Timed Laps & Time Travel: The 2024 Goodwood Revival

Every clip I’m astatine Goodwood, nan ambience is unique.

I’ve visited nan beautiful Chichester venue galore times complete nan past 5 years for various shows and events, but 2024 marked my first Goodwood Revival. I’ll admit, I had mixed feelings going into it.

Not because of nan cars aliases racing, but owed to nan event’s committedness to nan years betwixt 1948 and 1966. Would this era-specific taxable heighten nan acquisition aliases adhd an unnecessary furniture of fuss?

The post-war era was an breathtaking clip for motorsport. Just look astatine nan introduction lists for nan Revival’s racing categories – they’re afloat of legendary makes and models.

Take nan Stirling Moss Memorial Trophy, for example. This title for pre-’63 GT cars is among nan astir competitory and spectacular astatine nan Revival – particularly erstwhile it rains.

Aston Martin DB4 GTs jostled pinch Ferrari 250 SWBs alongside Shelby Cobras and Jaguar E-Types of various assemblage styles. Dropheads, fixed-head coupés and semi-lightweights sang their straight-six songs astatine afloat throttle.

If you deliberation nan drivers are simply location for show, deliberation again. Take this brace of Ferrari 250s, which collided connected nan chicane exit onto nan main straight. The proprietor of car #17 was not excessively happy astir nan contact.

For those who favour mid-engined cars, nan Whitsun Trophy featured Ford GT40s battling early prototypes from Lola, McLaren, and Cooper. The #1 GT40 is an all-original race-proven example; nan #5 car owned by Adrian Newey – erstwhile Red Bull Racing F1 Chief Technical Officer/new Aston Martin F1 Managing Team Partner – is rumoured to person each sorts of modifications nether nan hood.

If you’re into classical touring cars, nan 2024 Revival had everything from Ford Galaxies to Mini Coopers. You could besides drawback mini open-wheel racers and lunatics connected pre-war motorcycles; there’s thing for everyone astatine Revival, truthful agelong arsenic you’re willing successful historical motorsport.

Beyond nan cars’ eligibility to race, entree to nan paddocks and soul circuit requires period-correct attire. This is portion of nan Duke of Richmond’s ngo to relive nan ‘good aged days’ of racing, and I must admit, I enjoyed it.

My first reluctance to walk 3 days shooting motorsports successful suit trousers and general shoes quickly melted distant arsenic I joined nan queue to enter. Visitors pinch pre-’66 cars parkland correct by nan entrance, and being surrounded by nan era’s vehicles and attire put a grin connected my face.

The Goodwood Revival provides an authentic acquisition by transporting nan surroundings backmost successful time. The play shops and ‘high thoroughfare bank’ are fun, arsenic are nan ‘army barracks’, but nan BMW Group’s takeover of nan infield was exceptional.

You could research period-correct Rolls-Royce, Mini, BMW, and BMW Motorrad dealerships and garages – complete pinch vintage models. After all, Goodwood is intimately tied to Rolls-Royce, pinch nan cars being manufactured conscionable down nan roadworthy from nan circuit.

Efforts to look nan portion didn’t spell unrewarded either, pinch nan bravest participants entering nan ‘Best Dressed’ competition. A sheet of judges selected their apical 3 from everyone who embraced vintage fashion.

The prize for a standout outfit? A bouquet and a vessel of Veuve Clicquot, on pinch nan restitution of knowing you thrifted your measurement to nan top.

The Settrington Cup – a chance for competitors’ children to title against 1 different successful pedal cars – is simply a awesome clip too, and a existent crowd favourite.

Goodwood Revival 2024 blew maine away. The standard and grandeur of nan event, mixed pinch immoderate of nan astir desirable cars ever made, connection plentifulness of reasons to attend.

I feared nan arena mightiness consciousness a little staged, arsenic moreover mechanics and children are encouraged to deterioration period-correct outfits. I’m wholly opposed to ‘organised fun,’ and thing is worse than being made to participate successful an ‘enjoyable activity’ pinch a mandated dress code.

Yet, nan Revival was acold from forced. The spectators loved each infinitesimal of nan event, moreover successful nan rain, and nan ambiance was genuine. The place, nan people, nan cars – everything came together beautifully. I had an unforgettable time.

So overmuch truthful that connected Friday evening I group my cameras speech to bask nan 2nd half of nan Sussex Trophy. As nan sun set, nan Ferrari 250 TR’s V12 was singing and nan #54 Lotus-Climax spat flames pinch each downshift into St Mary’s and Lavant.

I was successful heaven, moreover if my vintage apparel and chapeau were drenched.

If tens of millions of dollars worthy of vintage metallic racing connected a historical circuit and a nostalgic ceremony of days gone by pinch less rules gets you going past nan Goodwood Revival is nan spot to be.

I’m already looking astatine accommodation for 2025. Bring it on.

Mario Christou
Instagram: mcwpn, mariochristou.world
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