Chichester, 11th - 13th of September, 2015
This year’s Goodwood Revival meeting came to an end after
another three glorious days in West-Sussex. Attracting once
again a record crowd the visitors could enjoyed another edition of
the most likely best classic car event in the entire calendar. Even
if the format did not change over the year both regular and new
visitors were superbly entertained over the weekend. For all those
visiting the Revival for the first time the amount of impressions
around the track are simply overwhelming and one could be busy
visiting all the different attractions without even watching the
races. With a lot of atmosphere created by The Earl of March and
his team the spectators themselves become part of the show
when dressing up in numbers one could only expect in the UK
where the tradition is maybe more important than anywhere else
in the world.
Other events tried to copy that but it is just over here where the
surrounding feels natural instead of forced by a dress code.
Especially as the British visitors show a lot of humor as not all of
the outfits could be taken serious as beside the traditional
dresses rockers, flower power and comedy could be seen all
around the place making this an experience that might also
attract more women than any other car event in the world as it
does not get boring even without the cars. In a large area both
inside the circuit and in the fun park “over the road” the day is full
of entertainment ranging from known annual displays like the
merry-go-round, the historic market or the Earl Court Motor Show
to changing set-ups like a stranded fishing boat, a hot rod garage
and many other things.
Starting on Friday with the practice sessions not few of the
attending visitors explore the other attractions as the fences of
the track are not as crowded as the following race day.
But apart from all the entertainment one does not forget that this
is a very serious race weekend with prestigious winners lists as
the historic racers drive as hard as maybe nowhere else,
exchange of paint during the races is a common sight and even
cars of the value of a Ferrari 250 GTO/64 are driven without
restraint. In fifteen races over the weekend ranging from the small
single seaters of the 500 cc Formula 3 to the big bangers in the
Whitsun Trophy there are always cars on the track. Most
important races are certainly the RAC TT Celebrations for GT
cars, an one-hour two drivers race that attracts a lot of prominent
drivers including several multiple Le Mans winners like Emanuele
Pirro, Tom Kristensen or Derek Bell. Most of them also join in at
the most spectacular race of the weekend, the first part of the St.
Mary´s Trophy when these seasoned racers trash around the
touring cars on the very fast track including a lot of drifting and
body roll. Just like at his first appearance at Goodwood it was
again Tom Kristensen who won the St. Mary´s Trophy even when
starting from the very back of the field in the heavy Ford Fairlane
Thunderbolt after failing to set a time in qualifying in one of the
most spectacular drive of the weekend.
Not less interesting was this year’s RAC TT Celebration. As the
weather forecast was not too good for the weekend nobody was
actually surprised when the first drops of rain fell exactly when the
GT cars were lined up in the assembly area but fortunately the
rain did not set in and unlike in previous years the race could be
driven in completely dry conditions. At the end it was a sole
Jaguar E-Type of Ward/Sheddon that could defeat the phalanx of
AC Cobras on the following 3 positions.
But beside the annual races one of Goodwood favorites is a single
model or marque race every year and after Jaguar E-Types and
AC Cobras this year’s Lavant Cup was dedicated to Ferrari Drum
Brake cars. Although several Ferrari are present every year in the
different races this single marque race certainly attracted a lot
more cars running against cars of the same value instead of light
weighted Jaguar E-Types that are driven in anger due to their
smaller value. The Lavant Cup included several four-cylinder 500
TR and 750 Monza, some 250 TdF and racing Boanos as well as
more exotic 212 Exports. Right from the beginning the
Cottingham-500 TRC and the Monteverde 750 Monza “Iceracer”
were battling for the lead before a small nudge of Cottingham left
the Monza in a spin and decided the race.
Apart from the actual racing there were a few more highlights
including the sensational reunion of all the 6 existing Daytona
Cobras with their creator Pete Brock, the tribute to Bruce
McLaren who unfortunately lost his life at the Goodwood Racing
Circuit during a car test back in 1970.
Also celebrated was the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Britain
with no less than 12 Spitfire in an air display as well as the
attendance of many of the remaining veterans from that time.
After a very long weekend we have put together a small preview of
images showing some of the highlights of all three days, a more
extensive gallery with all the 15 races and displays will follow.
... Download Entry List with Chassis Numbers >>>
Updated 2015 September 22
Text & images … Peter Singhof
www.ClassicCarPhotography.de
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