Goodwood to celebrate two 60s British icons at the Revival

As well as gathering a large number of rare and famous Minis cars of all shapes and sizes at the Revival, Goodwood will also celebrate that essential ladies fashion item of the Swinging Sixties; Mary Quant's influential Mini Skirt.

Following a large turnout of renowned Minis at last month's Festival of Speed, even more are due to attend the Revival in September as part of Goodwood's on-going Mini 50th birthday celebrations.

The hugely popular St. Mary's Trophy saloon car race will be dedicated to Group 2 Mini Coopers only of a type that raced prior to 1966, when Goodwood hosted a number of Mini-only races at its legendary motor circuit.

This very special saloon car race devoted entirely to Alec Issigonis' masterpiece will be a one-off for 2009. A full 30-car grid of 1275cc Mini Coopers will contest what is sure to be the most closely-fought race in the Revival's history, promising to swarm around the famous circuit as one as they dice for position.

While most of the cars will be identical Coopers, the field will also be dispersed with one or two of the Riley Elf/Wolseley Hornet variants featuring reshaped boot and front grille. The St. Mary's Trophy continues as a two-part race staged on both Saturday and Sunday, with an aggregate result.

Pairing up with the owners once again will be a host of celebrity drivers, many of whom will have raced Minis during their professional careers.

Expect to see Mini experts including Rauno Aaltonen, Sir John Whitmore, Alec Poole, Warwick Banks, John Fitzpatrick, Richard Longman and Barrie ‘Whizzo' Williams battling with such luminaries as Derek Bell, Jackie Oliver, Bobby Rahal, Anthony Reid and Brian Redman.

In addition to the above, a tribute parade of 50 Minis or Mini-based derivatives will lap the circuit each day during the Goodwood Revival in a birthday celebration. Expect to see unusual Minis on the track such as ice cream vans, Wildgoose camping cars and bizarre publicity machines as well as more familiar versions of the popular car, ranging from the original 1959 Austin Seven and Morris Mini Minor, through to Coopers, Hornets and Elfs, vans and pick-up trucks. It promises to be a real spectacle not to be missed..

Away from the track, Goodwood will be celebrating the perennial popularity of the Mini Skirt, conceived by top British fashion designer Mary Quant in the mid-1960s. As many female visitors as possible to the Goodwood Revival are being encouraged to dig out and wear their mini skirts and stroll down a recreation of the Swinging Sixties Carnaby Street.

With Saturday 19 September being the Goodwood Revival Ladies Day, on-the-spot prizes will be awarded by a team of leading fashion experts to the best dressed ladies donning their mini skirts and other Sixties finery.

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Credits: JRC