I was at the first Goodwood Revival in '98. On the Friday two Spits and a 109 went up and put on a "Dog figt"--the 109 of course lost and went off trailing 'smoke' to the delight of the slightly partisan crowd, one of the Spitfires came in and landed but where was the other? Suddenly we were aware of a rising wailing sound and the announcer in the tower cried "My God, I'm looking down on him!!"
Down the main straight hurtled the other Spit, at less than twenty feet! I was standing beside the tunnel to the infield and the noise/sight/feeling was stunning!
During this time the Earl of March ('Is Lordship) was touring the track in a Bristol 400 to officially open it for the event. Having come through the chicane he turned onto the main straight to be confronted with a Spitfire at about fifteen feet @ 300mph coming directly at him--"All I could see was the pilots eyes" he is reported to have said. The Spitfire pilot (Bob Hanna) had the decency to pull up..
