Return of the king: Kristensen back at Goodwood Revival

23 July, 2015

Le Mans–legend Tom Kristensen will make his return to this year’s Goodwood Revival event, which is being held at the Goodwood Circuit in England on September 11–13, after a two-year hiatus. Kristensen will compete in the RAC Tourist Trophy (TT) category, alongside numerous heavy hitters from years gone by.

Held annually at the historic circuit, the Goodwood Revival sees a plethora of vintage racers of all backgrounds take to the track. With only cars and bikes from the 1950s–’60s motorsport era present, teams and fans often get into period-correct mood themselves, donning vintage garb and creating a memorable portal into Europe’s rich motorsport history.

Kristensen will be joined by fellow former 24 Hours of Le Mans victors Emanuele Pirro, Richard Attwood, Jackie Oliver, Andy Wallace, Jochen Mass, and Mark Blundell. Kristensen retired from full-time racing in November 2014, ending a career that included a record six wins at Le Mans.

But as is the custom at events like the Revival, the cars are the real stars. Over £150,000,000, or NZ$353,480,000, worth of cars will be competing in the TT alone, with Kristensen to be behind the wheel of a 1963 Lister Coupé — a car campaigned previously by former British Touring Car–driver Anthony Reid.

Many more legendary drivers and riders from past and present are yet to be announced, with Formula 1, IndyCar, sports car, touring car, MotoGP, superbike, and road-racing competitors all set to be represented.

The Pininfarina 230 SL

It’s October 1964, and imagine you’re an automotive journalist covering that year’s Paris Auto Show (Mondial de l’Automobile). As you approach the Pininfarina booth, you come across a car that looks a bit like the Mercedes-Benz 230 SL introduced the previous year at the Geneva Auto Show, a car then arriving at Mercedes-Benz dealerships around the world.
But looking closely, its styling and proportions seem to be a bit different. And it has a fixed roof, unlike the Pagoda-style greenhouse of the removable hardtop seen on the production 230 SL. While today, the styling of the W113, under the supervision of Head of Styling Friedrich Geiger, with lead designers Paul Bracq and Bela Barenyi, is considered a mid-century modern masterpiece, acceptance in-period was not universal. Some critics called out the concave design of its removable roof, which ultimately gave the car its “Pagoda” nickname.

Ford Falcon display: Bill Richardson Transport World

Ford Falcon enthusiasts from around Southland have made their pride and joy, Australian Ford Falcons, available for the extensive display now on at Bill Richardson Transport World in Invercargill.
Avid local Ford Falcon GT collectors, Roger and Diane Whyte have made a number of their cars available for display, while a
real rarity is Robin MacDonald’s factory original 1971 Ford Falcon Phase II GTHO.
From the very first to the very last Ford Falcon, this is a great opportunity to view these Australian icons under one roof.
The exhibition is on until early June. Don’t miss it!