First FOS visit, some advice needed

[DJD]

We will be visiting Festival of Speed for the first time on the Saturday, travelling down from the Midlands (approx 3 hours). I understand that the gates open around 07:00, what are the queues like, do we need to be there as early as possible, or are we okay to rock up around 09:30 - 10:00 and if we do what will we miss.

Unfortunately, schoolboy error of booking the tickets and not thinking about accommodation at the same time, although of of us will be working on Sunday morning so that would not have worked out for us either.

Any advice from the regulars will be greatly received.

[Paul Dishman]

My advice would be to either leave home at 4am or find a Travel-Lodge within an hour of Goodwood and aim to get on-site by 8 at the latest

[Simes205]

7am in and 7pm leave.
Bring your own food.
Get round the paddocks before 9.30.
Spend time wondering around Cartier area.
Don’t bother with rally stage as it saps huge time going up there’.

[9.3]

Simes205 said:

7am in and 7pm leave.
Bring your own food.
Get round the paddocks before 9.30.
Spend time wondering around Cartier area.
Don’t bother with rally stage as it saps huge time going up there’.

Unless you like rally cars going for it full pelt (like I do), in which case the rally stage is a must see!

[Simes205]

I was going to add that bit!
The action is good up there but if you’re only there for one day it’s a big push.

[burton_ii]

echo the above. Supercar paddock is generally quiet first thing in the morning, however some of the covers may be still on some cars if you are very early.

If rally cars are your thing then the rally stage is a must and its enjoyable wandering around the paddock as the cars are being worked on and can be quite sociable up there. Plus you have the ability to see the top of the hill where numerous burn outs and cars gather after their run.

[ColdoRS]

I left accommodation too late last year - ended up staying in Winchester. Miles away but it was nice enough and the drive in the morning was easy.

It does get busy on the way into goodwood, so expect a queue if you’re arriving anytime between 0700-0900

[WJNB]

Until 2 years ago I've attended almost every FoS as a visitor or a re-enactor or representing the media (radio) my experience is as follows:
"Rock up at 9.30am" on a Sunday & if you get in & parked up by 11am you'll be lucky. The westward section of A27 can be one car park as far back as the outskirts of Portsmouth especially if it's a hot sunny day & FoS visitors are mixed up with those heading the beaches on Selsey Bill.
Sunday is horrendously crowded, the paddock seething by 8.30am so you need to be parked up by 8am at the very latest. Even then you will be in a massive queue just to get in.
The car parks are manned & open 24 hours & from 6am the daytime staff begin to arrive*. Some visitors arrive, park up & nap in their cars until the gates open. BUT things may have changed in the last 2 years.
Please re-think your plans to avoid wasting your day & good luck.

• As a visitor I once arrived at the FoS at 6am, prepared to sit in the car & start queuing at the entrance at 7.30, but noticing that staff were walking in unchecked I mingled with them & for nearly an hour had the entire venue to myself.

As with the Revival the events now heave with security, lot's of High-Vis attired Jobs-Worth's imported from our inner cities.

[condor]

I'll say try and get down the night before and camp or glamp ( eg places in Halnaker for both options).
Aim to arrive about 0700-0730 and should get in easily. There is quite a long walk from the public car parks ( fields) through to the event which you'll also have to walk back at the end of the day. Wear sensible shoes

[DJD]

Thanks to you all for the replies, we have managed to get a couple of rooms just under a hour away from Goodwood, will travel the night before and can get an early start on the Saturday morning.

[FIREBIRDC9]

As said before

Get there early.
I recommend the first thing you should do is head to the Cartier Style et Luxe

If you can get there early , you can get some pictures before the crowd shows up.

^ this has been my plan of action for the last 8 years.

[595Heaven]

Definitely get there as early as you possibly can. Gates open at 8am and there are long queues most days by 7am. Get to the paddocks first.

I’m very lucky to work on a stand for the whole event, which kills your feet, but is much more fun than being in the office! Best bit is getting in on Wednesday to brief the stand staff - great seeing the last minute building work going on, and the cars being unloaded. A couple of manufacturers must have had a very late night to get ready for Thursday...

We stay at Butlins in Bognor, as do many of the manufacturer teams. Breakfast at 05:30, leave by just after six which gets us to the car park by seven, then on to the stand by 07:30 ready to go! Spend the day talking with customers and leave by 18:30, then sit in the traffic for as long as it takes to get back. Oh the glamour!

Can’t wait!

[Bobtherallyfan]

And if it’s been dry for a couple of weeks don’t bother washing your car...it will be covered in dust by the time you return.

[Poppiecock]

595Heaven said:

We stay at Butlins in Bognor, as do many of the manufacturer teams. Breakfast at 05:30, leave by just after six which gets us to the car park by seven, then on to the stand by 07:30 ready to go! Spend the day talking with customers and leave by 18:30, then sit in the traffic for as long as it takes to get back. Oh the glamour!

Can’t wait!

Hah! Sounds like my week. Although I tend not to minibus it in with the agency / promotions team. I snag a decent parking pass and rock up around 8am.

It's not usually too bad getting from Butlins to Goodwood before 9-ish.

Don't mind Butlins, but a few years back, I was entrusted with our 'social media influencers' and chauffeuring them in and back, so ended up in a nice hotel with Keanu Reeves and Alex Zanardi!

[JLC25]

I always recommend checking out the Rally part - It's a bit of walk, so if it's hot make sure you bring a bottle of water. However it's the best action of the weekend IMO and you get really close to the cars and the track.

Cartier Lawn always worth a look, Supercar Paddock is good too, but can get very over crowded for a smaller space.

If you can get your route to go through Hindhead in the morning, you'll normally see a couple of convoys taking advantage of the acoustics in the tunnel.

[rajsingh7]

This is my first FoS also, got tickets for Thursday is it still super busy then? I was planning on leaving from Warwick around 6am to arrive around 8am or should I leave earlier?

Also does it matter what car you turn up in, was tempted to take the M3 but seeing as it will be lost in the car park I thought it makes more sense to just take the wifes diesel

Is it worth getting a grandstand ticket too? They are only £10 now!

Edited by rajsingh7 on Wednesday 26th June 17:10

[aazer89]

rajsingh7 said:

This is my first FoS also, got tickets for Thursday is it still super busy then? I was planning on leaving from Warwick around 6am to arrive around 8am or should I leave earlier?

Also does it matter what car you turn up in, was tempted to take the M3 but seeing as it will be lost in the car park I thought it makes more sense to just take the wifes diesel

Historically Thursdays are the quietest day as there is no 'Hill action' so getting there for about 8 should work, there will probably still be a queue for the car park so give yourself abit more time than planned.

Doesnt matter too much really, more depends on the weather - M3 will be fine in normal/sunny, wet weather means getting stuck in the mud. If you are worried about M3 getting dusty/dirty - the fields chuck up alot of it then bring the diesel.

[Dr Nookie]

I'm going on Thursday and for various reasons am unable to get there until about 10.30.
Is that likely to be a problem re traffic?

If it's going to take an hour to then get in I might as well skip it, but can't get there earlier.
Was hoping Thursday would be significantly quieter so wouldn't be an issue.

Cheers.

[SwissJonese]

Bobtherallyfan said:

And if it’s been dry for a couple of weeks don’t bother washing your car...it will be covered in dust by the time you return.

Yep this - our campervan got covered especially if parked near the lanes for cars parking. I felt sorry for the brand new Aston Martin that parked next to us.

Last 2 years we have been on a Thursday and usually arrived around 9am. Traffic was minimal and we where parked up within 30mins max (usually it is just slow as all the cars are going slowly over the rough field parking). Even after the event there was minimal traffic.

[hurstg01]

Dr Nookie said:

I'm going on Thursday and for various reasons am unable to get there until about 10.30.
Is that likely to be a problem re traffic?

If it's going to take an hour to then get in I might as well skip it, but can't get there earlier.
Was hoping Thursday would be significantly quieter so wouldn't be an issue.

Cheers.

10.30am on Thursday should be fine - expect a fair walk from the car park at the bottom of the hill, but you may be able to catch a tractor trailer for ease.

Enjoy it!