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" This was a 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. A stepback in time and look at the future that was in fact the present.

There 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 (of ITV Formula 1 commentary and ex FI driver) 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.

Dates for 2009 Goodwood Motor Racing Events

Goodwood Festival of Speed - 3rd, 4th, 5th July 2009
Goodwood Revival - 18th, 19th, 20th September 2009

Hope the Revival is as good in 2009 as it was in 2008