Francisco Carrion
TEXT: FRANCISCO CARRIÓN / PHOTOS: UNAI ONA
There are already 19 editions of the Goodwood Revival held with total success of participation and public. True to a traditional style "British", the organization captained by Lord March it has reached such heights of perfection that there are already many years of sold out, and –I warn sailors- you have to buy the tickets well in advance if you do not want to stay with the desire.
There are also several years that We have been detailing the ins and outs of the Goodwood Revival from 'The Escudería', so that we can focus on what has been novel or most striking in this latest edition, held as always at the beginning of September, specifically between the 8th and 10th of last September ...
Click on the photos to enlarge them ...
Another traditional thing about the Goodwood Revival is that on such dates and in the middle of England, no matter how much West Sussex is in the south, the weather it is usually rainy. This year, on Saturday practically all the runs were held under heavy rain that made things really difficult for the drivers, although not in all cases.
For example, in the Brooklands Trophy, reserved for sports cars before 1939, the star - and the fastest car during Saturday's "wet" runs - was the Frazer Nash Coupé known as "The Owlett". This very curious unit is a replica of the original from the 20s created by the brand to participate in trials, and has been remanufactured on several original mechanical parts by the great fan Patrick Blakeney-Edwards.
'The Owlett' It debuted at Goodwood two years ago, and both then and now its non-racing appearance of a sober saloon with a leather-covered body (Weymann system) was striking, as it is the only closed car that participates in this category. However, it is much more striking to see its restorer-pilot pushing it to the absolute limits, constantly skidding and standing up to the fearsome Alfa Romeo or Bugatti of contemporaries.
On the wet, the "Owlett" curdled a amazing performance that took him to pole, more than 7 seconds behind second place! However, mechanical problems led him to withdraw from Sunday's race - as happened two years ago - and finally the Brooklands Trophy win went to Niklas Halusa aboard a 8 Alfa Romeo 2300C 1933 MM.
Goodwood Revival: 14 Splendid Categories
In this edition there have been 14 racing categories, although this time without major changes or news. One of the pieces that raised expectations was the Ferguson P99 1961, as it was the first four-wheel drive F1 ever built. He participated in the Richmond Trophy for front-engined single-seaters between 1952 and 1960, in which the Spanish driver Joaquin Folch he finished third in his Lotus 16, after a tough fight with Julian Bronson's Scarab-Offenhauser for second place.
Poor Ferguson P99 had to be measured with Lotus, Maserati, Connaught, Ferrari ... and he couldn't hold out, because in the first laps he went off the track when he lost a wheel while running (!). And so this curious British-made car continued with the disastrous track record that began in the 1961 season, when it had to drop out of the two races in which it was present, despite having drivers in the category of Sir Stirling Moss.
Which by the way, this has been the first year in which the legendary British rider has not been present, for health problems. And it was a shame, as it was going to be part of the commemoration of the 1957 British GP. That year there was an unprecedented triumph for the British industry, as a Vanwall (made in England), driven by the English drivers tandem Brooks-Moss also won "at home". Pilot Tony Brooks was present at this year's celebration at the Revival, and he even took the controls of a 1957 Vanwall, like the one in which he once triumphed.
This commemoration was also attended by the sons of Juan Manuel Fangio, Cacho and Rubén, who posed proudly with the Maserati 250F.
The star of the races has been, as every year, the RAC TT Celebration on Sunday, a 60-minute session in which the Ferrari 250 SWB and GTO fight side by side with Aston Martin DB4 GT, AC Cobras or Jaguar E-Types . However, there was a slight disappointment, as the Newall-Stippler GTO suffered a spectacular accident and was replaced at the last minute by the 250 SWB with which they had participated on Friday in the Kinrara Trophy.
The good track conditions encouraged the riders to give it all", with the consequent various incidents. For example, Folch, who raced his Jagaur E-Type Lightweight, had a touch on the front end and went off track after over-braking at the chicane while having a tough fight with two other E-Types. Finally, the Gans-Wolfe tandem defeated an AC Cobra, ahead of fearsome competitors such as Chris Harris's Ferrari 250 LM.
More than racing ...
Leaving aside the simple and pure competition, the Goodwood Revival always has a lot to offer. For example, this year a tribute was paid to the famous team "Ecurie Ecosse", and for this a parade was organized with several of the most mythical mounts of this team. Among the many Jaguar D-Types present was the unit that was the winner in the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1957, which was also driven by the famous pilot Jackie Stewart. In spectacularity, the Commer truck of the 50s was not far behind, the original "motor home" of the team and auctioned for several million euros a few years ago.
Tribute was also paid to the mythical Fiat 500, which is already celebrating its 60th birthday, and for this the track was filled with an impressive "parade" with all the possible versions. Airplanes are also always very present at Goodwood, because not in vain before the circuit it was an airfield, and this year the star of the aeronautical festival was a 38 Lockheed P-1938, spectacular with its shiny polished aluminum fuselage, which arrived flying from Germany at low altitude due to weather complications That's a hobby!
The surrounding environment with all kinds of “vintage” montages is growing year after year, and for example in this edition a vintage women's fashion show has been premiered. As a concession to the most modern, the TVR brand has presented its new Griffith model during the day on Friday, and it was the first time that a brand has done it at the Goodwood Revival.
To complete this attractive poster, the British house Bonhams came up with an interesting list of cars for auction. The sale took place on September 9, and the highest priced lot was a 1973 Ferrari Daytona at £ 606.300. But nevertheless, the auction star it was another car from the same collection of former driver Jack Sears.
It was a 500 Ford Galaxie 1967 with an impressive track record in competition, which dropped the hammer by 471.900 pounds, more than double the house estimate, thus shattering a new record for the model. Having said all this, it should be remembered that next year will be the 20th edition of the Goodwood Revival, and most likely the celebrations will be spectacular. Do not miss it!
