Goodwood Full Membership
Discussion
chappj said:
I’ve just received the final call to upgrade my fellowship to full GRRC membership. I’m really struggling to see what additional benefits full membership offers me? I usually only attend one GW event per year (either MM or FoS).
Am I missing something obvious?
To get a return for your money I found attending all 3 events are a must and that will be even more so with the removal of the Thursday FOS tickets for those that assigned a price to them. Of course for some it’s not all about value for money but “the experience”. Am I missing something obvious?
AndrewIC said:
Like many others on here, I’ve dropped my GRRC membership. I don’t use it enough to justify keeping it and ultimately tickets being widely available somewhat defeats the object of having it for early access. I think I might rejoin the VSCC, as they have loads of events, which can be a bit crusty sometimes, but offer such a wide variety and you can easily get involved if you wish to.
Much less crusty than they used to be, I'm sure you wouldn't regret it!a7girl said:
AndrewIC said:
Like many others on here, I’ve dropped my GRRC membership. I don’t use it enough to justify keeping it and ultimately tickets being widely available somewhat defeats the object of having it for early access. I think I might rejoin the VSCC, as they have loads of events, which can be a bit crusty sometimes, but offer such a wide variety and you can easily get involved if you wish to.
Much less crusty than they used to be, I'm sure you wouldn't regret it!Ian Wegg said:
a7girl said:
AndrewIC said:
Like many others on here, I’ve dropped my GRRC membership. I don’t use it enough to justify keeping it and ultimately tickets being widely available somewhat defeats the object of having it for early access. I think I might rejoin the VSCC, as they have loads of events, which can be a bit crusty sometimes, but offer such a wide variety and you can easily get involved if you wish to.
Much less crusty than they used to be, I'm sure you wouldn't regret it!TV8 said:
I had a call from Goodwood yesterday checking that I was happy to have not renewed my membership before they deleted my account. A nice touch and a charming person made the call.
Good business practice I'd say. Confirms it's a conscious decision rather than inertia on your part. Rather hard to say I don't love you any more to an actual person too of course! There are many great things about the Goodwood circuit.
As a full member and GSA member up until the end of 2023. I chose not to renew my membership having been a full member off and on since the beginning.
A total waste of money unless you are in the ‘special’ boys club.
The GRRC has no respect or loyalty for its members and the whole operation is about extracting as much cash as possible without offering any value for money or feeling of being part of something special.
As a petrolhead and car fanatic, GRRC used to be a place of happiness and joy but the current regime is simply a boys club with no thought to real petrolheads, just who has the biggest wallet.
£52 for two average cooked breakfasts in the members area - NO THANKS. Pay extra to get into almost every area that used to be available for members - NO THANKS. Go into a ballot to get ‘lucky’ and obtain access into the members Kinara enclosure for a limited time wearing a wristband - NO THANKS.
Pay extra for revival roving grandstand tickets( there are only 8 stands on the circuit) and find that you have to pay extra to get into 5 of the 8 stands and then find of the 3 that you actually have access to, one doesn’t have a ‘big screen’ to watch the action when the cars have gone past. Meaning the roving grandstand pass actually gets you into 2 effective stands - NO THANKS.
And on top of this, if you dare raise any kind of criticism or complaint, both GRRC and Goodwood just fob you off with rubbish and self-belief that they are providing an excellent event and great value for money…….They’ve now even taken away the complimentary tickets for Thursday FOS. This was the only remaining benefit for being a GRRC member - GONE.
You would have to be an absolute muppet to spend money on being a member of the GRRC when you can access everything for a slight premium and still save money over paying £300 for membership. Unless you want to spank your car round the circuit but you don’t need to be a member to do that. And as for waiting in a queue and pay to be in it….🫢🤔🤣.
Of course there will be plenty of very sensible and experienced people who think full GRRC membership is wonderful and that I am wrong - I respect their view.
We are all entitled to our opinion and this is mine from years of experience and my comments to GRRC falling on deaf ears. I’m voting with my wallet - poor show Goodwood.
As a full member and GSA member up until the end of 2023. I chose not to renew my membership having been a full member off and on since the beginning.
A total waste of money unless you are in the ‘special’ boys club.
The GRRC has no respect or loyalty for its members and the whole operation is about extracting as much cash as possible without offering any value for money or feeling of being part of something special.
As a petrolhead and car fanatic, GRRC used to be a place of happiness and joy but the current regime is simply a boys club with no thought to real petrolheads, just who has the biggest wallet.
£52 for two average cooked breakfasts in the members area - NO THANKS. Pay extra to get into almost every area that used to be available for members - NO THANKS. Go into a ballot to get ‘lucky’ and obtain access into the members Kinara enclosure for a limited time wearing a wristband - NO THANKS.
Pay extra for revival roving grandstand tickets( there are only 8 stands on the circuit) and find that you have to pay extra to get into 5 of the 8 stands and then find of the 3 that you actually have access to, one doesn’t have a ‘big screen’ to watch the action when the cars have gone past. Meaning the roving grandstand pass actually gets you into 2 effective stands - NO THANKS.
And on top of this, if you dare raise any kind of criticism or complaint, both GRRC and Goodwood just fob you off with rubbish and self-belief that they are providing an excellent event and great value for money…….They’ve now even taken away the complimentary tickets for Thursday FOS. This was the only remaining benefit for being a GRRC member - GONE.
You would have to be an absolute muppet to spend money on being a member of the GRRC when you can access everything for a slight premium and still save money over paying £300 for membership. Unless you want to spank your car round the circuit but you don’t need to be a member to do that. And as for waiting in a queue and pay to be in it….🫢🤔🤣.
Of course there will be plenty of very sensible and experienced people who think full GRRC membership is wonderful and that I am wrong - I respect their view.
We are all entitled to our opinion and this is mine from years of experience and my comments to GRRC falling on deaf ears. I’m voting with my wallet - poor show Goodwood.
Apw67 said:
<clip> You would have to be an absolute muppet to spend money on being a member of the GRRC ...
... Of course there will be plenty of very sensible and experienced people who think full GRRC membership is wonderful and that I am wrong - I respect their view...
Except they are absolute muppets ... Of course there will be plenty of very sensible and experienced people who think full GRRC membership is wonderful and that I am wrong - I respect their view...
clive_candy said:
TV8 said:
I had a call from Goodwood yesterday checking that I was happy to have not renewed my membership before they deleted my account. A nice touch and a charming person made the call.
Good business practice I'd say. Confirms it's a conscious decision rather than inertia on your part. Rather hard to say I don't love you any more to an actual person too of course! I have been a GRRC member from nearly the start, and my first “members” badge from the FOS I think may predate the GRRC. So I have seen a lot change over the years. Every year, each event feels busier; but every, year, without fail, there is something at worst a variation of what has gone before and more often than not something completely new.
The time may come when it’s no longer “worth it” for me, but until then I will keep going- recognising that it is a business and not a charity “or a club” and that if it wasn’t profitable, it wouldn’t be happening at all.
I just hope that if I ever join the ranks of those sat behind the March enclosure grandstand 3 bottles of champagne in and 2 cigars down, unable to see the track, that someone will point out that it has ceased to be worth it for me and escort me from the premises (as I clearly won’t have worked that out for myself!)
The time may come when it’s no longer “worth it” for me, but until then I will keep going- recognising that it is a business and not a charity “or a club” and that if it wasn’t profitable, it wouldn’t be happening at all.
I just hope that if I ever join the ranks of those sat behind the March enclosure grandstand 3 bottles of champagne in and 2 cigars down, unable to see the track, that someone will point out that it has ceased to be worth it for me and escort me from the premises (as I clearly won’t have worked that out for myself!)
BobTurner said:
I have been a GRRC member from nearly the start, and my first “members” badge from the FOS I think may predate the GRRC. So I have seen a lot change over the years. Every year, each event feels busier; but every, year, without fail, there is something at worst a variation of what has gone before and more often than not something completely new.
The time may come when it’s no longer “worth it” for me, but until then I will keep going- recognising that it is a business and not a charity “or a club” and that if it wasn’t profitable, it wouldn’t be happening at all.
I just hope that if I ever join the ranks of those sat behind the March enclosure grandstand 3 bottles of champagne in and 2 cigars down, unable to see the track, that someone will point out that it has ceased to be worth it for me and escort me from the premises (as I clearly won’t have worked that out for myself!)
Nicely put.The time may come when it’s no longer “worth it” for me, but until then I will keep going- recognising that it is a business and not a charity “or a club” and that if it wasn’t profitable, it wouldn’t be happening at all.
I just hope that if I ever join the ranks of those sat behind the March enclosure grandstand 3 bottles of champagne in and 2 cigars down, unable to see the track, that someone will point out that it has ceased to be worth it for me and escort me from the premises (as I clearly won’t have worked that out for myself!)
TV8 said:
I don’t drink Verve Clique by the bottle and it’s all about money. The person I was speaking with was fine with that and all very civil.
Succinctly put, pretty much what I would have said if I'd been asked. It's noticeable that any discussion of the GRRC these days usually includes reference to cigars and champagne. Goodwood seems to be courting every wealthier members whilst making the club less exclusive. I'm not sure what the target demographic is, but I'm pretty sure I'm no longer in it.I fear that this new breed of heavily minted members is not the sort of clientele interested in standing around an ex-WW2 airfield in April, a feeling borne out by the seemingly reduced attendance at the 81MM. Conversely, I've spoken to several former GRRC colleagues who are regulars at both the MM and Revival but say they have no interest in the FoS.
I wonder if the club should be split. Perhaps a "Goodwood Motor Circuit Club" with a more grass-roots objective around motor racing, and a separate organisation for the Goodwood House summer garden party set? The annual cost of each at around half the current price allowing membership of both for those so inclined.
Ian Wegg said:
...
I fear that this new breed of heavily minted members is not the sort of clientele interested in standing around an ex-WW2 airfield in April, a feeling borne out by the seemingly reduced attendance at the 81MM. Conversely, I've spoken to several former GRRC colleagues who are regulars at both the MM and Revival but say they have no interest in the FoS.
I wonder if the club should be split. Perhaps a "Goodwood Motor Circuit Club" with a more grass-roots objective around motor racing, and a separate organisation for the Goodwood House summer garden party set? The annual cost of each at around half the current price allowing membership of both for those so inclined.
I have held my tongue a bit this year, as I normally have something to whinge about... but, this year was different.I fear that this new breed of heavily minted members is not the sort of clientele interested in standing around an ex-WW2 airfield in April, a feeling borne out by the seemingly reduced attendance at the 81MM. Conversely, I've spoken to several former GRRC colleagues who are regulars at both the MM and Revival but say they have no interest in the FoS.
I wonder if the club should be split. Perhaps a "Goodwood Motor Circuit Club" with a more grass-roots objective around motor racing, and a separate organisation for the Goodwood House summer garden party set? The annual cost of each at around half the current price allowing membership of both for those so inclined.
Something had changed, there were less people and a better atmosphere. Thinking about it, I don't think that can be down to the organisers (or at least not wholely down to the organisers). It was closer to the 72nd MM in feeling.
I don't think it sold out - if it did it was right at the last minute. Which possibly explains the fuss created when anyone offered a ticket - Goodwood clamped down as they still had their own to sell maybe?
If there were less people, that couldn't be down to this year's event as it hadn't happend yet.
St Mary's was quiet, and Magwick was thinner than usual, I could easily get a place at the fence near Woodcote.
Imporantly, the racing seemed less 'frantic' and less risky. The last few years some of the racing has seemed a 'bit mad' and indeed we have ended up with Air Ambulances on the track for a few times - no one wants to see that. No idea if the drivers have been told to tone it down a bit.
For what it is worth the 'hill' members and 'circuit' members was something that was discussed in my chat with GRRC last year. Different people like different things - and for me, the FoS isn't my thing. That doesn't make me feel 'better' than the people that go to the FoS, nor should those who like the Supercars and hill look down on us who like the 'roundy-roundy' stuff.
But there is a (IMHO) division of interests and the overlap who like both may be small.
Can't think how it might actually benefit Members at present, but maybe we should be able to opt in to one camp or the other and bias whatever benefits there are to our chosen event.
For me the event was over in a flash - that means I was busy and interested all the time.
But, with all the unhappiness last year about Membership and benefits, there didn't seem to be anything new on that front. (I know that, technically, the MM attendees are Members, Associates or their guests not just the general public, but still no change in provision).
Hey - what about an upgrade to a large coffee at the tea sheds if you produce your GRRC badge?
No ideas for a name said:
Ian Wegg said:
I fear that this new breed of heavily minted members is not the sort of clientele interested in standing around an ex-WW2 airfield in April, a feeling borne out by the seemingly reduced attendance at the 81MM. Conversely, I've spoken to several former GRRC colleagues who are regulars at both the MM and Revival but say they have no interest in the FoS.
I wonder if the club should be split. Perhaps a "Goodwood Motor Circuit Club" with a more grass-roots objective around motor racing, and a separate organisation for the Goodwood House summer garden party set? The annual cost of each at around half the current price allowing membership of both for those so inclined.
I have held my tongue a bit this year, as I normally have something to whinge about... but, this year was different.I wonder if the club should be split. Perhaps a "Goodwood Motor Circuit Club" with a more grass-roots objective around motor racing, and a separate organisation for the Goodwood House summer garden party set? The annual cost of each at around half the current price allowing membership of both for those so inclined.
Something had changed, there were less people and a better atmosphere. Thinking about it, I don't think that can be down to the organisers (or at least not wholely down to the organisers). It was closer to the 72nd MM in feeling.
I don't think it sold out - if it did it was right at the last minute. Which possibly explains the fuss created when anyone offered a ticket - Goodwood clamped down as they still had their own to sell maybe?
If there were less people, that couldn't be down to this year's event as it hadn't happend yet.
St Mary's was quiet, and Magwick was thinner than usual, I could easily get a place at the fence near Woodcote.
Imporantly, the racing seemed less 'frantic' and less risky. The last few years some of the racing has seemed a 'bit mad' and indeed we have ended up with Air Ambulances on the track for a few times - no one wants to see that. No idea if the drivers have been told to tone it down a bit.
For what it is worth the 'hill' members and 'circuit' members was something that was discussed in my chat with GRRC last year. Different people like different things - and for me, the FoS isn't my thing. That doesn't make me feel 'better' than the people that go to the FoS, nor should those who like the Supercars and hill look down on us who like the 'roundy-roundy' stuff.
But there is a (IMHO) division of interests and the overlap who like both may be small.
Can't think how it might actually benefit Members at present, but maybe we should be able to opt in to one camp or the other and bias whatever benefits there are to our chosen event.
For me the event was over in a flash - that means I was busy and interested all the time.
But, with all the unhappiness last year about Membership and benefits, there didn't seem to be anything new on that front. (I know that, technically, the MM attendees are Members, Associates or their guests not just the general public, but still no change in provision).
Hey - what about an upgrade to a large coffee at the tea sheds if you produce your GRRC badge?
I suppose I could do all that as an associate/fellow without access to Bonhams at MM and Revival, the Members Marquees and the central paddock. I'll take a view on it come October this year.
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