Goodwood Revival
April 2020 • Photography by Eric Sawyer/e.sawyer@ntlworld.comIt seems that after the recent pandemic checking events off your bucket list has become more important than ever. If there is one thing we learned it is that life is short and unpredictable so you might as well do it now.
One event that you should definitely put on your list and make an effort to attend is the annual Goodwood Revival Meeting. Held each year in the fall, the Revival is held on the Duke of Richmond’s glorious Goodwood Estate located about 60 miles south west of London, England.
Goodwood has been the home of the Dukes of Richmond for more than 300 years and a house has been on the site near Chichester on the south coast of England since the early 1600s. More recently, during World War II some of flatter part of the 12,000-acre estate was turned into RAF Westhampnett a relief landing field for the nearby RAF Tangmere. During the Battle of Britain Westhampnett was home to 145 and 602 fighter squadrons. It was also used by the United States Army Air Force Eighth Air Force as base for the 308th and 309th Fighter Squadrons of the 31st Fighter Group.
After the War, in 1948, the 9th Duke Frederick ‘Freddie’ March, who trained as a mechanic with Bentley and became a racing driver, turned the airfield perimeter road into the 2.367-mile Goodwood Motor Circuit. From 1948 until 1966 Goodwood was Britain’s most prestigious racing circuit. Over the years, however, the circuit fell behind contemporary standards until Charles, the 11th Duke, took over and initiated both the Festival of Speed in 1993 and the Revival in 1998 on the 50th anniversary of the circuit opening.
Two decades on, the Revival, with around 150,000 attendees, is one of the world’s most prestigious and yet fun events. There really is nothing quite like it and to paraphrase their web site: “The Revival sees a return to the halcyon days of Goodwood as the spiritual home of British motor racing. It recreates the glamour of motor racing as it used to be, both on and off the historic track and is the only historic race meeting to be staged entirely in period dress.”
The Goodwood Revival is far more than a vintage sports car race: It’s a fashion show, it’s an air show, it’s a car show and a whole lot more and all in stunning surroundings.
While there is no official dress code for the Revival, if you don’t want to feel out of place you’d better be dressed in some kind of relevant outfit from the 1920s, through the 1960s. You can mix ‘n’ match but you’d better be cool or look conspicuously out of place in the circuit that is amazingly decorated in period style.
While the clothes are important, the Revival is about racing and we don’t mean parade laps. This is fender-to-fender, wheel-to-wheel, no holds barred action with some of the most expensive classic racing cars and motorcycles in the world. For example, Friday evening sees Cobras, Ferraris, Jaguars, Astons and the like racing into the sunset. The action continues all weekend through Sunday with eight races that include the fastest race of the weekend, the Whitsun Trophy for 1960s sports prototypes and the RAC TT Celebration for priceless GT cars. There, I said it was worth it.
Getting there: Do your homework and give yourself plenty of time. Goodwood is located in a tranquil part of England; the roads are narrow and twisty and during events get exceedingly crowded. They do a great job of traffic control but slow moving traffic can be a test of patience.
Travel in September is usually less expensive than in the summer months as it doesn’t conflict with school vacations, however, accommodation is always an issue. Plan as far in advance as you can and check every avenue from Airbnb to conventional hotels that book up early.
Goodwood Revival dates: Sept. 11-13, 2020
Tickets and info: www.goodwood.com/motorsport/goodwood-revival/
