It was a busy summer as far events go. We were lucky enough to attend some of the best vintage automobile gatherings in the world. It was a welcome reminder that this little corner of the car world is still thriving—and at a very high level. It seemed appropriate that we close out the summer with the crown jewel.
In our humble opinion, the annual Goodwood Revival is the greatest vintage automobile event in the world. We know, that’s quite a statement, but if you’ve ever been to this prestigious gathering, you would be hard pressed to argue. It’s an amazing experience on every level.
We first attended this event in 2005 and were completely blown away by the quality of automobiles and the overall atmosphere. This year, we decided to plan a trip to England around this event so we could go and experience it one more time. What we found was not at all surprising; the Revival has now grown tremendously from being amongst the top vintage racing events in the world, to the greatest all-around vintage automotive event in the world.
This diverse selection of quality cars—combined high level of competition on the race track—can only be seen here at Goodwood. Earlier this year, we attended the Monterey Motorsports Reunion in Monterey, California, which in its own right, is a fantastic event. But, as extraordinary as that event is to experience, it cannot compare to what Lord March has created in Chichester, England. The icing on the cake was the presence of sunny skies and absolutely fantastic weather while we were there, which rarely happens in England.
From the moment you walk through the front gates, you know you’re in store for something very special. You feel as if you’ve just stepped back in time to the fifties, as absolutely everyone is in period dress, and the Goodwood circuit and grounds are preserved and restored to exactly what it looked like back then. If you don’t show up to this event dressed in period clothing, you will definitely be the odd one out and may not even be allowed through the gates. Get your tickets in advance, as they’ve known to sell out months ahead of time, and dress in your best fifties attire. If you have any questions about what to wear, you’ll see numerous examples in the photos below.
The vintage racing and fantastic cars are only one of the reasons to attend this event. The World War II air show and display is amazing, and one of the only places in the world you can watch these time machines fly in formation right over your head, and then go speak to the pilots and see the planes up close and personal. Everywhere you turn, there’s something that catches your attention. From vintage motorcycles, scooters, fashion shows, and even a recreation of Stonehenge, there’s sure to be something for everyone to enjoy.
As far as we were concerned, the highlight of this year’s event was the Lavant Cup, in which they celebrated sixty years of the Jaguar D-Type. No fewer than twenty D-Types were on hand to race around the hallowed circuit. This was the largest gatherings of D-Types ever, and to see them all lined up and racing was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. The Lavant Cup was won by Gary Pearson in his spectacular long-nose D-Type.
It should go without saying that we can’t recommend this event enough, as it’s something everyone with the opportunity should experience—even if you’re not a classic car aficionado. Be absolutely sure to get your tickets and book your hotel months in advance, as the tickets go fast and the relatively sparse lodging in the area goes even faster. There’s a train station in Chichester that makes it really easy to get to and from this event from all over England.
We spoke of the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance as the stuff of bucket lists. This one might just deserve a spot at the top of that list.
We took tons of photos at this year’s event. This should give you an idea of the greatness of Goodwood.
Click on any of the following thumbnails for full-size photos. You can navigate through the slides by clicking on the right and left-hand arrows on the photo or using the < and > keys on your keyboard.
