An American in Chichester: Visiting the 2014 Goodwood Revival

A period-correct reception area at the 2014 Goodwood Revival. Photos by Ryan Chirnomas.

(Editors note: Ryan Chirnomas attended this year's Goodwood Revival, held on Lord March's estate near Chichester, West Sussex, England, and we asked him to document his visit in words and images. I think you'll agree that Ryan's coverage is indeed the next best thing to being there in person.)

When one stops to think about it, classic cars are really about an experience... the look, the sound, the feel, and even the smells. Take this idea and expand it on a huge scale, and the result is the Goodwood Revival Meeting, an annual three-day festival in the English countryside celebrating all things vintage.

As Rowan Atkinson's crash-damaged Ford Falcon Sprint shows, the racing is very real.

For the uninitiated, here's the quick backstory. With clouds of war on the horizon in 1938, the Duke of Richmond donated a portion of his vast estate to the Royal Air Force, and the RAF Westhampnett base was born. After the war, the land was returned to the Duke, and he was persuaded to convert the airfield’s perimeter road into a motor racing circuit. The sound of fighter planes was replaced by that of race cars, and from 1948 to 1966, Goodwood hosted a variety of motorsports events.

Yes, that is an authentic Ecurie Ecosse transporter and team car.

For the past 17 years and counting, that bygone era is celebrated in September with the Goodwood Revival Meeting. Of course, the main focus is the racing. This year, 16 races were run, covering a wide variety of vehicles: Grand Prix cars of three different eras, European touring saloons, American V-8 muscle, prototypes, motorcycles and more. The main event is the Royal Automobile Club Tourist Trophy, which this year boasted a grid valued at $250 million, give or take a few million. Make no mistake; this is not a thinly veiled parade of Ferrari GTOs, Cobras, lightweight E-types and such. The drivers (many of whom are hired pros) race the cars hard, the way their creators intended.

Garage displays recreate the feel of a bygone era, too.

Access is absolutely fantastic, and great views of the track are easy to find. Although there are some areas requiring VIP passes, much of the paddock is open to all, as is the staging area where the cars assemble before each race. It is worth noting that the photos you see here were taken with no special access, and with entry-level photo equipment. You really can get amazingly close to some fantastic machinery even if you’re not on a first-name basis with Sir Stirling Moss.

Transportation to and from the Revival is courtesy of vintage double-decker buses.

But let's get back to that word: "experience." What sets the Revival apart is not just the jaw-dropping collection of cars, but also the way the era is magically recreated. The vintage experience starts before you even walk through gate, with classic double-decker buses providing transportation from the nearest train station. Attendees are strongly encouraged to dress in period clothing, and most do. Military uniforms are common for gents, as are tweed jackets and flat caps (your author’s attire of choice). Ladies are frequently seen sporting polka-dot skirts or pillbox hats.

2014 or the 1960s? At Goodwood, sometimes it's hard to tell.

The vintage feel extends to the track, which looks nearly as it did in the old days. Although track safety has obviously been upgraded, no unsightly fencing blocks your view. When the banshee scream of an early 1960s 1.5L Formula One car isn’t filling your ears, a rockabilly band or an a cappella doo-wop girl group might be. Food and drinks are sold out of vintage buses and vans. You can even hire an old taxi to travel around the circuit in style. It truly is like walking into the largest costume party in the world. Without a doubt, even significant others and kids who have no interest in cars will have fun being in the parallel universe that is the Revival.

Veterans are honored with a military vehicle parade.

Back on the track, there’s more than just racing. Each year, there are special tributes and celebrations. In 2014, the career of Sir Jackie Stewart was recognized, and the heroism of D-Day vets was celebrated in a parade of military vehicles. There were also commemorations of the legendary D-type Jag and the Maserati 250F Grand Prix car, with large collections of each participating. Even John Surtees, now 80 years old, took a high-speed lap of honor in his old Ferrari.

A British Spitfire and an American P-51 Mustang in the skies above Goodwood.

There’s more excitement in the skies above the track. The Battle of Britain looms large at Goodwood, and so Spitfires and Hurricanes rule the air. Perhaps the most British moment of the weekend was the hush of the crowd at sunset as two mighty Lancaster bombers flew side-by-side, a sight seen this year for the first time in many decades. The early jet age gets a nod too, with the English Electric Canberra bomber flanked by Hawker Hunters.

A pair of Cobras mix it up on track.

The Revival is a very British affair, and American accents are rare. Our country is well represented nonetheless; amongst the exotic European metal, you’ll see P-51 Mustangs sharing the sky with Spitfires, and Ford Mustangs sharing the track with Studebakers and Falcons in the appropriately named Shelby Cup. You won’t have to go too far to see a U.S. military uniform or a Willys Jeep, or hear some in-period American rock-and-roll.

A period-correct Tesco grocery store includes shelves stocked with vintage merchandise.

There’s loads more to see and do inside the gates of the Revival, such as a concours d’elegance for airplanes and a motor show mixing old and new models of sponsors such as BMW, Aston Martin and Ford. Other indoor attractions include recreations of a Tesco grocery store (some of the product nostalgia was a bit lost on this American), a Michelin garage, and a Rolls-Royce coachbuilder’s workshop. Sure, a lot of this is corporate product placement, but it’s so well done that you won’t mind.

This 1959 BMC 5-ton race transporter sold for £91,100 ($147,537) at the Bonhams Goodwood auction.

There’s also plenty to do outside the Revival, in an area called “Over the Road.” There, you’ll find a vintage “fun fair” for the young and young at heart, as well as tons of shopping if you want to spend a few quid on vintage clothing or automobilia. If you want to spend a few more pounds and bring back a four-wheeled souvenir, there’s a Bonhams auction, too. Even the parking lot is astonishing. Classics get their own area, which is chock-full of hundreds of great rides, including many that are exotic to American eyes—British Fords, Jensens, Allards, Panhards, DAFs and more.

While vintage racing is a focal point, the Goodwood Revival includes something for everyone to enjoy.

Whether you were born too late or just want to relive your glory years, the Goodwood Revival is an experience not to be missed and belongs on your automotive bucket list. Do it right though…get some vintage threads, and go for at least two days. No matter how much time you spend at the Revival, it won’t be enough and you’ll want to go back.