Engine sounds that will push your ears to breaking point. Gorgeous shapes of cars long forgotten by the mainstream motoring industry. A totally different way of going racing. And cars exceeding the price of most mansions battling it out on track. It certainly isn't an understatement to say that the art of racing classic cars is unique in the motorsport world.

And with modern motorsport moving towards cleaner energy and engines that don't wake up the neighbors quite as much, more and more people are turning up to the ever-growing number of events to watch old-school cars and bikes go wheel-to-wheel.

Perhaps the most famous motorsport event catering to vintage enthusiasts is the Goodwood Revival. The event takes place towards the end of the British Summer on a circuit lost within a vast estate. The circuit in question, Goodwood Motor Circuit, closed its doors in 1966 after hosting one final Grand Prix and has remained in the same condition it was after its final event for over 40 years.

In 1998, the circuit opened its doors once more, welcoming a sea of classic racing fans for what was then the first Goodwood Revival. Marking the 50th anniversary of the track's initial opening, the event put all the same cars that used to race between 1948 and 1966 on-track for a plethora of great races. The first edition of this now iconic event was such a great success that it would go on to continue taking place, and grow for years to come.

Today, many consider the Goodwood Revival as the Mecca for classic motorsport thanks, in part to the racing, but most certainly to the amazing atmosphere the organizers manage to put together. Here is why every classic enthusiast should check out the Goodwood Revival.

Atmosphere Like No Other: Immerse Yourself In The Fifties At The Goodwood Revival

Vintage clothing at Goodwood Revival
Source: Goodwood on Newspress

Racing vintage cars on a given track is something one can experience pretty much anywhere. What truly sets the Goodwood Revival apart is the atmosphere. You could attend the event and spend the entire time away from the track walking around the paddock and village that is set up nearby, all while having just as good, if not better, an experience as sitting beside the on-track action.

It has now become tradition that anyone attending the event, be it to spectate or for work, dresses up in clothes seemingly from the olden days. Women walk around in floral tea dresses from the 1950s, men patrol with purpose wearing suits and flat caps. Even the competitors get a piece of the fun with all the mechanics putting on white, loose fitting overalls.

Elsewhere, actors descend on the yearly occasion to portray various period-correct events. At this year's edition, a flying saucer had crashed on the circuit grounds. Surrounded by actors carrying billboards, chanting about how the governments are hiding things from the public, the scene did its best to recreate the cultural obsession of aliens.

RELATED: These Are The Best Vintage Racing Events Around The WorldActors also man the many shops and stalls around the circuit, giving visitors a real experience of times long gone. In fact, an entire village is set up within the circuit's confines with garages, shops, adverts and vehicles all throwing back to the late-1950s and '60s. First-generation Ford Transits, for example, become ice cream vans.

Many activities take place during the three-day event around this 'Revive and Thrive' village. Visitors can attend sit-down interviews on stages looking like vintage coffee shops, while children can learn skills such as sewing and furniture upcycling in what the organizers call the Crafting Cabins.

The Goodwood Revival Has Some Of The Best Classic Car Racing

Getting dressed up in your best vintage frock and chatting about the possible existence of aliens all while exploring a bustling 1960s village may sound fun. But the Goodwood Revival is still a hub for classic motorsport, and there's a reason many consider it the best venue for racing classic cars.

The Goodwood Motor Circuit is one of the best. Corners like Fordwater and Madgwick put any car on the edge of grip, and the tight, lap-ending chicane is a challenge in bravery for any driver. The combination of long straights, flat-out corners and tight, twisty sections are an excellent mix, making for great wheel-to-wheel racing.

Throughout the weekend, many different races take to the track, from single make classes to iconic groups such as the St Mary's Trophy. The latter puts large Fords with powerful V8 engines against lightweight European touring cars like the Lotus Cortina and Mini Cooper in what is the motoring equivalent of David and Goliath. Another race, the Stirling Moss Memorial Trophy, sends the most expensive race cars ever sold on-track to duke it out. This is one of the only places in the world you'll see countless Ferrari 250 GTO cars fighting priceless Ford GT40s and Shelby Daytona Coupes just inches from the wall. To the dismay of many, sometimes battles do end in rather expensive crashes.

RELATED: Watch The 1963 Ford Galaxie Use Muscle To Destroy The Competition At A Goodwood Race

Behind the wheels of these thunderous cars are often some of the greatest racers alive. Ex-F1 drivers, NASCAR legends, IndyCar champions and British Touring Car heroes jump in similar cars to prove who's best.

This year's event saw Jimmie Johnson add to his list of vehicles driven when he jumped behind the wheel of a Ford Galaxie 500 in the St Mary's Trophy. Jenson Button, Frank Stippler and Guy Smith were also some of the many big names at this year's racing.

It's not just the big names, though, as the Settrington Cup race allows children to race in front of their adoring fans. In this event, small pedal cars line the grid before a plethora of children run to their machines and pedal down the main straight. The Le Mans start and intense pedaling required to win leaves youngsters breathless as they're later caught by broadcasters for what are often very sweet interviews.