Not sure where your information is from but all the people who I know who have been for the last few years, plus those we were parked next to on Lavant Bank, were saying the same - far too crowded and event losing some of its lustre as a result.

My experience of the weekend was that Friday was more crowded than usual but that Sunday, if anything, was less so. Saturday was about normal. Certainly the car parking was much better, the additional attractions worked well and the racing as usual, was excellent. I went to the Le Mans Classic this year (having been in 2006 & 08 but missed 10) and Goodwood knocks that into a cocked hat. It's by far the best classic racing event of the year and I'll be back next year. All IMO of course.

I popped over to the GRRC forum and asked the govenor and you were right, it has been pegged for the last 3 years but this was the first time it sold out on all three days. Hence why I thought it seemed busier on Friday .

2013 145999

145998 hactuerleeee as Lady CK has had it with Goodwood too

Yes I'm a member. I've looked at the main forum page a few times over the years but the "latest news" dated September 2008 has never changed. I'd assumed it had been abandoned! I've emailed the GRRC.

~iw

Call Kelly in the office.. She can sort that for you.
J

I can help with the numbers attending, having supported this event from the very first Revival, it is apparent that its now pure theatre so its an exit from me for 2013.

The meeting has a leisurely start now at 10.00 and is usually running late by 11.00
The parades are boring if you have a 3 day day ticket and the air displays are the same with no imagination as to type of aircraft.

Many race "winners" allegedly have trick cars and if I want to see pedal cars I will go to the park.
Sunday is a dead loss with more padding than a DFS mattress.

On a positive note I got out of the car park in under 5 minutes at the end of the meeting every day
(many had left early, that must tell you something!)and opening the Madgwick gate was a brilliant idea.

That said the race fans have deserted this meeting like rats from a sinking ship, which no doubt was part of the strategy, people with chairs are not really welcome, corporate bums with hospitality or
champagne drinkers with roving grandstand seats is the message now.

Goodbye Goodwood, for the same money I can do Silverstone Classic 3 days, Spa 6 hours 3 days, Brands Suprprix 2 days, the Oulton Gold Cup 2 days and still have change!!!!!!!!!!!

You say the air displays are always the same yet this year we had a pair of Hawker Hunter jets - a first I believe A couple of years ago the Vulcan appeared which was also rather different! As you've been to them all I assume you also saw the replica Vickers Vimy in flight a few years ago?

Having also been to all bar one Revival (I missed the first one) I would swear there are exactly the same number of races these days as there were in the Early years, my race cards are all downstairs so I could easily check.

Obviously you've grown tired of it but personally I thoroughly enjoyed this year's weekend, the racing was great, the air displays excellent and egress from the car parks was greatly improved by the new one way system.

Each to their own but I for one wouldn't miss it.

I will occasionally skip a Festival of Speed (as I did this year) which stops me becoming jaundiced and makes it more special the following year. If I ever started to feel that way about the Revival I would do the same, but I haven't felt the need so far.

There's an interesting editorial by Alistair Clements in the current Classic & Sports Car magazine about getting a fresh perspective by experiencing the event in the company of a first-timer. I might do that next year, introduce a friend.

~iw