Goodwood Full Membership

[No ideas for a name]

Ean218 said:

I'm afraid I am in the I don't think it can be fixed camp.

Most of the benefits are now available to the "Associates". All we are really left with as members of an "exclusive club" is the paddock passes and the paddock has got far too busy recently, presumably because there are now twice as many members.

The only solution from my point of view is to cut the member numbers back down and abandon the Fellowship, neither of which would appeal to Goodwood. I'll be looking elsewhere in future.

I think you might be right - unfortunately.
As I said some time ago - maybe there is a plan to push people away and reduce the numbers in the club - but that can't be as they are still taking on new members from the pool of Associates.

Meanwhile full members are seeing more bail-outs than at a Martin Baker get together.

[ecsrobin]

Even if they do manage to fix it would we all go running back? I certainly wouldn’t knowing that they could just do it all again.

[RichB]

No ideas for a name said:

<clip> I did post the above question last week, but didn't get any replies. Are we to assume that those who think it is broken can't think of any ways to fix it either?

As has been said, there have been a several faux pas over the years. Individually they may seem small, however, each has annoyed the membership: i) The introduction of a two-tier membership and calling the new associate members 'Fellows' was most bizarre ii) doubling the number of full members put a serious strain on facilities and iii) removing Thursday FoS tickets was, it seems, the proverbial last straw. Many have said they weren't so interested about the FoS but the whole heated debate on the issue of membership caused them to reconsider.

To go back on these decisions now would not be possible. Goodwood have mitigated the overcrowding to some extent by adding 'Pit Stops' around the track but that doesn't help with the Kennels, the 'Members' tunnel and other over subscribed events like factory tours. It also probably led firstly to the end of member's free access to Kinrara on Thursday and ultimately to ending free Thursday FoS tickets (although that still doesn't make sense).

The only way forward I can see is for Goodwood to recognise that they are overselling their events and reduce numbers, taking a hit on revenue - but, that won't happen...

[mk1coopers]

No ideas for a name said:

I know that quoting one's self might be the first sign of madness...

I was going to chase up Goodwood today to see if there has been any progress a week after my chat.
I did post the above question last week, but didn't get any replies. Are we to assume that those who think it is broken can't think of any ways to fix it either?

Difficult one, as said over on the GRRC forum, if something is to be done only Goodwood can look at ways to separate the Fellow and Member benefits, so that stepping up offers a significant and desirable difference, this will retain Members and drive the Fellowship to new membership highs.

Numbers is a difficult one, it is a business, what ever is done needs to be scalable to accommodate future growth, however with growth comes the inevitable loss of 'exclusivity', there certainly should be a sweet spot for numbers that allows that, Goodwood need to work out what that number is, because as shown with what has happened, if it gets exceeded the reactions are not positive.

Could you allow half the Members to have free FOS access on alternative years, reducing the numbers and getting rid of ballots in one go, then allow those that can't attend to 'gift' their allowance to fellow Members that can, so you may end up being able to go every year, and numbers are reduced, which mitigates the overcrowding that was cited in the original email ?

[johnoz]

No ideas for a name said:

I know that quoting one's self might be the first sign of madness...

I was going to chase up Goodwood today to see if there has been any progress a week after my chat.
I did post the above question last week, but didn't get any replies. Are we to assume that those who think it is broken can't think of any ways to fix it either?

Don't usually comment on these but here's my thoughts, and ramblings.

Do you really think that you will get an answer?

For me I am still on the on the fence as to renewing yet.

I am guessing that Goodwood somehow issued more Thursday tickets than they were allowed too! are they not regulated to 50000 per day?

For that reason it caused a lot of complaints, hence the questionnaire sent out as they do every year (which I did not get) with the answers you tick that are generated by them and you don't have the option to put your own views.

Why was there so many on Thursday, was it a ploy for what was coming in the pipeline,? the old Friday free tickets was never that busy.

It is all about making money we can see that, but it's getting a little out of hand, there is more corporate around that is clear to see.

Now with all this membership upset, what do they want? do they want to thin out the older (not age) members that just join every year but don't do much or spend any money and replace them with new eager young blood that will be excited and spend money win win.

Also is there still a joining fee as a new member, as if there is thats a winner too for revenue over just renewing.
As it's been said there are plenty of new members just waiting in the wings to fill places.

Kinrara now is so busy unlike it best to be, it was nice to get away from the crowds, but now its is just as busy and is not a pleasure anymore, but that said its all to make money a. I asked once how many tickets they sell for Kinrara but as usual no-one will answer just skirt around question.

It's funny how Saturday had to be cancelled due to wind, with no one allowed on site after 11.00 am wasn't it? Yes the drivers ball and fireworks still went ahead on the Saturday evening, funny that a.

I agree with all that was said, lockdown year "o please don't ask for your money back" do wish I did now, as been said it now stands for nothing GSA (or is it Great Sod All)

think thats all I can think of, sorry if some of it don't make sense, but thats just the way I type.

[Ian Wegg]

johnoz said:

<Snip>...I am guessing that Goodwood somehow issued more Thursday tickets than they were allowed too! are they not regulated to 50000 per day?

Yes, exactly that. See the other thread: The end of free Thursday FOS tickets

It’s often been said that the 50K per day restriction was imposed by the local council; I’m not sure if that’s true or if it’s Goodwood’s own limit but either way the figures show that the FoS has been exceeding it.

I don’t think it’s even a secret, the email of last month makes no sense unless you know this.
Quote: “Where previously we were able to absorb complimentary member tickets into the overall attendance number, this is no longer the case”.
i.e. after sales, there were not enough tickets left over to give to members so we had to issue more. This resulted in the overcrowding that you complained about.

I think that the majority of us were unaware that free FoS Thursday was Goodwood dumping otherwise unsold tickets. Conversely, Goodwood viewed the benefit as of little value and therefore fatally misjudged the effect of withdrawing it.

[No ideas for a name]

I think I am sure this is a mistake.

https://shop.goodwood.com/products/goodwood-reviva...



Sometimes hard to tell. At least it has £170 off.
I wonder if there is a 'wearing fee' to go on top?

[Hereward]

Now reduced to a measly £25. See, their Hugh Grant-esque boss man isn't such a capitalist vampire squid after all...

[DeejRC]

Ian Wegg said:

DeejRC said:

Got to be honest, it’s never once occurred to me to care what the membership numbers are. Whether it’s an exclusive club or not is barely on the radar, I’m at a loss as to why it would be for some.

I'm guessing you've never tried to use the Revival GRRC enclosure on a rainy day? I can tell you that when you and your guest find yourselves eating lunch sitting on the floor with plates balanced on your laps, that's when you care about the numbers.

The members' open day this year had traffic queues so long that it took up to an hour just to get parked and some people gave up before they got there. The free Thursday FoS tickets - the catalyst for this whole debate - was a benefit that Goodwood were "left with no choice but to remove", it had become so oversubscribed.

I could go on (the public tunnel at Revival is often a quicker option than the member's one; the Regional Drives are excellent if you can get on them). The truth is that these benefits were originally scaled for a club of 5,000 members but are now stretched to a figure approaching (or possibly exceeding) twice that number.

That's why it matters.

Except Ian that almost all of the above is complete cobblers. As I’ve stated more than a few times over the years, I and my family stopped going to the Revival at some pt mid 2010s as it had become too busy. The Paddock was always crowded, the members tunnel was always packed, the enclosures were always stuffed. Indeed, see above about the aero club - a large part of that reason was because the clubhouse was always a lot less busy than the GRRC enclosures. Oh not to mention you got better views, better seating, better facilities and it wasn’t just a sodding tent.
We’ve been members from the start, including the first FoS, first Revival and first MM. I was at the MM this yr and it took me 10mins to get in. I can guarantee I didn’t use the route you did though.
In short, not a single problem that you identified above, except one, hasn’t previously been a problem a decade ago. I only started going back to Revival just before Covid and that was only one the Friday to meet a friend. The exception above is the loss of the Thurs tickets to the FoS and I agree on that being a silly loss. Again I only started going back to the FoS a yr or so before Covid due to the free Thurs ticket. I won’t touch the rest of the FoS due to the crowding (haven’t since about 2007 or so) and the BMW brigade.
Now I won’t be back for the FOS, probably ever and we will probably return to just doing the MM. I use the Kennels occasionally if I’m around for work or I’m staying at the Hotel.

[ecsrobin]

DeejRC said:

Except Ian that almost all of the above is complete cobblers. As I’ve stated more than a few times over the years, I and my family stopped going to the Revival at some pt mid 2010s as it had become too busy. The Paddock was always crowded, the members tunnel was always packed, the enclosures were always stuffed. Indeed, see above about the aero club - a large part of that reason was because the clubhouse was always a lot less busy than the GRRC enclosures. Oh not to mention you got better views, better seating, better facilities and it wasn’t just a sodding tent.
We’ve been members from the start, including the first FoS, first Revival and first MM. I was at the MM this yr and it took me 10mins to get in. I can guarantee I didn’t use the route you did though.
In short, not a single problem that you identified above, except one, hasn’t previously been a problem a decade ago. I only started going back to Revival just before Covid and that was only one the Friday to meet a friend. The exception above is the loss of the Thurs tickets to the FoS and I agree on that being a silly loss. Again I only started going back to the FoS a yr or so before Covid due to the free Thurs ticket. I won’t touch the rest of the FoS due to the crowding (haven’t since about 2007 or so) and the BMW brigade.
Now I won’t be back for the FOS, probably ever and we will probably return to just doing the MM. I use the Kennels occasionally if I’m around for work or I’m staying at the Hotel.

I disagree with all of your points. I agree the members areas were busy many years ago but they are so much worse in the last few years and as mentioned suspect that’s because they’ve stayed the same size whilst membership has grown nearly double. You cannot say the aero club portacabin got you better views better seats and better facilities. It was a dive and often overcrowded or do you mean their attachment to the tent which used the same facilities and chairs as the rest of the members enclosures?

You may have been going since the early events but that does not give your points any more weight than people who regularly attend unlike yourself.

[RichB]

ecsrobin said:

DeejRC said:

Except Ian that almost all of the above is complete cobblers. As I’ve stated more than a few times over the years, I and my family stopped going to the Revival at some pt mid 2010s as it had become too busy. The Paddock was always crowded, the members tunnel was always packed, the enclosures were always stuffed. Indeed, see above about the aero club - a large part of that reason was because the clubhouse was always a lot less busy than the GRRC enclosures. Oh not to mention you got better views, better seating, better facilities and it wasn’t just a sodding tent.
We’ve been members from the start, including the first FoS, first Revival and first MM. I was at the MM this yr and it took me 10mins to get in. I can guarantee I didn’t use the route you did though.
In short, not a single problem that you identified above, except one, hasn’t previously been a problem a decade ago. I only started going back to Revival just before Covid and that was only one the Friday to meet a friend. The exception above is the loss of the Thurs tickets to the FoS and I agree on that being a silly loss. Again I only started going back to the FoS a yr or so before Covid due to the free Thurs ticket. I won’t touch the rest of the FoS due to the crowding (haven’t since about 2007 or so) and the BMW brigade.
Now I won’t be back for the FOS, probably ever and we will probably return to just doing the MM. I use the Kennels occasionally if I’m around for work or I’m staying at the Hotel.

I disagree with all of your points. I agree the members areas were busy many years ago but they are so much worse in the last few years and as mentioned suspect that’s because they’ve stayed the same size whilst membership has grown nearly double. You cannot say the aero club portacabin got you better views better seats and better facilities. It was a dive and often overcrowded or do you mean their attachment to the tent which used the same facilities and chairs as the rest of the members enclosures?

You may have been going since the early events but that does not give your points any more weight than people who regularly attend unlike yourself.

Now then... I've been to every Revival bar the first and every Member's Meeting and a GRRC Member for nearly 25 years and in my day you could have your own grandstand where you wanted, drive the cars at lunchtime and have dinner with Lord March in the evening. And, try to tell that to people today and they won't believe you.

[WhyOne]

DeejRC said:

.....
In short, not a single problem that you identified above, except one.....

[Ian Wegg]

(A final word from me) a reminder of the deadline, from the GRRC email:

"If you would like to make any amendments to your membership or direct debit payment details, please notify us by the 24th November at the latest by emailing or calling the office".

.

[ecsrobin]

Ian Wegg said:

(A final word from me) a reminder of the deadline, from the GRRC email:

"If you would like to make any amendments to your membership or direct debit payment details, please notify us by the 24th November at the latest by emailing or calling the office".

.

I’m not sure what that’s referring to as renewals can be up to 31 December. If you don’t pay you don’t have membership. I assume that just applies to direct debit customers.

[Martin315]

No ideas for a name said:

There is to be some form of announcement which is intended to address some of our concerns, in the next Newsletter. I did say it better be good, and better be quick.
Future benefits are being looked at, but I did make the point that sometimes things that Goodwood thinks are a benefit, aren't always seen that way by the membership.

Got the latest newsletter today. Nothing to address any of the concerns raised, just platitudes and some nebulous stuff about jam tomorrow.

[RichB]

Martin315 said:

No ideas for a name said:

There is to be some form of announcement which is intended to address some of our concerns, in the next Newsletter. I did say it better be good, and better be quick.
Future benefits are being looked at, but I did make the point that sometimes things that Goodwood thinks are a benefit, aren't always seen that way by the membership.

Got the latest newsletter today. Nothing to address any of the concerns raised, just platitudes and some nebulous stuff about jam tomorrow.

indeed, in summary it was:

Renewals Reminder
Tickets Reminder
Daytona Trip Reminder
GRRC Socials
Office Closure for Xmas
Book Winners

[No ideas for a name]

Martin315 said:

No ideas for a name said:

There is to be some form of announcement which is intended to address some of our concerns, in the next Newsletter. I did say it better be good, and better be quick.
Future benefits are being looked at, but I did make the point that sometimes things that Goodwood thinks are a benefit, aren't always seen that way by the membership.

Got the latest newsletter today. Nothing to address any of the concerns raised, just platitudes and some nebulous stuff about jam tomorrow.

Yes, just read that this morning. To say I am seriously disappointed by the contents is the understatement of the year.

[ecsrobin]

No ideas for a name said:

Martin315 said:

No ideas for a name said:

There is to be some form of announcement which is intended to address some of our concerns, in the next Newsletter. I did say it better be good, and better be quick.
Future benefits are being looked at, but I did make the point that sometimes things that Goodwood thinks are a benefit, aren't always seen that way by the membership.

Got the latest newsletter today. Nothing to address any of the concerns raised, just platitudes and some nebulous stuff about jam tomorrow.

Yes, just read that this morning. To say I am seriously disappointed by the contents is the understatement of the year.

So I read the digital newsletter and was surprised to see no mention of it and assumed it would be in the print edition. I’m guessing this is not the case.

Alan Brewer on my call said something would be in this newsletter to address concerns as it was clear that being in their bubble they didn’t appreciate the wording of it when read from a member perspective.

I think I’ve said it a few times here though Goodwood are never wrong (fellowship and IT as an example).

[RichB]

ecsrobin said:

So I read the digital newsletter and was surprised to see no mention of it and assumed it would be in the print edition. I’m guessing this is not the case.

Alan Brewer on my call said something would be in this newsletter to address concerns as it was clear that being in their bubble they didn’t appreciate the wording of it when read from a member perspective.

I think I’ve said it a few times here though Goodwood are never wrong (fellowship and IT as an example).

I've only seen the emailed version so perhaps the broadsheet will have more.

[No ideas for a name]

RichB said:

ecsrobin said:

So I read the digital newsletter and was surprised to see no mention of it and assumed it would be in the print edition. I’m guessing this is not the case.

Alan Brewer on my call said something would be in this newsletter to address concerns as it was clear that being in their bubble they didn’t appreciate the wording of it when read from a member perspective.

I think I’ve said it a few times here though Goodwood are never wrong (fellowship and IT as an example).

I've only seen the emailed version so perhaps the broadsheet will have more.

For clarity, it was the emailed one I was talking about too.