| Go to the Goodwood Revival and arrive on the | | | | years, there's a chance it will compete in 2006. |
| Orient Express | | | | And let me remind those who have never |
| Ask anyone who's been there and they'll tell you | | | | witnessed vintage auto racing, it is no parade. This |
| the annual Goodwood Revival is the greatest | | | | competition's for real. |
| vintage motorsport event in the world. It | | | | Aside from what occurs on track, all sorts of |
| celebrates the glory days of the original | | | | interesting activity is offered to the spectators, |
| Goodwood Motor Circuit which, along with | | | | including that wonderful period atmosphere. Staff |
| Silverstone, was Britain's leading motor race | | | | and competitors dress in period clothing from the |
| venue from 1948 to 1966. The Goodwood | | | | 40s and 50s, as do the majority of visitors, who |
| Revival is also the only sporting event set entirely | | | | consider it part of the fun. Bands play authentic |
| to a period theme. | | | | 1950s music, food outlets sell fish and chips |
| To attend the Goodwood Revival, which takes | | | | wrapped in 1950s newspapers. Modern vehicles |
| place on September 16, 17, and 18 of 2006, is to | | | | are not allowed within the circuit perimeter |
| live in the 50's again. They say you can't go back? | | | | throughout the weekend; period vehicles provide |
| "They" haven't been to Goodwood. | | | | essential services and competitor support. |
| The circuit lies on an estate owned by Lord | | | | How to get to Goodwood? North Americans and |
| March, a vintage racing enthusiast who loves the | | | | those from other far-away continents will begin |
| sport so much he restored the track to the way | | | | their journey to the UK by air. Europeans may fly, |
| it was in its heyday; who goes to great lengths to | | | | or drive and take a ferry. But if I were lucky |
| ensure that everything is period authentic; who | | | | enough to visit the 2006 Goodwood Revival, I |
| uses his personal resources to support the | | | | would take advantage of a most unusual |
| organisation of two remarkable events. | | | | opportunity. I'd luxuriate in the Orient Express |
| The first is the Festival of Speed, which takes | | | | railway train from London. |
| place each year in June, and the second is the | | | | The modern-day Orient Express is no longer a |
| annual Goodwood Revival, subject of our story. | | | | London-Paris-Istanbul adventure, though such |
| During the Revival's three days a series of historic | | | | long-distance train journeys are the bedrock of |
| races is held featuring cars from various periods, | | | | the company's activities. It is now a |
| many of them driven by motorsport heros past | | | | travel-marketing business offering historic coaches |
| and present. Sir Stirling Moss, Sir Jack Brabham, | | | | and engines and old-world service to a variety of |
| John Surtees, Phil Hill, Derek Bell, David Coulthard, | | | | destinations. One such journey is an exclusive trip |
| Damon Hill, and Johnny Herbert have taken part in | | | | from London to our Goodwood Revival. The price |
| previous Goodwood Revival meetings. This year's | | | | includes connections, admission, champagne, and |
| races will no doubt include some of those names | | | | of course, those wonderful Orient Express |
| along with others from racing's glorious history. | | | | three-course dinners. |
| The variety of competing cars is mind-boggling. | | | | Such a trip isn't cheap (see link below) but if |
| Spectators will hear the bark of golden-age Grand | | | | you're willing to ship yourself to London those |
| Prix cars from the fifties and sixties, thrill to the | | | | extra dollars could be money well-spent. Imagine |
| thunder of sports and GT cars, enjoy the sounds | | | | arriving at a period race circuit in a vintage railway |
| of historic saloon (sedan to you) cars from Britain | | | | train and disembarking in a 1950s outfit! If there's |
| and the US, and warm to seldom-seen Formula | | | | anything more romantic for a vintage or classic |
| Juniors. If a car raced at Goodwood in those glory | | | | car fan, I can't imagine what that could be. |