This year’s event celebrated 75 years since Goodwood Motor Circuit opened its doors in September 1948. No other event I’ve attended creates the spirit and enthusiasm for historic motorsport like the Revival. Each event has an overarching theme; this year’s was ‘the Greatest Show on Earth’, embodying the thrill of the circus and big-top entertainment.
The week leading up to Revival had been very hot, and I wasn’t looking forward to wearing period dress in the heat. Thankfully, the organisers had relaxed the dress code. This afforded me the comfort of appropriate board shorts and a Hawaiian shirt, perfect for the scorching heat. Can you believe my excitement when I realised Earl’s Raceway, where all the hot rods are gathered, had been adorned with a Tiki Bar and full-on beach? This gave me the confidence that I had selected the right outfit.
Blazing Glory On and Off Track
I was lucky enough to have two days at Revival this year. This allowed me the luxury of not feeling like I might miss something; anything I didn’t get to see on Friday, I could catch up with on Sunday. It also gave me a day in between to recover from the miles of walking. While there was plenty of practice and qualifying throughout the day, the racing got underway on Friday evening with the Freddie March Memorial Trophy. An outstanding grid of early 1950s sports cars, including Aston Martin DB3Ss and Jaguar C-types alongside Ferraris and Maseratis, raced under the setting sun and into the dusk. It’s a spectacle not to be missed.
While the racing is intense on track, the camaraderie in the paddocks is evident in the sharing of tools and the light-hearted banter between pit crews. Due to the crowds, you must have a pass to access the paddocks. You can still walk around the outside of them. With only waist-height fencing, there are fantastic opportunities to get great shots of the cars and crew working on them.
If it’s people and their amazing outfits you want to capture, they are everywhere. On the outside of the track, the High Street and Revive & Thrive areas are good spots. Also, remember to spend some time ‘Over the Road’ at the fun fair and trade stands.
What a Sizzling Spectacle of an Event
This year’s Revival was the best I’ve been to. Everything aligned to deliver a fantastic event. On both days, I left with a big smile on my face and a feeling of joyous excitement. As I sit and write this, I can’t remember another event that left me feeling this way for so many days afterwards. It may not be a cheap event to attend, but to me, it’s worth every penny. If I could only attend one big event yearly, it would be this one. The Duke and his team delivered ‘the greatest show on earth’.
A small ask from me
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Many thanks, Dereck
