Sensational Goodwood Revival rated among the best-ever classic events

By James Elliott

| 15 Sep 2014

A sensational – and sunny – festival reaffirmed the Goodwood Revival's status as the best historic meeting in the world.

Huge crowds attended all three days and were treated to endlessly entertaining on-track action and off-track attractions.

The racing got under way on the Friday evening when 30 1950s sports racers took to the track for a one-hour twilight showdown. Jon Minshaw and Phil Keen took victory in the Lister-Jaguar 'Knobbly', resisting a spirited charge from Bobby Verdon-Roe in the Ferrari 246S Dino.

There were loads of thrills and spills in a hectic and star-studded weekend on the track, with dramatic last-lap changes of leader, not least in the St Mary's Trophy Part 2 when Justin Law's Jaguar spluttered going through St Mary's, giving up what looked like a certain victory and allowing the Austin A40 of an elated Mike Jordan to sneak through for the win.

David Hart looked similarly cursed in the RAC TT Celebration when, after haring away from the pack, the safety car rebunched the group and allowed Oliver Bryant the window he needed he overtake on the re-start, but the Bryant/Smith AC Cobra then had a problem, allowing Hart's co-driver Giedo van der Garde to take the chequered flag.

C&SC's drives of the weekend included Sam Hancock's heroics in the unwieldy Cunningham C4R, the near-flawless performance of Julian Bronson in the Scarab – until its crownwheel and pinion broke on the last lap to deny him the Richmond Trophy spoils – and Henry Mann in his dad's old Ford Mustang. Veteran single-seater ace David Methley put on a brilliant display to beat the youngsters in the Chichester Cup for rear-engined Formula Juniors.

Incredible turnouts of Jaguar D-types (which contested the one-model Lavant Cup) and Maserati 250Fs were also hallmarks of the 2014 event.

In between the racing there were all sorts of other activities on the picturesque circuit, ranging from the Settrington Cup pedal-car race to a phenomenal tribute to Sir Jackie Stewart, via a D-type parade and an emotional lap by wartime machinery and veterans.

Off the track, crowds teemed through the ever-growing number of attractions, both by the circuit and 'Over the Road', but nothing could upstage the sight of the two Lancaster bombers flying low over the former RAF Westhampnett in tandem.

Planes were a big draw on the ground as well, with a pristine Cessna 195 Business Liner scooping the Freddie March Spirit of Aviation award.

For classic car enthusiasts, the Revival Car Show is unmissable and this year was no exception. Though some bemoaned that a special Jaguar area detracted from what makes the show so special – the fact that Ferrari 275GTB/4 and Morris Minor park cheek by jowl – there was no shortage of cherished mainstream classics and multi-million pound super-exotics to soak up.

As for themes, Brighton Pier was recreated to make the theatrical mods and rockers clashes feel more authentic, while druids were called in to carry out ceremonies in a huge replica of Stonehenge.

CLICK HERE TO SEE OUR EXCLUSIVE GALLERY OF GREAT IMAGES FROM THE REVIVAL!

For a comprehensive four-page report on the Goodwood Revival, see the November issue of C&SC (out on 2 October).

James Elliott

James Elliott is a former Editor of Classic & Sports Car