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Today is Tuesday, September 7, 2010

The  FESTIVAL of SPEED - Goodwood - July 3rd & 4th 2010
Viva Veloce! - part one - by Keith Huewen

Just a week before the first ever live television broadcast of the prestigious Festival of Speed it was decided that I would anchor the event from a studio directly opposite Lord March's house on the Goodwood Estate. It felt an honour to be part of an event that any self respecting motorsport and motorbike fan would consider a highlight of the year. But what I didn't know was that my first ever visit to the Festival would bring me back in to contact with so many old friends and conjure up so many thoughts of my past life. To mix work and pleasure at such a high level is a privilege that cannot be taken for granted and I had no expectation of attending the exclusive Saturday night Ball, I hadn't even packed appropriate clothing. Luckily my wife was coming to Goodwood separately on Saturday evening so, when an invitation was extended to us, she had time to respond. But there was the little detail of logistics; my hotel was miles away, I still had elements for Sunday's TV program to finish, my car was on one side of the 12,000 acre estate, Venus eventually arrived on the other side of the estate after her 130 mile trip became lost in the West Sussex countryside, we had no facilities to wash or change after a long hot day and we had to be on the lawn outside the big house among motorsport royalty by 7pm. I don't get stressed much when I'm working, but this was important! But with help from the production company, Endemol, and my producer, Steve Saint, they jiggled everything slightly so that we could go to the ball. The downside? My new nickname is 'Cinderella'! But as none of our team were able to join us, I suppose you can't blame them. So we got changed in a truck, washed in a Portaloo, left our clothes in a food freezer and I polished off my last scripted voice-over dressed like a lord! (pic) An exciting start to a magical night of entertainment, first class food and exceptional company! I have been 'around' for a long time and have been fortunate to meet interesting individuals from every walk of life, but a party of this magnitude was truly awesome, and done to virtual perfection. To say we walked the red carpet, had drinks on the lawn, dined in a marquee, watched a show followed by fireworks and danced to a couple of bands plainly understates the event. I would have to write for an hour to give you anything like a true feel for what was presented to us. But, for me, restraint was also key. Never far from my mind, despite the obvious distractions, was the fact that I had the huge responsibility of fronting a new television venture, with some very exclusive guests. So my usual 'party' consumption was restricted to water and this one was seen through the eyes of a very sober Huewen. We were tucked up with happy memories by 2am, and looking forward to an early start on Sunday.

Festival of Speed - part 2 - Legends on Parade
The traffic around Goodwood saw me try a new route through the lanes of West Sussex and, as if by magic, we arrived directly opposite gate 4 where we'd left my wife's car the night before. A good start but, unusually, I feel slightly nervous. I'm working with a production crew I don't work with much, Venus is with me, (which is unusual when I'm working), and it is an event that has never been broadcast live before so I feel a bigger responsibility than usual. The show schedule is incredibly tight and we have just two hours to fit all the elements in. And things immediately start to warm up when Chris Evans wants to pre record his slot. Not difficult, but when he can't find our lovely studio it all takes more time than anticipated and we only have a small window of 'quiet' track time to do our pre recordings prior to the live on air show at 3pm! But Chris was great, very funny and completely 'himself'. But the tension is now palpable, if you could hear the amount of stuff that comes through my ear-piece on a show like this then you'd understand why sometimes a TV presenter has that slightly stunned look! Finally the count comes to our on-air time of 3pm and all goes pretty well, Lewis Hamilton is now waiting in the wings and I can't wait to talk to him. I'm sitting in position as he is brought to the table. He's slightly edgy, impatient, he asks "how long?" I say 3 minutes, (an introduction to Goodwood is playing out), he gets up and goes to the back of the studio to 'text' someone. He's not interested in any kind of chit chat and is sheilded by a massive woman dressed in Vodaphone/McLaren gear who seems quite unfriendly. It's funny how expectations can be crushed, and this is not what I expected. My family has huge admiration for his achievements and I had commentated on so many of his kart races as he rose through the ranks, but this is actually the first time I have met Lewis in person. Perhaps he didn't like my commentary, oh dear! But his impatience evaporated when he heard there were 30 seconds till we were live to the nation, his white teeth flashed obediently, he glanced over his shoulder to the 100s of cheering fans that had gathered below us and my 3 minutes with Lewis Hamilton could not have gone better. And so, without a backward glance, he had fulfilled his obligation and was quickly in the slip-stream of that large lady and heading for the door. I had no time to think about my disappointment, I'd more big fish to fry, but the moment still lingers. By now the show was picking up pace, I like talking to Sir Jackie Stewart, Sir Stirling Moss was, as you should expect, a proper gentleman who was very happy to help in any way he could, and chef James Martin was funny and seemed a nice guy. But it was Kevin McCloud of 'Grand Designs' fame who I really enjoyed the company of. Completely natural and extremely eloquent, he would be invited to any party of mine. As the show looked forward to the Hill Climb Shootout the cars and bikes were deafening just a few yards from our studio. David Croft and Anthony Davidson were prooving that you should never ask a car commentator to talk about bikes, (how CAN you mistake a Ducati for an MV, James Toseland for Neil Hodgson or, worst of all, not know who GIACOMO AGOSTINI is), preparation boys, preparation! Our celebrity stock had all but dried up, the wind was now trying to blow my immaculately sprayed hair out of shape, the sun was bright, making me look unappealingly oily, (make up artist - what make up artist), as me and Tony Jardine, that man with more anecdotes than Murray Walker, were left to cover the finer and final points of Goodwood from our studio chairs with Charlie Webster occasionally and glamorously reporting from the top of the 'hill'....  And then, all too soon, it was time to say goodbye. Two hours had seemed like twenty minutes. It was not the most important show I had ever presided over, it didn't even have much real sport in it, but I felt like I had just ticked a few boxes after all this time in broadcasting. The Goodwood Festival of Speed had completely charmed it's way into my heart and I can't ever imagine being without a ticket ever again. Whether I'll get a chance to cover it from my previously privileged position we will have to wait and see!