Dude, has Goodwood, like..sold out?
Poll: Dude, has Goodwood, like..sold out?
Total Members Polled: 101
Discussion
I agree that it is now starting to get too corporate.
When it started it was a nice gentle garden party atmos with cars thundering up the hill and planes/helicopters flying about. I went this year and saw more private hospitality.Audi/Land Rover/ etc... I saw no drivers wandering about as they used too (all hidden away in the "dunghill"
drivers enclosure megalith)
It was also sooo crowded for a Friday it felt like Sunday.
The food vendors have gone downhill the GRRC is tucked to one side a bit like an embarrasment rather than in the thick of the corporate hospitality.
The GRRC car park is also still by the Porsche Driving experience where they cover all the club members cars in a blanket of good old Goodwood sand/dust.
The display, in front of the house, use to be the biggest thing there but the Audi stand eclipsed it on Alfa Romeos 100th birthday year. Did anyone do that to Audi on their 100th..er...NO
Bad Form, bad Form indeed
I still love the idea of the FOS but how they go about it is dreadful these days.
When it started it was a nice gentle garden party atmos with cars thundering up the hill and planes/helicopters flying about. I went this year and saw more private hospitality.Audi/Land Rover/ etc... I saw no drivers wandering about as they used too (all hidden away in the "dunghill"
drivers enclosure megalith)It was also sooo crowded for a Friday it felt like Sunday.
The food vendors have gone downhill the GRRC is tucked to one side a bit like an embarrasment rather than in the thick of the corporate hospitality.
The GRRC car park is also still by the Porsche Driving experience where they cover all the club members cars in a blanket of good old Goodwood sand/dust.
The display, in front of the house, use to be the biggest thing there but the Audi stand eclipsed it on Alfa Romeos 100th birthday year. Did anyone do that to Audi on their 100th..er...NO
Bad Form, bad Form indeed
I still love the idea of the FOS but how they go about it is dreadful these days.
Edited by Pistachio on Monday 5th July 15:29
Stephanie Plum said:
...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.
Agreed Jo, my wife always says they look so chavy and are always the ones you would least want to see without a shirt on! p.s. found you 
Trabant said:
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
Edited by freedman on Monday 5th July 16:26
Red Firecracker said:
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 had the same discussion with my sister. It seemed more spacious and empty.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.
Sorry but I'm quite sick of people moaning about how they think the FoS is going down the pan.
Hundreds of cars and bikes hacking it up the hill, the sun was shining and the smell of petrol was in the air. What on earth are people complaining about?
Yes, the food and drink is expensive and isn't very good but everyone knows they should bring their own food and drink! It's not far to walk back to the car to grab the cool box of the nice food you actually want to eat.
Amen.
(Not directed at you but just a rant at the people that say the rally stage is too far)
Hundreds of cars and bikes hacking it up the hill, the sun was shining and the smell of petrol was in the air. What on earth are people complaining about?
Yes, the food and drink is expensive and isn't very good but everyone knows they should bring their own food and drink! It's not far to walk back to the car to grab the cool box of the nice food you actually want to eat.
Amen.
CivicMan said:
My point being it looked like damned hard work trying to push a baby buggy up the path, tricky enough walking. And if that guys tattoo turns you on....... 
Can't understand this. Queing in the heat, missing all the action from the forest rally stage for the sake of half a mile of light gradient. Pure laziness (except for young families, push chairs etc).(Not directed at you but just a rant at the people that say the rally stage is too far)
Edited by MSTRBKR on Monday 5th July 16:37
I went on Friday (Rach* secured a couple of free admissions) and it was a good day out, if expensive on the food and drink; however, having been to many Breakfast Clubs it wasn't unexpectedly so.
I think though, on balance, that I prefer the Breakfast Club meets. The people there seem to be 'proper' petrolheads, and the range of cars on show to ogle and wander around is fabulous - especially Supercar Sunday. Never seen anyone at a Breakfast Club drawing on any of the cars, either. That anyone would disrespect someone's very expensive and cherished EB110 is bang out of line. I'd have had a word if I'd seen anyone doing that to one of the cars.
I think though, on balance, that I prefer the Breakfast Club meets. The people there seem to be 'proper' petrolheads, and the range of cars on show to ogle and wander around is fabulous - especially Supercar Sunday. Never seen anyone at a Breakfast Club drawing on any of the cars, either. That anyone would disrespect someone's very expensive and cherished EB110 is bang out of line. I'd have had a word if I'd seen anyone doing that to one of the cars.
MSTRBKR said:
Can't understand this. Queing in the heat, missing all the action from the forest rally stage for the sake of half a mile of light gradient. Pure laziness (except for young families, push chairs etc).
(Not directed at you but just a rant at the people that say the rally stage is too far)
The hill is a bit more than a "light gradient" IMHO. If people have got genuine problems with that sort of hike due to disabilities / illnesses then Goodwood can sort out transport for you, they don't shout about it however ( for obvious reasons ) but if you have a genuine reason a quick word with any one of the staff should yield results.(Not directed at you but just a rant at the people that say the rally stage is too far)
Funk said:
I went on Friday (Rach* secured a couple of free admissions) and it was a good day out, if expensive on the food and drink; however, having been to many Breakfast Clubs it wasn't unexpectedly so.
I think though, on balance, that I prefer the Breakfast Club meets. The people there seem to be 'proper' petrolheads, and the range of cars on show to ogle and wander around is fabulous - especially Supercar Sunday. Never seen anyone at a Breakfast Club drawing on any of the cars, either. That anyone would disrespect someone's very expensive and cherished EB110 is bang out of line. I'd have had a word if I'd seen anyone doing that to one of the cars.
Sadly the Breakfast Club meets are going the same way with so many people it has lost that rawness of petrolheads meeting for breakfast. It has now turned into a mini FOS but without the speed. The halcyon days...........I think though, on balance, that I prefer the Breakfast Club meets. The people there seem to be 'proper' petrolheads, and the range of cars on show to ogle and wander around is fabulous - especially Supercar Sunday. Never seen anyone at a Breakfast Club drawing on any of the cars, either. That anyone would disrespect someone's very expensive and cherished EB110 is bang out of line. I'd have had a word if I'd seen anyone doing that to one of the cars.
(hal·cy·on
/ˈhælsiən/ Show Spelled[hal-see-uhn]
1.
calm; peaceful; tranquil: halcyon weather.
2.
rich; wealthy; prosperous: halcyon times of peace.
3.
happy; joyful; carefree: halcyon days of youth. ).........
have gone sadly where is the next halcyon event location....but don't tell anyone LOL
Trabant said:
MSTRBKR said:
Can't understand this. Queing in the heat, missing all the action from the forest rally stage for the sake of half a mile of light gradient. Pure laziness (except for young families, push chairs etc).
(Not directed at you but just a rant at the people that say the rally stage is too far)
The hill is a bit more than a "light gradient" IMHO. If people have got genuine problems with that sort of hike due to disabilities / illnesses then Goodwood can sort out transport for you, they don't shout about it however ( for obvious reasons ) but if you have a genuine reason a quick word with any one of the staff should yield results.(Not directed at you but just a rant at the people that say the rally stage is too far)
Obviously they can do what they like, but you miss quite a bit of the action by using it.
I've got to say I'm very pleased that I started this thread. Seems a lot of people are beginning to think the same way that I am tonight & its good to see so many constuctive comments about how the Festival might be improved.
Hopefully the guy from Goodwood who visits this site (sorry my friend I can't remember your log in!) will take a look at these thoughts and report back to LM. To me it does seem to be going downhill a bit but there is still plenty of time to stop any decline and maybe our comments will help.
Hopefully the guy from Goodwood who visits this site (sorry my friend I can't remember your log in!) will take a look at these thoughts and report back to LM. To me it does seem to be going downhill a bit but there is still plenty of time to stop any decline and maybe our comments will help.
HT > the problem is how you term 'decline'...? On the face of it, FoS is an immensely popular event and people pay a lot of money to be there (whether through admission or buying consumables from the various vans). The success will be measured by footfall and 'ker-ching'.
It's the same with Top Gear; immensely popular show with huge numbers of viewers, yet the 'true petrolheads' feel it is no longer catering to their hankering for geekoid data and 'proper' roadtests. Yet it would be deemed more 'successful' today than at any time in its history.
Deep down though, I believe Clarkson, Hammond and May are all true petrolheads but they have to produce something that will not dent the viewing figures. In the same way, Lord March is a petrolhead too, but has to produce an event that will not dent the footfall and ergo the income.
I went to the FoS for years and stopped a couple of years ago. I wasn't planning to go this year but for a short-notice cajoling from Rach. Would I have paid to get in? No. Would I go next year? Probably not. And to the poster who lamented the decline of the Breakfast Club, yes, that too is getting busier and busier. Still a nice way to spend a Sunday morning though.
Am I glad Top Gear and the FoS both still happen/exist? Yes. Perhaps - just perhaps - one day they'll lean back toward those of us who'd like a little more 'car' and a little less 'corporate'.
It's the same with Top Gear; immensely popular show with huge numbers of viewers, yet the 'true petrolheads' feel it is no longer catering to their hankering for geekoid data and 'proper' roadtests. Yet it would be deemed more 'successful' today than at any time in its history.
Deep down though, I believe Clarkson, Hammond and May are all true petrolheads but they have to produce something that will not dent the viewing figures. In the same way, Lord March is a petrolhead too, but has to produce an event that will not dent the footfall and ergo the income.
I went to the FoS for years and stopped a couple of years ago. I wasn't planning to go this year but for a short-notice cajoling from Rach. Would I have paid to get in? No. Would I go next year? Probably not. And to the poster who lamented the decline of the Breakfast Club, yes, that too is getting busier and busier. Still a nice way to spend a Sunday morning though.
Am I glad Top Gear and the FoS both still happen/exist? Yes. Perhaps - just perhaps - one day they'll lean back toward those of us who'd like a little more 'car' and a little less 'corporate'.
I wouldn't say it's declined, it's just different. I didn't go last year because the year before that I felt like there was a lot i'd already seen, but it was still a good day out this year. All the corporate stuff is largely down to the manufacturers I imagine, I doubt LM asked them to bring huge exhibition stands, more like the other way round, it's just another opportunity for them, and you can't blame them for that. I don't really care about all the shops because I don't really find the time to look round them and feel like i'm missing other stuff happening if I do, plus anything there you could find on the internet later anyway. If anything there could be less shops, we could do without Microfibre pants for example...
I went to FOS on Friday and really enjoyed it ..
The event is now really massive with far to much too see in one day. Whilst it's
easy to say some things like corporate Audi stands are ruining it (Audi sure ruined Le Mans) I don't think Goodwood FOS has been lost yet.
They seemed to have actually just about accomodated everyone and as I said above my only gripe is there is too much too see in one day.
The event is now really massive with far to much too see in one day. Whilst it's
easy to say some things like corporate Audi stands are ruining it (Audi sure ruined Le Mans) I don't think Goodwood FOS has been lost yet.
They seemed to have actually just about accomodated everyone and as I said above my only gripe is there is too much too see in one day.
having been to the FoS for most of the last 10 years i don't agree that its going downhill . However it definitely seemed to have lost something this year :
there seemed a lot less cars in the F1 paddock. Maybe this was to do with the recession
other than the amazing array of Alfas it looked like the other manufacturers collections were a bit thin on the ground (honda, toyota, porsche, audi). This can't be down to cost because they had certainly spent plenty on the their stand - presumably they prefer flogging cars to the punters than getting their cars out to entertain them.
cars, stars and guitars - to me this was an irrelevant waste of time
moving motorshow - this may have been impressive on the thursday but on friday it was lacking in ...err, cars.
there's an increasing emphasis on supercars and modern F1 at the expense of historically significant racing machinery- IMO anyway.
the cricket pitch feature seems to have become a dozen cars parked in a circle - they used to have some really impressive displays like the bonneville saltflat recreation.
On a plus point I actually think there was less of a corporate hospitality presence this year. I don't understand the b
hing about the rally stage - this has been a great innovation. Yes its a long way up the hill but then its not likely to be on the front lawn is it.
there seemed a lot less cars in the F1 paddock. Maybe this was to do with the recession
other than the amazing array of Alfas it looked like the other manufacturers collections were a bit thin on the ground (honda, toyota, porsche, audi). This can't be down to cost because they had certainly spent plenty on the their stand - presumably they prefer flogging cars to the punters than getting their cars out to entertain them.
cars, stars and guitars - to me this was an irrelevant waste of time
moving motorshow - this may have been impressive on the thursday but on friday it was lacking in ...err, cars.
there's an increasing emphasis on supercars and modern F1 at the expense of historically significant racing machinery- IMO anyway.
the cricket pitch feature seems to have become a dozen cars parked in a circle - they used to have some really impressive displays like the bonneville saltflat recreation.
On a plus point I actually think there was less of a corporate hospitality presence this year. I don't understand the b
hing about the rally stage - this has been a great innovation. Yes its a long way up the hill but then its not likely to be on the front lawn is it.The Hypno-Toad said:
I don't know if its was my on-going brain problems but seemed to be a lot less racecars this year and a lot more roadcars and speaking for myself thats not what I go to Festival for. I like a balance of both racing and roadcars and this year there seemed to be a change towards the latter.
To be fair ,you do still get around the same number of racecars at this years event ,then say one ten years ago..(same number and size of paddocks too)..if anything (including the rally cars) ,your getting more race cars at the latter events !..trouble is,(or good thing to some) The road car stands are getting bigger!!.And nice new road cars and supercars will pull in the more "jo public" crowd and some of this people will get bored of a event of just race cars and motorsport ! i have been going to goodwood for over ten years now and yes it has changed , But now we ALL can get the best out of going to the festival, there is something for all us pistonheads!..but lets just hope the idiots that do attend, who just want "something to do" Do not end up wrecking the one thing that makes goodwood so special...We can all get up close and look over all are dream cars without been kept back by some damn crowd barrier like most other car events all over the world!
just one other thing..we ALL go to goodwood to see cars go up and "down the hill!" and put on a show so what the ruddy hell is this all about
Edited by richebets on Monday 5th July 20:12
Apart from 2005 I too have been a regular visitor and have enjoyed the FoS event each year. I attended three days out of four this time - missed out Saturday. I used to help out a stallholder in exchange for free ticket. For many years he has had the same pitch in a good position in the trade village between the car manufactures and the track. Apparently he and many others who bring their own tents have now been shunted up towards the Land Rover experience. I only discovered him and other regulars on Friday afternoon at five o'clock. There are rumblings of discontent and threats of withdrawing from the event altogether next year by him and some of the others now in the outback. The new trade village is now very much along the lines of Revival Corporate Uniform look. The toy people and booksellers were definitely there, just in a different place.
My impression of Friday was that it was busier than last year. Sunday seemed less busy and easy to get around. For the very first time I ventured up to the top paddock. I walked the first half then got the tractor bus which was very efficient if you were patient enough to queue. I would have liked to have walked back down but for me the dust was the biggest deterrent though the pics on the rally stage would have been spectacular so I'll save that for next year.
Cartier lawn and Supercar paddock were excellent but anyone tasked with keeping the cars clean had their work cut out. Try seeing the new McLaren anywhere else before 2011 and nothing short of a factory invite will be the only way. Moving Motor Show needs to be rethought. Manufacturers already have stands so a separate test drive station might be a better arrangement.
Alfa made a good showing in Cathedral Paddock. F1 paddock was reasonable and always gathers crowds as the cars go out or return. Mika with all his minders drew a couple of comments from bystanders. All those years of head down and rush off to the caravan perhaps.
The celebs were friendly and I had chats with Tom Chilton, Kevin McCloud and Chris Barrie.
Perhaps there should be an age restriction for children as umpteen kids (babies and toddlers) are spark out in pushchairs and mums are there on sufferance. Smart clothes looked great but the dust must have made many wish they had dressed down and I agree shirts/polo shirts and jeans/chinos be compulsory for blokes.
Much as I enjoy Revival I found that last year Friday was comfortable but Saturday was 'mobbed' and I abandoned an even more crowded Sunday and gave away my ticket.
So, good and not so good for both events but I'll be back next year for more.
My impression of Friday was that it was busier than last year. Sunday seemed less busy and easy to get around. For the very first time I ventured up to the top paddock. I walked the first half then got the tractor bus which was very efficient if you were patient enough to queue. I would have liked to have walked back down but for me the dust was the biggest deterrent though the pics on the rally stage would have been spectacular so I'll save that for next year.
Cartier lawn and Supercar paddock were excellent but anyone tasked with keeping the cars clean had their work cut out. Try seeing the new McLaren anywhere else before 2011 and nothing short of a factory invite will be the only way. Moving Motor Show needs to be rethought. Manufacturers already have stands so a separate test drive station might be a better arrangement.
Alfa made a good showing in Cathedral Paddock. F1 paddock was reasonable and always gathers crowds as the cars go out or return. Mika with all his minders drew a couple of comments from bystanders. All those years of head down and rush off to the caravan perhaps.
The celebs were friendly and I had chats with Tom Chilton, Kevin McCloud and Chris Barrie.
Perhaps there should be an age restriction for children as umpteen kids (babies and toddlers) are spark out in pushchairs and mums are there on sufferance. Smart clothes looked great but the dust must have made many wish they had dressed down and I agree shirts/polo shirts and jeans/chinos be compulsory for blokes.
Much as I enjoy Revival I found that last year Friday was comfortable but Saturday was 'mobbed' and I abandoned an even more crowded Sunday and gave away my ticket.
So, good and not so good for both events but I'll be back next year for more.
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