Goodwood Revival 2015
Gallery 2

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The Goodwood Revival 2015: A Personal Account by Mark J Willison

All the above results in a wonderful garden party atmosphere, with the help of Verve Cliquot being a major sponsor and having their own marquees, for us to enjoy as the need arises. Along with various bars cafes, and numerous food outlets; cater for all tastes and budgets. Although corporate sponsorship is the way of the world, it's all done very tastefully, and to enhance the period atmosphere: And of course the purpose is to sustain and secure the event for the long term.

Credit Suisse, the investment bank, has ploughed an enormous sum into the restoration of the Start Line Control Tower, and made a beautiful job of it too. The Credit Suisse Control Tower is the venue for a number of events through the weekend: Not least to honour Sir Stirling Moss for his Summer of Success in 1955, hosted by Goodwood Radio's Henry Hope-Frost, along with Lord March and Kerstan le Blanc of Credit Suisse. In 1955, Moss won the Mille Mille, the 1000 mile road race around Italy; the British Grand Prix at Aintree, Liverpool, England; the Tourists Trophy at Dundrod, Ulster, Northern Ireland and the Targa Florio, Sicily.

Shell Aviation announced at the Revival that it has become sole provider of Av Gas, for Westhampnett Airfield, around which, in 1947, the perimeter road became the circuit as we know it today. It remains the only circuit to remain unaltered from its original form. Hence the 1966 closure: the then Earl of March forfeited competitive racing in favour of conforming to revised safety regulations. Indeed Shell provided Westhampnett/ Goodwood along with its sector station RAF Tangmere with 100 Octane fuel during World War 2. The 100 Octane boosted the output of the Rolls Royce Merlin to 1310hp, from 1030hp when using 87 Octane. The net result, for the Spitfire Mk1 was an increase of 45mph in level flight. Goodwood aerodrome is also the only Spitfire flying school in the United Kingdom. Indeed, this year's Freddie March Spirit of Aviation event centres on the Supermarine Spitfire, Hawker Hurricane and worlds only remaining Bristol Blenheim with an airworthiness certificate.

J D Classics, the specialist Jaguar dealership based in Maldon Essex and Mayfair London, please visit http://www.jdclassics.co.uk/ looks after historic racing cars from all eras, and had six cars entered for the Revival: being a 1954 Cooper T33, a 1963 Jaguar E-type Lightweight, a brace of Jaguar XK120's and a Jaguar D-type and a Lister Costin. Three of the events official course cars are entered by J D Classics; being a 1962 Coombs Jaguar Mk2, a 1965 Aston Martin DB5 and a Ferrari 275 GTB alloy. Whilst in the Earls Court Motor Show J D Classics provided a Ferrari 365 GTB 'Daytona'.

A certain highlight of the event for me, is the Bonham's auction, which always attracts some of the finest machinery for sale. It's a constant source of amazement that the Bonham's team always find the very best cars for sale, with the impeccable provenance. This year's star lot was a group of three Scarabs along with a 1956 Fiat Transporter to ship them around in. Scarabs were built by Reventlow Automobiles Inc., an all American concern. Lance Reventlow, Carey Grant was a step-father, owned Scarab, and was an entrepreneur, aire to the Woolworth Empire and of course a racing driver in his own right.

Other lots that caught my eye, was a 1070 Porsche 908/03 Sports Racing Prototype, perhaps for the obvious reason of being Martini & Rossi sponsored. I'm also gaining an appreciation for Porsche, especially the earlier 911 Targa's and in no small part due to the fact that All Car Central's editor Frank Cunningham , is a Porsche man. Porsche also invest heavily in their Classic arm of the business remanufacturing parts to their original specification to support their owner's enthusiasm for the marque.

The Elizabeth Sponge was created by Kenwood for the Revival to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II overtaking Queen Victoria as being England's longest reigning monarch. And in true Revival period dress was of the time along with appliances adding to the atmosphere of the Battle of Britain 'make do and mend' spirit.

A themed celebration at this year's meeting was 50 years of "Youthquake": Diana Vreeland, Editor in Chief at Vogue, coined the term to describe the new fun vibe: and the letting go of stricter values of the youth that preceded the time. Mary Quant was the designer of the day, fashioning the mini skirt, ably demonstrated by the waif like Twiggy and Jean Shrimpton, who of course started the career of one David Bailey, whose career I've studied fairly closely, of course.

The 'Over the Road' event, allows the Revival goer to let their hair down and party a bit. Firstly, of course there is a massive bar, with live acts to entertain, a roller disco, along with stalls selling all sorts of useful stuff. Needless to say, I made full use of the bar and the outside seating area. The last Bus, for me, provided by Stagecoach to the train station was at 10.30pm for the short train journey home.

And for those interested in the results of the races, they can be found at, tsl-timing.com/event/153721 , being the 'site of the official timekeepers, TSL on behalf of the British Automobile Racing Club.

Just outside the Paddock, was a film set, where the public could be the actors, sitting on the scooter's taking direction?

A quieter Paddock moment, to reflect and to plan?

Derek Bell, this time on tour guide duty. His first race was at Goodwood in 1964, which, he won. He lives at Pagham, just down the road from Goodwood and remembers listening to the engines at Goodwood whilst working a farm, close to the Estate.

My Dad and I, at earlier Revival meetings used to potter down to Madgwick Corner, at the southern end of the pit straight. It's his favourite part of the circuit, so I'd thought I would do the same.

Madgwick is a double apex right hander, the second being off-camber. It's fab to watch the cars moving about, and watch the line that drivers take. You'll also notice that in period photographs that the spectator areas were remarkably flat by comparison of today's images. The reason being; is that before the reopening of the circuit in '98, a part of the planning was to build earth banks, in an attempt to push the noise upwards, and not towards the local residents, some of which were in opposition. Fortunately, for us, a by-product of the banks has to create amphitheatre style of viewing area, allowing spectators to look over people in front, and below them. Behind the bank, at Madgwick, as with elsewhere around the circuit are a number of temporary food trailers, including Goodwood Estates own organic burgers along with Goodwood Estate organic beer.

A truly magical track moment; The first time all six AC Cobra Daytona Coupe's have shared the same piece of tarmac anywhere. And, it was a High Speed Demonstration also! Quite something.

six AC Cobra Daytona Coupe's

AC Cobra Daytona Coupe's

The period High Street, always attracts a strong crowd.

At the Porsche Classic garage.

At the Porsche Classic garage.

This time, on the outside of the Chicane, with the sun going down, it's possible to get some brilliant shadows. There's quite a number of screens around the circuit, so that spectators can keep up with the action elsewhere on the circuit along with race positions.

Land Rover Mk1's are de rigueur at the Revival for Paddock transfers.

Cooper Maserati T61P Monaco 1964

BRM P261 1964

Catching a few Zed's, following a long day?

More willing volunteers for my camera; This time in front of Capt. Birdseye's trawler; more clever period advertising.

Dunmow Essex CM6 2HD being Vintage and Classic Rolls Royce and Bentley purveyors and had a lovely stand, with an exceptional Ghost of 1912. Guide price; £2m., but then, if you have to ask, you probably can't afford it?

Rolls Royce Silver Ghost of 1912.

Rolls Royce Silver Ghost of 1912. I just love the spares kit.

Decent chap helpfully pointing out his patch, which reads, "Sex- Breakfast for Champions", as per James Hunts race suit.

From the terrace above the pit counter.

From the terrace above the pit counter.

From the terrace above the pit counter.

From the terrace above the pit counter.

From the terrace above the pit counter.

A rather good period Martini poster at the back of the AC Cobra paddock.

Is of Henry Mann, of Alan Mann Racing, Tom Kristensen, won the aggregated St Mary's Trophy race. And here they are celebrating the fact with their 1964 Ford Fairlane Thunderbolt.

Bobby Verdon-Roe celebrating a good weekends racing with his children at the awards ceremony Sunday evening.

At 09 am Sunday Morning on the lawn in front of the Credit Suisse Control Tower was a presentation to Sir Stirling Moss, celebrating his Summer of Success in 1955. Sir Stirling had four amazing victories that year; The Mille Miglia, The British Grand Prix at Aintree, The Tourist Trophy at Dundrod, and The Targa Florio. My close-up shows Sir Stirling crossing the line at each event.

Assembly Area for the Earl of March Trophy.

Assembly Area for the Earl of March Trophy.

Assembly Area for the Earl of March Trophy.

Assembly Area for the Earl of March Trophy.

Assembly Area for the Earl of March Trophy.

Assembly Area shots of the Richmond & Gordon Trophy and amazingly, I helped push John Chisolm's beautiful 1960 Lotus Climax into its position you see here. As the poor chap pushing it was on his tod. It was only then he said that I'd just pushed Jim Clark and Innes Irelands car, quite a privilege.

Assembly Area shots of the Richmond & Gordon Trophy

Earl of March Trophy Race

I met the driver, George Shakleton after the circuit had closed, taking a photograph of the scrapes along the pit wall his 1957 Cooper Norton MkII had caused. It was only after he said that he was alright, apart from some sore legs, that I'm semi happy to share this sequence with you dear reader. I don't enjoy capitalising on the misfortune of others. It does make me cringe a bit when drivers race hard with this era of technology; not much in the way of crumple zones. Cars can always be repaired, but people, not quite so easily. Sadly the incident started when all four wheels were on the grass between the Chicane and the Pit Counter/ Lane. The change of surface from grass, back to tarmac resulted in the back end becoming loose. With several corrections contact with the pit wall was made; then bounced across the track to the outer run-off and tyre wall. I did feel sorry for the chap.

George Shakleton

Inside the pit wall, and good to see only analogue telemetry.

Roger Wills in his 1958 Lotus Climax 16, with his Kiwi pit board and in the no.7 car, the Ferguson Climax Project 99, which is four wheel drive. This was the warm-up lap.

The Richmond & Gordon Trophies race gets under way.

The Richmond & Gordon Trophies race

The Richmond & Gordon Trophies race

Ecurie Soiante-Neuf taking a libation break. Look closely at the logo on their overalls.

Battle of Britain Veterans; The Few.

The Spitfire Cafe interior is on the infield close to the Aero Club and The Freddie March Aviation Display.

Battle of Britain Veterans; The Few.

The obligatory Fortnum and Mason hamper.

Even behind the bar doesn't escape the attention to detail that is the Revival.

Manoeuvring a Hawker Hurricane onto the airfield.

"Spirit of Kent". If memory serves me correctly communities, before and during the war, would hold fund raising events to contribute towards the cost of an aircraft. In return the Ministry of Defence would name the planes after its benefactors.

Sir Jackie Stewart, Scottish three times World Formula One Champion getting ready for some demonstration laps for the tribute to Bruce McLaren, who tragically left us in 1970 at Goodwood in a testing accident. I remember my Dad talking to me in my bedroom about the news, and where and when he'd seen the McLaren Transporters on the road that sad day.

Sir Jackie Stewart,

Sir Jackie Stewart in the 1967 McLaren-BRM M5A.

Thought I'd take this for my three little racing enthusiast neighbours next door? All sorts of interesting things there; uprights, wishbones, roll bars, callipers and so on.

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