Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s death on 8 September put the United Kingdom on hold, a sombre week of national mourning providing an opportunity to reflect on an extraordinary 70-year reign. With protocols observed, the 24th Revival went ahead with union flags fluttering respectfully at half-mast above Goodwood’s pits, moving tributes from the Duke of Richmond and Gordon, and heavy gun salutes followed by the observation of a minute’s silence before racing.
Over three gloriously warm sunny days, during which the lightest of natural tears from the sky occasionally anointed the scene, the roar of Rolls-Royce Merlin V12s as three Spitfires and a Hurricane wheeled overhead the former RAF Westhampnett aerodrome, while the shriek of a magnificent BRM V16 traced its now-hallowed perimeter track.
Pilgrims from around the world, in all their finery, experienced everything great about the peerless event, not least superb racing among arguably the best entry this century.
Remembering Freddie March, the current Duke’s Brooklands Double Twelve race-winning grandfather who brought racing to Goodwood in 1948 at Australian pilot Tony Gaze’s suggestion, Friday’s one-hour race into a magnificent pink-flecked sunset over Chichester celebrated its Nine Hours events of 1952, 1953 and 1955. This time, Jaguar C-types prevailed.
Nick Finburgh planted Guy Harman’s ex-Cyril Wick Cooper-Jaguar T33 on pole, by a whisker from Sam Hancock, but its owner jumped the start, incurring a 10-second penalty. Harman stayed ahead
