So - Revival 2011 - your thoughts?

[bqf]

I loved:

Great racing with some genuine battles out there in very expensive machinery
It's the most amazing paddock in the world - I have fabulous photographs - again!
Well organised logistics
Campsite was good - and as ever the cheering at the cars leaving the show was terrific fun
Some great outfits, but a bit too much 'fancy dress' for my liking....
The Bonhams auction - walked away with a couple of automobilia items that will look great in my study/garage

I didn't love:
Some of the weather
The March Enclosure was A too small and B very poorly catered for - the food was appalling. Really must do better on that front next year, folks. The experience reminded me of knackered old school dinners - horrid

But all in, a great weekend - agree?

[ph1l5]

I think the costumes this year were top stuff, I loved how much effort people put in to them. I still think the Revival is like going to Disneyland for car people. Roll on next year.

[RedexR]

Fabulous event , still a few people who haven't sussed the outfit situation - it's NOT fancy dress , Thunderbirds outfits and possibly Wills and Kate Middleton (on their wedding day) not quite on cue and people wearing jeans with T-shirt should only be admitted to the far side definitely not in the central area. Apart from the Lavant walkway open/closed/open situation fairly well thought out , a unique event.

[andrewrob]

This year was my first revival. Would definitely go again,and I'd go as far to say I even preferred it to FOS.
The main difference for me is that you could fit this into one day whereas FOS is a two day event now just to get around everything. Also loved the close racing, especially the touring cars.

[Crook]

I used to say to all the 'car' people I met that they should go to the Revival. I used to say that it was not cheap to get in but it was fantastic value.
I'm not so sure now.
Maybe because I've been going since the first one and only missed a handful when I've been out of the country but it is not the same event it was. It's become a fancy dress event with a car race going on.
It used to be a period car race with great detailing and a whistful smile of days gone by.

The acual racing, as ever, is second to none. The planes are breathtaking. The cars and bikes are always a real joy to see and hear and smell but I think this year will be my last.

I don't want this to be a 'it used to be this' and 'it used to be that' but when you could get a pint of prawns in the Oily Rag or a decent pasty you felt that you were somewhere other than a normal race meeting where you get the default burgers and chips.

For the record, I don't want a bloody burger.

It's not about the increasing size. I'm glad that it continues to grow and that lots of people go and have a good time (they're easy enough to escape from with a bit of a walk to the other side of the circuit) but I don't want to be part of something that is becoming more about the superficial appearance of a bygone era rather than a really high quality event. It's hard to put a finger on but I think that in trying to keep making it better, to my mind, they appear to have made it worse.

I'm not a member of the GRRC. I've never felt that I've needed to be to have a very good day at a great event. If, however, that is what it is now required in order to enjoy the event, to have a decent day out, then I don't want to be part of it. The good quality should be standard at Goodwood. It always used to be, that was why it was such good value.

So, as a Scottish millionaire is often heard to say. 'Ahm oot'

[anonymous-user]

Crook said:

I don't want to be part of something that is becoming more about the superficial appearance of a bygone era rather than a really high quality event. It's hard to put a finger on but I think that in trying to keep making it better, to my mind, they appear to have made it worse.

I'm not a member of the GRRC. I've never felt that I've needed to be to have a very good day at a great event. If, however, that is what it is now required in order to enjoy the event, to have a decent day out, then I don't want to be part of it. The good quality should be standard at Goodwood. It always used to be, that was why it was such good value.

Two very good points.

And for the love of God is it so very difficult to install a temporary bridge to the in-field rather than send 50,000 people through a 9-foot wide tunnel?

[zac510]

I was a little bit frustrated by the tardiness of the timetable as it resulted in my favourite race being shortened and then shortened again by the deluge of rain!

[zac510]

A temporary bridge would look terrible and ruin the look and view along the pit straight.

From what I could see not enough people take advantage of the route from the back of the paddock out to the Lavant tunnel.

[will_]

Crook said:

I used to say to all the 'car' people I met that they should go to the Revival. I used to say that it was not cheap to get in but it was fantastic value.
I'm not so sure now.
Maybe because I've been going since the first one and only missed a handful when I've been out of the country but it is not the same event it was. It's become a fancy dress event with a car race going on.
It used to be a period car race with great detailing and a whistful smile of days gone by.

I don't really see the problem with the event becoming just as much about the "theme" as about the racing. It means that many people who wouldn't normally be particularly interested in the cars are none-the-less attending the event for the atmosphere, and being exposed to something they otherwise wouldn't do. Personally I think making it appealing to a wider audience is a good thing for the whole historic racing movement. It's not supposed to be like the FOS, which I consider to be a very obvious "car enthusiasts" event. The Revival is something the girls (or at least more girls) now want to come to as well! Ditto children and families.

There are plenty of other opportunities to see old racing cars if that's your thing. That doesn't mean that the Revival needs to be the same. For me, as an overall package, it's one of the finest car events in the world, and I particularly enjoyed this year for the weather/atmosphere/cars/displays etc etc. No complaints from me at all - except there was too much to see in one day!

[MON]

Just attended on Sunday, but I can't say it was the best one we've been too.

Yes the weather played a part, the main tunnel became a paddling pool mid afteroon and I think some walkways could have been improved/extended.

The music/dancing didn't seem as prominent as it has been in previous years and was also difficult to access, which is a shame as it's one of the main points of interest for the females in our party.

The racing was good but wasn't as close as in previous years I felt, again this can be attributed to the damp/wet track, the up side of that was watching the drivers excel at the wheel.

I liked the addition of the scrambling circuit, it gave an extra bit of interest to Lavant.

I'm glad I was lucky not to have paid full price for our tickets, otherwise I would have been a little dissapointed, but will definately be returning as the charm of the event is still a big draw.

[Elderly]

Crook said:

I used to say to all the 'car' people I met that they should go to the Revival. I used to say that it was not cheap to get in but it was fantastic value.
I'm not so sure now.
.........

Keep telling them to go, IMO it's something that you should do (at least?) once.

Crook said:

The acual racing, as ever, is second to none. The planes are breathtaking. The cars and bikes are always a real joy to see and hear and smell but I think this year will be my last.
.........

The racing is sensational, the combination of a huge quantity of seminal cars, commited drivers and good vanatge points (if you know where they are ) make the event for me.

My wife asked me why I was going yet again, I replied by asking her why she went every year to the Chelsea Flower Show; she replied that at Chelsea there were always new plants, flowers and exhibits each year, and mere mortals could afford to buy them if they wanted;
she pointed out that I see the SAME cars on track every year, and as for the ability of buying and running any of them ........ .

Crook said:

I'm not a member of the GRRC. I've never felt that I've needed to be to have a very good day at a great event. If, however, that is what it is now required in order to enjoy the event, to have a decent day out, then I don't want to be part of it. The good quality should be standard at Goodwood. It always used to be, that was why it was such good value.

Depends literally which side of the fence you are coming from,
isn't it the same at all events? There are some people who for whatever reason
will be in a privileged postion.

[Ben Jk]

RedexR said:

Fabulous event , still a few people who haven't sussed the outfit situation - it's NOT fancy dress , Thunderbirds outfits and possibly Wills and Kate Middleton (on their wedding day) not quite on cue and people wearing jeans with T-shirt should only be admitted to the far side definitely not in the central area. Apart from the Lavant walkway open/closed/open situation fairly well thought out , a unique event.

Limited admittance for wearing jeans and a t-shirt? Get a grip.

[anonymous-user]

zac510 said:

A temporary bridge would look terrible and ruin the look and view along the pit straight.

From what I could see not enough people take advantage of the route from the back of the paddock out to the Lavant tunnel.

You mean the one that was closed off on Saturday afternoon due to the wind altering and causing a runway change for pleasure flights?
A bridge may be contentious (but could easily be made to blend in) but if you were aywhere near the paddock tunnel and the ensuing stampede in to it when the heavens opened on Saturday you'll appreciate why an alternative is almost a foregone conclusion.

[anonymous-user]

Ben Jk said:

RedexR said:

Fabulous event , still a few people who haven't sussed the outfit situation - it's NOT fancy dress , Thunderbirds outfits and possibly Wills and Kate Middleton (on their wedding day) not quite on cue and people wearing jeans with T-shirt should only be admitted to the far side definitely not in the central area. Apart from the Lavant walkway open/closed/open situation fairly well thought out , a unique event.

Limited admittance for wearing jeans and a t-shirt? Get a grip.

Admittance is limited to various venues on a whole raft of criteria (jacket and tie for the paddock, ladies midriffs covered etc.), GRRC badge for members enclosures and so on. Can't see this is any differnt.
Is it so very hard to dress smartly for once? (which even if not "in rig" is usually enough to look acceptable).

[Ben Jk]

Crossflow Kid said:

Admittance is limited to various venues on a whole raft of criteria (jacket and tie for the paddock, ladies midriffs covered etc.), GRRC badge for members enclosures and so on. Can't see this is any differnt.
Is it so very hard to dress smartly for once? (which even if not "in rig" is usually enough to look acceptable).

I can understand it for Paddock/VIP areas etc. But not for the "main" areas. Its a motorsport event not a black tie do.

[anonymous-user]

Ben Jk said:

Crossflow Kid said:

Admittance is limited to various venues on a whole raft of criteria (jacket and tie for the paddock, ladies midriffs covered etc.), GRRC badge for members enclosures and so on. Can't see this is any differnt.
Is it so very hard to dress smartly for once? (which even if not "in rig" is usually enough to look acceptable).

I can understand it for Paddock/VIP areas etc. But not for the "main" areas. Its a motorsport event not a black tie do.

No one's asking you to wear black tie, just a tie.

[Eric Mc]

You can even wear a cravate instead

[Ben Jk]

Crossflow Kid said:

No one's asking you to wear black tie, just a tie.

Lol.

Tbh, if I went, i'd probably "dress" up a bit. But I like to have the option. And I think the way people are frowned upon for not doing could/would put people off attending?

[fulmer]

RedexR said:

Fabulous event , still a few people who haven't sussed the outfit situation - it's NOT fancy dress , Thunderbirds outfits and possibly Wills and Kate Middleton (on their wedding day) not quite on cue and people wearing jeans with T-shirt should only be admitted to the far side definitely not in the central area. Apart from the Lavant walkway open/closed/open situation fairly well thought out , a unique event.

perhaps you better look at some photo;s etc of car race meeting of the 50/60's as its seams you were not even around then
there would be hardly any women presant and they would not be in fancy hats etc if they were most men would be in jeans T shirts / wolly jumpers and flat caps and duffel coats if it was cold and general dress was very adhock
I think this dress code thing is being brought about by people who were not even born in the 50/60' even Lord March was just a young boy not even out of short trousers

[anonymous-user]

Ben Jk said:

Crossflow Kid said:

No one's asking you to wear black tie, just a tie.

Lol.

Tbh, if I went, i'd probably "dress" up a bit. But I like to have the option. And I think the way people are frowned upon for not doing could/would put people off attending?

Fair point, although it really takes very little real effort to smarten up just a bit, doesn't it?
Going o/t slightly, I was in town the day after being at GW and was a bit saddened to see, after a day of 40s/50s dress standards and stylish glamour, how dowdy, dull, dreary and generally awful we as a nation now look.
A lot of the ladies at GW looked fabulous, not in a tarty sexual way as appears to be the state of play in the real world, but a genuinely beautiful classical way, even the 60s look makes a lot of today's "wimmin" look like extras from 28 Days Later.
And I find a bloke far easier to take seriously if he's not wearing a slogan saying "F.c.u.k You" across his moobs.

Edited by anonymous-user on Monday 19th September 12:04

Edited by anonymous-user on Monday 19th September 12:09