Dude, has Goodwood, like..sold out?
Poll: Dude, has Goodwood, like..sold out?
Total Members Polled: 101
Discussion
Those first few years were indeed halcyon days for the events (when all was dusty fields etc etc etc).
I was struck this year, and for the life of me I can't fathom if my memory is playing tricks on me, that the paddock seemed to contain fewer cars/bikes. It seemed much more uncluttered, almost as if there was an entire row missing.
Also, it felt as if there were fewer cars running up the hill on Friday.
I was struck this year, and for the life of me I can't fathom if my memory is playing tricks on me, that the paddock seemed to contain fewer cars/bikes. It seemed much more uncluttered, almost as if there was an entire row missing.
Also, it felt as if there were fewer cars running up the hill on Friday.
I think it has reached a bit of a crossroads.
Provided Goodwood do not move away from it's original ethos any further, I think it will regress back slowly to being a more specialised motorsport event. The non motoring fans will realise it isn't really their thing and move on to some other event.
Provided Goodwood do not move away from it's original ethos any further, I think it will regress back slowly to being a more specialised motorsport event. The non motoring fans will realise it isn't really their thing and move on to some other event.
Eric Mc said:
I'm not too interested in the celebrity side of things, supercars, or the runs up the hill. I just love seeing the historic racing cars in the paddocks and talking to the owners or those who look after them for the owners. I always learn a great deal from listening to these people and they are always keen to chat - especially those who bring their cars in from the US.
That's the key attraction for me too. shoestring7 said:
Eric Mc said:
I actually thought that, although the corporate stands were massive, there were far fewer small traders (models, bookshops etc) than in past years. It maybe was because I was there on the Thursday but the only proper motor racing bookshop I found was Pooks. What happened to Chaters, Motor Books etc? They used to always be there.
I thought I might pick up some white metal or resin car models and I could'nt find anyone selling such items.
FWIW Chaters had a large double stand this year.I thought I might pick up some white metal or resin car models and I could'nt find anyone selling such items.
I went to the 2nd FoS in 1993, and spent all three days at the event, staying in a camper van parked in the hardstanding in Goodwood (horse)racecourse.
There were still only small hay bales protecting the trees along the drive, very little corporate presence, no current F1 cars or 'supercars', and an informality that has almost completely dissapeared.
But I still remember some bloke complaining that it wasn't as good as the year before...
SS7
The first ever Festival of Speed was the 1993 event. I missed that because it was so low key that I didn't know it was on. I went to the second one (1994), missed 1995 and then went every year (sometimes both days) until about four years ago when I felt I needed a break.
This year was the first time back since then and I have to say I enjoyed it - despite the changes.
Stephanie Plum said:
I was pretty horrified to see that picture of the Bugatti. An Exige on the Johnnie Walker stand received the same treatment - indicative of some of the visitors sadly. I also think it's about time they introduced a rule that makes the wearing of a shirt compulsory - quite why overweight men think the rest of us want to gaze at their gut is beyond me.
I always go on the Friday and I still love it - yes it's busier than it used to be, but that's just how it is. Things like the Red Arrows, Vulcan etc don't come cheap after all. I for one was very pleased to see Lotus there with a big shiny stand - no I don't know where the money came from, but for once they put on a good show and hopefully attracted some new customers to the marque. The days of the B&C car and Clive wandering around, while nice in its own way, aren't really where they need to be now.
I also saw the Bugatti - it defied belief. Same with eh Exige Scura which is a bigger shame as a PHer owns it (vetteheadracer I believe) I always go on the Friday and I still love it - yes it's busier than it used to be, but that's just how it is. Things like the Red Arrows, Vulcan etc don't come cheap after all. I for one was very pleased to see Lotus there with a big shiny stand - no I don't know where the money came from, but for once they put on a good show and hopefully attracted some new customers to the marque. The days of the B&C car and Clive wandering around, while nice in its own way, aren't really where they need to be now.
If it helps vette - I told several kids to bu99er off when they started to paw at it (my 5yr old son was not one of them it must be said!!)
Trabant said:
M-J-B said:
.
F1 were banned for a reason, excessive speed in the wrong environment kills.
The F1 cars are perfectly entitled to set a time if they so wish. They don't because they choose not to, not because there's a ban.F1 were banned for a reason, excessive speed in the wrong environment kills.
thecremeegg said:
Trabant said:
M-J-B said:
.
F1 were banned for a reason, excessive speed in the wrong environment kills.
The F1 cars are perfectly entitled to set a time if they so wish. They don't because they choose not to, not because there's a ban.F1 were banned for a reason, excessive speed in the wrong environment kills.
Eric Mc said:
After the fatalities of 2000, the competitive nature of the hillclimb was drastically reduced.
Not from everyone Eric - the guy in the Focus was really going for it - to the point where I was glad I was on the other side of the track.I love speed and events like this, but if I take my children/friends with me I want us all to go home in one piece.
M-J-B said:
The F1 cars are not allowed to set a time - fact.
They would be allowed to set a time by Goodwood, trust me on that. It's a commonly held ( and incorrect ) belief that there was a ban on contemporary F1 cars setting a time after the Dawson Damer crash in 2000, in fact it's the F1 teams who don't allow their drivers to go for a time, nothing to do with Goodwood banning them.Edited by Trabant on Monday 5th July 13:24
I think it's great that parents with young kids want to bring them to an event like the FOS. It's going to foster a love of all things motorsport from an early age, and that's got to be a good thing I would have thought. I wish someone had given me a lift up the hill in a push chair, I was knackered after 4 days of hiking around the grounds and up the hill.
I have been going to Goodwood FoS since 1997. I personally think it has become a victim of its own success. There is more ans more for the Coperate/hospitality etc. When I first went, it was all about the motor racing fans etc. Not it seems that he wants to keep the sponsors and coperate people happy then the true fans. The Grandstand have got bigger. So he is making more money.
Completely agree. More posers than ever who are just there to be seen, more corporate crap than ever, less cars on the hill with less guys pushing hard for a quick time, massively expensive food/drink, and massively over crowded with people who clearly aren't petrol heads. For me the spark has gone. Next year I'll go to the revival again instead in the hope that it has remained true to it's original appeal.
Like anything else, some of the charm is lost as it becomes a victim of its own success.
The F1 paddock definitely seemed smaller this year, there were more undesirables there, too many people only there to gawp at Veyrons and the like.
Part of the problem is perhaps that the rarity or importance of what's there just isn't obvious unless you know about it - the line-up of 8Cs was great, but to a lot of people there they were just more old cars that weren't very interesting. There were also quite a few repeat entries, especially on the Style et Luxe lawn (Carabo, Pinin etc.) - inevitable I suppose after 17 years.
Food at the only sit-down public venue was as usual pretty awful for the money, you can't see much without a grandstand seat etc. - I wonder if the way forward is to try to blag hospitality/house tickets.
I'll still probably go next year.
The F1 paddock definitely seemed smaller this year, there were more undesirables there, too many people only there to gawp at Veyrons and the like.
Part of the problem is perhaps that the rarity or importance of what's there just isn't obvious unless you know about it - the line-up of 8Cs was great, but to a lot of people there they were just more old cars that weren't very interesting. There were also quite a few repeat entries, especially on the Style et Luxe lawn (Carabo, Pinin etc.) - inevitable I suppose after 17 years.
Food at the only sit-down public venue was as usual pretty awful for the money, you can't see much without a grandstand seat etc. - I wonder if the way forward is to try to blag hospitality/house tickets.
I'll still probably go next year.
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