Now a regular fixture in many British enthusiasts’ diaries, the Goodwood Breakfast Club has just announced the dates and themes for the coming months. There are only a few weeks or so to go now until the first of seven meetings that will end in November.

The season kicks off with 'Tax-free Sunday - for all road fund exempt (pre-1973) classics'. For readers outside the UK, one should explain that British fiscal legislation allows vehicles registered before 1973 to drive on the roads tax-free. So as well as giving one in the eye to the Exchequer, owners of older cars now have a deadline to work to for that over-winter restoration. The clock's ticking gentlemen...

As the event has developed, more of the Goodwood circuit is now in use and breakfasters fully ‘in theme’ have the opportunity of parking on the famous starting grid while making the most of the several serving and seating positions close by.

As ever with Goodwood, the quality of the catering is high. Home-reared (on Goodwood Estate farms) is the order of the day, and although we haven’t visited a Breakfast Club meeting for a while, the ‘Made at Goodwood’ seal is always a certificate of quality.

Cars start to arrive early and the event runs to midday. It’s thoroughly recommended and you can see the dates for the rest of the year below, as well as on the dedicated website www.goodwood.co.uk/breakfastclub

2008 Scheduled Goodwood Breakfast Club Meetings:

2 March: 'Tax-free Sunday - for all road fund exempt (pre-1973) classics' Attracting: Any classic pre-1973 vehicle; cars, bikes, LCVs, etc., pre- and post-War

6 April: 'Modern Sports Car Legends - great drivers' cars, from 1980 to the present day' Attracting: Modern post-1980 sporting marvels, including Lotus, Caterham, TVR, Ariel Atom, Porsche and many more...

4 May: 'Two wheels or more, excluding four - everything from bikes to buses and trikes to trucks'
Attracting: Any non-four-wheeled vehicle, including motorcycles, scooters, three-wheelers, multi-wheeled commercial vehicles, tanks, etc., no matter how bizarre

1 June: 'Supercar Sunday - the ultimate performance machines'
Attracting: Every form of mouth-watering, high-powered performance exotica - cars and superbikes

6 July: 'Soft-top Sunday - a taste of the British summer'
Attracting: Any open-top car, however roofless

3 August: 'Thoroughbred Sunday - the quintessential pre-1980 sports car'
Attracting: All pre-1980 classic sporting cars and motorcycles

7 September: (not held, due to Goodwood Revival)

5 October: (not held, due to Goodwood Revival)

2 November: 'Sushi Sunday - a celebration of Japanese motoring culture'
Attracting: Any classic and performance Japanese vehicle, from S800 to S2000; 240Z to new Skyline GT-R

All 2008 Goodwood Breakfast Club meetings will be staged from 08:30hrs to midday on the first Sunday of every month, from March to November (excluding September and October).

For further information please contact the Goodwood Breakfast Club Hotline:
Telephone: +44 1243 755060
Fax: +44 1243 755078

E-mail: [email protected]

Goodwood will, of course, being holding the fantastic Festival of Speed at Goodwood House on 11, 12, 13 July, and the wonderful Revival at the motor racing circuit on 19, 20, 21 September. Full details as always on Classic Driver, and don’t forget to book some tickets in advance for both these events (none available on the gate, remember!) at www.goodwood.co.uk.

Text: Steve Wakefield
Photos: Classic Driver