Hats Off to the Goodwood Revival

The Goodwood Revival remains an absolute joy from the moment you arrive at the car park to the time when you finally make your weary way back after a day packed with classic racing. At the end of one of the dreariest summers on record it was an amazing relief to find the Goodwood Revival taking place under a clear blue sky, Canon Lionel Webber who administers Holy Communion on Sunday morning must have included the whole weekend in his prayers.

This is the tenth year of the Revival and it remains a unique event, some detractor’s felt that initial fervour could not be sustained but it has now became a national institution. The Revival is without question the biggest and best historic race meeting in the world and the secret of its success is careful preparation combined with fanatical attention to detail. Everything on the trackside and at the course is set in period and everyone does their best to look the part and blend in. The vast majority of the 124,000 spectators come dressed in their finest 1950s and 1960s fashions to re-inforce the Revival’s atmosphere and create the impression of authenticity. Trilby hats and tweed jackets are the favoured garb for the chaps while the ladies appeared enchanting in the early autumn sunshine turned out in a manner of well researched outfits from summer dresses, to pleated skirts.

Start of the Freddie March Memorial trophy

Lancaster flying above the crowd

Simon Diffey’s Cooper MG in the Freddie March Memorial Trophy

Versatile artist working in the in the paddock, Anna-Louise Felstead to see her work visit www.alfelstead.com

Recently restored Fitzwilliam Race Team MGA in front of the recreated BMC Transporter

The Revival programme provides the opportunity for a wonderful selection of historic race cars from all eras to be put through their paces on a demanding circuit, every year grids of extremely valuable machines are brought together. However, it’s not just a question of priceless exotica as there are also interesting line-ups of more mundane but no less interesting racecars. Sadly MGs were thin on the ground this year with a brace of Magnette ZAs competing in the two-part St Mary’s Trophy, Simon Diffey and Ron Maydon’s Cooper MG in the Freddie March Memorial Trophy and Richard Last’s Parnell-MG in the Goodwood Trophy. Richard Last did well and finished 13th in the very competitive Goodwood Trophy but the Cooper MG had to retire in the twilight race on Saturday evening.

There was plenty of drama on track in a very hard fought two part St Mary’s Trophy, in the first race the Justin Bell driven Magnette finished 9th whilst John Cleland’s managed 12th. Towards the end of Saturday’s race there was a serious coming together of Tony Jardine in an A35 with John Fitzpatrick in the A95 Westminster, resulting in the Westminster rolling over. This put the results back by one lap and gave victory to Anthony Reid of MG Touring Cars fame in a MK1 Jaguar.

Canon Lionel Webber with his wife Jean

Rod Adington with the Magnette ZA

Royal Automobile Club TT Celebration – Nick Mason in his Ferrari GTO

St Mary’s Trophy Part 1- Justin Bell driving the Magnette ZA alongside Alec Poole in the Morris Minor, with Henri Pescarolo in the Sunbeam Rapier

St Mary’s Trophy Part 2 – Shaun Rainford’s Volvo PV544S through the chicane ahead of Grant Williams’ MK1 Jaguar and Richard Postins’ A40

Unfortunately although the Magnettes ran bravely neither managed to complete the second St Mary’s Trophy on Sunday, it was the battered A95 Westminster with John Young at the wheel that took the win ahead of Rae Davis’ A35 and Shaun Rainford’s Volvo PV544S. The straight six Westminster of Young and Fitzpatrick was awarded overall victory on aggregate over the two races with the Jardine and Rae Davis A35 second and the Andy Rouse/Shaun Rainford Volvo PV544S third.

There was more drama when Ex-Formula One star and Goodwood regular Jochen Mass had an unfortunate incident during the Richmond and Gordon Trophies race on the Sunday. Tecnica Meccanica-Maserati 250F racer Barrie Baxter was a worthy recipient of the Spirit of Goodwood Award when he stopped his own car at the scene of Mass’ incident and ran back down the track to help remove the German ace from his damaged Lancia-Ferrari D50A, fortunately Mass was not seriously hurt. Rod Jolly in a Cooper Climax T45/51 won the race with J Folch-Rusinol second in a Lotus-Climax 16 and John Harper third in a Cooper-Climax T51.

The Revival also has many attractions beyond the action on the track with an elaborate recreation in the style of the 1950s Earls Court Motor Show displaying a mouthwatering collection of supercars from a 1921 Bentley 3 litre right up to the 2005 Bugatti Veryon. In addition there was the wonderful Freddie March Spirit of Aviation concours d’elegance for pre 1966 aeroplanes.

There are always plenty of glamourous ladies at the Goodwood Revival

Richard Last driving the MG Parnell in the Goodwood Trophy

1953 Aston Martin DB3 Coupé entered in the Freddie March Memorial Trophy

Barrie Williams (Whizzo) on his way out of the Tourist Trophy and into the tyre wall

Martin Brundle in the lightweight E-type finished third in the Tourist Trophy

The Revival also incorporates a large area devoted to specialist business dsiplays. With stalls selling period fashions and almost every conceivable accessory that the classic car fan could wish for, from watches to leather car coats and even period luggage.

If you haven’t yet made it to the Goodwood Revival I do recommend that you book early for next year and then you can then experience it all at first hand. Just sit back with a glass of Pimms as Lancasters and Spitfires drone overhead, while you watch the perfectly turned out passers-by and absorb the classic 1950’s atmosphere; there really is nowhere else quite like it.

Photos by Richard Ladds and
Richard Hampson www.racingpics.net