Goodwood Revival 2025: A Living Tribute to Classic Car Culture

At Goodwood Revival, history doesn’t just sit quietly in a museum – it roars back to life on track, in the paddocks, and even in the coffee queue. For me, the experience was nothing short of stepping into a living golden age of motoring.

I may no longer qualify as ‘young’ – being a child of the 1980s – but when surrounded by the timeless machinery of the early 1900s all the way to the 1970s, I find myself feeling young at Goodwood Revival. I bet many feel the same way, in this historical setting.

This celebrated gathering takes place across the magnificent 12,000-acre Goodwood Estate in Chichester, England, where authenticity is everything. Period-correct attire, atmosphere, and experiences define the event. There are no electric scooters here, only the steady pace of one’s own two feet – ideally in a sturdy pair of Hunter boots to withstand England’s famously unpredictable autumn weather.

From the car parks to the gates, visitors are greeted by an unmistakable soundtrack: the deep, resonant growl of historic race cars charging toward Madgwick Corner, the first of many demanding twists and turns on the legendary Goodwood Motor Circuit. It is in these moments that Revival reveals itself not merely as a celebration of the past, but as a living, breathing tradition; one that warmly invites all generations of enthusiasts to step into this thrilling experience with a welcoming hug.

I approached the event with nothing more than a general admission ticket, a Grandstand Access pass, and a deep love of classic cars. From the moment you enter the gates, you are immersed in a scene that feels like time travel. Visitors dress in period-appropriate clothing alongside drivers, mechanics, media, and staff – creating an atmosphere where “the good old days” truly come alive.

That same commitment to authenticity carries onto the track. Only vehicles with genuine racing pedigree are allowed; no replicas, only machines with decades of history. Many are worth anywhere from tens of thousands to several million pounds. You might imagine the drivers handle them gently, but in reality they are raced flat-out, just as they were in their prime.

One of the weekend’s highlights for me is the Stirling Moss Memorial Trophy, a one-hour, two-driver race, featuring E-Type Jaguars, Aston Martins, AC Cobras and Ferraris. Generally, the two-driver race peaks in the latter segment, where professional race car drivers take over. 

Once the pros jump in the seats, gaps close, corners tighten, and cars slide fearlessly into, during and out of turns. Each lap is driven on the absolute limit – until the checkered flag, or until mechanical failure or the track itself intervenes.

This year’s race delivered daring overtakes, near misses, and several heart-stopping moments, proving that historic racing is every bit as alive and unpredictable as modern motorsport.

And during the weekend, you’ll experience multiple races just like this.

When you need a breather from the on-track action, Revival offers plenty. The paddocks are a world of their own, buzzing with mechanics and drivers fine-tuning their machines between races.

Here you can get astonishingly close; feel the shockwave of a Ford GT40’s V8 on your face as it is push-started to meet the next race, and once I found myself waiting out the rain beside a Ferrari 250 GTO, with only a handful of others sharing the moment. For an enthusiast, these are truly the experiences to live for.

Elsewhere, the grounds overflow with vintage fashion, hair styling, workshops, and classic car vendors.

Overhead, Spitfire TR9s roar across the sky, and when you stop for a coffee and a warm donut, you might just find yourself in line behind Jenson Button and Sir Jackie Stewart, mingling casually with the crowd.

For me, the magic of Goodwood Revival lies in this perfect blend: the thrill of priceless machines pushed to their limits, the intimacy of the paddocks, and the atmosphere of an era brought vividly back to life.

It’s a privilege to experience such beauty and history both on and off the track – proof that the golden age of motoring is not only remembered, but still very much alive.