A record
eighteen classic Maseratis were entered in this year’s
competitions, including four Maserati 250Fs, the legendary
F1 car recently voted as the “World’s greatest racing car”
by readers of Octane magazine. The Maserati 250F
had been put forward by Sir Stirling Moss, who celebrated
his 80th birthday at Goodwood Revival, who said: “I have
great affection for the 250F because it was the car that
gave me my first proper break in Formula One.”
Away from
the thrilling on-track action, Maserati exhibited in the
Earls Court Motorshow, recreating the glamour of an
authentic 1960s show. A stunning Maserati Mistral Spyder
alongside a Quattroporte (Mk I) wowed the spectators, whilst
they were offered a tantalising glimpse of Maserati’s “cars
of the future” in the form of the GranTurismo S Automatic
and Quattroporte Sport GTS that flanked their 1960s
counterparts.
On Sunday
150 clients were treated to sumptuous hospitality at
Goodwood House, where Maserati GB hosted its annual Goodwood
Revival lunch. The spectacular display on the lawn in front
of Goodwood House featured the complete Maserati range: the
Quattroporte, Quattroporte S and Quattroporte Sport GTS
alongside the GranTurismo, GranTurismo S Automatic and the
GranTurismo S.
Mr Andrea
Antonnicola, Managing Director of Maserati GB, officially
announced the arrival of the Maserati GranCabrio, which will
be unveiled to clients in a private preview in London on
October 1st ahead of its on sale UK estimated date of March
15, 2010. He subsequently announced the winners of the
Maserati competition: Ms Kate Christie won the “Best Dressed
Lady” award, presented by Adler of Bond Street. Ms Brenda
Laguna, Marketing Director of Adler, was delighted to
present Ms Christie with a stunning Chameleon ring, an 18kt
gold ring and pave set with blue sapphires, whilst Ms Grace
Fodor of Jemma Kidd make-up presented Ms Julia Dempster with
a goodie bag of Jemma Kidd products for the “Best Make-Up”.
A record number of motor racing enthusiasts and
retro-fashion fans flocked to Goodwood last weekend to join
in the fun, and celebrations at the world’s largest historic
motor race meeting. The Goodwood Revival is now
firmly established as a ‘must attend’ event, with visitors
travelling from around the world to attend. The vast
majority of the 134,000+ spectators came dressed in their
finest 1950s and 1960s fashions, with tweed jackets and mini
skirts abounding in the beautiful early autumn sunshine.
On the track Sir Stirling Moss – the planet’s fastest
octogenarian – was honoured as he turned 80 with a moving
tribute by Lord March and many of Stirling’s old friends. A
stunning collection of 80 cars associated with the racing
knight’s career paraded in his honour, lead by the great man
in the Aston Martin DBR1 in which is clinched the Sports Car
World Championship at Goodwood in 1959, as well as a cannon
fire salute made by the Royal Horse Artillery, a fly past
and all of the Goodwood Revival spectators signing happy
birthday to him.
The 50th anniversary of Britain’s most-loved car, the Mini,
was also marked on the circuit with a parade of 50 Minis of
all shapes and sizes, including a distinctive green and
black Mini, causing chaos and being driven from a
roof-mounted armchair by Mr Bean, making his first-ever
appearance in public. On Saturday morning Mr Bean greeted
surprise Goodwood visitor Lord Peter Mandelson with “Ah,
Prime Minister” to which the First Secretary of State
replied “Not yet.” Lord Mandelson went on to tour the
Revival, stopping in at the event’s BGC Earls Court motor
show exhibition to say a few words in support of the current
British motor industry, which was well represented with many
new UK-built cars making their British debut, including the
Goodwood-built Rolls-Royce Ghost and new Jaguar XJ
saloon. Lord Mandelson then moved on to have a brief dance
to a live rock-n-roll band in the ‘Vintage at Goodwood’
marquee.
Another well-known face dropping into the Revival by UH-1
Huey helicopter was NASA astronaut Buzz Aldrin. After being
met by Lord March and driven around the Goodwood circuit in
a large 1960’s convertible Ford Thunderbird, Buzz Aldrin
joined Sir Terence Conran, James May and others to help
judge the annual Freddie March Spirit of Aviation award – a
concourse d’elegance for pre-1966 aircraft – which was won
by a Bucker BU133C Jungmeister owned by Mark Rijkse. In the
sky a series of stunning air displays included two fly pasts
by the last airworthy example of the extraordinary Vulcan
bomber.
On the track, the quality of motor racing was exceptional
throughout the Revival weekend, with many nail-biting races
and some thrills and spills along the way. Racing highlights
included the thrilling St Mary’s race for saloon cars, which
this year was held exclusively as a Mini-only race to honour
the 50th anniversary of Britain’s most popular small car,
with Oliver Gavin and Nick Swift taking a deserved
victory. The £150 million car grid for the RAC Tourist
Trophy Race also made for an exciting race, with Bobby Rahal
and chief Red Bull Formula One team engineer Adrian Newey
taking the chequered flag. The exciting Barry Sheene
Memorial Trophy motorcycle race featuring a Le Mans-style
running start was won by a slim margin by Wayne Gardner and
John-Lee Pemberton riding a 1966 matchless G50.
Some great period fashions, including
sea of colourful mini skirts on Ladies Day (Saturday) helped
seal the laid back, fun atmosphere of the 2009 Revival. The
announcement of the new Vintage at Goodwood event, to be
staged next 13-15 August 2010, also helped the great vibe,
with live bands and dancing. In all, the general consensus
was that the 2009 Goodwood Revival was the best one yet; a
real ‘weekend in Heaven.’