Watching the prize giving ceremony?

[RichB]

Not that I tried, I was over in the Doombar bar, but I heard from a few people who tried to access the prize giving ceremony after the racing on Sunday that they were not allowed entry being told it’s by special invitation only.

This seems odd because in previous years I have simply walked onto the track and been part of it. It’s a nice way to end the meeting with all or most of the winning cars lined up on the main straight.

Anyone know the facts?

[ecsrobin]

The gents in bowler hats weren't allowing you to walk along the track or the Portland but we're saying you could gain access near race control. Race control were letting people on to the track but did say it was invite only. It's the busiest I've ever seen it. And didn't even get a glass of champagne as they ran out.

I went to get a photo of the trophy work had won but unfortunatley they were not available to collect it so spoke to a very helpful event manager who invited me up and even then the bouncers were not allowing me up, after a strong word from the event manager I got up and they couldn't have been more helpful the Goodwood staff.

[RichB]

So I take it from that that my usual approach of entering the March Enclosure and stepping onto the track from the grass wouldn't have worked?

[ecsrobin]

RichB said:

So I take it from that that my usual approach of entering the March Enclosure and stepping onto the track from the grass wouldn't have worked?

Not too sure. All the previous years I've had pit lane access and last year race control passes so just strolled where I wanted. This is the first year of being a general spectator so just followed the crowds and went where told.

[RichB]

ecsrobin said:

This is the first year of being a general spectator so just followed the crowds and went where told.

Are you also a GRRC member Robin?

[ecsrobin]

RichB said:

ecsrobin said:

This is the first year of being a general spectator so just followed the crowds and went where told.

Are you also a GRRC member Robin?

Yes I am, worth every penny. Definitely going for the march enclosure next year.

[john2443]

Previous years I've just walked in and stood on the track for prizegiving (I've only had an ordinary ticket). It's been a good way of passing the time until the traffic queues dies down!

I guess that with the increasing commercialisation/corporateisation (SP/made up word!) of the event there will be less and less access to anything, without special permission. I'm pleased that I was there in the early years when it was mainly a petrol head event and not competition for Henley and Ascot

[Trophybloo]

john2443 said:

Previous years I've just walked in and stood on the track for prizegiving (I've only had an ordinary ticket). It's been a good way of passing the time until the traffic queues dies down!

I guess that with the increasing commercialisation/corporateisation (SP/made up word!) of the event there will be less and less access to anything, without special permission. I'm pleased that I was there in the early years when it was mainly a petrol head event and not competition for Henley and Ascot

I believe it was a communication breakdown, probably accentuated by an on the spot jobsworth supervisor. From about 4.30 the radio team were encouraging people to stay on for the prizegiving, emphasising you could stand on the track. If things had changed this year, clearly no one had told 87.7FM. However in the course of any one day they do drop quite a few 'fox's paws'

[RichB]

Yes, I think my friends had left the track for a beer over the road and then were precluded from re-entering it does indeed sounds like a communications breakdown.

[kjs62]

I just walked through the collection area and onto the track no problem, and had a glass of champagne - nobody tried to stop me at any point - didn't see any cake this year though! Shame they don't line up the top 3 cars from each race on the grid like they used to until about 3 years ago - why did they stop that?

[Paul Leek]

I was busy preparing to leave during the prize giving. At twenty to seven, having made my penultimate trip to the car (in car park B) I was told by the gate attendants that I couldn’t re-enter. The reason given was that only people involved in the event breakdown could enter the circuit after 18.30.

I politely explained that I was en route to collect my remaining items from the locker in the GRRC and the young lady requested authorisation by radio, which was given. Had the answer been different I would, of course have insisted, but over the years I’ve seen too many incidents of these young people being treated poorly and I would have just got hold of someone senior enough to sort it out.

The prize giving was in progress as I crossed the track so I walked down to watch it for a few moments. No one prevented me from doing so.

After a while I went on to the enclosure, collected my things and handed in my locker key.

The circuit is supposed to close at 19.30, and I'm sure that the prize giving is open to all. Goodwood will need to make sure that people know that they can't return after 18.30 if they leave; that needs to be made clear in the programme and elsewhere.

Edited by Paul Leek on Thursday 18th September 13:30