Royal Enfield salutes dispatch riders at Goodwood Revival

Tickets are long sold out, so I will just have to imagine how perfect it would be to see Royal Enfield motorcycles among the swells at the Goodwood Revival 2014 this weekend in Chichester, West Sussex.

The event, Sept. 12-14, pays tribute to the past, with rare and bespoke automobiles, famous racers piloting the cars they once drove to glory, and patrons dressed in fashions to match the cars and motorcycles of yore.

But Goodwood has a wartime history, too. As RAF Westhampnett, it was a Battle of Britain airbase. In 1948 the perimeter road around the aerodrome became a motor racing circuit. Motor racing ended in 1966, but motorcycles and cars — and even wartime aircraft — returned for the first Revival Festival in 1998.

So it's appropriate that Royal Enfield chose Goodwood to honor World War II motorcycle dispatch riders. The famous "Don Rs," as they were called in the British Army, are invited to be Royal Enfield's guests of honor at this year’s Goodwood Revival.

At Goodwood Royal Enfield will preview a line of apparel inspired by the dispatch riders, with the real life Don Rs helping "bring the history that inspired the garments to life."

“Our new apparel range, inspired by the Don Rs goes beyond just biking gear. It also includes everyday fashion items; the collection brings to life core elements from the Despatch Riding era and is a tribute to these inspirational war heroes,” said Samrat Som, heal of apparel and accessories at Royal Enfield.

If you know a dispatch rider you'd like to nominate, email royalenfield@tangerinepr.com