Shame Really

[2 sMoKiN bArReLs]

I've been to all the Revivals except 1998.

For the first time this year I left underwhelmed, rather than willing the next 364 days away.

1) We always buy Grandstand tickets in case of bad weather, or if g/f back is playing up. This year there were no allocated seats (Lavant) but roving tickets. This means groups of people inevitably couldn't sit together. I'm also assuming that more tickets were sold than seats available?
2) Lavant was definitely under toileted
3) The swap from laps to times means that under a safety car you inevitably get less racing.
4) I thought the overall "feel" was less special

Shame really.

[RichB]

My wife, who is a bit of an anorak about these things, said there were fewer races this weekend than in the past. I haven't dug out the race cards from previous years for comparison, although I will do, but I agree there seemed to be less actual racing and more stuffing and parades. Thoughts?

[2 sMoKiN bArReLs]

Seemed to be about the same number of races on Sunday? (no saloon cars this year, but replaced by Minis....which was the best race of the day)

[RichB]

I actually thought the Brookland "type" cars had a really good race with the Fraser Nash coming for multiple "splash 'n a dash" and Mason "nicking" the win!

p.s. You're right, I just checked the 2008 race programme and 16 races, same this year. I'm sure it used to end later

Edited by RichB on Monday 21st September 21:58

[Trophybloo]

It couldn't end much later as the w/e was later in Sept than usual and it is dusk at 7.00pm. There was too much parading, Buzz Aldrining, March Sister Singing and not an early enough start to the racing.

[RichB]

Trophybloo said:

It couldn't end much later as the w/e was later in Sept than usual and it is dusk at 7.00pm. There was too much parading, Buzz Aldrining, March Sister Singing and not an early enough start to the racing.

not to mention Mandleson'ing, how inappropriate was that!

[tomtom]

Is the March sister thing a regular fixture now? I missed it this year but last year she was on after that driver's parade.

She might not have the best voice in the world but her rendition of Jerusalem as Spitfires roared overhead was fairly moving.

[Trophybloo]

As in syrup of figs?

[tubbystu]

Trophybloo said:

It couldn't end much later as the w/e was later in Sept than usual and it is dusk at 7.00pm.

It is always the 3rd weekend in September. This corresponds with the date of the 1st meeting in 1948 and also comes after the Italian F1 GP on the 2nd weekend of Sept, avoiding any clash.

The earliest it can be is 14-16th. The latest would be 20-22nd. 18 minutes of daylight difference between the two sets of dates.

[RichB]

tubbystu said:

Trophybloo said:

It couldn't end much later as the w/e was later in Sept than usual and it is dusk at 7.00pm.

It is always the 3rd weekend in September. This corresponds with the date of the 1st meeting in 1948 and also comes after the Italian F1 GP on the 2nd weekend of Sept, avoiding any clash.

The earliest it can be is 14-16th. The latest would be 20-22nd. 18 minutes of daylight difference between the two sets of dates.

That's not correct. It has been variously everything from very late August to mid-September. The earliest it has been was 2007 when it started on Friday August 31st and the latest was last year when it closed on Sunday September 21st. For many years it was the first full weekend in September.

[tubbystu]

RichB said:

tubbystu said:

Trophybloo said:

It couldn't end much later as the w/e was later in Sept than usual and it is dusk at 7.00pm.

It is always the 3rd weekend in September. This corresponds with the date of the 1st meeting in 1948 and also comes after the Italian F1 GP on the 2nd weekend of Sept, avoiding any clash.

The earliest it can be is 14-16th. The latest would be 20-22nd. 18 minutes of daylight difference between the two sets of dates.

That's not correct. It has been variously everything from very late August to mid-September. The earliest it has been was 2007 when it started on Friday August 31st and the latest was last year when it closed on Sunday September 21st. For many years it was the first full weekend in September.

I stand corrected.

[RichB]

And... having said all of that, do you know, in the ten years we've been going I can only remember it raining twice! I think Lord March actually fixes the date for when the best weather will be...

[Stuart]

RichB said:

And... having said all of that, do you know, in the ten years we've been going I can only remember it raining twice! I think Lord March actually fixes the date for when the best weather will be...

I agree - I've only had 1 really wet Goodwood, possibly 2. I've always wondered if there's any connection to the fact that one of the hospitality units behind the pit lane seems to be hosted by an old chap in white robes, long beard, and a disarmingly booming voice. Never seems to be a shortage of wine, bread or fish in there either....

[crossle]

tomtom said:

Is the March sister thing a regular fixture now? I missed it this year but last year she was on after that driver's parade.

She might not have the best voice in the world but her rendition of Jerusalem as Spitfires roared overhead was fairly moving.

Yes, she squawked her way through Happy Birthday for Sir Stirling, and we thought we'd all been saved, until she droned out Rulle Britannia. See separate "Rule Britannia" thread for the horrible details...

[2 sMoKiN bArReLs]

RichB said:

And... having said all of that, do you know, in the ten years we've been going I can only remember it raining twice! I think Lord March actually fixes the date for when the best weather will be...

I bet the bloke driving the JCB liveried GT40 a while back remembers some drizzle at the chicane!