The nostalgic appeal of the world’s most authentic historic motor race meeting, the Goodwood Revival, is set to reach new heights for 2007 with an additional aeronautical attraction that recalls the style and excitement of flying as it used to be. For the 2007 Goodwood Revival, the ‘Freddie March Spirit of Aviation’ is planned to be the first of a world-class annual ‘concours d’elegance’ for historic aircraft, built up to 1966, the same cut-off year as all motor vehicles permitted on site at the Motor Circuit during the hugely popular three-day Goodwood Revival meeting. Since the Earl of March reintroduced motor […]
The nostalgic appeal of the world’s most authentic historic motor race meeting, the Goodwood Revival, is set to reach new heights for 2007 with an additional aeronautical attraction that recalls the style and excitement of flying as it used to be. For the 2007 Goodwood Revival, the ‘Freddie March Spirit of Aviation’ is planned to be the first of a world-class annual ‘concours d’elegance’ for historic aircraft, built up to 1966, the same cut-off year as all motor vehicles permitted on site at the Motor Circuit during the hugely popular three-day Goodwood Revival meeting.
Since the Earl of March reintroduced motor racing at the celebrated Goodwood Motor Circuit in 1998, aircraft have formed a key part of the Goodwood Revival activities. At the 2006 event, for example, no less than eight Supermarine Spitfires took to the air over Goodwood; the most seen in West Sussex skies since World War II. The origins of the Goodwood Motor Circuit are based around the perimeter road of former RAF Westhampnett, a key Battle of Britain airfield and the location of Sir Douglas Bader’s final sortie. Freddie March, the present Earl of March’s grandfather, was a keen aviation engineer, as well as an accomplished racing driver and vehicle coachwork designer.
The aim of the Freddie March Spirit of Aviation is to bring together some of the world’s finest, most elegant, original and rarely-seen aeroplanes from the evocative pioneering days of aviation, to create an added spectacle at the Revival that all race-goers will be able to get up close to and enjoy. Inspiration for this important new static aviation concours event comes partly from the hugely-popular Cartier ‘Style et Luxe’ car design competition, held annually during the Goodwood Festival of Speed, as well as the successful Vintage Aeroplane Fly-In, staged for the first time last year at the Goodwood Aero Club.
Goodwood will pull together an expert panel of aviation historians and enthusiasts to hand pick around 30 important aircraft from around the world, with the ultimate winner gaining what promises to be the coveted ‘Freddie March Spirit of Aviation’ trophy at the Prize Giving ceremony on the Revival Sunday, 2 September. To be eligible for this award, every aeroplane must be airworthy, and the expert judging panel will consider each aircraft’s condition, originality, flight time, flight experience and maintenance record. Owners of suitable aircraft can register their interest in entering their aeroplane by calling the Spirit of Aviation Chairman Rob Wildeboer on +44 (0)1243 755064, or by e-mailing: spirit@goodwood.co.uk.
In addition to exciting aircraft, this year’s Goodwood Revival, to be held over the weekend of 31 August to 2 September, will celebrate the halcyon days of motor racing as it used to be in Goodwood’s heyday up to 1966, with all of the accompanying spectacle and glamour of the era, with competitors and spectators alike dressed in period fashions. The event promises an exceptional selection of the best machinery on the planet with a spectacular array of cars and motorcycles, plus fabulous star drivers and riders to thrill the crowds on all three days of motor racing.
As in previous years, admission to the Goodwood Revival (as well as the Festival of Speed on 22-24 June) will be strictly by advance ticket only. Tickets can be ordered as follows:
For further information please contact the Ticket Hotline:
Telephone: +44 1243 755055
Fax: +44 1243 755058
E-mail: bookings@goodwood.co.uk
On-line via Online Ticket section of the www.goodwood.co.uk/motor sport/ website
