GRR

Road and Racing's Father's Day motorsport gift guide

31st May 2019
Laura Thomson

For many, he’s the reason we’re into motorsport – the catalyst of our car curiosity and the purse behind our passion. So it makes sense to celebrate Dad this Father’s Day with a motorsport-inspired gift.

And while nothing says ‘I love you’ more than a Ferrari fleece or Bugatti baseball cap, we’re talking about the kind of presents that will have Dad bragging about his favourite son/daughter/dependant down at the pub.

So we’ve delved into the depths of driving in order to find the best that motoring has to offer. Read on for inspiration…

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A Goodwood Experience

Whether Dad is into high-speed hijinks or a more relaxed way of life, Goodwood has plenty of experiences on offer, from the £349 Performance Track drive to the new-for-2019 Land Rover off-road experience, costing £220.

The former will see Dad take to the historic two-and-a-half-mile track in a range of high-performance models including BMW’s M cars, a MINI John Cooper Works and a BMW i8.

Meanwhile, the off-road experience comprises a 60-minute drive for up to four people in a 1960’s Defender, criss-crossing through the beautiful countryside of the Goodwood Estate.

Alternatively, if your old man is more of a spectator, why not treat him with a ticket to one of Goodwood’s world-renowned celebrations of motoring – the Festival of Speed or the Revival?

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One Formula – 50 years of car design

The result of a two-year collaboration between legendary automotive designer Gordon Murray and author Philip Porter, One Formula is a comprehensive glossary of all things Murray.

From Formula 1 to a flat-pack truck, the South African-born British designer has created more than 70 vehicles, some of which were never built. In this two-tome volume, marvel over pages from Murray’s notebooks, original sketches, correspondence, drawings and behind-the-scenes photographs.

The only downside is the price – £225 for the standard edition, £750 for the limited edition and £2,500 for the unique edition.

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Motor Sport magazine and Goodwood Fellowship package

Two of Britain’s motoring greats combine to form this awesome Father’s Day package. For just £99, you can surprise Dad with a Motor Sport subscription, GRRC Fellowship and a wonderful Goodwood Revival coffee table book, signed by the Duke of Richmond himself!

Chasing Perfect DVD

The feature-length documentary tells the story of Frank Stephenson, the man responsible for the shape of the MINI, Fiat 500, Ferrari FXX and McLaren P1. It covers all of his innovative designs, including the pioneering, world first all-electric VTOL flying taxi.

The DVD can be ordered now for just £12, or downloaded from a number of digital services.

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Beer

What’s a better way to Dad’s heart than a crate of Motorsport-inspired Ale? Prescott Ales offers cases of 12 500ml bottles for just £25, with the option of the Hill Climb, Track Record, Chequered Flag and Grand Prix Ales. Unfortunately, the beers have to be collected from the brewery itself, but that does mean you can tie it in with a visit to the world-famous Prescott Hill Climb, after which the beermaker takes its inspiration.

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Slot car

So you can’t afford the real deal, but want to get Dad his very own ‘batmobile’? Look no further than Pendle Slot Racing and treat him to a scale model of a BMW 3.5 CSL, as driven by Brian Redman in 1975. For just £49.50, you can reignite Dad’s passion for endurance racing, and let him take the helm of an iconic car (albeit in miniature).

Of course, if he’s more of a Ferrari fan, or a Marcos man, then the British manufacturer has plenty of other models on offer, too.

Photography provided by Motorsport Images, Motorsport Magazine, Prescott Ales and Porter Press.

  • Motorsport

  • Gordon Murray

  • Frank Stephenson

  • driving experience

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