PistonHeads were at the Goodwood Revival over the weekend, enjoying some first-class racing featuring the fine and rare cars of the pre-66 era. As usual, Lord March attracted some legendary figures to the grid, from Sir Stirling Moss to Rowan Atkinson.
The charm of the event was enhanced by the time-warped atmosphere, with no anachronistic vehicles allowed on site. Fifties-style shops and bands were dotted around, and the open paddock allowed spectators to get close to the cars. The crowd were encouraged to dress up, and there were some spectacular outfits to be seen. The races featured some of the most expensive historic cars in the world, most notably the TT Celebration, which had two Ferrari 250 GTOs and a Shelby Daytona Coupe Cobra, of which only six exist.
The whole event cultivates great enthusiasm for motor racing, and with good reason. It is a chance to see cars uncluttered with advertising racing wheel-to-wheel. Being older cars on cross-ply tyres, they slide dramatically through corners, and there is overtaking without the contact that is so prevalent in modern touring car driving. An unavoidable problem with the meeting is that the age of the cars means the circuit becomes doused with oil, causing accidents and race stoppages.
In his drivers’ briefing, Lord March emphasised the theatrical nature of the event. Rules are loosened in the name of spectacle, and cars with unrealistic performance are allowed, in order to entertain the crowd. And entertained they are. How about seeing Derek Bell dice with John Whitmore in identically-liveried Mustangs, and Stirling Moss driving a multi-million pound Ferrari with the only surviving Lancaster Bomber flying overhead? You would be hard pressed to find better racing, especially for half the price of a Grand Prix ticket.
The vintage atmosphere continued to the end, when everyone walked onto the track for the prize-giving. Free champagne flowed, Marilyn Monroe kissed the winners, and almost everyone went home satisfied.
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