Away from the track, the Revival’s trademark themed displays included an homage to Swinging London of the ‘60s, complete with groovy guys’n’gals gyrating energetically to the latest cool sounds...

Every year you wonder how it could possibly get any better, but it invariably does… and this year’s Goodwood Revival was no exception.

In truth, there was no single stand-out element that set 2009’s Revival apart: the mix just seemed particularly good this year, helped by weather that stayed dry and for the most part sunny. The racing was as close as ever, the side attractions as entertaining as they always are, and the spectators for the most part imaginatively dressed in period style, helping to create the Revival’s unique ambience.

Two anniversaries were celebrated in style. Sir Stirling Moss, whose 80th birthday fell on the Thursday before the Revival, was honoured with a parade of 80 cars from his long career. In fact, the organisers had gathered together more than 90 cars with a genuine Moss connection, and Stirling himself headed the parade in a Mercedes W196, looking relaxed as ever as he acknowledged spectators’ applause with gracious waves.

Another parade had been organised to mark the 50th anniversary of the Mini, of which the undoubted highlight was Octane contributor Rowan Atkinson reprising his role as Mr Bean, apparently driving his Mini around the circuit while perched on a sofa on the roof and gurning at the crowd. A police-liveried Mini Cooper duly gave chase, which must have given Rowan a slightly hairy ride as both cars swerved around the track and across the in-field.

Historic aircraft are now a popular feature of the Revival and there was a particularly varied selection in the air on all three days. The London-to-Australia Vickers Vimy biplane replica floated leisurely around the circuit, contrasting with a Spitfire/Hurricane/Lancaster trio from the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight growling overhead in tight formation. But most impressive was the last airworthy Vulcan bomber, which appeared to glide silently and slowly over the Goodwood grandstands before the pilot fired up the engines and blasted around with a deafening roar. Ironically, the Vulcan’s appearance on Saturday caused the Lavant Cup race to be halted nine minutes early: it was won by Bobby Verdon-Roe, co-driving Nick Leventis in a Ferrari 246S; and Verdon-Roe is the great-grandson of Alliott Verdon-Roe, whose company Avro built the Vulcan…

Away from the track, the Revival’s trademark themed displays included an homage to Swinging London of the ‘60s, complete with groovy guys’n’gals gyrating energetically to the latest cool sounds, and elaborate dioramas, most notably of the Hawthorn family’s TT Garage. A complete and lovingly tended allotment garden was just one of the WW2-related eyecatchers, referring back to Goodwood’s wartime existence as Westhampnett RAF base, and Goodwood’s well-established fleet of period vehicles ferried drivers and visiting celebs around, who this year included NASA astronaut Buzz Aldrin.

And, of course, there was also a bit of racing going on… All the usual thrills and spills – the latter mostly involving a couple of motorcyclists in the Barry Sheene Memorial Trophy, fortunately without injury – and the incredibly close duelling for which Goodwood is famous. Le Mans ace Richard Attwood took a spectacular Richmond Trophy victory in a Ferrari Dino 246, while Pink Floyd drummer Nick Mason triumphed in his Aston Martin Ulster after much drama in the Brooklands Trophy, when race leaders Jeremy Brewster (Lea-Francis Hyper) and Patrick Blakeney-Edwards (Frazer Nash Super Sport) fell back with a blown supercharger and low fuel pressure respectively. It was an emotional moment for Octane columnist Mason, who first raced his Ulster 35 years ago.

Three days packed with this kind of drama have once again cemented the Goodwood Revival’s reputation as the best enthusiast’s event, bar none. Read more about it in the next issue of Octane, published on October 28.