The Goodwood Revival is an immersive motorsports experience like none other. Started in 1998 to honor the classic era of British racing and culture, the Revival has exploded in popularity as images spread like wildfire across the globe. It means many different things to its attendees, though. You like classic motorcycles? Vintage racing cars? Fashion from the post-war period? It’s all here in the quiet countryside of Sussex, England, waiting for you to visit each September.
When the dates were announced last year, we booked our accommodation at a lodge recommended by a British friend. The Pig in South Downs, near the historic racing circuit, is elegant and understated in appearance. The 25-mile menu is part of the ethos of sustainability in this part of England and the basis of farm-fresh meals here. Tickets for the Revival required joining the fellowship of the GRRC, the Goodwood Road Racing Club. Soon after, a small box arrived in the mail with a letter from the Duke of Richmond welcoming you. Next up, tickets for the event were purchased, including extra-cost Roving Grandstand passes. These allow you near-complete, unfettered access to the entire grounds during the race weekend,* save the more exclusive VIP areas. So far, so good. Next up, airfare to Heathrow, and car rental reservations were made well in advance. These things now accomplished, we waited and schemed about our time in England. This allowed ample time to find the correct attire.
Time to fly
Flying directly from Philadelphia airport on an overnight flight and landing early in the morning allowed time for a bit of sightseeing along the way. Having my wife, Dawn, as navigator was a great aid in this world of opposite road driving, with seating on the right of the vehicle. It takes a bit of concentration to keep out of trouble when you are driving a manual transmission car, dealing with road traffic cameras, and on narrow country lanes.
Our first stop was the world-famous Sammy Miller Museum in New Milton, Hampshire. Sammy Miller MBE is a motorcycling legend, winner of more than 1,400 events and 11 British Championships. His museum houses more than 450 rare and unusual motorcycles, including road racing and trials machines like those Sammy raced. At 93 years old, he can still be found there most days, sharing his wit, wisdom, and a depth of knowledge in motorcycling that is unparalleled. He is, indeed, a national treasure.
Inside the Sammy Miller Museum, formerly an old farmhouse and barn buildings, lie fascinating and unique motorcycles. The eye-catching Ascot Pullin built in 1929 reflected the European aesthetic of the times, utilizing sleek bodywork to cover the oily bits. Forward-thinking designers like Georges Roy, who designed the French-built Majestic, were also proponents of this style. The 1947 FN with trailing link front forks and rear suspension is another hard-to-miss machine. The 1930 supercharged 1,000cc Excelsior exceeded 163 miles per hour with rider Joe Wright and is proudly displayed among many other flyers. Sammy’s own 250cc NSU Sport Max with hand-beaten alloy fairing rests near his 1957 FB Mondial Grand Prix bike, one of the most beautiful racing motorcycles ever built.
Another great machine of the sporting variety is the blown water-cooled AJS with four megaphones. Books in the museum gift shop document many of the motorcycles on display. There is so much more to see at the museum, and you must make a visit if you get the chance.
Day two was “ladies’ choice,” and so off we went to visit nearby Petworth House, a manor house and art museum with a colorful history. After a quick bite to eat in the lovely village of the same name, we decided to visit motorcycle dealers Verralls, located in Handcross, the best place to find a veteran or flat tank motorcycle in the country. Walking down a small alleyway, a green sign hung above a tiny showroom is an even smaller workshop that houses an amazing collection of British motorbikes from the earliest days of the sport.
Upon entering, I saw a most unusual motorcycle that stopped me dead in my tracks. Unsure of what it was that I was looking at, owner Ian Hatton told me the story of this motorcycle. It was a “one-off,” built in period with a 1920 Zenith frame utilizing a De Dion Bouton single cylinder engine with a rotary valve top end and water-cooling. It was unrestored and had been in pieces for many years until Hatton rescued it and brought it back to running condition. Not an easy feat for a “bitsa” of this period. He believes it was built by a marine industry engineer, given where it was found and the clever construction. Ian rode it last year at an event and hopes to further refine its overall presentation without taking away from its marvelous state of originality. When I inquired about purchasing, he declared “It’s not for sale,” but there are many other fine and interesting machines jammed in this little space that are available to purchase.
We said our goodbyes and made our way to Arundel Castle, home of the Duke of Norfolk in an idyllic village. This historic castle dates from the 11th century and is open to the public seven months of the year. Magnificent in presentation and still home to the Duke and his family, the grounds and gardens are impeccable and inviting. On our way back to our hotel, we stumbled across The Squire and Horse in Prestwich, a charming place to eat dinner and chat with the friendly locals. The food was delicious and just the way to end the perfect day.
The Goodwood Revival awaits
We were up bright and early, dressed in appropriate clothing, and off to Goodwood to find out for ourselves if it lives up to the hype. In a word, yes. No superlatives will prepare you for what awaits once you enter the property. There are two parking areas, one for the general public and the other for the thousands of classic cars of attendees who want the full experience. Walking this enormous field of vintage Aston Martin, Bentley, MG, Jaguar, Ferrari, Rolls Royce, Humber, Mini, Austin, Triumph, and nearly every classic brand you can think of, would be enough for many of us to spend a full day on. It was the first of many wondrous things we’d encounter that day.
The vendor area offers everything from apparel to restoration shops, art dealers, and auctions. Climbing the stairs to the bridge that crosses the outer access road leads you into the next inner section, where scores of people are dressed to celebrate this year’s theme, “Summer of Love,” with live music and shops. Everywhere you turn, there’s something to grab your attention: men’s barber shops for that perfect haircut, women’s beauty shops for period-correct hairstyling and make-up, and workshops teaching metal craft and how to use an English wheel, or how to bring your antique bicycle back to proper working order. The Revive & Thrive theme meets the “make do and mend” mentality to remind us that limited resources did not mean stagnation; quite the opposite, as imagination and ingenuity often saved the day. This was particularly true in post-war Britain, where austerity measures lasted a decade or more. There’s a great can-do spirit that still exists in their culture.
We made our way to the paddock warm-up area, where Alan Cathcart introduced us to ex-Grand Prix star Carlos Checa, who was there to ride a pre-1955 Manx Norton, the weapon of choice this year. Additionally, Matchless G50s and BMWs of the era were getting ready for the session. Racing star Maria Costello was there on her Triumph Daytona motorcycle, too. These motorcycles would be run over the next two days in the Barry Sheene Memorial Trophy race, a pro-am event partnering a professional racer with an amateur to keep things even. Motorcycles and cars are raced rain or shine, and with pride on the line, it’s a no-holds-barred affair. We made our way to the Grandstand nearest Woodcote corner, where the viewing allowed sight of the high-speed corner and run to the chicane and front straight. Seeing and hearing 30 classic motorcycles go at it in damp conditions is not for the faint of heart. Three wide through the sweeper saw one rider take to the grass at 90-plus miles per hour and still manage to save it and return to the track without missing a beat. “Stay Calm and Carry On” is not just a slogan here.
On our way back to the paddock, we met up with Isle of Man TT legend, John McGuinness, winner of 23 races on the Emerald Isle and tied with Mike Hailwood with seven wins in the Senior race. Mechanics dressed in white coveralls diligently fettled the machines to prepare for the next day’s race.
Across the way, there was a gathering of leather-clad bikers on Triumphs, BSAs, and Vincents who were looking to rumble with the mods on their Lambretta scooters, festooned with more lights than you’d think possible. Remember, Brighton Beach, the site of these famous rivals’ clashes, is not too far from here. Around the corner from this, an outlaw biker gang, The Hornets, clad in striped wool sweaters, mugged for the camera and swilled beer, and in a recreation of a scene from the film, The Wild One, with Marlon Brando’s Johnny Strabler and Lee Marvin’s Chino characters ready to rumble. In the film, a local girl asks, “Hey Johnny, what are you rebelling against?” to which he replies, “Whaddaya got?” before the brawling begins.
Goodwood Revival is not just motorcycles and fashion, but a series of races with the greatest automobiles of the classic era. The list of talent is impressive, with NASCAR favorite Jimmie Johnson battling it out with Formula 1 drivers like Jenson Button and Le Mans 24-hour winner Tom Kristensen. The drivers take this event seriously and yet are respectful of each other despite the desire to win. Good sportsmanship, like good manners, seems to be a big part of Goodwood. This year, a tribute to the late Jim Clark was held with Lotus cars he raced filling the grid. Once assembled on the grid, a herd of sheep seemed to appear from nowhere, to the delight of the crowd, to surround the cars in a nod to Clark’s life on the farm when he wasn’t racing against the world’s greatest drivers. Clark and Jackie Stewart still co-hold the lap record at Goodwood, set in 1965. Jim Clark lost his life in a Formula 2 race in Hockenheim; he was just 32.
The field of cars racing this weekend ranged from the humble Austin A40 to the mighty Ford GT40, but the one event that steals all the attention is the Settrington Cup. This event is a true delight, with classic Austin J40 pedal cars raced by children on the main straight. The course may be short at 200 yards, but the children racing it gave it their all.
Crossing under the track through the tunnel was like traveling in time; the never-ending crowd dressed in period clothing moving in the opposite direction made it feel like an old film, and you are part of it, too. You could easily forget what day or year it actually is. This technology-driven, AI world we live in seems to recede into the rear-view mirror as you pull on your string-back drivers’ gloves and pull your tweed cap a little lower in a rakish fashion. It feels quite comfortable and familiar, and that’s the point.
All this on day one of the Revival, after which we head off to the nearby Boathouse in West Sussex to enjoy a quiet meal without a television or loud music to ruin the vibe. Tranquility and a good cup of tea, combined with frangipane tart, round out a great meal of roasted squash and monkfish that was very satisfying. Not surprisingly, we slept well and returned for more action on day two of Goodwood, safe in the knowledge that we had just enjoyed one of the best days in recent memory.
Make plans now for the 2026 Revival — it will be here before you know it, and you will not want to miss out. MC
*Close study of Goodwood Revival ticketing options, some including important paddock access and daily high-quality breakfast and lunch, is advised. The Isle of Man Classic Grand Prix and Beaulieu Auto Jumble dates often coincide with the Goodwood Revival. — Ed.
