I Witnessed: The first Goodwood Revival

There was this little white circle painted on the ground. Lots of them in fact, one per driver. So in our circles we stood, eyes only on the Union Flag in the hand of John Felix, the Clerk of the Course at the very first Goodwood Revival.

Opposite, on the other side of the track, arranged at 45 degrees to the intended direction of travel, were arrayed our cars. The moment that hand began to descend we’d sprint towards them, leap aboard and then? God knows. Probably all crash.

Such was my introduction to the inaugural Goodwood Revival, held over the weekend of 18-20 September, 1998. Over 24 years ago now. I was there and in the race only because I was at the time the editor of MotorSport magazine and, in both a personal and professional capacity, had watched with amazement as the then Earl of March, now Duke of Richmond had made real his dream of returning motor racing to the circuit his grandfather had founded half a century earlier to the very day.