(ThrustSSC in front of Goodwood House. Photo: Nick Chapman)

Over the weekend of 22nd and 23rd June 1996, the 1996 Festival of Speed at Goodwood welcomed ThrustSSC as the star attraction.

In its first public appearance since the Motor Show at Earls Court last October, ThrustSSC was honoured with pride of place, standing on the lawn in front of Goodwood house. The car was magnificently displayed in the desert setting most generously provided by Lord March - giving the 80,000 visitors to the show an excellent impression of how things will be in a few weeks time when the first high speed runs will take place. The car looked every inch a world beater.

(ThrustSSC shows off her Jordanian colours. Photo: Nick Chapman)

Basking in the glorious June sunshine, ThrustSSC proudly showed off the livery that will be used in the Jordanian desert at Al Jafr in a few weeks time. The colours of Jordan's flag stood out clearly against the polished panels of the tail, while on the nose were the new ICL logo and the crossed flags of Great Britain and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan - in true Land Speed Record tradition.

Also, for the first time, ThrustSSC was standing on her own wheels - not the solid aluminium desert wheels, but the tyred aircraft wheels ready to begin the first test runs on the runway at Farnborough's Defence Research Agency.

(ThrustSSC attracts massive attention. Photo: Nick Chapman)

The car generated tremendous interest amongst the thousands of people who visited Goodwood over the weekend - a constant crowd were gathered round to admire the car and take photographs ... and of course, ask questions! Ron Ayers and other members of the Thrust team and Mach 1 Club were always on hand to provide the answers.

(The Goodwood sales stand. Photo: Nick Chapman)

As ever, current record-holder Richard Noble and driver Andy Green were both to be found close by, and were kept busy for the whole of the two days talking to well-wishers and signing autographs for the many enthusiastic followers. The sales stand was indundated with people wanting to buy posters, T-shirts, videos and other ThrustSSC merchandise - in fact visitors spent some £10,000 at the stand over the weekend!

The author of this article, Nick Chapman, is an active Mach 1 Club member, and a member of the ThrustSSC Internet Team. Nick is an honorary platinum member of the Mach 1 Club.

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