Power dressing

Costume matters almost as much as carburettors at the uniquely theatrical Revival meeting

Last year an impressive 134,000 people attended the Goodwood Revival – expect more of the same when the event returns on September 17-19.

The Revival is now a firm fixture on both the motoring and social calendars as spectators file through the gates clothed in period dress, ready to watch some of the most important historic race cars do battle on the track.

Alongside the racing this year are tributes to John Surtees – the event celebrates the 50th anniversary of his first car race – and BRM as 2010 signals the 60th year since the British manufacturer’s first victory.

Surtees, already a multiple World Champion on two wheels, made his car racing debut aboard a Formula Junior in March 1960 at Goodwood and finished a close second to Jim Clark. To pay tribute Goodwood is doing what it does so well and gathering a huge selection of bikes and cars from the racer’s career.

It was on September 30, 1950 that British Racing Motors notched up its first victory with Reg Parnell in the Woodcote Cup. Seventeen Grand Prix victories and 27 years later BRM finally closed its doors. Now the team at Goodwood is again amassing a large collection of cars to celebrate the marque.

Considering the Festival of Speed was sold out, it may be an idea to book your Revival tickets now. See you there for another weekend of some of the world’s best historic racing.