Why the Goodwood Revival Is a Love Letter to Car Culture

It’s tough to get people to agree on one thing—it hardly happens here, and we’re all buds working at the same publication. That said, we all agree that the Goodwood Revival is the best car and racing event in the world, and nothing else comes close. I’ve done a lot of the other “premier” events, and for those I haven’t gone to myself, my colleagues have, and they agree. Yet I’m not here to prove my point; I’m here to explain why so many people who love cars feel this way.

Search The Drive‘s archives for stories about the Goodwood Revival, and you’ll see headlines like “A Time Machine to the Best Racing in the World,” “Goodwood Revival Is Where Incredible Historic Cars Gather to Race,” “Why So Many Car Journalists Call the Goodwood Revival Their Favorite Event,” and “The Perfect Time Machine,” among others, written by my colleagues after attending the event.

England Is the Epicenter of Car Culture

Hot take, but is it, though? Yeah, there’s Germany and Japan and the United States, and all of those countries have a car culture. However, I feel like nowhere else is the history of the automobile embraced more than in England. Whether it’s Jaguar, Land Rover, Rolls-Royce, Bentley, or any of the pinky-up manufacturers, they embrace their roots and the role they’ve played in world history. Of course, Germany and the United States, too, but there’s a reason why the world’s flagship car culture event happens in England—and don’t get me started about the motorsport side of things, with Brooklands, Silverstone, Formula 1, and other events and players that established the old kingdom as the epicenter of car culture long ago.

This isn’t to downplay other countries, venues, brands, or events that help complete the big picture of the car world that we love so much, of course. This is about the stronger link between cars, racing, and world history there. You won’t show up anywhere else in the world and see a dozen Le Mans-raced Ford GT40s, 30 Ferrari 250 GTOs, 10 Jaguar D-Types parked next to a row of P-51 Mustangs and Spitfires that downed Nazi planes in WWII, only at the Revival.

People Embrace the Culture

I go to Monterey Car Week almost every year, and every time, a Quail, Reunion, or Pebble Beach first-timer gets offended when I say, “Oh, this is great but…” You’d think I just insulted their mother. The truth is, those three events are phenomenal, and every car enthusiast should attend at least once in their lifetime. Still, there’s a key difference between what goes down in Monterey and what takes place in Chichester: people know it’s not just about the cars.

The Goodwood Revival is a car event, yes, but more than anything, it’s a cultural event. It celebrates peak Britannia; it honors a time when most people who lived on the island thought they were days away from a Nazi invasion. It takes attendees of all ages and backgrounds back to a time when people stuck together and endured shit together: bombings, rations, their loved ones being sent off to war.

When WWII ended, and things slowly returned to normal—if you can even call it that—cars and racing played an enormous role in pulling people’s minds away from the awful past and toward the future. New models, new car companies, and new technologies were emerging, and people were racing anything they could get their hands on. That’s what the Revival is all about: celebrating life, and cars happen to be a big part of it.

Then there’s the fashion, which, aside from the cars, is my favorite aspect of the event. Even at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, you’ll see people in jeans and sweatpants—and look, whatever floats your boat, but certain events demand a certain etiquette. At Revival, people go all-out with their period-correct fashion and look straight out of the ’20s through ’40s from head to toe. It’s incredible. From mechanics to racers to go-go dancers to military cosplay, it brings the event to life in a way that nothing else could. You could have all the cars in the world, but without the fashion, it just wouldn’t feel the same. It’s magical.

You Gotta See It for Yourself

I’ve attended the Goodwood Revival several times, both as a guest of Subaru and on my own dime. In fact, one year I organized a guys’ trip there to celebrate my son’s 16th birthday and my dad’s 70th; it was very special. I can’t imagine spending that kind of time or money to take them to any other car event in the world. That’s the kind of love affair I have with this place.

If you want to go but have questions about the venue, getting there, lodging, logistics, or even how much to budget, send me a note. I’d love to help. The point is to get out there, enjoy this and other great events, and as car enthusiasts, help each other make those dreams come true.

Until then, I hope you enjoyed these photos shot by the talented Amy Shore, courtesy of Subaru.

Email the author at jerry@thedrive.com