One of the many perks of working on Classic & Sports Car is an invite to the Goodwood Press day every March.
Most public events can only dream of the turnout for this launch event, which excelled for this anniversary year.
GT40s were commonplace with five lining up for demonstrations while Juan Manuel Fangio’s 1957 German GP-winning Maserati 250F and the newly sold Rob Walker team TT-winning Ferrari 250GT SWB vied for attention.
Inside the stately home, the press room was transformed into a train robber’s hideaway – eerily on the very day of Bruce Reynolds' funeral – with the floor covered with notes as police acted out enquiries. Such is his Lordship’s attention to detail, no anniversary gets missed at Goodwood.
As at the Festival and Revival, the press day consistently continues the tradition of reuniting great drivers with key historic cars from their career.
Sir John Whitmore took little persuasion to have another run in his old Lotus Cortina.
“This car is very important to me and brings back good memories of the last race in Budapest where I took the championship,” he recalled. “It was the first international event behind the Iron Curtain, and the street circuit was very challenging.