A spectacular 26-car Fangio tribute, a fabulous Ford Centenary celebration cavalcade and a bumper turnout in the Revival Car Show all helped to kick off the first day of yet another awesome 2011 Goodwood Revival.
Jackie Stewart led Goodwood’s celebration of five-time F1 champ Juan Manuel Fangio’s incredible career by getting behind the wheel of the 1957 German GP-winning Maserati 250F to head up the wonderful Fango tribute parade.
The line-up to mark Fangios myriad racing achievements included three rare Gordinis and a Ferrari 860 Monza, driven by Lord March – along with historic racer Rob Hall in the deafening BRM V16 and C&SC’s Alain De Cadanet in a Lancia/Ferrari D50 replica – with a commentary by noted motor sport historian Doug Nye.
A highlight of the parade was Fangio's nephew, also Juan Manuel, at the wheel of the Mercedes-Benz 196 Streamliner - along with Maria Teresa de Filippis, the only woman to race against Fangio and who rode shotgun in a Maserati 350S to great applause.
Paul Emile Bessade spins his Gordini Type 24S at the Chicane. Big shunts on Friday included Gerhard Berger in Bryant's Cobra (after the owner had just put it on pole) and Carlos Monteverde in his Lister
True to form, Lord March dished up more than one attraction at a time, with spectators fixated to both the track turnout and a flypast by a two-seater Spitfire overheard, one of 12 at the Chichester circuit to mark the legendary Battle of Britain fighter’s 75th anniversary.
Talking points of the metal in the paddock for this year were several historic debuts. Tom Dark had a successful practice in the fabulous Austrian-owned Bugatti Type 59/50B (below), fresh out of restoration. ”We’re only using 3500 rpm but the torque is amazing. We first tested it at Mallory on Wednesday and it handles really well, “ said Dark about the unique racer whish hasn’t competed since 1938.
Julian Bronson hadn’t even driven his newly finished Grand Prix Scarab – a highlight of the grid for the Richmond Trophy - prior to practise. “Mick Mobley at High-Tec did a fantastic job opening up last Sunday and sorting the Hillborn fuel injection. I haven’t even run it up the drive. We bought it as a rolling chassis from the Donington Collection last February,” said Bronson.
Talk of the cars in starring in the RAC Tourist Trophy Celebration was Lawrence Ouriana’s fearsome 400bhp 1962 Maserati Tipo 151. “We broke third gear in testing here and had sound problems as it’s so noisy,” said driver/restorer Joe Colasaco.
The all-American team has ‘61 World Champion Phil Hill’s son Derek as co-driver. The ultra-quick Maserati makes its historic-racing debut at Goodwood, not having been competitively campaigned since a year after a Phil Hill took the championship.
A highlight of the paddock display was a pre-war MG pit to celebrate Goodwood circuit founder Freddie March’s race career at Brooklands. Peter Russell constructed the set and tracked down six MG C-types, so setting a record gathering for the model.
As a tribute to March’s co-driver, Chris Staniland, the Brooklands Museum loaned the 1931 single-seater Duesenberg to head the line up which also included a March-bodied Hillman AeroMinx.
But it was the epic Ford in Britain Centenary parade that really wowed Goodwood fans, thanks to the simply incredible diversity and juxtaposition of cars, trucks and tractors.
The circuit line-up spanned everything from the Model T that was famously carried to the top of Ben Nevis in 1911, to the replica of the 1962 Ford Saxon coupe – the original being crushed by the factory.
Highlights of the commercials include Gordon O’Neil’s sole-surviving Carrimore transporter hauled by a Thames trailer-tractor and with a fabulous Ford Anglia cargo on the back.
“My dad drove them in 60s and, unlike any of other commercials here, we drove it down this morning, “ said O’Nell. “We wanted to carry five Anglias but we were worried about making it round the track safely.”
Early arrivals in the Revival Car Show –which was packed out just a couple of hours after the Revival kicked off - included David Hawkins with his supercharged Riley TT Sprite (below).
The open-wheel racer recently set second fastest time at the Brighton Speed Trials. “It’s similar to the type Hawthorn raced here and I had a great run from Horsham, although it was a little cold,” said Hawkins as he removed his goggles and dug out a Panama hat.
Motoring down from Basingstoke in the early hours was Lorna Mountford in her self -restored her 1931 Wolseley Hornet Special (below), complete with stylish Swallow Body. “It was a basket case and dad was going to give it to friends but I was having none of that. It took me four years to restore and I rebuilt the engine in the kitchen,” said Mountford. “It has a centre throttle and I love driving it.”
Among the many overseas classics visiting Goodwood were a trio of Triumphs, which convoyed from Luxembourg, headed by Jean and Eba Chendre in their Sptifre Mk1. “Triumphs are our hazard. I have a Herald and a TR3 at home.”
Looking very Jackie Onassis was Olpha Gibbon in her 1956 Bentley Continental (below): “I‘ve owned it for 20 years and I never miss Goodwood - I‘ve been to every day of every meeting. Whatever Lord March does is always so classy.”
Other regulars included Lisa Trowell and friend Justine Cockesell in an MG TF: “We never miss the Revival!
A selection of highlights from the first day of the Goodwood Revival follows. Double click on the lead image to launch a slide show of all the images.
Boeing B17 in the aviation concours.
Ferrari works transporter.
Monteverdi Hai and show girls lightened paddock.
Earls Court Motor Show made a popular return.
The Jaguar E-type from C&SC's E-type celebration was a star in the revamped Earls Court Motorshow.
C&SC sponsored a competition to vote for the best car of the Revival Car Show.
C&SC's long-running Revival newsagent was popular too!
