The Goodwood Revival
The Goodwood Revival
| It was Glorious Goodwood indeed when Lord March realised his dream to re-open the circuit fifty years to the day after the very first meeting on 18th September 1948. Goodwood came alive again with an event packed with wonderful historic cars driven by such motor racing legends from the past and the present as Stirling Moss, Jack Brabham, John Surtees, Roy Salvadori, Phil Hill, Derek Bell, Martin Brundle, Jackie Stewart and Damon Hill. To accommodate this distinguished meeting the pit area and circuit have been carefully restored with every effort made to capture the original flavour of racing in the 1940s and 50s. Considerable improvements have also been made to the track side with one and a half million tons of earth shifted to extend the banking around the circuit to provide excellent vantage points for spectators. | Roy Salvadori in the Aston Martin DBR1 follows Mike Anthony in his Lotus 10 Bristol on the ‘Dream Grid’ a three lap demonstration consisting of former Goodwood stars and their cars
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 A Maserati 250 Lightweight being made ready |
 The course cars were two ex-Police MGAs and a Daimler Dart |
For many historic motor racing fans the 40s and 50s represent a golden age when drivers could be clearly seen in the cockpits of their powerful machines working intensely at the steering wheel to control the cars as they drifted through the bends on the limit of adhesion. This was to be the essence of the Goodwood revival meeting and no-one could have been disappointed by the spectacle and the unique atmosphere. To further enhance the period feel of the meeting the Goodwood staff and competitors were all dressed in appropriate clothing from the late 1940s. A period stylist from Southampton Institute had been called in to advise on perfecting an authentic look. |
 All service vehicles had to be pre-1966 |
 MG Dargue of 1951 owned by Chris Pamplin and driven by George Edney an entrant in the Freddie March Memorial Trophy |
Ladies were advised to wear seamed stockings and plenty of matt red lipstick while the gentlemen were advised to wear tweed jackets, trilbys and Brylcream. Certain parts of the circuit were restricted to only those who were appropriately dressed, which gave a convincing 50s look to the pits and paddock areas. This passion for correct detail even extened to having corn stooks and a threshing machine on the infield of the circuit with the farm hands working away as the cars sped past, just as they did when the circuit first opened. |
 Stirling Moss storms round the Madgwick curve after finishing in 6th place in the Lavant Cup |
It was Lord March’s famous father Lord ‘Freddie’ Richmond who was responsible for turning the wartime airfield of Westhampnett into the Goodwood motor racing circuit which was to become an extremely popular venue. Among his many outstanding accomplishments Freddie March was a works driver for MG in the early 1930s and he achieved first place in the 24-hour Double Twelve, which was a very significant victory for the company, he then went on to become a successful manager with the MG team. |
 All cars on or around the circuit had to be pre-1966
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An exciting programme of racing over the three days covered historic single seaters, sports cars and motor cycles. Each race provided thrills and excitement, the closeness of the cars and the noise of those wonderful racing engines provide a unique experience. The Lavant Cup was a particularly enjoyable race with Aston Martins duelling with D type Jaguars, Ferraris and Maseratis. Peter Hardman the race winner, drove his Ferrari 246S Dino with total commitment, drifting around each bend on the very limit. Stirling Moss provided a truly stirring display as he diced with Martin Brundle’s D type finally bringing his Aston Martin BB3S in to a very creditable sixth place. Despite the fact that all the cars are almost priceless they were driven with great determination and the racing was close and furious.
Goodwood was a spectacular success, a truly unique experience and it is certain to become a major event in the motor racing calendar. It is well worth a visit next year but don’t forget your trilby or matt red lipstick. Richard Ladds |
 1951 Pierce MG of Julius Thurgood driven by Rae Davis in the Woodcote Cup |
 Maserati 250F gets a final tweaking |
 Many people enjoyed keeping to the 50s dress code |
 Superbly restored ‘Ecurie Ecosse’ transporter with Jaguar XK 120 aboard |
 Land Girls at the ready |
 Jeeps were used to ferry VIPs around the circuit |