All roads will lead to Goodwood in April, when the MX-5 Owners Club kicks off the year with its first major event – the annual Spring Rally. To be held at the immaculate and historic Goodwood Motor Circuit on Sunday April 29, 2018, it is an event not to be missed.
The spring rally is designed primarily as a social gathering, and encourages MX-5 enthusiasts to ‘get out of their winter cocoons, and into a road trip – be it just for the day, or the whole weekend’, according to Iain Fleming, National Events and Exhibitions Coordinator with the MX-5 Owners Club.
Fleming says that many members put away their MX-5s over the winter months, and that the Spring Rally is the ideal motivation to not only get their cars back onto the roads in preparation for the summer season, but to meet up with old friend in the process.
Goodwood Motor Circuit, the United Kingdom’s premiere historic motorsport destination and the only racing circuit to retain its complete period appearance, is the ideal venue.
Headlining the Spring Rally will be the Show & Shine event, to be held in the iconic Pit Garages at the Goodwood Circuit. It will provide a rare opportunity for owners to park their MX-5s in the Pit Garages made famous by events such as the annual Revival race meeting, and the meticulously polished cars will compete across Standard, Light Modification, Modified, Ultra Modified, and Daily Driver classes. The closing date for Show & Shine entry is Thursday April 12.
MX-5 Owners Club members will also be eligible to take part in an exclusive parade lap of the Goodwood Circuit. The historic venue is unique in that the 2.4mi circuit looks exactly as it did in the period 1948-1966, enabling club members to marvel at the high-speed curves and lack of runoff areas that are rarely seen on the racing circuits of today.
Radio personality Tim Watson is set to compere the event, and will guide attendees through everything on offer to them throughout the day. A special MX-5 trader’s area will feature prominently, with experts on hand from a variety of specialists and organisations including MX5parts, Autolink, Moss and Total MX-5 Magazine. There will be representation from each local area chapter of the MX-5 Owners Club, as well as an official presence from Mazda UK, who will bring each of the latest models to the Spring Rally.
Goodwood is the premiere luxury automotive and aviation destination in Britain, and Spring Rally attendees will be able to avail themselves of some of Goodwood’s most famous experiences during the event. For those looking to take to the skies above the Spring Rally, helicopter flights will be available, and the Goodwood skidpan will be open for attendees to get behind the wheel of a BMW M140i or M240i for some sideways fun. Those looking for a more sedate experience are not forgotten either – tours of the Spitfire Squadron Hanger will be available, as will Afternoon Tea at the famous Goodwood House.
The biggest problem will be finding the time to fit everything in.
The Spring Rally is free for all members of the MX-5 Owners Club. Each member will receive two tickets in their club magazine, and will have special access to park on the Goodwood Circuit. Entrants in the Show & Shine Competition will have exclusive access to the Goodwood Pit Garages.
Non-members can purchase tickets at the gate, and those who arrive in an MX-5 will be able to park in a special MX-5 only parking area on the outfield. But when annual membership to the MX-5 Owners Club is only £35, why not join? Not only does club membership come with tickets to the Spring Rally, but it brings a range of special benefits, discounts, regular club events, a bi-montly glossy magazine called Soft Top Hardtop, and two tickets to the major MX-5 National Rally in September.
The warmer weather is only just around the corner, so what better motivation to get your MX-5 out and about than by attending the Spring Rally?
Visit the official event website (www.springrally.co.uk) for more information and details on booking Goodwood experiences.
Click here for more information on joining the MX-5 Owners Club.
Words by Andrew Coles, photos courtesy Mazda UK.
You must be logged in to post a comment.