2021 Goodwood Revival: Racing to Yesteryear

© Mike Meredith, Automotive Content Experience 2021 Goodwood Revival
Throughout the year, fans of vintage race cars and racing attend special “historic” events to witness cars of former glory in action again on modern-day racetracks. However, experiencing the 2021 Goodwood Revival in England is more like stepping back in time to an era when cars first roared around the Goodwood Motor Circuit in the years following World War II.

© Michael Shaffer / Subaru of America Restored Glory
The Goodwood circuit has been meticulously restored to its former heyday — from the pit lane to the grandstands — but what makes the Goodwood Revival truly unique is its nostalgic flair. Participants and spectators alike embrace the spirit of the event and dress in period attire to complete the experience. At the invitation of Subaru of America, we attended the 2021 Goodwood Revival to take a step back in time and experience Goodwood — and cars of the era — in all their glory.

© Michael Shaffer / Subaru of America Period Vehicles
In addition to the period race cars and motorcycles on the track, the Goodwood Revival takes great efforts to ensure all support and transportation vehicles in the paddock and around the venue are from the same era as the original Goodwood Motor Circuit as well. Goodwood still has an active airfield at the center of the circuit, and the one exception to the vintage vehicles and surroundings are the helicopters that arrive and depart throughout the day, transporting participants and spectators to and from the event.

© Michael Shaffer / Subaru of America Goodwood Motor Circuit
The Goodwood Revival takes place at Goodwood Motor Circuit, located on the site of Royal Air Force Westhampnett airfield, which was home to a number of Spitfire squadrons during World War II. After the war, the airbase was closed and the current Duke’s grandfather, the ninth Duke of Richmond, known as Freddie March, created a racing circuit from the perimeter roads around the airfield. An amateur racer himself, when March opened the circuit in September 1948 and hosted Britain’s first professionally organized post-war racing event, he piloted a Bristol 400 in front of 15,000 spectators.

© Mike Meredith, Automotive Content Experience Restoration and Revival
Over the next 18 years, Goodwood became one of the most popular racing circuits in the world. The track officially closed in 1966, but in September 1998 the Goodwood Revival was born, featuring vehicles from the same era as the Goodwood circuit, which underwent a restoration to turn back the hands of time so the track and surroundings appear the same as they did 50 years earlier.

© Michael Shaffer / Subaru of America 2021 Goodwood Revival Highlights
The land and the event are currently owned by the grandson of Freddie March — Charles Gordon-Lennox, also known as Lord March. When the Goodwood Revival began in 1998, Lord March drove the circuit in the same Bristol 400 his grandfather had raced in 1948 — a circuit indeed. Enjoy these highlights from the 2021 Goodwood Revival.