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The wheelie quick tour of Goodwood House
David Williams, Motoring Editor19.06.08
A breathtaking series of motorcycle stunts filmed inside a 17th century stately home has become a huge hit on YouTube.
Motor racing enthusiast Lord March threw open the doors to Goodwood House in West Sussex for the four-minute film.
He let 12-times world trials champion Dougie Lampkin roar through the front hall and into the music room, where a man is seen sitting on a sofa reading as the bike appears over his shoulder and the front wheel comes to rest alongside him.
Next Lampkin, 32, whizzes past the grand piano in the large library before riding precariously along a narrow ornamental balustrade in the garden.
After a series of spectacular wheelies on the immaculate lawn, he charges up a sweeping staircase inside Lord March's family home before "surprising" a woman by riding past her bedroom.
Next the powerful, Spanish-built Beta motorcycle charges through the boardroom, where a meeting is in full flow, before blasting into Lord March's private office.
There, the rider cheekily balances the front wheel on the long boardroom table - as the peer tries to carry on with his paperwork - before disappearing in a cloud of petrol fumes.
For the climax, Lampkin negotiates a spiral staircase, then scales a ladder to the roof of the country home where a butler serves him a glass of chilled champagne as he looks out over the 11,000-acre estate.
The film is to promote the Goodwood Festival of Speed, which takes place in the grounds of the house next month.
Lampkin, who will star in the festival, walked the "course" first to work out how to ride the motorcycle around the house without damaging the walls, floors and furniture. He wore a helmet with a camera fitted to it and flew out of the back of a van for the dramatic opening of the film.
"There were no trick shots - it was all done for real, mostly in one take, " said Goodwood spokeswoman Janet Bradley. "It was amazing fun and the good news is that there was no damage to the carpets.
"We were a bit nervous when the idea was put to Lord March and of course he had to consult his family first - it is the family home.
"They loved the idea. Lady March and the children came out to watch the filming."
She said Lampkin "loved every minute", adding: "but he said it was both the first and last time he'd ever ride up a spiral staircase."
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That's the nearest thing to how I imagine a dog feels and sounds when exploring a new territory. Very funny - oh and very skillful riding.
- Nora, London UK
