The air at Goodwood on Revival test day is thick with a different kind of excitement. Not the bustling, tweed-clad spectacle of the main Revival, but a more focused atmosphere.
This is where legends are reawakened, where the finest historic racing machines stretch their legs. Adding to the challenge and the drama of the day, the notoriously changeable British weather played its hand, with periods of bright sunshine quickly giving way to frequent, heavy rain that swept across the circuit, testing both machines and drivers to their limits.
The day started on a drying track, but the clouds foretold what would come throughout the day. Among the usual bustle of drivers and teams, and construction crews preparing for the main event, is a growing number of spectators. With the event being open to GRRC members and fellows, it’s a discerning crowd who take advantage of the ability to get close to the cars in a way that’s not possible over the Revival weekend.
In the early sessions, the damp conditions led to some truly spectacular moments. A vast puddle at the exit of the chicane onto the main straight became the star of the show. Some drivers, it seemed, were determined to either help clear the standing water, or simply put on a magnificent display for the spectators! The glorious roar of a pair of Jaguar Mk1s was punctuated by a rooster tail of spray as they powered through the deluge, a defiant and thrilling spectacle. It was a stark contrast to the more circumspect approach taken by others, such as the lightweight Bobsy SR2. With tricky conditions and priceless machinery at stake, for some, the wiser strategy was to navigate carefully around the deeper pools, conserving both car and confidence for when the track dried.
Soon enough, the rain fell. The bright sunshine was extinguished in an instant as a truly torrential downpour swept across the circuit. Many of the open-cockpit racers wisely retreated to the relative shelter of the paddock, their beautiful machinery too precious to risk in a proper deluge. Even the Scarab Chevrolet Mk1, which had been so confident in the earlier wet conditions, drew the line at the sheeting rain. A brave few, however, saw the foul weather as a golden opportunity. A pair of Mini Coopers, their drivers undeterred by the lack of visibility, carried on piling on the laps, practicing some incredibly close-quarters racing. If we’re unlucky enough to get a wet Revival weekend, these two will undoubtedly be the best prepared for a real wheel-to-wheel battle.
In the afternoon, the sun made a welcome return. The more intrepid drivers wasted no time in getting back to business. With the track still gleaming and puddles still a major obstacle, they renewed their efforts to remove the standing water. Now, the powerful roar of a Plymouth Barracuda joined the Jaguars, creating another magnificent spectacle and even more opportunities for stunning photographs as they sliced through the massive puddles on the main straight, sending up walls of spray in a brilliant shower of sunlit water.
With a film of water still covering the track, drivers could practice right on the edge of adhesion, finding that fine line between grip and slip. It was a beautiful demonstration of car control. Not seen in the morning sessions, an Austin-Healey 100S and yet another Jaguar Mk1 took to the track, both their drivers expertly using opposite lock to hold graceful, controlled slides. It was a clear sign that even on a test day, the competitive spirit is alive and well, and that some drivers are prepared for any condition the Revival weekend might throw at them.
As the afternoon drew to a close, the sun remained strong, its lowering rays casting a beautiful, soft light across the circuit. The combined efforts of the drivers had finally paid off, with the track drying out enough for the final sessions to be run on near-perfect tarmac. This last hour of practice, bathed in a warm golden glow, offered a beautiful glimpse into the weekend to come.
It was a perfect ending to a day of contrasts—of rain and shine, of caution and courage—and a tantalizing preview of what promises to be a spectacular and hopefully sunny Goodwood Revival.
Report by Simon Martin
