Goodwood Revival

It is over 10 years since Goodwood revived the famous historic motor circuit. Since then the Revival has become the most successful historic motor racing meeting in the world and the only major sporting event to take place completely to a period theme. Set in the 1950s and 60s, in celebration of the time that such great racing heroes as Stirling Moss, Jim Clarke, Mike Hawthorn, Jack Brabham and Jackie Stewart all diced wheel to wheel on this great historic track, no detail has been left unattended. Goodwood Website Click Here

Sir Stirling Moss - 80th Birthday Tribute at the 2009 Goodwood Revival and Mr Bean celebrates 50 years of the Mini Click Here

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Goodwood Revival 10 years on -2008

It was the 10th anniversary on the 19th to 21st September 2008 of the Goodwood Revival and I have just spent a most enjoyable day there.

Back in 1948 the motor racing circuit a short distance from Chichester and the Sussex coast was the home to the first post Second World War motor race.

The four mile circuit on the Goodwood estate was created by the 9th Duke of Richmond, Freddie March on the ex RAF aerodrome using the perimeter road. Motor racing took place there from 1948 till 1966 and I remember my eldest brother and his friends setting off their on a regular basis including bank holidays. On one particular occasion he was able to drive his "frog eyed" green Austin Healy Sprite around the circuit.

In 1998 the grandson of the 9th Duke of Richmond, the present Earl of March staged the first Goodwood revival recreating the era of the late 1940s, 1950s and 1960s.

Sunday 21st was my third visit to a Goodwood Revival and it took place on one of the best days of the terrible 2008 English summer. Warm weather, but not too hot for those who had dressed up in period costumes of the 1950's and 1960's or my "flat cap".

My first visit was when the late motor cycling champion Barry Sheene made his final visit before dying of cancer some months later.

A new feature this year has been the introduction of "The Earls Court Motor Show" Very clever idea of having a 1948 motor show showing what cars could look like sixty years later. Here you had cars like Fords BMWs,

Maseratis and Jaguars of the 1948 along with their counterparts from 2008

and amongst the collection of Jaguar cars was racing veteran (Sir) Stirling Moss signing autographs.

The day was full of other famous name racing drivers, like Emerson Fittipaldi, Jack Brabham, Tony Jardine, Martin Brundle who together with Adrian Newey came third in the exciting one hour Royal Automobile Club TT celebration race.

Apart from the professional drivers there are the regular amateurs like comedian Rowan Atkinson and former BMW dealership owner Frank Sytner whom I have seen racing at the Historic Grand Prix at Monaco on a couple of occasions.

The Goodwood Revival and the Historic Monaco Grand Prix are great fun. At Monaco you cannot get close to the cars and of course they cover a much period of time. You are restricted to staying in your seat on the stands ans watching the races, whereas at Goodwood you really need to go for at least two of the three days to really take it all in.

©jml Property Services - September 2008

Glorious Goodwood Nostalgic Trip Down Memory Lane By Dick Suter Article from 2001 Here

Sir Stirling Moss - 80th Birthday Tribute at the 2009 Goodwood Revival and Mr Bean celebrates 50 years of the Mini (Click on images to enlarge)

2009 Goodwood Revival took place 18th, 19th, 20th September 2009

Sunday 20th September at the Goodwood Revival saw an 80th birthday Tribute to Sir Stirling Moss who turned 80 on the 17th September.

The tribute was led by Lord March owner of the Goodwood Estate whilst Sir Stirling sat in an Aston Martin DBR1. A parade of 80 the 96 cars that he had raced in during his career was held together with a gun salute.

Meanwhile the Mini continued its 50th birthday celebrations with a parade of minis including "Mr Bean" - Rowan Atkinson sitting in an armchair on the roof of Mr Bean's yellow mini. The reason he was on the roof in an armchair was that he had bought several items of large advertisement furniture and realises they will not fit in his Mini. He then straps the armchair to the roof and drives home operating the car with a mop and some string. He performed this ritual on Friday Saturday and Sunday.Rowan Atkinson was not racing this year although he drove his Jaguar MK V1 in the Stirling Moss birthday parade.

The "Mini" theme was also celebrated with Mary Quant's mini-skirts (above)

The St Mary's Trophy race featured minis including a Wolsey Hornet (a mini like the Riley Elf with a long boot). It was one by Nick Swift in a Morris Mini Cooper S.

©jml Property Services - September 2009 | Photographs this feature ©Philip Suter / jml Images

This article was located at the English Cottage Rental website until August 2017

Glorious Goodwood Nostalgic Trip Down Memory Lane By Dick Suter Article from 2001 Here

Left - Goodwood Festival of Speed 2012

Photographs this feature ©jml Images

Goodwood Website Click Here

See also Kop Hill Climb