it a more appealing yet aggressive look.

Now, with great pleasure, AL Autos presents to you, the redesigned

AL Autos Actio (Trim Shown: 1055 Rv2)

The Updated Looks

AL Autos decided to go for a more minimalist approach for the front end of the Actio. Even though it’s a bit less flashy, we think it still conveys an aggressive look. At the front, we’ve also included our new DRL/Fog Lamp Combo to the side vents. Onto the rear, we “separated” the taillights, signal lamps, and reverse lights in order to distinguish them a bit better. We’ve also moved the exhaust back to the bottom the rear.

The Updated Performance

AL Autos went for a slightly bigger engine for the newer Actio. This specific Actio, the 1055 Rv2 has a 4.9 L Twin Turbo Flatplane V8 engine that churns out 1055 HP and can rev up to 8500 RPM. This is coupled to a new 7 Speed Double Clutch Transmission, Longitudinal RWD System, 285 F / 315 R AL Sports Compound Tires, Electric LSD, and Pushrod F and R suspension systems. This new recipe allows the Actio to go from 0-62 MPH in 2.4 seconds, achieve a top speed of 245.5 MPH (395.1 KPH), and clock a 1:10.0 on the Top Gear Test Track making it our second fastest production car to roll off the line.

##The Run
After taking the Berlina out on the Hill Climb, our driver then hopped into the Actio and clocked a time of 48.93.

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The final car we have with us here at Goodwood’s Festival of Speed is a brand new car, never before seen at any motoring event until now.

Without further a do, AL Autos present to you the all new…

AL Autos Novem (Trim Shown: 944 R)

The Looks

AL Autos went for a different body style than our usual supercars. We wanted to go for something that looked a little more exotic. Our design team really went for the modern super car look with this one: free flowing curves, sharp and unique lines, etc. While the body and fixtures of the car were designed to make the car look good, our designers and engineers kept in mind our principles of aerodynamics. The body’s shape and fixtures manipulate the air around it allowing the car to almost slice through the air.

The Performance

AL Autos put in another V8 into this car. This time, a completely new 4.4 L Twin Turbo Flatplane V8 that churns out 944 HP and revs up to 9000 RPM. This is partnered to a 7 Speed Double Clutch Sequential Gearbox, a Longitudinal AWD system, 275 F / 305 R AL Sports Compound Tires, Pushrod front and rear suspension systems, and an Electric LSD. This allows the car to go from 0-62 MPH in 2.5 seconds, achieve a top speed of 231.6 MPH (372.7 KPH), and clock a 1:11.5 on the Top Gear Test Track.

The Run

After taking a little rest from running the Actio on the hill climb, our driver took the Novem out for a spin and clocked a fast 50.6.

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That will be all for this AL Autos presentation! Enjoy the rest of the festival!

[squidhead]

@DeusExMackia

What with 400 hp under the bonnet and a price of $30k brand new, it has the potential to be a real bargain, and was certainly quick for what it is on the climb

I never realized it was a budget track toy. Respect!

[abg7]

Harris Conqueror MkV: Opulence Meets Athleticism

Meet the 2017 Harris Conqueror MkV, the latest incarnation of the British brand’s flagship luxury sedan. This alluring fusion of sportiness and elegance is available with either a 5.0L V8 developing 500 bhp, or a 600-bhp 6.0L V12 as shown here. Inside, you’ll find a high-quality luxury interior and infotainment system, complete with a heads-up display. If they wish, buyers can even specify their own interior and exterior colors and finishes, in case the dizzying array of factory options wasn’t enough.

Stay tuned for the upcoming reveal of the revised Chieftain and Redoubtable model ranges.

[Dorifto_Dorito]

#Merciel at Goodwood 2017: Part 1

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Although Merciel arrives on the last day of Goodwood, we’re certainly not skimping out on what we’ve got to show!

First on show is Merciel’s infamous Merciel Factory Rally Team, showing off their 50 years of rally expertise. First on show is the 1966 Merciel 112 Vite Rallye.
##1966 Merciel 112 Vite Rallye

_{The Merciel 112 Vite Rally In action in Monte Carlo in 1967. That year, the team came 4th overall in the championship. In 1969, the team would eventually come 2nd before retiring the 112 for the newer model, the 114.}

While this car never won a rally stage, it was important in introducing Merciel into the world of WRC.

On the hillclimb, the 112 Rally posted a time of 1:14:01.

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Next on show was Merciel Factory Rally Team’s infamous Group B rally car, the Merciel 124 Vite Rally.
#1985 Merciel 124 Vite Rally.

_{Merciel 124 racing in South Africa in 1984 driven by Siimon Mäkeläinen. This model of the 124 Rally is the less well known 8A1. the more iconic widebody variant was the 8B2 as seen today on the hill.}

The third generation of the Merciel Vite arrived in the form of the 124, and long with it, the rally prowess. While not the first Merciel Factory Team car to win a rally championship, the 124 was the first Merciel with to gain legendary status.

On the hillclimb, the 124 Rally posted a respectable time of 0:54:06.

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#2017 Merciel 216 Vite Rally
Finally for the Merciel Factory Rally Team, is the brand new 2017 Merciel 216 Vite. Based on last year’s design, which came 3rd overall, the new 2017 model has been modified to fit to the new 2017 regulations. This means that the new 2017 model makes 20 more horsepower than last year’s model and weighs 25kg less, giving the new car a much better power to weight ratio. The new car has already won the Monte Carlo, Sweden, Argentina and Portugal Rally, and is set to win the Poland Rally this week.

_{Merciel 216 at Portugal this year. Driven by a former Junior WRC driver for Merciel, Alec Mikkelsen. This car would eventually win the stage in an unbeatable time.}

On show, we have the WRC model, as well as the Super 1600 model currently being fielded in the Junior WRC and Rally Cross.

_{The Super 1600 Spec of the Merciel 216 without any liveries.}

On the hill, the Super 1600 spec ran a respectable time of 1:04:26

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_{The 2017 WRC Spec of the Merciel 216 without any liveries.}

The current WRC spec, however did a more impressive time of 0:57:26

Expect to see more from Merciel later today, including the 2018 Merciel Corsaire GTE Proto…

[strop]

Hey @ramthecowy I have no idea if this is helpful or not but you can corroborate the elevations with this really handy unmarked chart

The “3.3km” bit makes me really suss though, I thought this thing was only supposed to be 1.16 miles long.

[Mythrin]

Orchid day 3: Return of the Jespar

The release of a 3rd generation of Jespar has been a long time coming since 1998 after the disastrous MK2 which suffered from style issues more than anything else. A call back to the original car is present with a 3.0 straight six under the bonnet mated to a 7 speed paddle shift gearbox. Breathing out 510bhp and 480nm of torque it munches miles whilst not entirely burning through your back pocket.

Whilst keeping with the modern styling theme the Jespar GT-S has small details from the original such as the side indicator housed in a chromed vent and its dark leather interior accented with aluminium. Despite weighing in at 1618kg it still manages 28.5 UK MPG and 0-62 mph in 3.6 seconds.

Yours for £54240 @60%

Also at the Orchid stand is a MK3 Lyrel TS chassis number N001 the very car owned by company founder Jean Bellegarde. This vehicle has been kept in a dehumidified container in the Orchid Motor Museum in Rouen and has had regular care since its manufacturing in 1976.
.

As an homage to his father and a tribute to the upcoming 70th birthday of Orchid ,Francois took his fathers car up the climb and set a rather leisurely time in comparison to the Jespar that had run previously , the cars 1600cc SOHC engine running perfectly.

[DeusExMackia]

You didn’t think you could have all the fun, did you now?

At the last minute, and no thanks to some sneaky deals with the event organisers, ErinSport have managed to get a Scarlet GTE down to Goodwood this afternoon to join in with the GTE competition going on at the show.

With all the other Scarlet GTE chassis’ currently occupied in the Asian Le Mans Series and the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship in the US, this test model was the only one availible. Still, it’s built to the same spec as the others…

[abg7]

Harris Chieftain, Redoubtable and SVM: Model Updates

Harris Cars Ltd. has revealed redesigned versions of some of its most famous models. First up is the new-for-'17 Harris Chieftain Mk6, now smaller and lighter, and available either with the brand’s existing 5.0L V8 or, for the first time in the model’s history, a V12 engine, but still a four-seat grand tourer as before; convertible versions of both variants are planned.

The redesigned Redoubtable Mk6, now based on the same platform as the Albury Centurion MkVII, is available with the same engines as the new Chieftain, but is now offered in four different body styles (4-door sedan, 2-door coupe or convertible, and 5-door wagon). Shown here is a 5.0 Sedan.

In addition, the Redoubtable’s little brother, the Nimrod, makes its debut at this year’s festival. It is offered in the same body styles as the Redoubtable, but is not available with the V12, although both cars can be ordered with an 3.0-liter turbocharged straight-six shared and co-developed with Albury Motors. In its more potent state of tune, this new engine develops around 360 horsepower, although a more economical 280-bhp version is also offered as the base engine.

All of these cars can be ordered with a 9-speed automatic transmission, but the last car on the Harris stand to be introduced this year is not among them. The SVM Mk6 5.0F has undergone a facelift, switched to a flat-crank V8 (still normally aspirated, though, which is part of its USP) and gained pushrod-actuated suspension. Carbon-fiber wheels are now fitted as standard to save weight, but the 7-speed dual-clutch transmission has been retained.

That’s all for now from the Harris stand, but rest assured that the company will continue to develop premium products with the driver first and foremost for years to come.

[strop]

#Gryphon Gear (AUS) and Genua-Beneventi Fabbrica s.p.a (ITA) make a joint debut at Goodwood 2017

Not long after Strop and Kai returned from their hastily scheduled holiday, was it time for another overseas stint. This time, one that was planned somewhat more in advance: the time to unveil a project crucial to the Gryphon Gear team: not just a tune, but the development of a multi-trim production line of the gorgeous but little known GBF Procurro (designed by @Rk38).

The Procurro SR6 started life as a Lotus wannabe of sorts, a low-cost, lightweight MR coupe designed for sporting fun. But its body was something else entirely, and the wild styling caught Strop’s eye, but the company was so obscure that he couldn’t find out who built it. It wasn’t until a chance meeting early in 2017 while testing another car ahem incognito ahem through some European circuits that he saw it in person and from there the rest was history.

I’ll leave telling the bulk of story about what happened to the Procurro to Rk38. The first thing that the GG team wanted to do, as they always did with any car they acquired, was to see a) how large an engine they could fit in it and b) how fast they could make it go. Their first problem was that they had to do it from where they were, in Europe, because shipping this car to Australia would take several weeks, and they were looking to submit a candidate for a tasty design brief that had just surfaced. More to the point, they were hoping to go ham on it, but the brief specifically stated that the car had to use commonly sourced* parts and be built on a rather small budget. The stars aligned, and this was an opportunity not only to subvert the course of the narrative, but also to demonstrate GG’s ever growing versatility.

Thus was engendered the balls out ‘full Strop’ version of what once was the Procurro: the Bellua “GG Tune” Competizione.

This photoshop and the following in this post by Rk38, I bow to the master

Sporting a 9L V8 with a single overhead cam (less top-heavy), then cooked somewhat fierce and flanked by giant twin-snails, the new engine was capable of up to a forge-straining 1500bhp. Needless to say with the weight ballooning out to about 1600kg, this changed the dynamics from “Lotus” more akin to “Topfuel Dragster”, but the gearheads at GG were used to dealing with this day in and day out and managed to tune the parts to make the car handle semi-decently.

All this on a build budget of 22k. The original project codename was “Bumblebee”, but upon learning the details of the rocket that he was to pilot, Kai called it “Mac’n’Cheese” instead. And given the naming scheme proposed by GBF, “Mac’n’Cheese Beest”. The name stuck. More so than the rear wheels, anyway.

Budgeting constraints meant there was no time or money to develop a launch control for this trim. Which means that the only people who can launch it without either stalling or driving directly into the nearest wall/pole/hay bale are professional race drivers and drag racers. Once it does get going however, it has the full array of driving aids to keep it on the very narrow driveway of the Goodwood Estate. Which is a good thing, because hay bales will only do so much at speeds of 170mph.

Ultimately, we don’t expect this to be the fastest car up the hill today. But considering the budget puts this and its ilk well within reach of one who might consider buying, for example, a pony car, we consider this a job well done.

Or rather, we invite you to take a look at the GBF exhibition for more information on a trim that might suit your fancy. GG also brought their own prototype (of a car that is decidedly not pitched at the common person) to the festival… and while it’s in working order it’s still about a year away from completion, yet with all these crazy cars and GG’s natural competitiveness… we may be tempted to run it anyway

*this means that with the exception of safety, NO tech sliders were used on the car whatsoever.

[Mythrin]

The things I would do for a Scarlet GTE ,that looks fantastic.

[Deskyx]

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##Assoluto Fatalita Vulcano makes its debut at Goodwood

It has only been a year since the Fatalita V debuted and yet buyers have already asked for a more hardcore version. In response to a few complaints by a certain journalist at the Anitiyan Motor Show, claiming that the Fatalita has become dulled by its electronics, the Vulcano is a more hardcore version for those who desire the ultimate driving experience, eschewing modern aids such as power steering and active suspension for a more raw feel.

Power is up to 780 hp from the original 700, while weight went down to 1390 KG. New carbon fiber brakes ensure maximum braking performance even in heavy track use, and Pirelli Trofeo R tires allow the Vulcano to achieve a sub 7 minute Nordeschleife time despite being down on power to weight compared to most of the heavy hitters in the class. It show’s its impressive performance in Goodwood where it is capable of matching a Zenshi LM racing car’s time.

Maximum Output: 781 HP @ 8300 RPM
Maximum Torque: 710 NM @ 7100 RPM
Kerb Weight: 1390 KG
Transmission: 7 Speed F1 sequential Manual with Electronic Differential
0-60: 2.5 seconds
1/4 mile: 9.66 @ 150 MPH
Top Speed: 210 MPH
250m Skid Pad: 1.61 G @ 140.6 MPH
Nordeschleife: 6:56.02
Automation TT: 1:53.08
Goodwood Hillclimb: 48.26

The asking price will be US$295,000 and will be offered to longtime Assoluto customers first.

Various historic and current models will also be making an appearance and a Hillclimb Attempt

2014 Assoluto Crinale

Hillclimb time: 46.40

1988 Assoluto Crinale

Hillclimb Time: 52.88

2017 Assoluto Infinito 815

Hillclimb Time: 51.28

[Dorifto_Dorito]

#Merciel At Goodwood 2017: Part 2- Corsaire GTE

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##2018 Merciel Corsaire GTE Proto

We said at Geneva that Merciel will be making a return to GT racing following a 10 year hiatus, and in 2018, Merciel will one again return to GT racing with the new 2018 spec of the Merciel Corsaire.

_{The new 2018 GTE Proto taking on the hill this afternoon.}

The new CorsaireGTE is fitted with a 3.5L Turbocharged i6 found in the Corsaire i6 Sport. With the new turbocharger, the 3.5L i6 produces a whopping 716hp and 780 Nm of torque. The car was also fitted with a 7 Speed Sequential gearbox derived from the one found in the Merciel 216 Rallye. All this allowed the car to go up the hill in an impressive time: <img src="/uploads/default/original/4X/5/0/7/507aa5a9da5403278b7269b54878b3a9f73fb971.jpg"width=“288” height=“38”>

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Also making an appearance is Merciel’s ATCC car, the 2017 Merciel Verona.
##Merciel Verona ATCC EV2

While the car had some less than satisfactory results in the last season, Merciel-Shell Touring Car Team have made some alterations to the current Race model to form. With a new retuned race engine, producing 269hp, 240Nm of torque and redesigned aerodynamics, the new EV2 model is significantly faster than last season’s ATCC model.

Running up the hill with our current driver Andrew Robson, the new EV2 ran a respectable time of:

[DeusExMackia]

#Day 4

It’s the last day at the Festival of Speed 2017, but the drama and excitement have not let up even for a moment.

AL Autos opened Sunday with a number of their more significant models, these being the Berlina and the Actio, and a new model, the Novem. The car may appear to be squinting a bit and the back is far too overdone for its own good, but they’ve managed to squeeze in another new V8 bi turbo producing 944 hp . It’s good for 0-60 in 2.5 seconds and tops out at 231 mph, but couldn’t match a number of cars that are, on paper, less powerful and not as fast than it on the climb.

Orchid launched the newest version of the Jespar today, with this 3rd gen being powered by a 3.0l i6 producing 510hp. It cleared the course very quickly, and with so much power and performance for just £54k, it looks like this year’s show has produced yet another bargain performance car. An original Lyrel from 1976 was also taken up the course to (partially) celebrate the company’s 70th birthday.

Outside of the hill climbs, Harris launched a new version of the Conqueror, this being the 5th generation of the British limousine. The 600hp V12 super sedan appears to have taken its design cues from the previous gen Honda Accord at the front and advice from an 8 year old boy who’s just seen his first F&F movie at the rear. They then continued their obsession with cars in portrait with side views of their cars by announcing a load of updates and facelifts, though no one could actually see the impact of them due to the lack of photos.

With the show drawing to a close, the finale of this year’s festival was kicked off by an unexpected late entrant from Erin who were keen to cash in the GTE battle being fought at this years show. It wasn’t enough to beat the Zenshi Raizan though; that thing remains an exceptionally fast car and arguably the most impressive car at this years show.

Shortly after, one of the more anticipated displays kicked off; Merciel brought a truck load of rally goodness, kicking off with the 112 Vite Rallye. It was hardly quick, but its thrummy 4 pot engine was unmistakable and joyous to hear. However, it was the 1985 124 Vite Rally Group B racer that really stunned most. This legendary French rally machine made one hell of a racket, as well as plenty of crackles and bangs as it passed in front of the house. Rounding off this trio was the new 216 Vite Rally, the star of this year’s WRC. The dinky French hatchback is practically annexing the whole championship, and looked great today on the climb in its Red Bull colours. But that wasn’t all; Merciel fulfilled their promise of announcing a return to GT racing with the Corsaire GTE Proto, in blazing light blue and 716 hp under the bonnet. More unusually though is that this Proto version is powered by an i6, perhaps suggesting a return of this layout to GT racing. Rounding off their show was the 2017 ATCC spec Verona (though this one is an updated and improved variant), wearing its Shell sponsored livery. The weaker showing during last season was put to bed as it flew up the course.

Gryphon Gear then prepped for their slot, and rolled out a … GBF Procurro SR6? I had to check the guidebook to work out what this thing was. This particualr version of the curvy hypercar-thing is called the Bellua “GG Tune” Competizione. It’s purpose appears mostly to be to show a new side of GG in terms of working alongside other companies, which of course means it packs a 9 litre, 1500hp V8, and hence is very fast, happily keeping up woth the best of this years showing. I’m not sold on the looks; the rear is gorgeous but the front makes it look like its constantly about to sneeze, but I am going to be keeping this car and its small team of creators on my radar. What the purpose or intentions with the SR6 are, I don’t know. But hey, when was the last time GG making ultra fast cars just for the hell of it was ever boring?

The end of the show was to be an Assoluto spectacular, with a whole host of their creations going up the run. The Fatalita Vulcano was the star of the show, a new, more focused version of the Mk V version of the supercar, delivering a very impressive time. Following this was the even faster 2014 Crinale and its relative the 1988 Crinale, showing that even the hypercars of yesteryear are not to be messed with after the '88 version cleared the climb in little under 53 seconds. The new Infintio 815 was the last car up the climb, finally getting to see it stretch its legs and flex its muscles having been kept closed up for most of the year at the various auto shows its appeared at.

And with that, the Festival of Speed 2017 was done. Inbetween all of this, I had the chance to meet with the prestigious Bonham Owners Club, totally under my own accord and not at all because my job was on the line.

[quote]

#An Afternoon with the Bonham Owners Club

It is one thing to have a car, but another to truly own one. It’s safe to say that the dedicated members of the Bonham Owners Club are true owners of their classics; passionate and caring about their cars, knowledgeable and ready to do anything to ensure they stay running. It’s what makes their group one of the largest and most respected owners clubs in the UK, and they never miss a chance to be at a big car event. The display at this year’s FoS was a display of the very best of this club’s membership, and I had the privilege to get up close and personal with the many cars on display.

Classic Bonham’s may have about as much reputation for reliability as any other British maker, but that doesn’t put off these gentlemen. Geoffrey H. Stanbury, a 68 year old retired civil engineer, is the proud owner of a 1975 Bonham Kashmir, the 4.2l i6 model, in a recently resprayed maroon red with gold coach lines and original 20 spoke wheels. “My grandfather used to drive me and my sister to and from Blackpool in his '72 model, and I fell in love with it instantly. It is by far and away the most comfortable car I’ve ever owned”. He continues to talk in extortionate detail about the many engineering advancements that were made on this particularly model, including the fully independent rear suspension and use of in-bore brakes to reduce the weight on the axle ends. I decided not to tell him that the benefits for ride comfort this supposedly provide have been debunked many times over in the year’s since the car’s release, and that no, I really do not give a shit that this was one of the first cars with electronic cruise control.

Geoffrey’s wife, Miranda, says its truly his pride and joy. “I sometimes wonder what happened to our marriage when I see him tinkering with his Bonham instead of helping out around the house”. And boy, does he tinker! “An afternoon spent ensuring the vacuum lines are all still in good order and that the carburetor is clean is an after well spent, ha!” he jokes. Miranda rolls her eyes.

The Bonham Owners Club is not your usual owners club. They’re very much about getting your hands grimy, dealing with the all too common roadside brake downs and waxing your motor many more times than you really need to, but there’s also an air of poshness about them. It’s less amber ale and stout down The Royal Oak, and more pinot grigio and G&T’s at the country club. These were hardly cheap cars back in their day, and they certainly aren’t today, especially the sportier models. Many of the owners I spoke to bought there cars for cheap years ago, when classics were at a low value across the market, and have managed to make a very tidy profit thanks to the rise in demand for such vehicles. Of course, many more hold on to their beloved cars.

One of their more affluent members, and the chair of the southern england division of the club, is none other than my grandfather, Gordon Anderson. He in fact has a number of Bonhams, including a 1978 Kashmir with coachwork done by Mulliner Park Ward, as well as two mid-eighties Chaucers that he never fails to tell me how much better they are than their German rivals from the time- [/quote]

“Gavin, I may be old, but I can still see what you’re typing”. Gordon had insisted that Gavin come back with him to the Goodwood House, because naturally, Gordon knew Lord March quite well.
“Gordon” Gavin began.
“Gavin, you know how to address me”
“Grandfather” he said begrudgingly, “I need to type out this article before the end of tonight and I would really appreciate if you didn’t disrupt me.”
“Oh come come, I can assist you with it. I’ve been a member of the owners club for many years you know…”
“Yes, grandfather, I am very aware.”
“Don’t you be rude with me mister, or I’ll be on the phone to your mother right away about your escapades with your new girlfriend” Gordon said, with a grievous tone.
“Sorry, my girlfriend?”
“Yes, I saw you two together”
Gavin sighed. “Grandfather, that was Madoka Matsusaka of Airborne, she was speaking to me about the Japan trip I went on”
“Airborne, eh? Never knew you had a taste for Polish women”
“Oh that’s quite enough. I didn’t come to Goodwood to be lectured by you on how to be an uptight gentleman or whatever, and I certainly don’t need to hear your backwards thoughts on women” Gavin raged.
“Ah, come on! I can advise you on that, I know how to…”
“STOP. Please. I’m allowed to talk to a woman without hitting on them”
“You wouldn’t have said that when you were 17. I remember when you came home from that party after Alice, or Alicia, whatever her name was, slapped you because you trying to compliment her…”
“Please, kindly, do not continue.” Gavin said, sternly.

Silence came across the room.

“I’ll see you at dinner round mum’s next Sunday” - And with that, Gavin picked up his bag and laptop and left the room.

It wasn’t that Gavin and Gordon didn’t get along, it was more just that since he’d tried to follow in his grandfather’s footsteps, Gordon had become very impertinent and always took the chance to exert his views on something, regardless of how backwards a view it was. Still, his journalism advice was usually very helpful - Gordon didn’t get invited to these events for nothing; he is very well respected after all…

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And with that, coverage of this years Festival of Speed comes to a close. Thank you to everyone who posted something, it’s been a lot of fun writing this. Gavin will see you at the next car event he’s invited to. Bye for now!

[abg7]

What a fitting conclusion to the festival - it could not have ended any better! I wonder what next year will bring?

[JJ2478]

Actually, also, the RWD Turbo Sedan Sorena went down in 56.94 seconds. Under 57 seconds!