One of the cool things about the Goodwood Revival is that there are some seriously famous drivers from recent times AND from days gone by, who are battling it out during different races at the Revival. What’s cool about that is the awe that comes from newer drivers when they see some of these old machines on track, or get their first taste of them in person. It often makes me smile to see a younger driver get into something they think must be slow, just because it is old, only to find out it hauls ass and is harder to drive than the new stuff.
Video Description:
If Jenson Button thought the Freddie March Memorial Trophy was going to be an easy win at the 2025 Goodwood Revival, those thoughts would have quickly vanished as this 1957 Ford Thunderbird Battlebird thundered past him off the line. One of the great features of Goodwood racing is when American muscle and British engineering come up against each other, and there’s no bigger American muscle than the evocative Battlebird. A car with an interesting background that includes Daytona Beach racing and even a stop off in the bright lights of Las Vegas. Now the car is owned by Bill Shepherd, which means it gets raced hard around Goodwood.
We spoke to Bill and Fred Shepherd, along with driver Romain Dumas at this year’s Revival.
