Goodwood Revival 2017: A few tips to make the most of it this weekend!

This second weekend of September promises to be very busy with automotive events: there will of course be the Chantilly Concours d'Elegance by Peter Auto near our dear capital, and at the same time on the other side of the Channel, a handful of hours away and swim the Goodwood Revival! It's hard to choose, I grant you, but for me this weekend will definitely be British: impossible not to resist the incredible journey through time offered by the Goodwood Road and Racing Club every year since 1998.

Having been there a few times in recent years, requests from friends wishing to go there are not uncommon. Benjamin from News d'Anciennes had the good idea to ask me to write these few lines to share the best tips and thus optimize your Revival experience. Might as well let AutomotivPress readers benefit from it too… If for this 20th edition it may be a little late, it's time to think about that of 2018 now!

How long to stay there?

The answer is simple, as long as possible, that is to say the 3 days that the event lasts, ideally arriving in the region on Thursday evening, to leave on Sunday evening or better Monday morning. It's big, it's beautiful, it's magic, make the experience last as long as possible or else you'll be hungry.

The precious sesame!

Each year the Revival is sold out, because in order not to spoil the party with too many attendances, Lord March prefers to limit the number of daily spectators while gradually increasing the number of seats in the stands. Also, if you are certain to go there, do not miss the first days of opening of the ticket office, generally at the beginning of November. It is also possible to register on the GRRC website to receive an email alert at the opening, and the tickets taking a few weeks to arrive, this allows you to make a nice package under the Christmas tree. If you have already looked at the online ticket office, the choice is vast with all kinds of packages, combos and others at very different prices. The ideal, in my view, is to take “general admission” access for the three days and to add a seat in the grandstand (Grandstand) for Saturday. We will come back to a suggested schedule later, but the multitude of things to see combined with the high prices for the stands may justify this choice. For the stands, one of the best spots is undoubtedly those located in the Woodcote bend and just before the Chicane, these are logically the most popular, so don't hang around.

Or sleep ?

Another point on which you should not hang around and try to anticipate as soon as the dates are known (and your decision to go there): finding accommodation! The Sussex region is sublime, green and rural. It's pleasant when you walk there, a little less when looking for a bed for the weekend of an event bringing together more than 150,000 people... Everything is good to find: Bed&Breakfast, Hotel, Pub or Airbnb for those who want a real bed. By starting to look you will see that near Goodwood everything is full from year to year for the key dates (Members Meeting, FOS and Revival), do not hesitate to widen the search either towards the South after Chichester on the side from the south coast, from Worthing to Portsmouth via the unmissable Bognor Regis, or further inland going north. Don't be afraid to be 45 mins from the circuit to sleep, the evening and morning journeys are part of the atmosphere with vintage cars absolutely everywhere, pubs decorated with people in period dress, the Revival contaminates the whole region for the greatest pleasure of all. The English are passionate about old cars and share it very well. For the most rooted there is of course the possibility of camping, either on the official campsite of the circuit, outside the visitor car parks with of course plenty of toilets. The atmosphere seems ultra festive, a bit like in the middle of the English at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, pre-war cars rub shoulders with ultra-modern supercars and motorhomes, but a significant point remains the weather. A little reminder, we are in September, in the south of England: so expect to encounter during these 3 days at least a few minutes from each of the 4 seasons. There will necessarily be one or more showers, there will necessarily be a very cool wind for a while with the veiled sun, finally there will necessarily be a short moment with a bright and stinging sun, generally the one during which the photos of pitgirls are taken. in miniskirts and aviator sunglasses on their noses 🙂

How to get to Goodwood?

You now know how long you are staying, where you are sleeping and you have your tickets. But have you already decided how to get there? Obviously the time available before and after as well as your departure location can influence your choice. For some editions, public transport, by old bus, has been organized morning and evening from the main stations of London, a super nice option if you come by Eurostar but a bit restrictive once there since you are on foot. The other option, which is not necessarily more expensive if you book early in advance, is to take a plane (British Airways is not more expensive than Easyjet several weeks in advance) and then a rental car. The Goodwood area is less than 2 hours' drive on the wrong side of the road from London's main airports, the nearest being Gatwick already well to the south and avoiding a perilous crossing around the capital. Another opportunity that promises a complete holiday is to come by car, old or modern. The road from Dover if you're more of a boat or Folkestone if you're more of a Shuttle via the south coast of England is magnificent. We alternate views of the English Channel and crossings of small typical villages, all interspersed with green hills (yes, no drought in the UK). As a bonus, the closer you get to the Goodwood area, the more the number of vintage cars increases, both in pub car parks, in front of service stations and in circulation, a real treat. Indeed the small downside remains driving on the other side of the road, it requires a little more attention and generates a little more fatigue, but this ride of about 200 km is really worth it! Finally, last option which is certainly the classiest of all, arriving by plane. And yes the Goodwood circuit was traced on the paths that surround the 2 runways of the aerodrome of the same name, and good news these, in grass, are still functional. Be careful though, the traffic is busy during the weekend, between the arrivals of VIPs by plane or helicopter, flight demonstrations with historic planes, landings and take-offs follow one another. In addition to the significant time saving, the arrival in Goodwood by air must reserve a breathtaking and incredible view.

And how do we dress?

As you can see from the photos of the event, the spectators greatly contribute to the atmosphere by playing the game of period dress. We find from all eras until the end of the 60s even if some hippies, probably ahead of their time, manage to slip into the crowd. The women compete in elegance while the men are divided between soldiers, mechanics and bow ties / ties. Do not invest in a Gucci checkered suit for the occasion either, remember that everything happens outdoors, in the grass or even in the mud when the rain persists. So Emmaüs or an equivalent thrift store can give you a good opportunity to "disguise" at a lower cost. For the more last-minute among you, every small English village has at least one charity shop that can help you out. On the shoe side, think comfort before look, avoiding orange Nikes anyway, because you will be doing miles over the weekend! But please make the effort to play the game, you will see that the experience is even more intense when you are part of the scenery, and the "modern" people are so few that they are ultimately the ones who get noticed.

Once there, where to go, what to see?

Regarding the schedule over the 3 days of the event, there are so many things to see that it is better to try to build a battle plan. The detailed program of races and other demonstrations is already online on the official website here: https://www.goodwood.com/flagship-events/goodwood-revival/plan-your-day/timetable/

So, according to your preferences, you can set the times of the races you don't want to miss, for me the first of the weekend, the Kinkara Trophy on Friday evening ending at nightfall, the 2 races of St Mary's Trophy and the RAC TT on Sunday at the start of the afternoon are truly unmissable… but all the others are just as exciting, lively and bringing together legendary cars and drivers. If you don't know yet which board includes what, all the details are here: https://www.goodwood.com/grrc/event-coverage/goodwood-revival/2017/7/goodwood-revival-2017-races-revealed /In short, it's hard not to want to watch them all, but there is so much to see and do around the track.

First of all, the “Over the road” zone, on the other side of the road, between the car parks and the circuit enclosure. There is a parking lot for cars from before 1971, often full of treasures, a period funfair of course, several food courts bringing together something to satisfy young and old whatever their preferences. There is also the space dedicated to the Bonhams auction and above all dozens and dozens of stands, sellers of parts and accessories, cars, tools, hairdressers and barbers to perfect your look and even a few official stands of brands including Caterham, Jaguar Land-Rover Classic and many others.

Once on the other side of the road, you can enter the enclosure of the circuit and there too the sources of distraction are multiple, starting with the many aisles of the Revival Market where there are many automobilia stands offering books , accessories, paintings, clothes or even official stands such as Michelin, Porsche, Shell, … in short enough to spend several hours sneaking from one stand to another. If we progress a little further without letting ourselves be attracted by a new restaurant area, food eh not old car, two options are available to us: pass under the straight line by one of the 2 pedestrian tunnels and discover the inflied, either continue around the circuit. The tour of the circuit will allow you to reach one of the many spectator areas, often decorated with a giant screen to follow the race and not miss any of the action, but also some agricultural activities at the bottom of the circuit and a few more food court areas. A shuttle service, elegant trailers attached to pre-1966 tractors, like everything on the circuit, will relieve you for the long transhumances from one end of the circuit to the other.

Inside the circuit we find all the paddocks, largely accessible to all. Only the part just behind the stands is reserved for the happy few, but there is plenty to satisfy with the rest! A few shops including the official GRRC, another barber and hairdresser, food courts, ice cream, tea or champagne sellers, no, frankly, there is everything you need. A little further on, just before the aviation part, you can discover “hard” buildings, those of the Rolls and Mini garages and the central Earl's Court building which offers a car show. The show combines a central thematic exhibition and manufacturer stands all around sharing the 2017 model and the old model. A good place to warm up or stay dry during a downpour, especially since the models on display are often worth the detour!

Then, continuing to move forward, we cross a few paddocks again to reach the Freddie March Spirit of Aviation, which, as its name suggests, brings together a rather impressive panel of planes! And do not believe that the exhibition is static since the demonstrations in flight follow one another several times a day between the races. For an aviation enthusiast it is an incredible place in which he is likely to spend several hours. Special mention to the Friday evening combat demonstration during which 2 Sptifires perform truly spectacular acrobatics aboard these legends.

A final suggestion?

Before concluding this looong collection of information, one last suggestion on the weekend schedule. If Saturday must be centered on the action on the track, take advantage of Friday to do all the extras, there are a little less people and it immerses you in the atmosphere while waiting for the first race of the evening. If you haven't seen everything, you will be able to complete the Sunday between 2 races, exciting you a little less. Finally, be aware that if the circuit closes its doors approximately 30 minutes after the last race, the entire Over the road zone remains in operation until 10:00 p.m.-10:30 p.m. In the evening the music and the beer will prolong the party a little, if on the other hand you want to eat in a pub in the surrounding villages, do not hang around too much because the kitchens close early and the reservations are numerous.

Hoping that these few lines will help you make the most of the Revival, and the pleasure of meeting there, among the 150,000 people present over the weekend. I will be easy to recognize, a tweed jacket, a tie and a beret…Enjoy the magical step back in the past! And for those who won't get wet in the UK this weekend, as with every event, all the races are broadcast live on the GGRC's YouTube account.

https://youtu.be/JUJIIaFG404/

Photo credit @ Ambroise Brosselin