Munich. BMW Group Classic has choreographed its
appearance at the Goodwood Revival 2019 as a journey through time back
to the year 1959. The occasion for this jubilee is the 60th
anniversary of the MINI brand and a gala celebration in the parkland
of Goodwood House in Southern England from 13 to 15 September. Since
1998, the estate of the Earl of March in West Sussex has been the
annual showplace for a stylishly spectacular event celebrating
historic motor sport. Racers from the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s along
with celebrity drivers recall the fast laps on the Goodwood Racing
Circuit at the sporting competitions that took place regularly in this
setting between 1948 and 1966. In keeping with the historic vehicles
and the authentically styled ambience, many of the visitors contribute
to the classic atmosphere of this event by wearing outfits in the
style of the period.
The year in which the classic Mini made its debut and the Swinging
Sixties that followed are the focus of a wealth of attractions away
from the race track. A number of feature films are being screened in
the revival cinema at the venue. A highlight is “The Italian Job” from
1969 in which three Mini Coopers starred alongside Michael Caine
playing the main parts in a sensational gold robbery involving a car
chase through Turin.
“March Motor Works”: New models from 1959 are presented in
period style.
Homage is also paid to the classic Mini as a screen hero in the halls
of the “March Motor Works”. The documentary “The Incredible Seven” is
being shown within the portals of a picture palace from the 1960s. The
British Motor Corporation (BMC) commissioned the film in 1961 and it
presents the story behind the creation of the classic Mini. Footage of
test drives with early prototypes, conversations with the creator of
the classic Mini, Alec Issigonis, images of the public debut of the
revolutionary small car and driving reports by journalists give an
insight into the initial years of an automobile that became a rolling
legend over the many decades of its development, with faithful fans
all over the world. The title of the film refers to one of the two
official model designations under which the classic Mini was launched
on the marketplace in 1959. It rolled off the assembly line in
virtually the same guise as the Austin Seven and the Morris
Mini-Minor. The Mini owed its doppelganger identity to the varied
repertoire of brands marketed by BMC.
Visitors can also go back in time 60 years in the other rooms of the
“March Motor Works”. BMW Group Classic is staging its presentation of
historic vehicles in the style of a stand at the International Motor
Show in 1959 and the model range of that era is showcased there. Two
examples of the BMW 700 coupé, a BMW 600 and a BMW Isetta with
“Lufthansa” livery, embody the automobile spirit in the years of the
economic miracle. The taxi version of a BMW 501 is presented in front
of the building. Two models of the Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud
additionally provide luxurious grandeur and British flair. The models
BMW R 69 S, BMW R 50 S and BMW R 27 represent the motorcycle range
from BMW in 1959. Furthermore, the spectacle of a BMW 3/15 PS takes
onlookers 30 years further back down memory lane. The history of BMW
as an automobile manufacturer began with this model 90 years ago.
The “Revival Festival” is another perennial element in the firmament
of BMW Group Classic at Goodwood. Visitors can enjoy Bavarian
specialities in a historic festival tent and experience a hint of
Oktoberfest atmosphere in the British Isles.
Barry Sheene Memorial Trophy: Title defender Troy Corser lines
up at the start again.
Last year, Australian racing rider Troy Corser succeeded in achieving
a historic success for BMW Motorrad Classic together with Herbert
Schwab. The duo won the overall standings in the race for the Barry
Sheene Memorial Trophy on a supercharged BMW R 57 Compressor for the
first time at the Goodwood Revival. For his title defence race,
two-time Superbike World Champion Corser has selected a BMW R50
Kaczor. This version of the BMW R 50 is characterised by increased
power and reduced weight. Ferdinand Kaczor was a designer who
subsequently became a BMW engineer and he achieved some spectacular
successes on many race tracks in the 1960s.
British racing rider Maria Costello is battling for the coveted
trophy astride a second motor-sport legend on two wheels. She is
riding a BMW RS 54. The machine was presented in 1954 and it was the
first motorcycle designed specifically for racing by the BMW brand.
Even today, the motorcycle’s powerful Boxer engine driven by a
vertical shaft ensures that the BMW RS 54 can achieve an impressive
performance on any race track.