The Goodwood Revival

There are huge amounts of money tied to the promotion and affiliation of various companies in and around motorsport, but the thing that has always made motorsport popular and exciting -- the glue that binds competitors and spectators alike -- is the heat of battle, close fought competition and the personalities and passion that can keep entire nations on the edges of their seats.

The Goodwood Revival is a unique motorsport festival in the UK that celebrates everything that was noble about motorsport; the good old days if you will.

The event takes an historic view of competition, only allowing vehicles to compete on the Goodwood motor racing circuit that hail from the 1950s and 60s, when racing was considered a gentleman's sport.

Classic cars and motorcycles compete in the dozens of different races and events, separated by vehicle class, and so strict is the policy of 'classic only' that no modern vehicles are allowed within the perimeter of the race track throughout the three days of the festival (except probably ambulances).

Held in September every year, a large number of festival goers regularly take the classic ethos to the next level, dressing up in costumes faithful to the period - sometimes known as the golden era of motor racing - which adds another captivating element to the Goodwood Revival.

Some of the famous names who have recently competed at the Revival include the late Peter Brock, Sir Stirling Moss, David Coulthard, Damon Hill, Sir Jack Brabham, Johnny Herbert, Gerhard Berger, and Giacomo Agostini,

This year's event runs between the September 16 and 18 and even historic aircraft at Goodwood's airfields add to the atmosphere.

Not to be confused with one of the world's best - if not the best - motorsport festival, the Goodwood Festival of Speed is more of a mainstream event and attracts larger crowds as a result. Motoring.com.au attended the 2011 Goodwood Festival of Speed, and it was an event that beggars belief, which makes us all the more excited about attending the Revival this year.

As the Goodwood Revival team eloquently puts it, "The Goodwood Revival really is a magical step back in time, a unique chance to revel in the glamour and allure of motor racing in the romantic time capsule of the golden era of motor racing at one of the world’s most authentic circuits."

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