The 2024 Goodwood Revival was certainly not short on rain, but it more than made up for it with fantastic cars, nail-biting racing, and an unforgettable atmosphere.
In recent years, Goodwood Revival truly has been glorious. Sure, it’s a well-established cliché, but it’s the only adjective that adequately describes the UK’s premier classic car festival and its intoxicating mix of vintage racers, heroic driving, and beautiful late-summer sunshine. However, while the other ingredients were all in place for 2024’s edition, the sun appeared to have lost its ticket in the mail, and in its stead a biblical amount of rain arrived to soak attendees and test the metal of all drivers brave enough to head out onto the circuit.
Having sloshed our way through the quagmire that used to be the carpark on Friday morning, Elliot Newton and I wasted no time before inspecting the incredible array of beach buggies gathered to celebrate 60 years of the Meyers Manx. Spiaggine season it was not, but despite the downpour, the cornucopia of highly-customised beach cruisers provided the perfect demonstration that no two Meyers Manx are alike.
Guarding the gates to Manx-ville was a stunning yellow 1966 Volkswagen Baja Buggy, complete with a roof snorkel and meaty off-road tyres. Another favourite of ours had to be the Volkswagen Invader Buggy — a surprisingly convincing Corvette Stingray-lookalike — and while attempting to escape from the rain in the Earl’s Court Motor Show, we got up close with the next generation of electric buggies: the Manx 2.0. It’s clear that in 2024, the concept behind Bruce Meyer’s original beach buggy is more captivating than ever!
Back out in the elements, we finally had the chance to admire the Daniel Arsham X Team Ikuzawa Porsche 904 in all its glory. Despite its status as a literal piece of rolling artwork, Team Ikuzawa weren’t shy of letting their latest creation go all-out on track in the RAC TT Celebration alongside Tetsu Ikuzawa’s gorgeous 1967 Japanese Grand Prix-winning Porsche 906.
Also competing in the TT Celebration was a stunning part-painted, part-bare metal 1962 Torero Ecurie Ecosse-Ford, while the ever-lovable 1963 Chevrolet Cheetah joined in the sprint round the track. One of just 23 ever made, the ultra rare racer was driven to the track by its owner, who unfortunately lost control into the barrier during a particularly heavy downpour, thankfully escaping unscathed.
This year, a special celebration was dedicated to F1 legend John Surtees, who took part in his very first race at Goodwood Motor Circuit on March 19th 1960. Dozens of cars from his life on and off track were present to take part, including John’s 1957 BMW 503, one of just three ever made in right hand drive, and the beautiful if unsuccessful V12-powered 1965 Ferrari 1512.
Overall, it seems no amount of rainfall can dampen the sheer joy that everyone experiences at Goodwood Revival. Leaving the event covered in mud, with my clothes and camera soaked to the core, I couldn’t help but smile at what was easily one of my favourite editions of the event to date.
