Goodwood Revival 2011

On Sunday I went with Stuart and brother-in-law, David to the third and final motorsport event this year; this Goodwood Revival. Its probably my favourite event as it has a wonderful atmosphere with many people dressing in civilian or military period clothes from the 40s and 50s. I have been twice before and knew from previous circuit laps that a good viewpoint could be had just a few hundred yards from the entrance. So with wheelchair control now dependent on someone else we established our spot for the day. The day is a mixture of races, track parades and air displays with a pre mid 1960s theme. We arrived in time to see the end of the first race finishing under the safety car, following a rather expensive meeting between a chicane wall and a vintage Aston Martin. The next race was motorbikes and it coincided with the first heavy rain that had been forecast. With waterproof covers and umbrellas deployed we managed to keep dry but we missed most of the race as our view was now obscured by a sea of umbrella canopies. We got a dry spell for the next race and the air display which was an impressive scramble reinactment with 10 spitfires, which is about a quarter of those left still flying.


The rain returned for the TT race which was a real shame. The one-hour, two-driver race has a spectacular grid of super-rare GT cars, driven by famous names past and present. The grid features a breathtaking £100+ million array of internationally-renowned historic cars. But the torrential rain spoilt it, initially because the umbrellas prevented me or Stuart seeing anything and then because the race was abandoned! The rain lasted almost an hour and everyone was cold and miserable and almost half the spectators left. We had no option but to stay as trying to go anywhere would have been impossible without me and more importantly, my computer getting soaked. Our perseverance paid off though with blue skies returning by 4 o'clock in time for the final two races. I am pleased we stayed because I was able to enjoy what it was that I had loved on my first visit to Revival; the very evocative experience of seeing and hearing these beautiful classic cars racing in the light of a setting, late summer sun.



I suggested a visit to the paddock before we left. This is another highlight of the event. Row after row of covered parking bays filled with almost priceless classic cars, many with an impressive racing pedigrees. Ferarri, Bugatti, Aston Martin are among the many cars that constitute what must be the most valuable collection in the world. It would have been considered simply vulgar to discuss individual values with anybody, but it is easy to reach an estimate of around a quarter of a BILLION. The fact that they have just been racing and have the odd battle scar to prove it is incredible.

So by the time we left I had almost forgotten about the rain. I hope Stuart and David enjoyed it too and many thanks to them for getting wet in order to keep me dry!!

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