The Goodwood Revival
The Goodwood Revival - a photographic journey
Part one – The Olympus Years.
Report by David Harbey
As a regular at pretty much every Goodwood Revival since it launched in 1998, it’s fair to say that it has been my favourite race meeting over the years. As I have had more time to devote to photography of late, I have come to value the unrivalled access and angles that Goodwood offers the spectator with a camera. In this retrospective, we will look at 1998 to 2015 – my Olympus years.
When Lord March decided to re-open the Goodwood race circuit in 1998 there was much anticipation given the experience of the excellent Festival of Speed weekends. Some 50 years since it first hosted racing in 1948 and 32 years since the last race in 1966, the Revival was designed as a “magical step back in time” and sought to re-capture the spirit of 50s / 60s motorsport.
The circuit was “dressed” appropriately, emergency vehicles were hidden under camouflage netting and period wear was encouraged.
It was a tour de force and by presenting old cars racing on a fast and demanding circuit with little or no fencing, ‘is Lordship was on to a winner. There’s another link to the past that makes it even better for me – brought up as I was as a small boy in the sixties on stories of WW2.
Yes, I did subsequently discover it was rather less romantic than Reach for the Sky, the Battle of Britain, The Wooden Horse and the Victor comic might at times have suggested
Goodwood race circuit was RAF Westhampnett, sister airfield to RAF Tangmere from where Douglas Bader flew his Spitfire. Aircraft, primarily from the second world war have been a feature of the Revival, with flypasts and aerial displays.
If the sound of a Merlin engine in a Spitfire or Mustang comes close to a V12 Ferrari – then the Revival was the place to be !
We missed the first Festival of Speed, but had been regular visitors in subsequent years and thus when the Revival was announced on the weekend before my 40th birthday, there was no argument – we were going !
We could only do the Saturday and thus with limited time and three small children in tow, the camera (an Olympus OM2n at the time) was not taken.
We returned in subsequent years, typically for the Saturday of the weekend and continued to enjoy all that the Revival had to offer.
The event programme continued to feature classic photos from Goodwood’s past and the cover of the racecard was inspired by events such as the Goodwood Nine-Hours.
In 2006, I’d bought my first DSLR – an Olympus E500 - probably inspired by my previous ownership of an Olympus OM2n. With a maximum focal length of 150mm on the longer zoom, I rarely used it at places like Silverstone but Goodwood with its proximity to the track and lack of fences was heaven.
By now the event programme had succumbed to the “creatives” and had gone somewhat off the wall on the cover.
The racing remained as good as ever – lap one at Madgwick in the Richmond Trophy with Gary Pearson in the BRM 25 in the lead. Those were the days when you could see three Ferrari Dinos, two Lancia D50s and four Maserati 250Fs in the race. I took rather less photos in those days.
Moving on to 2007 sees my first photos from my, now favourite, spots at Goodwood – out in the country anywhere between Fordwater and Lavant. Here we see RAC TT Celebration at No Name corner. The threshing machine in the background is a regular feature at the Revival.
As with the 50s Grand Prix cars above, some cars are rarely seen racing at Revivals these days – so enjoy the sight of the Ferrari 330LMB (#18) and the Ferrari 250GTO/64. Perhaps these were the best days of the Revival.
As we get into more action photography it is perhaps worth directing you to PistonClick’s spectator snappers guide to Goodwood which can be found here -Goodwood
There you will see a later shot of the Bryant’s AC Cobra (GPG4C) which is a regular competitor in the TT and has led the race more than once, but is yet to secure the elusive win.
By 2010, I was spending a little more time photographing racing rather than just watching. I was still using the action sports setting and hadn’t yet sorted out the slower shutter speed, blurry wheels / background, that I really like these days.
However, there are angles where the faster shutter speed is not an issue – getting to your spot on the front row in time can be though ! Here we see, through the crowd, a rear three-quarter shot of Jochen Mass in the Lancia D50 in the Richmond Trophy. Hubert Fabri in the Aston Martin DBR4 leads James Wood down the main straight in the HWM.
I was still at Madgwick in the midst of the crowd for the start of the TT Celebration – a fabulous sight and sound as the field snarls and screams its way down to Madgwick. Indeed, one of the best in motorsport !
There’s a nice shot of the cars as they head through Madgwick – perhaps with a little Dutch Tilt added for emphasis. Of course, not everyone gets it right through the challenging double apex right. The Wilkinson / Needell E Type spins for the assembled accredited snappers lined up on the bank (doesn’t look like Tiff’s trademark orange helmet).
There’s also the Bryant’s Cobra this time with Nic Minassian sharing with Olly Bryant.
2011 saw many more photos taken and dramatic weather to end the TT Celebration. It also saw the presence of Sally B – the Memphis Belle B17 Flying Fortress - in the Freddie March Spirit of Aviation display.
I did wonder about a heavy bomber landing at Goodwood, but the grass airstrip and relatively short runway requirements proved to be no problem at all.
This year also saw the first “one-make” race – not entirely welcomed in some quarters – to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the E-type Jaguar. This is the Mark & James Gibbon “semi-lightweight spec” photographed on one of my rare visits to the paddock.
The support races saw a close battle in the Earl of March Trophy for 500cc Formula 3 cars raced in the 50s. Sam Wilson (#12) beat Gordon Russell (#67) by a mere 0.392 seconds.
Former F1 racer Arturo Merzario shared the Abarth 1000TC with Mauro Borella complete with open boot – for cooling or aerodynamic advantage ? Jaguars and Minis rarely fail to impress in the St Mary’s Trophy.
Qualifying for the TT Celebration always takes place around midday on Saturday. Tom Kristensen (9 times Le Mans winner) was sharing the gorgeous Cobra Daytona Coupe with Kenny Brack (Indy 500 winner) and was not hanging around on the way to pole.
Second race on Sunday morning was the Richmond Trophy. The end of an era with two of the last front engine Formula cars from 1960. The Ferrari 246 Dino (#12) stood firm to Enzo’s ideal that the horses should be at the front, whilst Cooper and Lotus were leading the rear engine revolution.
By contrast, the Ferguson-Climax P99 (#99) attempted to exploit four wheel drive to gain an advantage but it is probably fair to say that this was only successful in the wet. Stuart Rolt (son of creator Tony Rolt) drives here.
The TT took place in changing conditions. Heading out to St Mary’s from the Lavant Grandstand with my friend Jonathan, I grabbed the umbrella. By the time the cars were on their first lap it was looking ominous …
Nevertheless, the drivers entertained us – the exit of St Marys being a particularly good spot when just a little too much throttle is applied … this is the Vincent Gaye / David Franklin Ferrari 250 GT SWB/C
Then the promised rain arrived and Jonathan and I held the brolly for each other while we grabbed shots of cars in the rain (the OpTech rainsleeve camera cover had yet to make an appearance). It was probably these images that confirmed by love of snapping motorsport in the rain.
Here we see the green GTO of Bamford / de Cadenet, the Ferrari Breadvan of Werner and Minassian and the winning Cobra of Brack and Kristensen. Oh, and Jonathan has a copy of the Breadvan photo on his study wall.
Onto 2012 and innovations continue. After qualifying on Friday, there was a new 90 minute two driver race in the spirit of the Goodwood Nine Hour races for early 50s sports cars. With glorious light it made a superb end to the day, although someone here might not agree …
The air displays were still regular features on each day, including this time the Lancaster from the Battle of Britain flight. MH434, the Old Flying Machines’ Spitfire, and Ferocious Frankie (P51 Mustang) put on superb display. Oh, and there was a separate display of four Spitfires.
In those pre-Shoreham days, standing at Madgwick meant you were on the flight path for landing aircraft and could get shots like this one of Ferocious Frankie.
Another constant feature has been recognition of anniversaries – both drivers and marques – or celebration of key eras in racing. In 2012, among other things, the Silver Arrows - the exquisitely engineered Auto Unions and Mercedes that dominated Grand Prix in the late 30s. Drivers of the calibre of Jackie Ickx and Jackie Stewart, among others, were on hand to drive.
AND, there was racing ! AC Cobras were awarded the “one make” race this time - David Hart / Tom Coronel finishing second in a car that would become a familiar sight for Revival spectators over subsequent years.
Andy Middlehurst romped to victory in the Glover Trophy in the Lotus 25 while Barrie Williams was out in the Tojeiro Jaguar in the final race of the weekend, the Sussex Trophy.
By 2013, I was really getting the photography bug again. We did the full weekend – Friday practice and the evening race; Saturday races and TT qualifying and Sunday races. In the air were Spitfire, Mustang, Lancaster and Canberra and there was a Tour de France centenary celebration – two leisurely laps led by Sir Chris Hoy and Amanda Stretton.
On Friday we wandered round the paddock before the race started at dusk. I prefer snapping moving racing cars, but there are interesting shots to be had – Christian Horner (sharing a 250SWB with Jackie Oliver and no mean driver in his own right) and Adrian Newey (sharing his GT40 in 2013’s “one make” race with Kenny Brack).
There’s also interesting images to be had as the cars return to the holding area after the race / practice session. Max Werner exchanges notes following Richmond Trophy practice.
Julian Bronson’s Scarab had a slight coming together in qualifying, but all was sorted for the race where another coming together meant he only finished fourth, one place ahead of Werner.
Madgwick was the chosen location for TT qualifying and the other races on Saturday. Jochen Mass, regular Revival visitor was enjoying himself in Clive Joy’s 250SWB and Tom Coronel was exploring the limits in David Hart’s Cobra.
Frank Stippler meanwhile was killing giants in the Alfa Romeo 1600 GTA finishing just behind Tom Kristensen in the Galaxie – that was enough to give Stippler / Furiani the aggregate win.
Ford GT40s are regularly seen in historic racing, but the MkIV, the same type that won in 1967 in the hands of Foyt and Gurney is much less prevalent. Indeed, I am not sure I had seen one race before that weekend.
At this point, we perhaps do need to take a step back. With the ever increasing prices of rare race cars, combined with the desire to win, not everything is as you see it. There are now tool room copies racing, cars constructed on similar chassis / running gear or, as is the case for this Ford (chassis #J12), made up from a spare chassis so never raced at Le Mans. There’s talk of carbon fibre parts on cars, chassis are considerably stiffer than in period, engines are rebuilt to the finest tolerances and tyres are much improved.
Some people feel this devalues the sport and (inevitably) it does lead to an arms race in engine power – the more you spend, the more you get. For me, I treat references to the “most expensive grid in the world” with a pinch, nay a barrel, of salt and sit back and enjoy the racing. Trigger’s Broom was, of course, completely original apart from the five new handles and three new heads – likewise with racing cars, few of with are truly original.
Anyway, enjoy the classic shape of the 1967 Le Mans winning Ford MKIV …
To the main race, the TT, on Sunday and the weather did a 2012 repeat. Starting in the dry and then raining mid race. In the dry, at St Marys, the Fisken / Hardman E-type rattled the kerbs on a regular basis while the Bryants, father and son this year, were taking a more conservative line.
Following a safety car, pit stops and the arrival of the rain, Simon Hadfield found the beautiful Aston Martin Project 212 he was sharing with owner Wolfgang Friedrichs in the lead. Normally a mid field runner, the rain suited the car and they took the victory from Anthony Reid and Chris (Top Gear) Harris in the Lister Jaguar and the Bryants in GPG4C.
2014 was another full weekend like the previous year. This was the year of the Canadian Lancaster visit to the UK and like many around the country we were privileged to see the two flying together. In the Spirit of Aviation area was “My Oregon Lady” a stunning 1954 Beechcraft BE50 Twin Bonanza in chrome.
Walking the track both days provided lots of new shots – a rear shot into Lavant for Mark Gillies in ERA R3A. A close up of Sam Wilson in the Lotus Ford 20 and Derek Bell, six times Le Mans winner in Clive Joy’s Ferrari 250SWB both at St Marys. Finally, a close up of Olly Bryant in my favourite TT car …
There were two “one make” celebrations this year – firstly D-type Jaguars to celebrate their 60th anniversary. I was clearly starting to think about my photography – the first photo of Ben Eastick (#9) was taken at 1/500th but the Christian Glasel (#14) and John Young (#24) are both at 1/160th – about time too, you may cry !
The other “one make” race was for small block V8 saloons so early 60s Mustangs and the like. They made a fine sight heading into No Name corner just before St Marys. Here, the Mass / Shepherd car harries the Jackson / Mann car (resplendent in Alan Mann red and gold) with the crowd keeping an eye on the dice.
There was midfield action with the Bryant / Jordan Plymouth Barracuda (or is it Baccaruda, pop quizzers ?) bringing some variety.
David Hart finally got his TT win in the Cobra (#2) sharing the car with ex-F1 driver Guido van der Garde – here seen in a typical mid-corner drift. The final race of the day was for the Freddie March Memorial Trophy for early 50s sportscars. The cars are heading into Woodcote, the long right hander after the Lavant (nearly but not quite) Straight.
Sam Hancock in the Cunningham CR4 (#14) leads eventual winner Darren McWhirter in his Lagonda V12 Le Mans (#49). In the third photo of Mark Midgely in his Aston Martin DB3 (#34), you can see the assembled WW2 military vehicles – another regular feature of the Revival
The final year with the venerable E500 was at the 2015 Revival as it turned out. Friday afternoon was again paddock time with some neat shots as the cars headed to the collecting area for the evening race. The Manuel Elicabe Maserati A6GCS (#20) and the Christopher Mann Alfa Romeo 3000 “Disco Volante” (#1) are seen here. Shutter speeds are down to 1/60th and 1/40th respectively.
We headed to Woodcote for the start of the race. Early frontrunners were the Lindsay / Shuckburgh Cunningham C4R (#14) and the Will Nuthall / Tony Wood RGS Atalanta (#31) who eventually finished 2nd
The creative urge then took over as the light dimmed – hand held at 1/5th second produces some interesting effects …
Saturday morning and its Italian car day at Madgwick – Tony Smith’s Tipo B (#3), Marco Cajani’s 1900 CSS Zagato (#2) and finally Chris (Top Gear) Harris in the Howard (Take That) Donald Porsche 356 (#28) leading Louise Kennedy’s Aurelia
The 500cc Formula 3 machines were out again in 2015. The driver leaning their body into the corner seems to help – in some cases reaching out and under the car ! Whilst these aren’t the quickest cars on the track, the need to maintain momentum means that the racing can be close.
As has become traditional, it was off to St Mary’s for the TT Celebration race. Really getting into the lower shutter speeds now with the Calleja / Bowe Corvette (#44) taken at 1/125th and the Bryant Cobra at 1/160th – the latter finishing second.
Looking back to No Name corner sees the Bamford / de Cadenet 250 GTO/64 hunting down the Reichman / Goble Aston Martin DB4GT.
The final race of the weekend was for late 50s sportscars and, in warm evening light, Bobby Verdon-Rowe had a tremendous battle to the win in the Ferrari 246S Dino (#3). In our parting shot, Gary Pearson in the D-type chases Roberto Giordanelli in the Lister Jaguar Knobbly into Madgwick.
So concludes my Olympus years. It provided me with a good introduction to digital photography, but by 2016 would be replaced by a Nikon. It did however provide a similar introduction for my son, Andrew, until he replaced it last year.
The Nikon years will follow shortly …
POSTSCRIPT
Of course, no report on the Revival would be complete without including Sir Stirling Moss. A supporter of the event from the start (it was of course, the scene of his career ending accident in 1962) until ill health restricted his attendance in recent years.
Here he is seen with Roy Salvadori in the Aston Martin DB3S and in Fangio’s Mercedes 300SLR
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