Goodwood Revival 2009 - The First Day of Events

An early start is a must if you are going to avoidincluding the 1953 Zephyr Six belonging to the Ford
getting caught up in the local works traffic and the redHeritage Collection which is a faithful replica of VHK
lights at the level crossings on route.194, the outright winner of the 1953 Monte Carlo Rally.
On the first day of Goodwood the drivers are out inAlso on show was a Mini Wildgoose Camper
force battling for pole position ready for the first dayvan...now there's a compact little thing and certainly no
of racing on the Saturday. A good portion of visitorsroom to swing a cat...metaphorically speaking!
decide to visit the museum on the opening day,The new Rolls-Royce Ghost was on show, with a
together with the numerous stalls set out selling theirblack dashboard full of switches here and lights there,
wares from the era with clothes for the gentlemenvery high tech which would wow any enthusiast but
and the ladies, hats, shoes, scarves, ties, cravats,you know, I think I prefer the early models with the
underwear, vintage luggage, restored juke boxes andtimeless burr walnut dashboard...call me old fashioned!
arcade games (automatics as they are known), books,Every year at Goodwood Revival we are treated to
records and the list goes on and on...a continuous array of early aircraft flying overhead
Sir Stirling Moss was ensconced in one tent to sign hiswith a special treat this year as the Spitfire and
new book, for all who bought it, with a t-shirt hung upHurricane roared across the skies showing their speed
behind him with the immortal words (which I have usedand agility with the unmistakable rumblings of their
more than once in my lifetime) of "who do you thinkRolls-Royce Merlin engines, absolutely fantastic, they
you are, Stirling Moss!" The man himself is 80 this yearsend shivers up your legs.
and still treating us to his own style of racing againstAn array of American war and commercial planes
some pretty stiff competition....I wonder if he will racealso grace the air most years. But I have to say, my
Rowan Atkinson's MK VII Jaguar again this year? Ifavourite by far is the thrill of the unmatched presence
may have lead you to believe that Mr. Atkinsonof the Lancaster Bomber which undoubtedly will instill
doesn't race himself, which isn't the case at all andsuch emotion that tears may literally roll down your
no-one who attends Goodwood Revival on a regularcheeks!
basis can fail to see him cornering enthusiasticallyThere's eating places galore at Goodwood with more
around the circuit giving the professionals a run for theirthan one Airstream trailer diner with music of the era
money and indeed Mr. Atkinson revels in the fact thatbellowing from every corner... one of the best
at this great event he is just that....a racing driver!atmospheric events in the world today!
The museum held some interesting pieces this year,