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By ‘under threat’, the panel considered the introduction of modern technology to classic racing cars, and environmental concerns - particularly at Goodwood with its close proximity to the historic town of Chichester.
For 2012, the experts assembled in a ‘snowy’ Press Centre, complete with toboggans and fir trees, continuing the entertaining theme first developed by Credit Suisse at the Monaco Historics this year with its ‘Swiss Chalet’… in the heart of the Côte d'Azur.
All good fun and very much in keeping with the world’s best historic motor racing event and its ‘film set’ atmosphere.
Put Sir Stirling Moss, Lord March, top British driver Anthony Reid, Desiré Wilson - the only female winner of an F1 race - German ex-F1 and sports car star Jochen Mass, and Ben Cussons, Chairman of the Royal Automobile Club Motoring Committee, together for a question-and-answer session and the incisive comments come thick and fast.
On the environment, Goodwood CEO Lord March was confident that, locally, despite there always being “issues which make things difficult”, on the whole “people are extremely supportive”.
And how should organisers react to the pressures created by the owners of priceless racing cars either ‘restoring’ them to a specification far exceeding that in which they raced in period, or installing super-quick modern aces, easily able to lap several seconds quicker than a talented amateur?
Mass, driving several cars at the Revival this year, and acting as an expert guide to the many guests of Credit Suisse enjoying another ‘Glorious Goodwood’, spoke plainly: “It is obvious that people who spend a lot of money on their cars will want them to do well, because their cars will, as a result, gain in value.
“When you win at Goodwood, your car will rise in value by tens of thousands. Whether this is in the spirit, I don’t know.”
For Sir Stirling Moss, though, whose career was ended in an accident at Goodwood in 1962, the West Sussex circuit has been “all my life, one of my favourite places to come to because the atmosphere here is something that any other race in the world would like to attain”.
It still is. And, thanks to innovative programmes such as the Credit Suisse forums, historic racing is in good hands, recognising the challenges ahead but still able to entertain and amuse those on both sides of the guard rail.
The final word goes to Credit Suisse ambassador Jochen Mass, to be seen [above] throughout the weekend behind the wheel of a Mercedes-Benz ‘Silver Arrow’ pre-War Grand Prix car:
“Vintage racing to me, when you sit here and watch the different classes, is most exciting - it’s fantastic. The Touring Cars, the big Jags… it’s unbelievable. It is much more about racing from the heart compared with what we have in the modern era.”
Text & Photos: Credit Suisse
