Goodwood Full Membership

[ecsrobin]

SarahGoodwood said:

Dear all,

I feel I should point out that the revenue generated by the creation of the Fellowship actually allows us to offer more benefits to the full membership. Without the Fellowship, the number of member events would have remained at the level they were in 2016/2017. Now, we are able to arrange more factory tours, more regional drives, more driving tours, to provide more GRRC enclosures at the headline events and more.

With best wishes,

Sarah

But those items are also open to those in the fellowship….. so if you remove the fellowship yes the number of events drop but there’s no change to members benefits

Not forgetting that with 10,000 members and 10-15 spaces on a factory tour you’re waiting a very long time. In fact I waited the whole length of my membership to go on a tour I could have just paid £15-20 to charity to go on.

[SarahGoodwood]

Dear Robin,

I am sorry that you felt that the GRRC was no longer for you, and that you feel that the creation of the Fellowship has resulted in a reduction in the number of benefits available to the full GRRC membership.

The GRRC Fellowship have two regional drives, two factory tours and one track day per year. This is in contrast to the membership, who may apply for 10 track days, three AutoSOLOs, the Spring Sprint, 10 regional drives, the annual Open Day and have the choice to attend up to seven driving tours. In addition, GRRC members have two complimentary and one paid enclosure at the Festival of Speed, and five complimentary and one paid for enclosure at the Goodwood Revival.

With best wishes,

Sarah

[ecsrobin]

SarahGoodwood said:

Dear Robin,

I am sorry that you felt that the GRRC was no longer for you, and that you feel that the creation of the Fellowship has resulted in a reduction in the number of benefits available to the full GRRC membership.

The GRRC Fellowship have two regional drives, two factory tours and one track day per year. This is in contrast to the membership, who may apply for 10 track days Additional cost, three AutoSOLOsAdditional cost, the Spring SprintAdditional cost, 10 regional drives, the annual Open Day and have the choice to attend up to seven driving toursAdditional cost. In addition, GRRC members have two complimentary and one paid enclosure at the Festival of Speed, and five complimentary and one paid for enclosure at the Goodwood Revival.

With best wishes,

Sarah

So are all members subsidising these additional events?

[ecsrobin]

Whoever’s running the show at Goodwood (I’m guessing not the Duke of Richmond but some exec) really is a knob. For years people have quite happily purchased and swapped tickets on here with Goodwood’s blessing (who misses the James McNaughton days with actual interaction on here). Yes there is a risk to reselling with no doubt a few unhappy people after Saturdays cancellation but that’s the first time in the events running so likely won’t be another 20 odd years before something like that happens.

Also to say that members reselling members meeting can only do so on a closed Facebook group yet it is quite normal to buy tickets as a fellow/member in the autumn and then not renew membership. So how do they get resold, I note in the other thread Sarah failed to grasp that.

[No ideas for a name]

Utterly amazed at this development. Further in to Goodwood's plan to alienate more of the membership.
As above, the PH site was never used as a method of 'touting', it was more about providing tickets for 'friends' (even though they may only be known and interacted with over the forum). Tickets were often sold at less than face value, usually when someone's situation changes post purchase.

I too wonder where this comes from, as ecsrobin says above, surely it can't be from his Grace, is it from some misguided person in the administration?

[TV8]

SarahGoodwood said:

Dear all,

I feel I should point out that the revenue generated by the creation of the Fellowship actually allows us to offer more benefits to the full membership. Without the Fellowship, the number of member events would have remained at the level they were in 2016/2017. Now, we are able to arrange more factory tours, more regional drives, more driving tours, to provide more GRRC enclosures at the headline events and more.

With best wishes,

Sarah

Hi Sarah,
I was completely happy with the benefits I had before. You know, the real tangible benefits that had me renewing for years on end.

Still waiting for an answer to my question about your annual event being open to ex members? Seeing a pattern here..

[SarahGoodwood]

Dear TV8,

I'm pleased to respond to questions, but I'm unclear on this thread which are rhetorical, or simply a public expression of dissatisfaction.

I think the simplest solution would be to encourage you to contact us (either me personally - [e-mail], the GRRC team - you mention that you have had contact recently with the Club Manager - on 01243 755057, or you can also contact our friendly Ticket Office team on 01243 755055) if you have a specific question.

With best wishes,

Sarah

[TV8]

SarahGoodwood said:

Dear TV8,

I'm pleased to respond to questions, but I'm unclear on this thread which are rhetorical, or simply a public expression of dissatisfaction.

I think the simplest solution would be to encourage you to contact us (either me personally - [e-mail], the GRRC team - you mention that you have had contact recently with the Club Manager - on 01243 755057, or you can also contact our friendly Ticket Office team on 01243 755055) if you have a specific question.

With best wishes,

Sarah

Hi Sarah, well summarised! Re your annual appreciation event, that is rhetorical and the rest is a public expression of dissatisfaction.
To be fair, if you hadn't tried (again) to justify Goodwood management decisions to people on a car enthusiasts site, I would not have responded at all.

I discovered Goodwood nearly 20 years ago. Someone mentioned it at a BBQ on a Saturday night and a few mates drove down the next morning and straight in through the tunnel and parked in the covered Paddock. Changed a bit since then. The events that enthusiasts supported over the years are now booked out and commercialised.

Before you know it, people won't be able to exchange or put out requests tickets on here and all such transactions will go back into the circle of Veuve Clicquot drinking secondary ticket market.

How do I change my user name to Victor M

[No ideas for a name]

Another question that I hope Sarah will pick up on...

Some people have left, some people said 'one more year'.
Goodwood won't release the figures for those who left - only they can see if it was significant and/or relevant for next year's leavers. If it wasn't significant, then I suspect there will be no changes.

So, for the 'just another yearers' what is Goodwood planning?
Benefits that Goodwood imagines as benefits, are not always seen as benefits by Members.
Some benefits might be outside the three main events - but I am guessing that those aren't all that important to some Members.
Back to the three main events - I am guessing it is going to be too late/close to bring anything in for 81st MM, so we won't see anything there.
Anything planned for FoS, anything planned for Revival?
I am not expecting an early release of secrets - but is there anything in the pipeline?
For clarity, I am asking if there is anything for Members, above that already given to Associates.

[stevewak]

How about giving it a rest and leaving Sarah alone. One cannot expect Sarah to conduct one-to-one-conversations about issues relating to individual memberships/grievances on a public forum. Anyone who cannot accept this might be better off giving the GRRC (and the rest of us) a break, permanent or otherwise.

[SarahGoodwood]

Dear all,

Any questions from members about the GRRC membership or GRRC events should be directed to the GRRC team, either by email ([e-mail]) or telephone [phone]. Questions about non-GRRC Goodwood events (such as the Festival of Speed, Goodwood Revival etc) or from non-GRRC members should be directed to the Ticket Office ([e-mail] or 01243 755055).

I'm happy to answer general, polite questions here, but I cannot guarantee that I will see every question, nor can I comment on Goodwood policy, membership decisions etc.

With best wishes,

Sarah

[ecsrobin]

stevewak said:

How about giving it a rest and leaving Sarah alone. One cannot expect Sarah to conduct one-to-one-conversations about issues relating to individual memberships/grievances on a public forum. Anyone who cannot accept this might be better off giving the GRRC (and the rest of us) a break, permanent or otherwise.

Then she’d be out of a job

[No ideas for a name]

stevewak said:

How about giving it a rest and leaving Sarah alone. One cannot expect Sarah to conduct one-to-one-conversations about issues relating to individual memberships/grievances on a public forum. Anyone who cannot accept this might be better off giving the GRRC (and the rest of us) a break, permanent or otherwise.

No one is putting presure on Sarah. She is the only person who does actually bother to reply on behalf of the 'club'. See up thread for the results of others emailing the grrc with their questions.

Sarah herself says "I'm pleased to respond to questions", not many post above. I accept she is an employee of Goodwood and has to toe the company line - which is fine.

This thread is to discuss full membership and issues around that. Discussing the progress on 'addressing' benefits whould seem to be well within the subject.
If you don't want to hear it, then I suggest you don't read it.

Many people want the 'club' to improve, and are just looking for a few pointers as to the way it may be going in what many other posters state may be their 'one more year'.

[Ean218]

Not directly relevant but methinks the team at Bicester have been looking at this thread as they have just sent out an email outlining new benefits for Scramblers membership. And it doesn't cost multiple £100s.

[RichB]

Humm... Bicester are no different in 'monetizing' their offering, in fact they're masters at it. When the Sunday Scrambles started they were free, then a nominal £5, now they're £20 a ticket. When the Scramblers 'club' started it was free and meant you got to go to some less crowded gatherings inside one of the main hangers. Then, just like Goodwood’s members and fellows, Bicester introduced different levels of membership for Scramblers, free meaning you get an email telling you they you can buy tickets for £20 and Pegasus for £70 which means you also get an email telling you when you can buy tickets but you'll save £2, you can sit in a grassy area that’s roped off from the plebs, and you get early entry to beat the queues when parking etc. The difference is that Goodwood also put on some of the best historic motor racing you'll ever see, whereas Bicester has traders that open their units and the display of owners’ cars: having paid their £20 to park.

[ecsrobin]

RichB said:

Humm... Bicester are no different in 'monetizing' their offering, in fact they're masters at it. When the Sunday Scrambles started they were free, then a nominal £5, now they're £20 a ticket. When the Scramblers 'club' started it was free and meant you got to go to some less crowded gatherings inside one of the main hangers. Then, just like Goodwood’s members and fellows, Bicester introduced different levels of membership for Scramblers, free meaning you get an email telling you they you can buy tickets for £20 and Pegasus for £70 which means you also get an email telling you when you can buy tickets but you'll save £2, you can sit in a grassy area that’s roped off from the plebs, and you get early entry to beat the queues when parking etc. The difference is that Goodwood also put on some of the best historic motor racing you'll ever see, whereas Bicester has traders that open their units and the display of owners’ cars: having paid their £20 to park.

Whilst I do get that, look what paying has done for Bicester, the quality of car even in the car park is significantly higher than at Goodwood Breakfast clubs.

Breakfast clubs are one of the few things that I think Goodwood should start charging for. Should get rid of the butlins holidaymakers and actually start to encourage people to bring nice cars again.

[RichB]

ecsrobin said:

RichB said:

Humm... Bicester are no different in 'monetizing' their offering, in fact they're masters at it. When the Sunday Scrambles started they were free, then a nominal £5, now they're £20 a ticket. When the Scramblers 'club' started it was free and meant you got to go to some less crowded gatherings inside one of the main hangers. Then, just like Goodwood’s members and fellows, Bicester introduced different levels of membership for Scramblers, free meaning you get an email telling you they you can buy tickets for £20 and Pegasus for £70 which means you also get an email telling you when you can buy tickets but you'll save £2, you can sit in a grassy area that’s roped off from the plebs, and you get early entry to beat the queues when parking etc. The difference is that Goodwood also put on some of the best historic motor racing you'll ever see, whereas Bicester has traders that open their units and the display of owners’ cars: having paid their £20 to park.

Whilst I do get that, look what paying has done for Bicester, the quality of car even in the car park is significantly higher than at Goodwood Breakfast clubs. Breakfast clubs are one of the few things that I think Goodwood should start charging for. Should get rid of the Butlins holidaymakers and actually start to encourage people to bring nice cars again.

That's fair comment.

[Ean218]

RichB said:

Humm... Bicester are no different in 'monetizing' their offering, in fact they're masters at it. When the Sunday Scrambles started they were free, then a nominal £5, now they're £20 a ticket.

£20 isn't exactly what I would call gouging, which is where Goodwood have got to.

[RichB]

Ean218 said:

RichB said:

Humm... Bicester are no different in 'monetizing' their offering, in fact they're masters at it. When the Sunday Scrambles started they were free, then a nominal £5, now they're £20 a ticket.

£20 isn't exactly what I would call gouging, which is where Goodwood have got to.

You miss the point. i.e. that from free to £20 is how to monetize a morning coffee display.

[Lockhouse]

RichB said:

Humm... Bicester are no different in 'monetizing' their offering, in fact they're masters at it. When the Sunday Scrambles started they were free, then a nominal £5, now they're £20 a ticket. When the Scramblers 'club' started it was free and meant you got to go to some less crowded gatherings inside one of the main hangers. Then, just like Goodwood’s members and fellows, Bicester introduced different levels of membership for Scramblers, free meaning you get an email telling you they you can buy tickets for £20 and Pegasus for £70 which means you also get an email telling you when you can buy tickets but you'll save £2, you can sit in a grassy area that’s roped off from the plebs, and you get early entry to beat the queues when parking etc. The difference is that Goodwood also put on some of the best historic motor racing you'll ever see, whereas Bicester has traders that open their units and the display of owners’ cars: having paid their £20 to park.

I've not renewed either my GRRC or Bicester Pegasus memberships this year. Apart from one-make car clubs the only national membership I'm keeping is Brooklands. The issues at Goodwood have made me reconsider how and where I display my cars and enjoy my motorsport generally. I'm planning to attend smaller local events and club race days and support the grass roots. Not happy anymore with being charged to exhibit my car when it's cost me the best part of half a day to prep and £100 in petrol to get there.