Video: Edwardian fire-spitters on the road is pure insanity

16th October 2023

Ethan Jupp

We absolutely adore monstrous Edwardian cars here at Goodwood. So much so that we have races dedicated to them at the Members’ Meeting presented by Audrain Motorsport. But honestly, seeing them on the road could be even more ridiculous. That’s where this film comes in, chronicling a 1,000-mile road trip in a selection of Edwardian monsters on the way to the Lyon Grand Prix.

These cars are Steampunk meets Mad Max, with engines whose internals are also their externals. Great goliaths that once powered pioneering aircraft, to be later shoehorned into doctored frames with mismatched panels to create the craziest cars in the world.

A modern Bugatti with its 1,600PS (1,177kW) engine and honed aerodynamic shape might do 300mph, but its dual-clutch transmission detaches you while its 16 cylinders run smooth as silk. In modern hypercars, the driver is almost surplus. In these things, well, you’re utterly integral to their operation, and often required to fix the damn things when something comes unstuck.

This whole film encapsulates the joy of these cars. Indeed, if every journey were an adventure, why not go for 1,000 miles?

Welcome to Goodwood Elevenses, a helping of motoring-related amusement to help break up your day. Watch the last video: 30^th to 4^th around Laguna Seca in an F5000 monster