Goodwood Revival 2021

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Finally happening again, the Goodwood Revival was a brilliant weekend packed with historic racing car action and fun. With most of the pandemic restrictions now gone, it was much like before, and three days of almost perfect Indian Summer weather made it a joy!

The Goodwood Revival is like stepping back in time, with not only racing on the circuit but so much more. There’s a static exhibition of antique aircraft, and an air display of Spitfires at the beginning and end of the day. The military corner shows massive amounts of historic vehicles, all of which went on the track for an overwhelming parade dedicated to the UK health workers.

There is always something for everyone at the various stalls, where cars, books, clothing and accessories can be found. ‘Over the road’ provides a period funfair, more stalls, a cinema showing old movies and even a motorcycle wall-of-death.

Although it regularly attracts 50.000 visitors each day, the event has a unique feature: when not racing, most cars and motorcycles can be inspected in the open paddocks and, with a bit of luck, the drivers are available for a chat. There’s a hot-rod section and even old cycles have their own corner. And we found a vegetable patch!

As for pre-war races, the Festival of Britain and the Brooklands Trophy are the ones to watch. The Festival of Britain Trophy is for Grand Prix and voiturette cars of a type that raced between 1930 and 1951. Mainly filled with Alfa Romeo, ERA, Maserati and Ferrari types, the race this year was won by Mark Gillies in a roaring ERA A-type R3A.

The Brooklands Trophy has more diverse entries, consisting of post-vintage thoroughbreds like Alfa Romeo 8C, Bentley, Aston Martin Ulster and a couple of chain-driven Frazer-Nashes. It is a two-driver race, with drivers changing halfway. The Sunday morning race conditions were pretty grim, resulting in serious slides by co-winner Eddie Williams in the 1932 Frazer-Nash TT replica he shared with Duncan Pittaway. It was an epic duel between them and another Frazer Nash, Patrick Blakeney-Edwards’ ‘Owlet’. Someone called it "flat out and fearless", a perfect description for this pre-war spectacle!

Words and photos by Nick Jonckheere.

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