REVIVAL: REVIVED!
It is, apparently, entirely possible to have too much of a good thing. After a point even excess can become underwhelming, as appetites outgrow even the most extravagant offerings. Some of the most notable historic racing events know this well of course; the likes of Monaco Historic and Le Mans Classic taking place only every other year, lest audiences tire of their spectacle too quickly.
It never intended to join this fold, but enforced or not, Goodwood’s blue riband event, the Revival, returned last weekend a full two years since its last instalment. Would it feel like more of the same, or all the sweeter for its absence? Alfattitude paid a visit to find out.
Revival’s self imposed scope of operation might lead you to conclude the former (only cars active prior to its original closure in 1966 are permitted to race in the event). Indeed, the entry list for its Whitsun and Tourist Trophy sprints featured a fair number of familiar names and their machines. To deviate from this however, would cost them dearly. The circuit, as pretty as a picture from any vantage, has long held dispensation from governing bodies, specifically to retain its picture postcard appearance. To field a grid of Group C cars or Supertourers would be to immediately require tall chain link fences around its perimeter, and in a stroke its unique charm and sheer cohesion would be lost.
This is not a price worth paying, so for proper old timers it remains. And amidst the hordes of Cobras, E types and GT40s some truly precious metals were to be found. Julian Majzub’s 1938 308C and Peter Greenfield’s 158 ‘Alfetta’ of the same year rubbed shoulders with ERAs, Maseratis and Frazer Nashes in the Festival of Britain Trophy for inter-war Grand Prix and Voiturette cars (five of which raced in the original FoB race some 70 years ago). Later, Ellie Mann’s and Rupert Cleverly’s 8C Monzas were dwarfed by the imposing Bentley 4 1/2 litres in the Brooklands trophy - ostensibly a race put on for the Bentleys themselves.
Despite four beautiful straight eight engines between them, not even the skills of one Jochen Mass in Cleverly’s car were enough for any to trouble the podium. But then, who cares about something so gauche as winning, when one can take part with such style?
Well, the entrants to the two part St Mary’s Trophy race were certainly not reading the same script. A duo of Giulietta Tis, entered by Geoff Gordon and Gavin Watson were there to take the fight to a brace of Jaguar Mk1s and (very) hotly prepared Austin A40s; and they would do so via the hired hands of Emanuele Pirro, Neel Jani, Nick Padmore and Richard Meaden…
Leg one saw Pirro at the sharp end of the grid in the ‘Scuderia del Portello’ Ti, battling valiantly with Antony Reid’s Jaguar. The spectacle of a nimble car vs a powerful car never plays out better than around Goodwood, but in keeping each other so honest, both allowed the Austins of Marcel Fässler and Mat Jackson to take advantage; P4 for the Biscione was as much as could be salvaged.
In Sunday’s second leg, Meaden took the wheel of the 34 car. Apparently unbothered by a circa 6000cc deficit, he continually traded blows and places with Bill Shepherd’s enormous Thunderbird via some exquisite car control (and “using all the revs” he later admitted), until the V8’s advantage on the straight put it just out of reach, making P3 the final reward. Not bad for the guy with the fewest championships to his name.
Exchanging jibes on the finish line over one of the more ‘robust’ bits of contact, Shepherd apologised as he ‘couldn’t see’ Meaden’s comparatively tiny Ti. “Well I could only see you!” retorted Meaden.
It’s impossible to conceive how the racing at Revival could be better. Sure, there are more revs, more money, better preparation, (perhaps) more committed drivers than ever seen in period, as befits an event portraying an era we like to remember being this good. Yet in terms of beautiful machines driven to, and raced at their absolute limits around such a wonderfully staged arena, Revival continues to have few equals. It is a good thing you can never have too much of.
