LAST weekend’s Goodwood Festival of Speed was a roaring success once again. The event, which is held annually in the grounds of the Goodwood estate, has become a highlight of the racing calendar since its inception in 1993.

Reporter Ben James looks back through The Argus archives at some of the motor racing festival’s highlights.

GOODWOOD Festival of Speed doesn’t do things by half – and so was the case when Nick Heidfeld flew round the event’s track in record time in 1999.

The engines of his McLaren F1 car echoed around the estate as he ripped it through the track’s tight corners and bombed down the straights.

His time – an impressive 41.60 – remains the track record to this day.

The incredible lap sums up everything we love about the event: speed, daring, drama – and all in a quintessential English setting.

The first Festival of Speed was held back in 1993.

Lord March, who took over as head of the estate in the early 1990s, wanted to bring back motor racing to the historic venue.

On June 13 1993 he staged the event for the first time and drew an impressive crowd of 25,000 – despite a clash with the iconic Le Mans 24 hours event.

The 21 years since have seen the event go from strength to strength with 150,000 now descending on the Sussex estate each year.

The event is known for attracting a host of famous faces each year – from both the motor racing world and wider society. The likes of Jenson Button, Jackie Stewart and Stirling Moss are all regulars as well celebrities such as Chris Evans and Jodie Kidd.

Back in 2007 a youthful looking Lewis Hamilton attracted all the attention as he flew in at the last minute by helicopter.

Swamped by fans he was led to the pit area before he was unleashed on the track. Also joining him that year were fellow F1 stars of the day David Coulthard, Jenson Button and Anthony Davidson.

There was one thing everyone was talking about back in 2006 – and it did not even have an engine. Well, not a real one anyway.

All eyes were on artist Andrew Baynes who spent the weekend showing off his sand sculptures of some of the most iconic cars in history.

Using just water, 2,000 tonnes sand and basic tools the 46-year-old created a line of vehicles – all real life in size.

Speaking to The Argus at the time, he said: “I won’t be sad when they have to be pulled down. I work in a transitory art form and they will live on in people’s memories and in photographs.

“If you do something special all the children will remember it and that’s what it’s all about.

“I am an interactive artist – it’s not like faceless art where you only see the finished piece.

“The building and talking to people is part of the magic.”

There was another memorable Goodwood moment back in 2003 when two Spitfire fighter planes and a Mustang performed a fly past over the venue to celebrate Rolls-Royce’s centenary.

Spectators cheered and clapped as the iconic planes flew over Rolls-Royce’s headquarters in formation.

However, the event was rocked back in 2000 when driver John Dawson-Damer, 59, was killed when his Lotus 63 collided with the finishing post during a hill climb.

Marshal Andrew Carpenter, 40, from Polegate, also died in the crash and a second marshal, Steve Tarrant, from Poole, sustained serious injuries.

Horrified onlookers described the carnage to The Argus following the incident 14 years ago.

Michael Pearson, 48, of Sackville Gardens, Hove, went to all three days in that year.

He said: “I suddenly heard an almighty bang and when I looked up I saw the car flying in the air and crashing into the hedge.

“It was horrible. There were some people screaming but a lot of others were just in shock. Everyone was pretty quiet for the rest of the afternoon.”

Peter Barnes, 61, from Storrington Road, Horsham, added: “You always know there is a lot of risk when you take part in events like these, but it is only when something like this happens that it brings it home how dangerous it is.”

Mike Havers, 38, from Portsmouth, said: “I was here yesterday and I heard there had been an accident but I didn’t know it was that serious. I’m surprised they decided to go ahead with the last day.”

Despite his injuries Mr Tarrant returned to the Festival and has continued to marshal at the event to this day.

JOYCE Owen got in touch with regards one of our mystery pictures of an open market from June 17. She said: “It is what is now still the open market in London Road, Brighton.

“I am in my eighties (and still shop there occasionally)but my mother took me there frequently before, during and after the war.

“You date the photo as 1953. It could have been somewhat earlier judging by the pram and the clothes. It was a single thoroughfare then – not double sided as it has been for years. To call it ramshackle was an understatement.

“I remember it vividly, especially the two ladies – sisters I believe – who had the biscuit stall towards the Ditchling Road end on the right hand side as we look at it.

“They sold broken biscuits from those wonderful glass topped biscuit tins and we always stopped there. On rare and exciting occasions, the lady with the withered arm (fascinating to a little girl) would go into the back of her stall and come out with a small brown paper bag which she would hand surreptitiously to my mother for a few coppers.

“Oh the delight of looking inside and finding a couple of ounces of broken jammy biscuits.”

She added: “You can see the nearest stall on the left sells fish. No refrigeration. Note the fishmonger smoking a cigarette while he awaits his next customer. He would probably have still held it in his hand while he served.

“My mother was very particular where she bought her fish and there was only one fishmonger she would trust.

“We didn't buy vegetables and only very little fruit as we had a long garden and an allotment where my father grew everything we needed and had plenty over to give away.

“You can see the apples stacked high – rough, scabby, but full of flavour and English. Where else would we get them from?”