Every time I am in Goodwood the atmosphere is unique.
I have visited the beautiful Chichester venue numerous times over the past five years for various shows and events, but 2024 marked my first Goodwood Revival. I admit I had mixed feelings about it.
Not because of the cars or the racing, but because of the event’s involvement with the years between 1948 and 1966. Would this era-specific theme enhance the experience or add an unnecessary layer of fuss?
The post-war era was an exciting time for motorsport. Just take a look at the entry lists for the Revival’s racing categories: they are full of legendary makes and models.
Take the Stirling Moss Memorial Trophy for example. This race for pre-’63 GT cars is one of the most competitive and spectacular during the Revival, especially when it rains.
Aston Martin DB4 GTs jostled with Ferrari 250 SWBs alongside Shelby Cobras and Jaguar E-Types in various body styles. Dropheads, fixed-head coupes and semi-lightweights sang their six-cylinder songs at full speed.
If you think the drivers are just there for show, think again. Take this pair of Ferrari 250s, which collided at the chicane exit on the main straight. The owner of car #17 was not very happy with the contact.
For those who prefer mid-engined cars, the Whitsun Trophy featured Ford GT40s battling it out with early prototypes from Lola, McLaren and Cooper. The #1 GT40 is an all-original race-proven example; Rumor has it that the #5 car of Adrian Newey – former Red Bull Racing F1 Chief Technical Officer/new Aston Martin F1 Managing Team Partner – has all kinds of modifications under the hood.
If you’re into classic touring cars, the 2024 Revival had everything from Ford Galaxies to Mini Coopers. You might also catch little racers and open-wheel lunatics on pre-war motorcycles; there is something for everyone at Revival, as long as you are interested in historic motorsport.
In addition to the suitability of the cars for racing, access to the paddocks and indoor circuit requires correct clothing to be worn during the period. This is part of the Duke of Richmond’s mission to relive the ‘good old days’ of racing, and I have to admit I enjoyed it.
My initial reluctance to spend three days shooting motorsports in slacks and formal shoes quickly melted away as I lined up to get in. Visitors with pre-’66 cars park near the entrance, and being surrounded by the vehicles and clothing from that era put a smile on my face.
The Goodwood Revival offers an authentic experience by transporting the area back in time. The historic shops and ‘high street bank’ are nice, as are the ‘army barracks’, but the takeover of the infield by the BMW Group was exceptional.
You can explore period-correct Rolls-Royce, Mini, BMW and BMW Motorrad dealerships and garages, complete with vintage models. After all, Goodwood is closely linked to Rolls-Royce, with the cars being produced close to the circuit.
Efforts to look good did not go unrewarded either: the bravest participants took part in the ‘Best Dressed’ competition. A jury selected their top three from everyone who embraced vintage fashion.
The price for a striking outfit? A bouquet and a bottle of Veuve Clicquot, along with the satisfaction of knowing you’ve clawed your way to the top.
The Settrington Cup – a chance for children of competitors to race each other in pedal cars – is also a great time and a real crowd-pleaser.
Goodwood Revival 2024 blew me away. The scale and grandeur of the event, combined with some of the most desirable cars ever made, provide plenty of reasons to attend.
I was afraid that the event would feel a bit staged, as even mechanics and children are encouraged to wear period-correct outfits. I am absolutely against ‘organized fun’, and nothing is worse than being forced to participate in a ‘fun activity’ with a mandatory dress code.
Yet the Revival was far from forced. The spectators enjoyed every moment of the event, even in the rain, and the atmosphere was genuine. The place, the people, the cars: everything came together beautifully. I had an unforgettable time.
So much so that I put my cameras aside on Friday evening to enjoy the second half of the Sussex Trophy. As the sun set, the Ferrari 250 TR’s V12 sang and the #54 Lotus-Climax spewed flames with every downshift to St Mary’s and Lavant.
I was in heaven, even though my vintage clothes and hat were soaked.
If tens of millions of dollars worth of vintage metal racing on a historic track and a nostalgic celebration of times gone by with fewer rules gets you going, then the Goodwood Revival is the place to be.
I’m already looking at housing for 2025. Bring it on.
Mario Christou
Instagram: mcwpn, mariochristou.world
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