[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BlogPosting","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/latest-news\/goodwood-revival-2012-the-youngest-line-up-yet-race-austin-j40\/#BlogPosting","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/latest-news\/goodwood-revival-2012-the-youngest-line-up-yet-race-austin-j40\/","headline":"Goodwood Revival 2012 – The Youngest Line-up yet race the Austin J40","name":"Goodwood Revival 2012 – The Youngest Line-up yet race the Austin J40","description":"Between the 14th & 16th September, Goodwood Revival show goers will be treated to something a little unusual – even by the rather unusual standard already set by the vintage show.\u00a0 Featuring the youngest line up so far, a field of 30 Austin J40 pedal cars will race against each other, each pedal car with a rather young driver sporting original 1950’s overalls and crash helmets. Racing legend Stirling Moss will oversee what is expected to be one of the […]","datePublished":"2012-09-10","dateModified":"2012-09-10","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/author\/isabelle-lawrence\/#Person","name":"Isabelle Lawrence","url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/author\/isabelle-lawrence\/","identifier":30,"description":"Max Wheeler is a leading motoring journalist and classic car specialist at Smart Motoring, renowned for his sharp insight and infectious passion for all things automotive. With years of experience covering motoring news, supercars, and the enduring legacy of classic cars, Max brings stories to life with style and authority. Whether it\u2019s the roar of a Lamborghini, the elegance of an Aston Martin DB5, or the cultural impact of vintage motoring icons, he delivers expert commentary that inspires enthusiasts and collectors alike. Dedicated to celebrating the heritage and future of driving, Max Wheeler is your trusted voice for classic car news and beyond.","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/8d331506e3c530b5ec4930c30a01ed8cc29b0537227573ae5da98f559e681401?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/8d331506e3c530b5ec4930c30a01ed8cc29b0537227573ae5da98f559e681401?s=96&d=mm&r=g","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Smart Motoring","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/smart-motoring_news_logo_g-e1765846726493.webp","url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/smart-motoring_news_logo_g-e1765846726493.webp","width":600,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/09\/austin-j40-pedal-car-j40-club-2012.jpg","url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/09\/austin-j40-pedal-car-j40-club-2012.jpg","height":433,"width":577},"url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/latest-news\/goodwood-revival-2012-the-youngest-line-up-yet-race-austin-j40\/","about":["Clubs \/ Events","LATEST CAR NEWS"],"wordCount":456,"keywords":["austin j40","Goodwood","goodwood revival","hill","pedal car","retro","revival","soap box","vintage"],"articleBody":"Between the 14th & 16th September, Goodwood Revival show goers will be treated to something a little unusual – even by the rather unusual standard already set by the vintage show.\u00a0Featuring the youngest line up so far, a field of 30 Austin J40 pedal cars will race against each other, each pedal car with a rather young driver sporting original 1950’s overalls and crash helmets.Racing legend Stirling Moss will oversee what is expected to be one of the most closely contested, although probably not the fastest, races of the Revival weekend.The competitors, with an average age of 8 years old, will pedal a shorter, Junior, circuit around the hallowed pit lane at Goodwood although the race will start with a Le Mans style running start and there is a chicane at the finish line.The J40 itself is a fascinating piece of British heritage.\u00a0 In 1947 English Car Manufacturer Austin had the naming convention to name the car after it’s approximate Horsepower then to add an English county to the name.\u00a0 This gave birth to the many Austin A40’s, such as the A40 Devon, A40 Dorset and the A40 Cambridge.\u00a0 It also gave birth to something else for the younger generation.\u00a0 Following the prototype “JOY 1”, Austin J40 pedal cars (based on the A40 Devon) were built at Austin’s Junior Car Factory in Wales from 1949.\u00a0 The project was paid for by the government and the aim was to provide useful employment for disabled coal miners rather than for the business to make any sort of profit.Two different pedal cars were made at the factory:\u00a0 The J40, \u00a0and also the Pathfinder which was nothing to do with the modern Nissan of the same name but based (loosely) on the 1930’s single seat Austin Seven racer.\u00a0 I’m not sure why it wasn’t called the J7?\u00a0 When production finished in 1971 a total of 32,098 Austin J40’s had been produced.To see them in action watch the video below:The fantastic little children’s cars are a part of England’s motoring heritage and are so quintessentially British that they are certainly well worth celebrating at Goodwood – the Mecca for all our loveliest vintage motoring things.\u00a0 It’s a great introduction to classic motoring for an 8 year old and the pedal cars will be on display while they’re not racing.\u00a0 We can’t wait to see them.For anyone who thinks that a race between youngsters won’t be ferociously competitive, you only need look at this retro video we have in the Motor-Vision video vaults of the 1936 All American Soapbox Derby.\u00a0 I think I’d rather take my chances in a championship stock car race!Green Austin J40 image from: austinj40pedalcarclub.org.uk"},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Latest News","item":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/latest-news\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Goodwood Revival 2012 – The Youngest Line-up yet race the Austin J40","item":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/latest-news\/goodwood-revival-2012-the-youngest-line-up-yet-race-austin-j40\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]