How rough are the ordinary car parks?

[PorkiePie]

First post here 😬

Can anyone tell me if the ordinary car parks are pretty bumpy/rough? I'm driving a 996 Turbo and I sometimes hit the front splitter if I go into a dip and the angles are against me. Just don't want to suffer the embarassment of getting stuck/causing damage!

Never been to Goodwood before so any tips gratefully received. Thanks

[ecsrobin]

Your 996 is a monster truck compared to half the stuff I’ve seen in the car parks over the years.

Gordon Murray’s F1
Carrera GT
Numerous westfields, caterhams ariel atoms

You get the idea.

[PorkiePie]

Thanks. I've read elsewhere that cars get covered in dust - how bad is it? Just don't want the soft top getting stained if the dew/rain hits before I get to clean it

[Auto810graphy]

Depends where you are in the car park, I was by an access aisle Friday and my car looks like it’s been in a sandstorm. Others further in looked fine.

Without sounding harsh, if you are that worried best not take your car, the worry might ruin your day.

[Mabbs9]

I've never known the dust to be a big deal. I've taken a Caterham before. Just the usual caution by going slowly is all you'll need. No one minds you taking it carefully as everyone is glad to see nice cars.

Enjoy.

[timbo999]

It was quite dusty on Thursday... I was about 15 cars away from the dusty roadway and had to Hoover my soft top yesterday!

However, the roadways are quite flat if very stony and dusty so your Porker should be fine.

[MrC986]

OP, You’ll have to drive carefully through the forest on stone surfaces access roads & across the tank track sections in the gateways if you’re parking in the areas via Gate 6 up by the race course (parks N, P & S) which is where I’d normally park although the others are broadly on the level.

[Djtemeka]

We went last year and laughed as some dude left him Beemer’s roof down. We arrived at 9am and his car was like the Sahara inside

[sealtt]

Just take your daily driver or a rental and enjoy the event, not worrying about your vehicle.

[neilf]

We parked in Car Park M yesterday. Fairly dusty but plenty of ground clearance.

Pretty much every car in the ‘Performance Parking’ car parks were covered in a layer of dust. Even a couple of Zonda’s in the performance parking down near the start looked like they been left outside for months!

[moffspeed]

sealtt said:

Just take your daily driver or a rental and enjoy the event, not worrying about your vehicle.

Totally agree. Left my classic at home - it’s an historic rally Lancia with a sump guard so no worries about bumps - but took my everyday Merc for the last 2 days. The car parks are pretty much billiard table smooth but very dusty despite water dowsers dampening down the access roads.

My view is possibly take your classic for the Revival (and a snowplough for the MM) - but for the FOS take your shopping car. Bumps are not a problem but like any other public car park there are risks of “accidental” damage...

[pauloroberto]

2 years ago I went over a rut in my XK. The pedestrian safety system (that I didn’t even know existed) kicked in and the bonnet popped up. It can’t just be reset so I went back to Lichfield on a truck!

[m4tti]

Yesterday they were spraying the dusty bit with water so had wet muddy dust flicked up down the side of the car.

Then when getting back to the car it had the Sahara look.

Was parked in car park A

[Jagmanv12]

You'll need to watch coming off the metal roadways onto the mud/ground.
They didn't make the join level and at walking pace the front wheels of my E type went over the edge and cracked 2 exhaust manifolds. The organisers didn't have the good manners to reply to my letter about it.

From memory the ticket now says something like car parks not suitable for low sports cars. So I guess that's their get out clause.
In other words park at your own risk.

[Ultrafunkula]

I have no problems with my Cayman S, I have to be careful through the forest entry where the path splits and mounting/dismounting the metal road, but it's just a case of going slow. the grass parking areas are a little bumpy but quite even. Dust was the biggest issue on Friday!

[PorkiePie]

Thanks all, very helpful. Took the Land Rover in the end as the weather was miserable anyway!

[ecsrobin]

PorkiePie said:

Thanks all, very helpful. Took the Land Rover in the end as the weather was miserable anyway!

Good choice. It really is an event to take the daily to. Likewise the revival but I understand why people like to take their car. I’ve seen so many broken down classics that never make the event that is it worth it?