Reflections on this year’s Revival.
Discussion
Is it me being a bit ‘meh’ but I didn’t really get a wow from Revival this year. Sure the crowd were good as ever, the cars were good, but there didn’t seem to be much in the way of wow. Maybe we were spoilt by the train last year, but where were the cast members, the strolling singers, the St Trinians, 1960’s themed stuff?
It all seemed a bit flat ..... maybe it’ll
be better tomorrow?
It all seemed a bit flat ..... maybe it’ll
be better tomorrow?
Just got back home. I get where you're coming from - I've initially thought that on several occasions (I first went in '98). But if I'm honest, each Revival experience was well worth it if you assess it after the event. For example, I rocked up today and headed over to the paddock and thought the driver's club area (a bunch of caravans) was pretty lame compared to other years. Within half an hour of fearing the worst, I'd met Jeff Gordon, the sun was (really) shining and I watched several batches of amazing cars gather in the assembly area. And that last couple of hours around the circuit in the setting sun was magical. I think keeping this event relevant to the real enthusiasts is harder than we think. Hopefully you'll have a top weekend, and like me, keep that September date free in your diary for 2020...
I thought yesterday was bloody brilliant. Last year and this year are the first time I’ve returned to the Revival in about 10yrs. We stopped going because it got too busy and too 60s actorish silly.
The balance Charlie boy has struck now is superb. Everybody was happy, smiling, very warm and in a thoroughly good mood.
The 2 downsides for me were the shopping area - yes the pop up shops are cool, but my God it’s packed in with the stalls. It just feels far too claustrophobic. I much much prefer the open format of the MM.
The other downside is the lack of Air. The idiots responsible for killing airshows have caused this and it has destroyed half of the Revival for me. I am so glad I used to attend when the Air component was as vital a part as the car and “girly stuff”. We are a long way removed from the Hannas
Apart from that though, at the end of the day - Charlie knows how to throw one hell of a Castrol R garden party and that’s spot on with me!
Standing on Madgewick as the sun set and watching the big Healey sideways trying desperately to mix it with way out of its league E-Types...pure Carly Simon 😎👍🥂
The balance Charlie boy has struck now is superb. Everybody was happy, smiling, very warm and in a thoroughly good mood.
The 2 downsides for me were the shopping area - yes the pop up shops are cool, but my God it’s packed in with the stalls. It just feels far too claustrophobic. I much much prefer the open format of the MM.
The other downside is the lack of Air. The idiots responsible for killing airshows have caused this and it has destroyed half of the Revival for me. I am so glad I used to attend when the Air component was as vital a part as the car and “girly stuff”. We are a long way removed from the Hannas
Apart from that though, at the end of the day - Charlie knows how to throw one hell of a Castrol R garden party and that’s spot on with me!
Standing on Madgewick as the sun set and watching the big Healey sideways trying desperately to mix it with way out of its league E-Types...pure Carly Simon 😎👍🥂
I thought the random arrival of 3 Apaches and a Lynx, yesterday was interesting. Getting to meet Jeff Gordon was fun. The weather was astounding, for this time in September, and watching the Kinrara trophy race was a big highlight. I miss the air displays, but I think the moaners, and Elf n Safety have finally got their way with this now, unfortunately. I think the event is constantly evolving, and that’s a good thing. I’m looking forward to the next 2 days now.
GOATever said:
I thought the random arrival of 3 Apaches and a Lynx, yesterday was interesting. Getting to meet Jeff Gordon was fun. The weather was astounding, for this time in September, and watching the Kinrara trophy race was a big highlight. I miss the air displays, but I think the moaners, and Elf n Safety have finally got their way with this now, unfortunately. I think the event is constantly evolving, and that’s a good thing. I’m looking forward to the next 2 days now.
Was very random (although before someone moans it’s a wildcat not a lynx)
I got to talk to Karun Chandhok today. I asked him, “ if you could take a time machine to any Grand Prix, and drive any Grand Prix Car, in any race, ever, which would you choose”. Unsurprisingly, he chose late 80’s early 90’s Williams and Ferrari cars. Good lad. That’s made my weekend now.
DeejRC said:
I thought yesterday was bloody brilliant. Last year and this year are the first time I’ve returned to the Revival in about 10yrs. We stopped going because it got too busy and too 60s actorish silly.
The balance Charlie boy has struck now is superb. Everybody was happy, smiling, very warm and in a thoroughly good mood.
The 2 downsides for me were the shopping area - yes the pop up shops are cool, but my God it’s packed in with the stalls. It just feels far too claustrophobic. I much much prefer the open format of the MM.
The other downside is the lack of Air. The idiots responsible for killing airshows have caused this and it has destroyed half of the Revival for me. I am so glad I used to attend when the Air component was as vital a part as the car and “girly stuff”. We are a long way removed from the Hannas
Apart from that though, at the end of the day - Charlie knows how to throw one hell of a Castrol R garden party and that’s spot on with me!
Standing on Madgewick as the sun set and watching the big Healey sideways trying desperately to mix it with way out of its league E-Types...pure Carly Simon ??????
I went first in 2009 and it was the most atmospheric and delightful event imaginable with cars, aircraft, people dressed like my aunts and uncles used to - fabulous. In 2017 we drowned in rain, and bogged in mud in the car park so we have last year a miss. We almost went to the Castle Combe Grand Final this year instead but the free tickets courtesy of PH saw us there yesterday instead. Not the same asThe balance Charlie boy has struck now is superb. Everybody was happy, smiling, very warm and in a thoroughly good mood.
The 2 downsides for me were the shopping area - yes the pop up shops are cool, but my God it’s packed in with the stalls. It just feels far too claustrophobic. I much much prefer the open format of the MM.
The other downside is the lack of Air. The idiots responsible for killing airshows have caused this and it has destroyed half of the Revival for me. I am so glad I used to attend when the Air component was as vital a part as the car and “girly stuff”. We are a long way removed from the Hannas
Apart from that though, at the end of the day - Charlie knows how to throw one hell of a Castrol R garden party and that’s spot on with me!
Standing on Madgewick as the sun set and watching the big Healey sideways trying desperately to mix it with way out of its league E-Types...pure Carly Simon ??????
it was certainly, but superb nonetheless. Next year is a probable.
I went yesterday, my first time and thought it was brilliant, well worth the long drive down after missing my alarm! I specifically wanted t go this year as the three surviving Beatles' Mini Coopers were gathered together for the first time in decades, possibly my only chance of seeing them as such. As it turned out Macca's car was elsewhere on site so I missed it. I probably spent a good hour wandering around the car park before going in, taking in the wonderful variety of classics, the number of Aston DB4s, 5s and 6s took my breath away.
Busy as hell by midday but a great atmosphere, of course this being my first time I've nothing to compare it too but I'll certainly be going next year, might do the whole weekend if I can get the time off and hopefully get a Paddock pass too.
In my head I must have 'spent' about £4m, but in reality just a few quid on tea, beer and grub!
Busy as hell by midday but a great atmosphere, of course this being my first time I've nothing to compare it too but I'll certainly be going next year, might do the whole weekend if I can get the time off and hopefully get a Paddock pass too.
In my head I must have 'spent' about £4m, but in reality just a few quid on tea, beer and grub!
Edited by P5BNij on Saturday 14th September 12:33
Edited by P5BNij on Saturday 14th September 12:34
P5BNij said:
In my head I must have 'spent' about £4m, but in reality just a few quid on tea, beer and grub!
You may trigger the 'everything is too expensive at Goodwood brigade' with that comment. 
It was a fabulous day yesterday. I think the steam train at the main entrance last year was so astonishing that whatever they followed it with was going to be a disappointment as it was not as if they could go 'bigger'. The 60's thing worked well but only once it got busy. The Italian Job film set in Earls Court was brilliant and a welcome new twist.
Lister-Jaguar 'Knobbly' by realjv, on Flickr
Edited by realjv on Saturday 14th September 14:56
I really, really hated it this year.
TBH, I'm over the fancy dress nonsense, the cost, the crowds, the irritating old biddies with feather dusters, the cost, the stalls selling fur coats, the false-ness of it all. It just annoys me now from start to finish. But then, I did have to go with the wife.
Love the cars, love the bikes... actually, I really love the cars. All the rest of it I could just live without
TBH, I'm over the fancy dress nonsense, the cost, the crowds, the irritating old biddies with feather dusters, the cost, the stalls selling fur coats, the false-ness of it all. It just annoys me now from start to finish. But then, I did have to go with the wife.
Love the cars, love the bikes... actually, I really love the cars. All the rest of it I could just live without
Nik da Greek said:
I really, really hated it this year.
TBH, I'm over the fancy dress nonsense, the cost, the crowds, the irritating old biddies with feather dusters, the cost, the stalls selling fur coats, the false-ness of it all. It just annoys me now from start to finish. But then, I did have to go with the wife.
Love the cars, love the bikes... actually, I really love the cars. All the rest of it I could just live without
You’d love the Silverstone Classic. It’s much more up your street I think, or the Oulton Park international gold cup. They are more about a bacon bap, and some historic racing. If you want the primo drivers / riders, and primo cars / bikes, the Revival is it, there’s nothing above it really, you just have to put up with the pantomime, and the fancy dress bit. It’s easy to ‘squelch out’ the B.S. once you’ve been a few times, then you’re left with the amazing car / bike / rider / driver line up, which is what I’m there for, personally speaking. The fancy dress, and ‘faux military’ thing, although pertinent to an extent, does get over done, by the ‘fat brass’ brigade. That’s just the way it goes unfortunately. You have to take the rough, to get the ( amazing ) smooth.TBH, I'm over the fancy dress nonsense, the cost, the crowds, the irritating old biddies with feather dusters, the cost, the stalls selling fur coats, the false-ness of it all. It just annoys me now from start to finish. But then, I did have to go with the wife.
Love the cars, love the bikes... actually, I really love the cars. All the rest of it I could just live without
Sorting through all of my photos from yesterday and this is my fav so far (With none of that fancy dress nonsense)
Maserati 6CM by realjv, on Flickr
9.3 said:
Maybe we were spoilt by the train last year, but where were the cast members, the strolling singers, the St Trinians, 1960’s themed stuff?
Hmm- that stuff is why I now go to the MM - , call me Mr Grumpy Anorak but I go to race meetings because, y'know, I like racing . But panto? Not so much 
I have been to the revival a few times now but Friday was the best ever and I'm not sure how I will top it in future.
My wife and I were lucky enough to be in the Ford hospitality area quite early in the day when one of the Ford organizers came in and asked if anybody wanted a passenger trip in one of their GT40s doing a parade lap.
Needless to say my hand was in the air in a millisecond and I was quickly taken down to the the end of the pit lane to be introduced to the driver of the GT40 which was a car from the Ford heritage collection.
My wife came with me to take photos and when we got there the organisers said there was a second GT40 with an empty seat if my wife wanted to go out on the track in that one as well.
What an amazing and unexpected experience doing a lap of the track in one of my dream cars.
I got to ride in this red one from the Ford heritage collection.
My wife went around the track in this maroon car which was privately owned by a US collector.
Top marks to Goodwood for a brilliant event yet again and also to Ford for providing a dream experience.
My wife and I were lucky enough to be in the Ford hospitality area quite early in the day when one of the Ford organizers came in and asked if anybody wanted a passenger trip in one of their GT40s doing a parade lap.
Needless to say my hand was in the air in a millisecond and I was quickly taken down to the the end of the pit lane to be introduced to the driver of the GT40 which was a car from the Ford heritage collection.
My wife came with me to take photos and when we got there the organisers said there was a second GT40 with an empty seat if my wife wanted to go out on the track in that one as well.
What an amazing and unexpected experience doing a lap of the track in one of my dream cars.
I got to ride in this red one from the Ford heritage collection.
My wife went around the track in this maroon car which was privately owned by a US collector.
Top marks to Goodwood for a brilliant event yet again and also to Ford for providing a dream experience.
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