Vintage Style Returns For The Goodwood Revival Meeting

The Goodwood Revival has quickly established itself as one of the jewels on the annual motorsport calendar. A vintage feast for the senses, the event is more than just cars, it’s an authentic celebration of a motor circuits halcyon days.

Conceived in 1998, the 2019 running of the event sees it’s 21st anniversary. Celebrating a golden age for Goodwood which hosted international motorsport from 1948 through to 1966, the Goodwood Revival replicates the sights and sounds of the golden age.

Back in the early 1990s, reviving the motor circuit was key to the Duke of Richmond's master plan for the wider Goodwood Estate. Left in a state of disrepair for decades, the Goodwood Festival of Speed was announced in 1993 to help contribute to the redevelopment of the circuit. A highly popular festival in itself, the success of the Festival of Speed allowed the team at Goodwood to revive the Motor Circuit ready for motorsport use once again.

Faithfully updated to how the place would have looked in period, including vintage timing boards and pit gantries, the circuit reopened in 1998, 50 years to the day that it closed, for the inaugural Goodwood Revival.

Fast forward 21 years to the present day and you have an event that is globally renowned and incredibly well attended.

Upon arriving at the circuit you are plunged into an atmospheric celebration of vintage style. Cross the road to enter the circuit and you are greeted with a faithfully reproduced highstreet and a selection of shops appearing as they would have in period.

What adds to the authenticity of the event is how visitors really threw themselves into the Revival spirit with most people committing to the dress code. If you’re not in period dress at an event like this you will stand out, much like that one child that went to school in his school uniform on a non-uniform day.

Whether it’s roaming the extensive paddocks which feature some of the finest racing machinery ever produced or stopping for a beer at one of the period themed pubs, the off-track attractions are just as inviting as the racing itself.

Whilst a celebration of motorsport, other cultural icons of the time were also recognised and this year 50 years since the release of The Italian Job was acknowledged. With an extensive selection of cars, similar to the ones used in the film, on display over at the Earls Court Motor Show, these cars found themselves centre stage as actors recreated iconic scenes from the film.

Whilst all things vintage were celebrated, there was also the latest from Land Rover and Aston Martin on display. With Aston Martin recently announcing that they will be taking four Valkyries to Le Mans, it was great to be able to get up close and personal with a pre-production model. Furthermore, the highly anticipated new Land Rover Defender was also on display and was unsurprisingly a star attraction for the assembled crowds.

Whilst the new machinery drew big crowds, it was the vintage machines that really thrilled and this year featured an enviable entry list.

Whether it was multi-million pounds worth of Ferrari 250 GTO, classic Formula One machinery or the Le Mans 24 Hour legend that is the Ford GT40, the Revival had strong representation from all of the major motorsport categories of the era.

Whilst looking at these fine machines is a genuine pleasure in itself, what is more thrilling is the fact that these cars actually see racing action. Going wheel to wheel for all-out Goodwood Revival honours, it is a real testament to the cars owners for allowing them to be raced this hard in front of the assembled spectators.

Once again the Kinrara Trophy kicked off the weekends racing action. A race featuring one of the most valuable grids in motorsport, the one hour race commences at 6:30 pm and ends just as the sun sets on the horizon. This makes for some incredible scenes as multi-million-pound machines go wheel to wheel against a backdrop of the orange autumnal light.

The Goodwood Revival is a truly magical event and one that never ceases to impress. As the Revival came to a close this year, it marked the end of a long run of summer events. However as circuit action at Goodwood may slowly be winding down for the winter, we can look forward in earnest to the freshly announced dates for next years Goodwood events which kicks off with the ever-popular Goodwood Members meeting on the 28th and 29th March.

2019 has seen three fantastic Goodwood events and this years Revival Meeting was a classic. Here’s to more of the same in 2020.