Sunday at Goodwood Revival

Glorious, glorious Goodwood. What a place. Every time I go back, for whatever reason, it feels a little bit like returning home. I've only been to the circuit five or six times, but it is an unbelievably special place. Wander through those gates and you are almost hit by a wall of tangible history, not unlike the feeling of warmth when you step off the plane in a hot country. The names that have raced and the meetings that have been held here read like a who's who of motor racing and secure it as the spiritual home of British motorsport.

If you are lucky enough to have been to a Revival meeting, you'll know what I am on about, and the Sunday of the 2023 meeting was as wonderful a day as I have ever had at Goodwood, if not the best. Everything is period correct, it is thoroughly organised and it is everything it means to be enthusiastic about classic cars funnelled into a 2 and a bit mile circuit in Chichester. There are only two downsides to going to a Revival meet, and they are that you will want to be in a million different places at once, and you'll end the day with very sore feet. Racing cars were sublime by the 1960s, but footwear technology was lagging behind somewhat, so be prepared to want to take your shoes off at every opportunity.

Now, I am by no means a professional photographer (although you knew that from the dust on my lens), but I do take my trusty Sony A6000 with me most places, and Revival was no exception. As I mentioned, it is impossible to be everywhere at once, but I was running around like a madman trying to get some good views.

After the rain during the day, it cleared up in the evening and the whole venue breathed a sigh of relief for it.

There aren't many places where a summer sunset is better than at Goodwood.

Evening calm.

The legendary pits, having a rest after a hard weekend's work.

Chris Harris and the little Austin A35 behind him had some well fought battles with the bigger Jaguars in the St Mary's Trophy.

Marshals. The glue that holds the whole event together, rain or shine.

The rain caused chaos in the RAC TT, with the well balanced E-Types coming out victorious. The number 78 car of William Paul and Andy Priaulx took home the wreath.

Angry weather, angry Cobras.

Karun Chandhok was dealt some bad hands this weekend. Low drag E type technical difficulties in the TT

An honour to see two-wheeled royalty race. Michael Dunlop.

Lister-Jaguar coupé, one of the most beautiful race cars ever built.

Porsche Carrera 6, or 906. What a thing to behold.

What a lineup.

23 year old Horatio Fitz-Simon on his way to victory in the Chichester Cup in the Lotus-Ford 22.

A pair of Ferrari 250LMs, yep. Number 526 suffered damage in the Lavant cup on Saturday.

Lightweight, Lowdrag E-Type.

Marino Franchitti's wheels for the Richmond & Gordon Trophies. Maserati 250F.

JPS lineup. Check the names.

Yep, he still drives it. What a legend.

Number 2 and number 6 Ford GT40s. If you don't know, absolutely get to know.

2 Litre rear ends.

Number 2 Ford GT40 cockpit.

Pits.

Lotus-Climax 18 of Clinton McCarthy, pitting during the Richmond & Gordon Trophies race.

Michael Peet piloting the 1954 Maserati 250F in the Richmond & Gordon Trophies.

E-Types doing their rain dance.

The ill-fated and Motul sponsored Bizzarini looked superb on the grid.

Manually turned race updates. Soooo period correct.

Moody TT grid.

Unfathomably cool.

Hard working TT pit crew.

Some recognisable names...

These two had a bit of a scrap later on, and the E-Type came out on top with a knockout blow.

Another one of the Lister, just glorious.

Gathering to watch the Duke's speech.

Victim to the rain, the number 64 Cobra.

Baby TVR, found a lot of clean air in the middle of the TT pack.

Lucky for some?

Jackie Stewart. 84 years of age and still giving it some beans in his old Tyrell.

Tiny Little BRP-BRM.

Glover Trophy and lots of rain.

The sun came back out in time for the Sussex Trophy.

Just like being in the 50s.

Everyone's favourite driver-journalist, Tiff Needell.

Richard Meaden on his way to 5th in the St Mary's Trophy in an Alfa Giulletta Ti.

Slow Saab, but it made a great noise and everyone loved it.

Not a bad way to spend your Sunday afternoon.

All-time hero Chris Harris and a funny little A35. I met him later on and i'm glad to say he remains my hero. Lovely guy, and one of the first people I have ever met who made me look tall.

I mean come on, look at it!

All in all, Revival remains as special as the first time I went. The theatre, the dressing up, the cars, the racing, the drivers, it is all the best in the world in its field, and you can't help but go home with a sore face from grinning like a cheshire cat all day. If you have never been, just go. It is out of this world. There really is no place like Goodwood.