FOS with my 6 yr old

[breamster]

Hi,

First trip to the FOS and I wiill just be me and my 6yr old son. I can't wait.

My son likes to see action, rather than stationary cars and loves F1. We have just the general admission tickets.

Any hints or tips?

Thanks in advance.

P.s. We have some ear defenders for him.

[ecsrobin]

Don't......

Good luck....

In seriousness if you're there for Fri/Sat or Sun the place will be rammed so keep good tabs on him. If he's interested in action a must is the GAS arena show with motocross, trials and BMX stars wowing the crowds. The rally stage is a lot quieter and plenty of action and out of the elements.

[Smurf1001]

Hi Take a backpack it's essential! Lots of water and prepare for a hike! Walking up to the rally stage and back is a pain but worth it ! ie it's a big steep hill! eg hill climb doh! so wear good shoes!!! and don't get too hot. It can be really and I mean really dusty up there so if you go near the Bowler wild cats you will look like you've walked off the set of mad mad 3! There's tons to see so plan your visit. go early if you can, earlyish I mean 7.00-7.30am at the carpark. Try and keep off the main drag when getting there ie the A27 avoid it like the plague, it won't be a good experience sat in traffic for 2 hours! look for the back routes, I can't tell you anymore as every man and is dog will go the way I go!! and I don't want to be stuck in a traffic jam!

My advice would be to start at the bottom of the hill see the cars in the tents and showrooms etc walk up passed the supercar paddocks etc on the left then around to the right. The best place to watch the action if you can, is right opposite the house, this where the celebs do tricks and stuff! great for kids to watch.

Do's:- take sun cream- brolly - rain coat - teeshirt - and Bognor kiss me quick hat! The weather is weird around goodwood, it can be raining in Chichester and sunny in Goodwood!!
Don'ts:- think you'll see everything in one day you can't there's too much! so plan you day and you'll get to enjoy far more! Enjoy the sights and sounds, talk to the mechanics and back room people they are usually far more interesting than the celebs!!

Good luck and have fun! that's what the event is about!

Cheers, Dave

[Ian Wegg]

Smurf1001 said:

Hi Take a backpack it's essential! Lots of water and prepare for a hike! Walking up to the rally stage and back is a pain but worth it ! ie it's a big steep hill!

I'd recommend taking the courtesy tractor ride up the hill, especially with a 6 year old (he'll love it!). Do that first before it gets busy and the queues form, watch the rally cars and walk down the hill. The pick up for the tractors changes from year to year but is always somewhere north of the F1 paddocks.

~iw

[bint]

Wot Ian said. We've been a few years and camped. Last yer was the first time we did one day (with a 2yr old) and he loved it - a small child is also a great way to blah cocktails and canapés off the better car manufacturers!

We're braving the full weekend and camping with him this year. Big vote for GAS, the kids love it, and being able to see the cars up close when they go up the hill was a favourite. Best thing (for him) was the air displays though - ear defenders were a must!

[mistakenplane]

breamster said:

Hi,

First trip to the FOS and I wiill just be me and my 6yr old son. I can't wait.

My son likes to see action, rather than stationary cars and loves F1. We have just the general admission tickets.

Any hints or tips?

Thanks in advance.

P.s. We have some ear defenders for him.

First trip, take it easy! Dont try to do it all or you might not really experience anything.

If its just for one day leave home early, get there early! Have a walk around the paddocks when its relatively quiet and if youre lucky maybe some nice people will let your son sit in a car.

Find a spot in front of the house and watch the action there as you get the best view. While it can be busy people I find tend to come and go so you can usually get up to the front which will help him and to be honest most people are pleasant enough to let a child through so they can see things. Obviously the viewing areas get very busy for the F1 sections so plan ahead and get there before its due. There's also a big screen behind you in that location so you can turn and see the rest of the runs up the hill and / or anything interesting going on. The front of house also gives a good view for the air displays and youre close to the crossing to get over the track to the displays and merchandise areas.

He might also enjoy some of the GAS arena action and you can walk down to the startline for a different and noisy view there as well.

The rally stage is good to see but getting up there can be a royal pain (long walk or even longer queue for tractor ride - and if the weather is good you get caked in dust!). I think if you try to do that too you end up having to sacrifice something good on the hillclimb which on your first visit you might regret.

Start small, see how it all works and realise soon enough youll be a weekend junky like the rest of us, and even then a weekend is too little time to see everything properly!

[mistakenplane]

Smurf1001 said:

Take a backpack
Lots of water
don't get too hot.

Do's:- take sun cream
rain coat

Don'ts:- think you'll see everything in one day you can't there's too much! so plan you day and you'll get to enjoy far more! Enjoy the sights and sounds, talk to the mechanics and back room people they are usually far more interesting than the celebs!!

Edited Dave's post for what I think are the best points he made (and he made a lot!).

Take water bottles and fill them up from drinking water taps usually found around the side of the toilet blocks, and try to find shade under the trees where you can.
Take food as its understandably cripplingly expensive inside.
If its warm expect to bake and crisp so light clothing and suncream is essential.
If its wet then you wont stay dry so get some clever clothing!

You may even see a famous face or two walking around, especially out the back of the drivers club heading to their cars but be wary as while there are genuine fans who linger to get things signed or a photo with the drivers, you get lots of professionals who have VERY aggressive runners who will happily bowl you and your son over chasing after someone they find valuable.

[breamster]

Thanks all for the advice. Really appreciate you all taking the time to reply.

Tractor sounds good as does GAS. We will definitely not try too hard and just enjoy the day - I've learnt this the hard way on other days out!

I think the plan is to get there early and leave a little early.

Tickets arrived today and can't wait to go!

[PompeyM3]

It's also worth looking around the car manufacturers stands, as they tend to provide some child friendly things to do and see, as well as free lollies and water.

I've found Skoda, Toyota and Ford to be really good at this in the past. It changes from year to year, but well worth a look.

There's normally the Wacky Races cars and characters that are great for the kids (and Penelope Pitstop for the Dads)

It's a great family event. Enjoy

[alolympic]

I am always baffled that people queue for 20 minutes to get the tractor to the top of the hill when you can walk there in 15. It's really not very long......

[Lynchie999]

alolympic said:

I am always baffled that people queue for 20 minutes to get the tractor to the top of the hill when you can walk there in 15. It's really not very long......

yeh, its really not THAT far on the left hand side of the hill from the tractor point to the top crossing...

[breamster]

Well I thought it polite to report back! Fantastic! What a brilliant day.

We left just after 6am and missed nearly all of the traffic. We didn't leave till 7pm - again almost no traffic.

We did so much in one day and still didn't get to see it all. Thanks for all the recommendations! - tractor ride up the hill and walk down was ideal. GAS was great. Red arrows and Eurofighter was really good. And he has a bucket load of souvenirs which he he really likes.

A truly excellent father/son day I won't forget in a hurry and nor will he.

Thanks.

Oh - and I have already promised we will be going back next year!!

[Sway]

Glad you and he enjoyed it. I've started to get a little blasé about it - it's just down the road for me and this weekend was my tenth trip, so always nice to hear a first timers view.

Saying that, my two were busy Saturday and I wasn't sure if I was going Sunday - woke up my son (daughter less interested now!) early, he looking at me bleary eyed and asked what was wrong. When I said ' nothing, unless you don't want to come to FoS' he launched himself out of bed and got ready in record time - without waking his sister or mum. Bloody miracle, courtesy of Lord March!