Racing Back in Time: Goodwood Revival

The British social season took a ride back to the past at the Goodwood Revival, one of the world’s most prestigious vintage car racing events, held earlier this month. And what an authentic trip it was!

The sprawling West Sussex estate could have been the set of Casablanca or The Aviator with the very real sensation of being ‘quantum leaped’ back in time, added in for good measure. Guests wore the most incredible costumes: there were military uniforms, WWII nurses, Teddy Boys in leather jackets and quiffs, a scattering of mods and plenty of Cary Grant and Audrey Hepburn clones.

But the time capsule effect was seen in a lot more than just fashion. The Revival is the only sporting event where everything stays true to the theme; even the fish & chips were wrapped in decades-old newspapers! The yesteryear feel was compounded by the bands playing 1950s music from swing to rock ‘n’ roll and by the Spitfires and Mustangs on air display.

This year marked the tenth anniversary of the Revival, which was masterminded by aristo-entrepreneur, Charles, the Earl of March. The Earl’s painstaking efforts have ensured that Goodwood does nostalgia like nowhere else in this day and age.

The main attraction is, of course, the races. This year saw the all-new grid of popular sports cars such as the Porsche 904 and early 911, Ferrari 275 GTB, Alfa Romeo TZ1 and rare TZ2. As well, more specialist British sporting vehicles featured such as the Lotus 26R, Marcos 1800 GT, Sunbeam Tiger and TVR Griffith.

Le Mans winners Derek Bell and Jacky Ickx, Formula One aces Sir Stirling Moss and Johnny Herbert, Jackie Oliver and Tiff Needell, and auto-fans Rowan Atkinson and Pink Floyd’s Nick Mason all took part in door-handle races. The mix of aristocrats, celebrities and regular punters made the three days the ultimate motoring event to close the English summer season.

— Katherine Zenkovich