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Blue Eagles Team Displays – Goodwood Festival of Speed – 6th, 7th and 8th July 2001

Thunderstorms rattled windows across the South on Saturday night, so consequently Sunday began cooler than the previous days, unfortunately still just as cloudy. However, the cloud started to break, and by lunchtime, it was a beautiful summers day with a cool breeze to keep the worst of the heat off. The racing continued in fine style, and congratulations to Nigel Cooper, one of the Mercedes S300 cars he had restored won its class. Motorbikes, cars and, would you believe, soap-box carts, made their way around the circuit in the varying classes and heats, filling the air with thunder and a tang of exhaust more redolent of a jet air show than anything else. The display took place at 13:00 hours and was just perfect. Described by Colin, the Team Manager as the best display he’d seen this year, it was an absolute corker. The air and ground crew spent the rest of the afternoon at the stand, signing autographs and talking to fans of the Team. The helicopters formed up over Goodwood at 19:00 for the transit home in soft evening light, as caught in the pictures below.


Sunday 8th July

Annabel found her dream car in the Wacky Races car park!

Annabel found her dream car in the Wacky Races car park!

Nigel Cooper, vintage car restorer and renovator, brought his son Oliver to see the Apache. Howard and Colin were on hand to explain the intricasies of the equipment

Nigel Cooper, vintage car restorer and renovator, brought his son Oliver to see the Apache. Howard and Colin were on hand to explain the intricasies of the equipment.

 

The show started in its usual dramatic fasion, made even more so by the tall trees just forward of the display line

The show started in its usual dramatic fasion, made even more so by the tall trees just forward of the display line.

Kav and Terry excelled themselves today, as this 90 down pair shot shows, perfectly aligned through the bunts....

Kav and Terry excelled themselves today, as this 90 down pair shot shows, perfectly aligned through the bunts….

 

....and the simultaneous Elphinstone loops

….and the simultaneous Elphinstone loops.

Ray too was on top form, the Lynx's utterly unusual manoeuvres being greeted with suprise and delight by the crowd

Ray too was on top form, the Lynx’s utterly unusual manoeuvres being greeted with suprise and delight by the crowd.

 

The crossover break puts the Gazelles in very close formation before they break to depth for the finale

The crossover break puts the Gazelles in very close formation before they break to depth for the finale.

The racetrack at Goodwood is very narrow, and surrounded by safety barriers. This makes for exciting driving as with this early Formula One car

The racetrack at Goodwood is very narrow, and surrounded by safety barriers. This makes for exciting driving as with this early Formula One car.

 

There were a number of visitors from the Blue Eagles family during the afternoon, Andy's parents David and Barbara dropped in....

There were a number of visitors from the Blue Eagles family during the afternoon, Andy’s parents David and Barbara dropped in….

....as did Kav's lovely wife Mandy and their little daughter Molly

….as did Kav’s lovely wife Mandy and their little daughter Molly.

 

Julie's sister Alison was also at the show, causing confusion as they are near doubles for each other

Julie’s sister Alison was also at the show, causing confusion as they are near doubles for each other.

The vintage section garages were named for famous tracks and garages, and contained some of the most beautifully restored vehicles at the display

The vintage section garages were named for famous tracks and garages, and contained some of the most beautifully restored vehicles at the Festival.

 

The view from Bill's Gazelle on departure, looking south from the house end of the park....

The view from Bill’s Gazelle on departure, looking south from the house end of the park….

....and north toward the house, showing the centre of the track and the grandstands

….and north toward the house, showing the centre of the track and the grandstands.

 

Kav and Julie lifting from Goodwood with Chichester cathedral in the background

Kav and Julie lifting from Goodwood with Chichester cathedral in the background.

The Lynx and Terry's Gazelle in close formation while forming up over the Goodwood site

The Lynx and Terry’s Gazelle in close formation while forming up over the Goodwood site.

 

Kav's Gazelle caught by the late summer light

Kav’s Gazelle caught by the late summer light.

Last look for the weekend, the highlights on the Gazelle fin

Last look for the weekend, the highlights on the Gazelle fin.

 


Click here to see the highlights from the arrival day on 6 July.

Click here to see the highlights from Saturday 7 July.

Archived news is available by clicking here.

 

 

 


 

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