• Goodwood Revival is a yearly festival celebrating historic motorsport hosted at the Goodwood Motor Circuit.
• Now in its 26th year, Revival is famed for amassing some of the most iconic cars and motorcycles for a weekend of racing and admiration.
• Attracting over 150,000 spectators this year from curious fans to A-list celebrities, Revival shows no signs of slowing down whilst entering an age of sustainable fuels.
• The speed, awe, and spectacle of the Barry Sheene Memorial Trophy motorcycle race make it a must-see at this period event.

If I mention “Goodwood Revival,” you might think of multi-million dollar race cars going wheel-to-wheel like they used to back in the ‘50s and ‘60s. You’d be right, but the often-overlooked motorcycle races provide some of the most exciting action over the historic Revival weekend. 2024 was no different, with the Barry Sheene Memorial Trophy—the official name for the motorcycle race at Goodwood—providing two-wheeled action over the rain-soaked three days.

WHAT IS GOODWOOD REVIVAL?

Some of you might have seen our Goodwood Festival of Speed (FOS) coverage earlier this year, where we were proud to highlight some of our brand partners on display like CSF and AST/MOTON Suspension. Goodwood Revival is another celebration of motorsport organized by Charles Gordon-Lennox, the 11th Duke of Richmond. Instead of being hosted on the grounds around his estate, however, Revival is hosted at the historic Goodwood Motor Circuit just down the road.

Unlike FOS, you won’t find the latest and greatest EV supercar launches at Revival. Instead, the focus is on vehicles—pre-war and immediately post-war—between 1948 and 1966. Why the cut-off? Well, Goodwood was an active motor circuit in that period, hosting touring cars, motorcycle racing, and even Formula 1 support trophies. Since 1998 when the first Revival was held, the event has grown to become a staple on the calendar for classic motorsport enthusiasts across the world. At this point, it may as well be time travel back to a golden age of racing.

THE BARRY SHEENE MEMORIAL TROPHY

For motorcycle enthusiasts, the Barry Sheene Memorial Trophy is the race to look out for. It’s the only powersport-specific track action you’ll find at Goodwood Revival and for me, it’s some of the most exciting.

If you’re unfamiliar with the name Barry Sheene, he was one of Britain’s most respected motorcycle racers around the world. Not only was Barry fast—double world championships as a Suzuki factory rider in the ‘70s will attest to that—he also had the incredible determination and ability to get back in the saddle after several bone-breaking crashes over his career.

That made Barry a fan favorite, as did his lifestyle in the public eye. Surrounded by celebrities, racing drivers, and musicians and with a supermodel wife to go with his charming personality, it’s no surprise he was well-loved. He retired from racing and lived out the rest of his life in Australia as a celebrity personality, commentating on motorsport and generally enjoying the Australian weather. Barry sadly passed away from cancer in 2003, but his legacy lives on thanks to events like this.

TWO-WHEELED LEGENDS

If you think of powersports racing these days, manufacturers like Yamaha, Aprillia, or KTM will likely come to mind. With only five constructors in MotoGP and two others in the World Superbike Championship, some of you may be unfamiliar with names that used to be synonymous with top-tier racing. Just look at the entry list for Revival and you’ll see what I mean. British manufacturers—Triumph, Norton, and Royal Enfield—used to dominate the field post-war. Bonus points if you know what a Triton is.

If outright speed gets you excited, look no further than the Vincent Black Shadow and Black Lightning. It’s a shame that a manufacturer once known for creating the fastest motorcycle in the world is no longer around, especially since every Vincent of the era was hand-built 45 minutes away from my home.

Quirkier entrants added some left-field variety to the mix, such as a Gilera San Remo and a pair of Velocettes, but it was the pre-war BMWs that commanded my attention all weekend. The 1930s R5SS pair were gorgeous, but the ’27 and ’29 R57 Kompressors blew me away with their outright speed and power. To see a 97-year-old BMW outrunning bikes almost 30 years younger down the straights was a sight to behold. Almost as remarkable as keeping up in the corners with no rear suspension.

BACK IN TIME

One thing that Revival does so well is the interaction between spectators and the riders, mechanics, and machines at the event. You need a special pass to access the main automotive paddocks, but anyone is welcome to wander down to the bike garages for the weekend.

Part of the charm is that the mechanics are encouraged to wear period-correct overalls—as are the spectators—and even the paddocks are decorated with period-correct signage and posters. 2024 saw a collection of beautiful motorcycles on display around the paddock area like this Indian and Henderson pair, or the tiny B.S.A. and Excelsior for comparison.

Revival even had classic British summer weather this year; a little too warm to be comfortable and far too wet to leave the umbrellas at home. The rain made for some action-packed racing though, that’s for sure.

HEADS DOWN, KNEES OUT

You’d be forgiven for thinking the wet conditions would bring out a slower, more cautious side to the riders. From the very first practice session to qualifying, and the two races themselves, every rider was giving it their all and finding as much pace as they could.

Part of what makes the Barry Sheene Memorial Trophy a must-see is the Le-Mans style start as well as the mandatory rider change during the race. You’ll often see owner-riders paired up with professional racers, with a notable change in pace when the switchover happens!

As with any vintage race machines, you’re bound to face some difficulties and Revival is no exception. No race went without a mechanical issue and close call of some sort, but fortunately, every rider made it back to the paddocks in one piece.

Ultimately it was the number 86 Norton-Velocette MSS which took the win in both races over the weekend with commanding leads of over 50 seconds. The rider pair of Michael Rutter and Michael Russell was simply unstoppable, especially considering they qualified in 27th place due to the downpour.

As both a car and motorcycle enthusiast, Goodwood Revival is an incredible event to experience. The bikes may not quite have the glitz and glamour of the Ferraris and Cobras, but they have all of the action and excitement.

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