2012 Goodwood Revival - Ladies Day

Sunday 31st May - 2020

"There are only three sports: Bullfighting, mountain climbing & motor racing", Ernest Hemingway once famously observed.

Happily, all the animals on the Goodwood Farm are safely behind gates, & while West Sussex may not be famed for its alpine scenery, this particular weekend's Goodwood Revival meeting at the Goodwood Circuit (near Chichester-Sussex) held back on September 14-16th, 2012, was one of those Revival meetings that I just could not miss attending.

Additional event highlights included a tribute to Dan Gurney, a parade of Ferrari 250 GTOs, & a spectacular demonstration and display of pre-war Mercedes-Benz Silver Arrows. Plus the Freddie March Spirit of Aviation.

This photo shows an AC Cobra ready and raring to go in the Shelby Cup
celebration races. There were 30 Cobras battling it out for 45-minutes.

Not all the action takes place on the track at the Revival, if you look to the skies at the appropriate time you will be treated to a marvelous collection of warbirds, we were also treated to a special 'Cold War' flypast featuring an English Electric Canberra high-altitude nuclear bomber, flanked by a pair of supersonic Hawker Hunter jets. 

Once again we were honoured to be joined by a Spitfire, Hurricane & a Lancaster bomber (one of only two left in the world flanked by three Spitfires) of the RAF Battle of Britain Memorial Flight.

Among the other highlights of this year's race line up is the Shelby Cup, in which we celebrate the 50th anniversary of the AC Cobra & pay tribute to its creator, Carroll Shelby, who sadly passed away earlier in that year. (10th May 2012 in Dallas, Texas).

The Shelby Cup celebrates the legendary AC Cobra's 50th anniversary, this special one make race will see thirty (original, authentic) Cobra's battling it out for 45-minutes, with driver changes between 15 & 30 mins.

Eight English gentleman in Tweed Oxford jackets, looking as stylish and
fashionable as ever sporting plus-fours, knickers & matching sock garters
while casually taking in the atmosphere on race day.

This weekend we also celebrated the career of American racer Dan Gurney. Dan had victories in F1, NASCAR, Indy racing & World sports cars, including the 1967 Le Mans. This weekend, however, we celebrated Gurney's racing past, from a Ferrari 250TR like the one he raced at Goodwood in 1959, to a McLaren CanAm car representing his last win before retiring in 1979.

Between 1962 to 1964, Ferrari built just thirty-six 250 GTOs, plus three longer engined 330 GTOs to compete in the new GT-based sports car championship. The Ferraris dominated, winning events all over the world (including two Tourist Trophy races here at Goodwood in 1962-1963).

It will be one of the most expensive car parades you will ever see - one GTO, built for Stirling Moss in 1962, recently sold for a record breaking 22.7 Million Pounds (AUD$43M). 

Mercedes-Benz 'Silver Arrows' parked in their garage looking very smart. 

Each vehicle would be worth conservatively around £18 million pounds

that's AUD$34M.

The iconic Mercedes-Benz/Audi Silver Arrows made a dramatic return to the track for the 2012 Revival, marking 75-years since they made their debut at the sensational 1937 Donington GP. Although the cars have appeared regularly at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, they've never been grouped together like this, wheel to wheel in a circuit environment, during the post-war era. Thanks to the tremendous support of all entrants, including the Museums of Mercedes-Benz & Audi (the modern descendant of Auto Union), up to ten 'Silver Arrows' would perform a demonstration run each day.

This is the first time since 1930 the legendary 'Silver Arrows' united on track with their race rivals. Maserati 8 CM - Mercedes-Benz W25 - Era B - type R11B - Alfa Romeo 'Alfetta' - Bugatti Type 59/50B 111 - Auto Union Type C & D's - 6 C Type Jags - Aston Martin DB3 & DB3'3 - Ferrari 750 Monza - McLaren Chevrolet M1B - Lotus Ford 30s - Ford GT 40 - Lola Chevrolet.

Goodwood Revival Enthusiasts enjoy using fashion to express
their individuality and finding a creative way to have some fun.

Motorcycles only raced once at Goodwood during the circuit's active years, with nine events being held on 'Goodwood Saturday', 14th April 1951. Back then Barry Sheene was barely 6-months old, but when the first Revival meeting took place in 1998 he became a main stay of the motor cycle race then named the Lennox Cup. 

The twice 500cc World Champion won his final race at Goodwood in 2002, putting on a spectacular show even though he was suffering from cancer that sadly claimed his life in 2003. 

No.1 Troy Corser in a good position coming

through the turn at Madgwick's Corner

[Above]: Australian entrants in this Barry Sheene Memorial Trophy race were No.19 Wayne Gardner (World Champion in 1987 500cc class) riding a 1953 Norton Manx, & No.1 Troy Corser (World Superbike Champion in 1996 & 2005) riding a 1937 BMW R5SS.

These 1962-1964 Ferraris GTOs were Enzo
Ferrari's most iconic automobile creation.

The Goodwood Racing Circuit opened in September 1948. It is a historic venue for both two-wheel & 4-wheel motorsport in the UK.

Goodwood Circuit Lap Record Holders. Length.: 3.809 km (2.367 miles).
* Jim Clarke., Lotus - Climax 25. 1 min 20.4 sec, 107.46 mph. (19th April 1965). World Driving Champion in 1963 - 1965. Jim Clarke was killed on the 7th April 1968 in a practice session at the famous Hockenheimring race circuit in Germany during practice.
* Sir John Young "Jackie" Stewart, the "Flying Scot". BRM P261, 1 min 20.4 sec, 107.46 mph. (19th April 1965). World Driving Champion in 1969 - 1971 - 1973.
* Nick Padmore, driving a Lola T70 Spyder, (2015) 1 min 18.27 sec.

Mercedes-Benz 'Silver Arrows' parked in their garage looking very smart. 

Each vehicle would be worth conservatively around £18 million pounds

that's AUD$34M.

My 'Brush with Fame' at the Goodwood Revival Meeting was on the 15th September 2012. I was holidaying in England at the time and could not pass up the chance to attend the Goodwood Revival Meeting held on 15th September 2012.

To my delight I was about to find out how the POMS organise a 'Revival Race Meeting'. As you can see by the photographs scattered through this story they excel themselves upholding the traditions of Historical motor sport in the U.K.

How's this for starters:

Commentary Legend for the car races, Murray Walker, famous for his coverage of F1 Grand Prix will always be the voice of Formula 1. With a 52-year long TV commentary career behind him. For 23 of those years he guided fans through the intricacies of Grand Prix racing with his inimitable enthusiasm alongside a host of co-commentators including James Hunt, Graham Hill and Martin Blundle.

Spitfires & Hurricanes formed part of the RAF Memorial flypast

I attended the Revival meeting at Goodwood (on Ladies Day, 15th September 2012) it was a magnificent day, perfect for car racing & the Air Displays. l watched all the events from Madgwick's Corner, a large sweeping bend just after the start/finish line. Attendance for that day was 45,000 spectators.

List of drivers & motorcycle riders that appeared driving & riding these Historic cars & bikes. You may recognise some of the following Superstars. Sir Stirling Moss (83-yo) - Martin Brundle - Vern Schuppan - Jean Alesi - Jackie Oliver - Dan Gurney - Derek Bell - John Surtees - Troy Corser - Wayne Gardner - Rowan Atkinson.

Another priceless vehicle was on show. None other than the 1954 Mercedes-Benz Type W196R Grand Prix single-seat racing car, the original Juan Manuel Fangio's 'Silver Arrow' winning GP car. This race car sold [photo below] at auction on July 12th 2019 for £17.5 Million Pounds which set a world record price for an auctioned car, with fees & other related costs, the premium due to the Auction House was £20.8 Million Pounds (approx AUD$39M). 

The Mercedes-Benz W196R that sold for £17.5 million.

There are only 10 'Silver Arrows' race cars remaining out of the fourteen units ever built still in existence.

This race car won the 1954 German GP at Nürburgring with Fangio behind the wheel. That leaves the recently auctioned Fangio 'Silver Arrows' W196R Chassic 006/54, the only post war 'Silver Arrows' in private hands.

Goodwood Race Circuit is like the Indianapolis 500, I can't get enough of either place. Over the years I have visited Goodwood on three separate occasions.

The red Ferrari's out on the circuit and in action at Goodwood

1] Goodwood Revival Meeting on 15th September 2012. 

2] On my second visit, on the 27th October 2017, was my first attempt to fly in the iconic Spitfire WWII fighter aircraft. On this occasion, it did not eventuate because the person that was flying before me had a slight mishap on landing on the grass runway. The pilot crash-landed the Spitfire & damaged the Starboard wing tip. So no more flying until they repaired the damage. I had no alternative but to return the following year to realise my dream. 

3] My second attempt to fly in the elusive WWII-era Spitfire was on Tuesday, 12th June 2018 was successful on this occasion. If you are still interested in this story & want to know more about my Spitfire flight you can check out the story right here on my blog: Click here.

There is also a Cockpit Video (although a little boring) from the same day. I am sure that you will enjoy the story of my Spitfire flight over the English Channel & British country side.

Lined up, the famous '63-'64 Ferrari GTOs

Between the years of '62-'64 Ferrari built (36) 250 GTO'S, there are still 33 left in the world... 

This model Ferrari just became the most expensive car ever sold. A 1963 Ferrari 250 GTO sold for US$70M or (£56M British Pounds) to a German Collector, David MacNeil the founder of Weather Tech on 1st June 2018. How would you like to have two of these Ferrari's parked in your Man Shed?

Arguably the best Revival meeting held anywhere in the world, this famous Goodwood Race Circuit comes with it's unfortunate skeletons in its history.

* New Zealander Bruce McLaren was tragically killed while testing his Can Am Race car in practice on the 2nd June 1970 (32 yo).
* Stirling Moss also had a career ending accident & almost killed himself at Goodwood on 24th April 1962. (33-yo).

That my friends is the end of another epic tale from my travel escapades, I sincerely hope you enjoy the read.

Cheers for now.

Warbo.