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Goodwood Festival of SpeedSCDVintage Car Racing
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Goodwood Revival – Behind The Scenes

Story and Photos by Ed McDonough

The 12th Goodwood Revival was a huge and complex event. 15 races for historic cars and motorcycles is just a small part of what goes on over a four day period. A Drivers’ Cricket Match starts the ball rolling on Thursday with a proper garden tea party at Goodwood House, with everyone already in period dress.

Practice on Friday sees enthusiastic spectators show up in thousands and the party gets bigger all weekend. The racing is out on the track, but overhead, hundreds of vintage aircraft and WWII fighters put on fantastic displays. Celebrities of all sorts…James may of Top Gear, US astronaut Buzz Aldrin, rock stars, Lord Peter Mandelson of the British government, were only a few.

There were celebrations for the 80th birthday of Sir Stirling Moss, the 50th anniversary of the Mini…with a mini-skirt competition thrown in, and the 75th anniversary of ERA cars. Nearly 100 cars driven by Stirling Moss circulated in tribute to him on each day, and there was a massive moving demonstration of every type and derivative of Mini as well.

Goodwood’s Acting Guild produces Laurel and Hardy, George Formby and other famous show business personalities who put on shows for the crowds non-stop. And this year, horses from the Spanish Riding School in Vienna pranced among the dining tables on their hind legs at the giant gala dinner. This was followed by indoor fireworks in the hangar where the gala was held. Incredible.

2009 Goodwood Revival – Behind The Scenes

Sir Stirling Moss, celebrating his 80th birthday by racing his OSCA and driving some 8 cars at Goodwood.
Sir Stirling Moss, celebrating his 80th birthday by racing his OSCA and driving some eight cars at Goodwood.
The author Ed McDonough drove this original works C-Type Jaguar in the amazing tribute to Stirling Moss on Sunday. Nearly 100 cars were in the four lap parade. Here they gather on the pit straight as Lord march and American astronaut Buzz Aldrin paid their tributes as well.
The author Ed McDonough drove this original works C-Type Jaguar in the amazing tribute to Stirling Moss on Sunday. Nearly 100 cars were in the four lap parade. Here they gather on the pit straight as Lord March and American astronaut Buzz Aldrin paid their tributes as well.
Just part of the huge parade of cars raced by Stirling Moss during his career which gathered on the grid in his honour.
Just part of the huge parade of cars raced by Stirling Moss during his career which gathered on the grid in his honour.
Lady Susie Moss helps Stirling get ready for his race practice on Friday. Birthday celebrations went on all weekend.
Lady Susie Moss helps Stirling get ready for his race practice on Friday. Birthday celebrations went on all weekend.
Hugh Taylor’s 1934 Alfa Romeo Tipo B in the Goodwood collecting area.
Hugh Taylor’s 1934 Alfa Romeo Tipo B in the Goodwood collecting area.
Amongst the special cars was Carlo Voegele’s Alfetta 159, looked after by Jim Stoke’s team.
Amongst the special cars was Carlo Voegele’s Alfetta 159, looked after by Jim Stoke’s team.
Aircraft was as much a feature as cars at Goodwood, with this incredible Vulcan Bomber making a noisy flypast on two days.
Aircraft was as much a feature as cars at Goodwood, with this incredible Vulcan Bomber making a noisy flypast on two days.
There was an abundance of famous pre-war Alfas, including these three Monzas in the Brooklands Trophy race.
There was an abundance of famous pre-war Alfas, including these three Monzas in the Brooklands Trophy race.
WWI Spitfires and Mustangs flew several times over a four day period as part of the huge Goodwood revival.
WWI Spitfires and Mustangs flew several times over a four day period as part of the huge Goodwood revival.
The car which perhaps garnered more attention than any other – Jan Biekens recreation of Ferrari 156, the Sharknose, chassis 0002. This is one of the best ever projects of this sort, and the car was built as Olivier Gendebien drove it in the Belgian Grand Prix.
The car which perhaps garnered more attention than any other – Jan Biekens recreation of Ferrari 156, the Sharknose, chassis 0002. This is one of the best ever projects of this sort, and the car was built as Olivier Gendebien drove it in the Belgian Grand Prix.
Jim Stokes’ team, in period Ferrari overalls, look after the beautiful Sharknose.
Jim Stokes’ team, in period Ferrari overalls, look after the beautiful Sharknose.
As 50 years of the Mini was celebrated, Rowan Atkinson as Mr. Bean flew round the circuit and across the field in this Mini with an armchair on it!
As 50 years of the Mini was celebrated, Rowan Atkinson as Mr. Bean flew round the circuit and across the field in this Mini with an armchair on it!
This very early Vickers Vimy which has made a trans-Atlantic crossing, with an open cockpit, landed on Saturday morning.
This very early Vickers Vimy which has made a trans-Atlantic crossing, with an open cockpit, landed on Saturday morning.
The Vickers-Vimy is an incredibly graceful aircraft.
The Vickers-Vimy is an incredibly graceful aircraft.
Moss, left, in the Drivers’ Mess, with friend Mike Wheatley behind, introducing famed Jaguar test driver to John Brierley. Brierley, 95, ran the pub where Moss used to stay near Goodwood 60 years ago, He presented Moss with a OO gauge locomotive model which took him 18 months to build for Moss’ birthday.
Moss, left, in the Drivers’ Mess, with friend Mike Wheatley behind, introducing famed Jaguar test driver to John Brierley. Brierley, 95, ran the pub where Moss used to stay near Goodwood 60 years ago, He presented Moss with a OO gauge locomotive model which took him 18 months to build for Moss’ birthday.
Moss talks serious business to Norman Dewis, reknowned Jaguar test driver, one of the drivers at Le Mans in 1955.
Moss talks serious business to Norman Dewis, reknowned Jaguar test driver, one of the drivers at Le Mans in 1955.
The Bond Boys...and girls. Auric Goldfinger, Ernst Stavro Blofeld, OddJob and James Bond and girls. This group comes to the Revival every year as part of the party atmosphere.
The Bond Boys...and girls. Auric Goldfinger, Ernst Stavro Blofeld, OddJob and James Bond and girls. This group comes to the Revival every year as part of the party atmosphere.
This is 6.30 am on Saturday, a Spitfire sitting on the same field as it did 70 years ago.
This is 6.30 am on Saturday, a Spitfire sitting on the same field as it did 70 years ago.
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7 Comments

  2. The very last photo shows the following comment “This is 6.30 am on Saturday, a Spitfire sitting on the same field as it did 70 years ago”. I am sorry to correct you, but the fighter in question is a Hawker Hurricane. Thanks for all those fabulous stories and pictures though. I really enjoyed all. Kees

  5. Ed: Don’t know how an old fart like you does it. Besides all the research and writing you do for your books you are now a photographer and correspondent for SCD. I wish I had your energy. Great story and photos on Goodwood.

  7. Beautiful pictures, but the plane isn’t a Supermarine Spitfire.
    Is a Hawker Hurricane, the “forgotten warrior” of Battle of Britain…
    Long Live to Sidney Camm, the designer.