FOS this year

Author
Discussion

225

Original Poster:

1,331 posts

227 months

Monday 10th July 2006
quotequote all
I don't think it was as good, anyone else agree?
Too many people, supercar run was a non event, F1 cars didnt play silly bu55ers, might just be me but I didn't get into at all this year.

gumballer

973 posts

227 months

Monday 10th July 2006
quotequote all
it's still a great event, but for me the classic years were when you would have Martin Brundle in the F1 Mclaren flying through the speed trap after the bridge in a last gasp attempt to get fastest time of the day, less crowds too and on the Sunday if you hung around after the presentation you could get some cake and a drink in goodwood house! maybe too much empahsis on profit and trade stands this year, it felt corporate, needs to step back a bit. but its still great and il continue to go!

Nic Jones

7,065 posts

221 months

Monday 10th July 2006
quotequote all
Used to be much better when the F1 cars were timed as well, I remember the year Heidfeld set the record, an awesome run when half the cars went for a time and the other half just pissed about doing donuts all the way up!

Its too busy now, becoming a victim of its own success which is a double edged sword i guess, attracts more cars I suppose but makes it harder to see things.

Oh well can't keep harking back to the 'good old days' can we?

AJLintern

4,202 posts

264 months

Monday 10th July 2006
quotequote all
I think the F1 cars tend to do demonstration run rather than set times due to the safety issues. The hill record was set before the fatal accident a few years ago, so they will have had tone things down a bit for some cars. This is also why it's not so easy to see the track these days as the bales were made higher and set further back.

Touching Cloth

11,706 posts

240 months

Monday 10th July 2006
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For me I rate this as one of my favourite years yet - can't put my finger on why but really enjoyed myself. I didn't think it was too busy on either of the days I went (Fri/Sat), for most of the time I didn't have access to a grandstand seat and still managed to get some good view of the track. These for example are just from the edge and I didn't have to battle to get to the front, just strolled up.







Two years ago I came away disappointed but that was because I left it too late getting down there and sat in a load of traffic, 2.hrs in a hot car and I arrived in a really bad frame of mind. This year I arrived before about 8am on both days and just sailed in - immediately felt better and really enjoyed it.



Roll on the Revival.

The Wiz

5,875 posts

263 months

Monday 10th July 2006
quotequote all
Good event ... not the best F of S ever though. The central display was ... well .... dull. There seemed to be fewer manufacturer stands than in previous years (no Harley, no Ducati). On the upside the Cartier was excellent - I loved the scooters!

trackdemon

12,197 posts

262 months

Monday 10th July 2006
quotequote all
I've only missed 2 GFOS's since its inception and I do slightly mourn the passing of the good old days when it was emphatically a petrolheads event with the lack of crowding and extraordinary level of access that went with that. The event has become much more commercial and sells as much as an entertaining day out for the family these days, but I feel this is the inevitable price of success - and the Revival remains more for petrolheads if thats what your looking for.
What it hasn't lost is the wonderful spread of machinery running up the hill and top notch static displays that were the events USP in the first place so it'll always remain worth going.
This years display outside the house was rubbish though! Did anyone else think it desperately sad they were 'playing' the national anthem using a Renault F1 engine? Chav-tastic!

Cactussed

5,292 posts

214 months

Monday 10th July 2006
quotequote all
Morning All

2006 was my fist FOS and I bought tickets for all 3 days. I went with a mate (in a poo-brown Citroen) and I have to say I thought it was the canine's conkers! We walked all over the place for 3 days and STILL didn't quite manage to see everything. I can't compare to previous years however the level of organisation was first rate and the access to cars and drivers was extraordinary. I have never before put my head inside the engine bay of a Matra V12 while it was revving (and won't again after going deaf in short order) but you are simply unable to do that anywhere else in the world to my knowledge? I sat in my first TVR (Sagaris - It's like sitting ON the back axle!), I sat in a 917k Porsche (childhood idol). Tremendous!

I agree the F1 playing the national anthem was a bit lame but all else was tremendous. I've never seen SO many people in one place with SO LITTLE mayhem, so little rubbish and so much camaraderie. When you got bored with the cars (heaven forbid), there was plenty of space for a picnic in front of various live bands or wander around in what are absolutely stunning grounds.

On a final note, the car park provides nearly as much value if not more, which was capped off by strolling past 3 TVR's in a row (Tuscan Mk1 and Mk2 and a Griffith). I was bust drooling when all 3 owners materialised and John Waters (Mk 1 owner) graciously gave me a run down of the Mk1, showed me all over his car and stayed to chat for a considerable length of time. Truly representative of the type of bonhomie on offer all over the paddock and very much appreciated by me. Finally, a lot of the photos that have been posted are tremendous!

I think I'm done gushing for the moment but I wouldn't have missed it for the world!

Drew

Gibo993

961 posts

266 months

Monday 10th July 2006
quotequote all
I get really fed up with those comments about how great it was in t'tut good old days, this happens with Le Mans and GOS and anything else that is an annual event.

This change this progress and move on.

It was my first year at the GOS and I have never enjoyed a day out so much!!
Standing next to the Gulf 917 while its being revved, having blood come out of my ears while leaning over Lauda's Mclaren
Seeing every car I have ever wanted to see in the flesh and most being nailed up the hill.
Talking to Derek Bell and standing next to loads of very famous drivers and riders.


Stop moaning about what it used to be like and enjoy whats its like today.
It is the best organised and thought out event I have ever been to.

vixpy1

42,625 posts

265 months

Monday 10th July 2006
quotequote all
There were too many people with beards this year

Gibo993

961 posts

266 months

Monday 10th July 2006
quotequote all
The only time I got scared, was by some of the autograph hunters outside the Dunhill drivers enclosure. Some did not move all day they where more interested in hounding the driver for an autograph than walking 20 feet to see them drive some amazing car.

even some of the women had beards

Be afraid be very afraid

Edited by Gibo993 on Monday 10th July 12:38

evil jack

1,619 posts

229 months

Monday 10th July 2006
quotequote all
Stop whinging. I really couldn't give a monkeys about the fastest time on the hillclimb anymore.
I go because I can see and hear those machines I've only ever seen black and white photographs of...To see great drivers reunited with great cars of the past...and to see cars of the present that I will probably never see on the road [let alone own myself]

Here's what Nigel Mansell said to Lord March at the closing ceremony:
“You have put something back into motorsport that has been missing for many years: The ability of a fan to walk up to a driver and shake his hand. We must all congratulate you for that.”

225

Original Poster:

1,331 posts

227 months

Monday 10th July 2006
quotequote all
I have only been two years now so can not harp on about the "good old days" it just wasn't as good as last year IMO. Its nice being able to nose round cars really close up and to have such a diverse age range but I think it was the hill run that was a let down. Most of the cars just pootled up the hill when we all wanted to see them giving it beans and hearing/seeing the stunning machinery as they should be.

Podie

46,630 posts

276 months

Monday 10th July 2006
quotequote all
225 said:
I don't think it was as good, anyone else agree?
Too many people, supercar run was a non event, F1 cars didnt play silly bu55ers, might just be me but I didn't get into at all this year.


Supercar run always is a non-event IMO... I don't go to GFoS to see supercars or current F1 cars.

It's the old sportscars and F1 cars I want to see... things like the Targa Florio, Can Am's... even the older F1 cars (nowt like a Ferrari V12).

trackdemon

12,197 posts

262 months

Monday 10th July 2006
quotequote all
Gibo993 said:
I get really fed up with those comments about how great it was in t'tut good old days, this happens with Le Mans and GOS and anything else that is an annual event.

This change this progress and move on.


Er.....

"The event has become much more commercial and sells as much as an entertaining day out for the family these days, but I feel this is the inevitable price of success - and the Revival remains more for petrolheads if thats what your looking for.
What it hasn't lost is the wonderful spread of machinery running up the hill and top notch static displays that were the events USP in the first place so it'll always remain worth going."

Gibo993

961 posts

266 months

Monday 10th July 2006
quotequote all
trackdemon said:
Gibo993 said:
I get really fed up with those comments about how great it was in t'tut good old days, this happens with Le Mans and GOS and anything else that is an annual event.

This change this progress and move on.


Er.....

"The event has become much more commercial and sells as much as an entertaining day out for the family these days, but I feel this is the inevitable price of success - and the Revival remains more for petrolheads if thats what your looking for.
What it hasn't lost is the wonderful spread of machinery running up the hill and top notch static displays that were the events USP in the first place so it'll always remain worth going."


Yeah OK, but so many people moan about how good things used to be,the amount of threads saying how bad Le Mans was this year and now this.

Basically if you do not enjoy it as much and it makes you angry enough to write about it. stop going and let us who have just discovered it enjoy it with a few less miserable people wondering about moaning how great it used to be.

Gibo993

961 posts

266 months

Monday 10th July 2006
quotequote all
trackdemon said:
Gibo993 said:
I get really fed up with those comments about how great it was in t'tut good old days, this happens with Le Mans and GOS and anything else that is an annual event.

This change this progress and move on.


Er.....

"The event has become much more commercial and sells as much as an entertaining day out for the family these days, but I feel this is the inevitable price of success - and the Revival remains more for petrolheads if thats what your looking for.
What it hasn't lost is the wonderful spread of machinery running up the hill and top notch static displays that were the events USP in the first place so it'll always remain worth going."


And anyway I was not aiming my comments at you, I think your reply was balanced.

I'm sure once you have been a few times the buzz wears off.
I could not beleive what a fantastic place it was and how I had never made the 1 hour trip before

ettore

4,144 posts

253 months

Monday 10th July 2006
quotequote all
Gibo993 - you`re quite right, people should be less miserable and relish in the fact that an event of this quality exists. The content is unparalleled and it allows us the opportunity to see and hear things we wouldn`t be able to otherwise.

However, those of us that went to the first two know how bloody superb they were!

Guess

94 posts

224 months

Monday 10th July 2006
quotequote all
We had a fab weekend (went Sat and Sun) even though the weather was a bit iffy. Highlights were (in no particular order):

1 Those brave (or dumb) pillion riders sitting behind Randy Mamola on his 250bhp bike - including "Mad" Charles March who did it on Sunday afternoon
2 Mike Cross power-sliding the yellow XKR round every corner on the hill
3 That 600bhp Gemballa Cayenne giving it death (what a noise)
4 The driver of the white Ford GT who span in front of our stand (anyone got any pics of this?)- he and Mike Cross were the only ones putting on a show for the crowd. The others were just tootling up
5 The Ferrari test driver who nosed the new 599 into the bales at walking speed (how DID he manager to do that?)
6 The F1 cars. Noise like a chainsaw and a bollocking by Margaret Thatcher
7 The poor driver of the fab Auto Union who put it into the hay backwards - an amazing car with amazing power (too much for this driver, it seems)

Any pics covering the above, anyone?

AJLintern

4,202 posts

264 months

Monday 10th July 2006
quotequote all
From the replay of the Auto Union it looked like something locked up the back wheels and spun it round