This year was my second visit to the Goodwood Revival. It’s a brilliant event, not just for the atmosphere, nor for the unique approach of just about everyone that attends, but for the huge sense of appreciation you get watching what is effectively priceless machinery do what it was originally designed for.

To race.

The weekend is all encompassing. The sights, the sounds, the smells…it’s an assault on the senses as everyone joins in a party.

There’s huge sense of comradery too, not just from those who are exhibiting and taking part, but from all those who attend to absorb all those sights and sounds, particularly when some of the machinery you are able to stand next to and admire is worth, well, millions.

You wince a little when they come together, but hey, that’s all part of the fun.

I was determined to make more of this years event following on from my initial experience last year, and with my Friday ticket in hand, I was up early and travelling to make the most of the time-warp.

It didn’t start off too well; almost thwarted by ye olde English traffic, missing the first few qualifying sessions thanks to some splendid Friday morning motorway madness.

How hard can driving around a giant ring road be?

Not to worry, as on arrival, the distant rumble of engines soon dispelled all that M25 angst.

Now, I’m not what you would call a real petrol head.

Sure I like cars, but I admire them for their artistry, their lines, shapes and sounds.  I love the engineering involved in them, and have huge appreciation for not just the drivers that pilot them as fast as possible, but also for the people who keep them in one piece.

This is one reason why I love with the Revival. You get to see all that, right there.

Cars aren’t hidden behind screens, or carted off to some secret garage to be fixed…it’s all done in plain sight, for all to see, and that’s a wonderful thing, especially if you have an appreciation of the technical side like myself.

Classic cars reveal much of the wonder that you don’t often get to see in a modern day race-car package, especially from a spectators point of view.

The colours, the uniformity, the lines, the polished chrome…it’s all beautiful, and to top it all off, you get to see that wonder give it beans round fast track, sideways.

You wince a little when they come together, but hey, that’s all part of the fun.

Next year, I hope to be able to make the whole weekend as one day just isn’t enough time to take in all the sights and sounds.

I’ll doff my cap to you for this year Goodwood. I’m looking forward to the next already!