Famous Goodwood’s colourful Revival

14/12/2018

| By Pieter de Lange

With the coming of winter, England has now once more reverted to its grey and miserable ‘mud island’ period. Looking back, it is hard to believe that I attended the glorious Goodwood – bathed in autumn sunshine – only a few months ago.

The annual Revival event at the Goodwood Circuit in Sussex is an enchanting step back in time to the romance and glamour of motor racing as it used to be in Goodwood’s heyday, from 1948 to 1966. The famous names of that era include legends like Juan Manuel Fangio, Stirling Moss and later Jim Clark and Graham Hill.

The circuit’s owner, the Earl of March, was behind the introduction of the regular Revival event which has now not only been firmly established in the international motorsport calendar, but has also become one of the biggest historic motorsport events and is the only one to be staged entirely in period dress. This period dress code means tweeds and trilbies for men, and furs and frocks for the ladies. Goodwood’s history as a wartime fighter base is also reflected in the way some people dress.

As they disembark from the car park bus, it is already clear that this is a special occasion. Pretty lasses on a WWII Willys Jeep. Japanese gents adding an Oriental flavour.

A German man in his impressive uniform dating from the era of the Emperor. There was no end to the number of visitors and motors from Germany. Just to make sure we don’t forget about the medici. Trivial and colourful, as only the Americans can do it.

Wonder where the space would be for the giant dog in the valuable Porsche of yore?

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Pieter de Lange

Ek is in Kroonstad gebore neffens die rustige ou Valsrivier en matrikuleer aan die Hoërskool Kroonstad in dieselfde era as skrywers soos Antjie Krog en Max du Preez. Ek studeer op Tukkies, speel o.19-rugby vir hulle en boks vir die SA Universiteitespan, waarna ek Protea-kleure in dié sport verwerf. In 1974 begin ek in Londen praktiseer, word deur die Ferrari-gogga gebyt en keer ná drie jaar na Pretoria terug met ’n rooi Ferrari Boxer. In 1981 trou ek met Mariaan en ons verhuis Londen toe vir 18 maande. Ek begin in 1990 met ’n MBL-kursus en geniet die navorsingsprojek die meeste, en kry tot my verbasing die hoogste punte. Ek skryf baie artikels oor SA se Olimpiese bod vir die Sunday Times, Beeld, Business Day en Rapport. Ek publiseer ook my Olimpiese boek The Games that Cities Play, wat voorgeskryf was vir BA MBK (Menslike Bewegingskunde) asook B Com Sportbestuur se eerstejaars, (Sportgeskiedenis en Sportfilosifie) studente by Tukkies, vir 1999 tot 2003. In 1999 verhuis ons sak en pak Londen toe met ons kroos René, Christiaan en Simon. Ek begin ’n navorsingsprojek oor oorsese Suid-Afrikaners en skryf ’n reeks artikels vir The South African. Ons sien die wêreld saam met ons kinders, van ’n ysige St. Petersburg tot die snikhete Rooisee in Egipte. Ons het nou ’n pragtige kleinseun Arlo en woon in Kent, waar ek steeds praktiseer en gereeld aan parkwedlope deelneem om die ou karkas aan die gang te hou.

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