Saturday 23 July 2011

10am - 4pm

Goodwood Motor Circuit, West Sussex - UK - Facebook Event

Opened by the 9th Duke and Duchess of Richmond in 1948 whilst wearing tweed (probably), Goodwood Motor Circuit is the spiritual home of British motor sport. 

On Saturday 23 July, it will be temporarily declared The Republic of Adventurism and stage a spectacular celebration of Slow with a heavy dash of the ridiculous and a measure of downright splendidness. Like nothing you've seen before, the festival will be a gargantuan day of adventurism!

Open to one and all with FREE entry, site-wide entertainments will amuse and bemuse fledgling young Ralliers and supporters alike as they amass from all over the globe for the beginning of the mighty Mongol Rally.

The Mongol Rally is a no back-up, no support, no set route adventure that is set to raise over half a million quid for charity this year alone. Teams will take on over 10,000 miles worth of mountains, deserts, bad roads, no roads, bandits and various other pickles in cars typically driven by old ladies.

What’s happening at the Festival of Slow?

The Festival Slow is the summer’s most spectacular adventure event spectacle in West Sussex (and probably the rest of the World too) with enough pomposity to make you snort whatever you’re drinking back through your nose and down your shirt.

Gates will open a 10am. Teams will be ushered to the viewing paddocks to show off their mighty steeds and prepare mentally, physically and wishfully. Friends, family and members of the public will be directed towards the public car parks before heading to the Festival site around the paddocks.

Live music from lively Balkan musical duo Pa Ruski and foot-stomping indie-rock outfit The Suburbians will entertain nervous Ralliers whilst a fabulous gaggle of entertainers and actual real, live Mongolian wrestlers put smiles on the faces of weeping mothers.

From midday the countdown will begin as host Buddy, of Wild Rides fame, announces the pre-launch prizes and interviews and bemuses unexpectant Ralliers.

Teams will have one last chance to check all four wheels of their trusty steeds before being asked to point their cars towards the rising sun at 2pm. The official departure parade takes approximately 2 to 3 hours with every team doing a lap of the fabled Goodwood Motor Circuit before heading off in a vaguely easterly direction.

This is a free festival for all to enjoy so bring your friends and family as the Festival of Slow 2011 UK will be the finest yet.