IS IT WORTH IT ?
Discussion
The problem with the GFOS is that it has become a victim of it's own success, plus it is far too commercialised now. I don't want to go to the GFOS to see the latest road car displays, I want to see the heritage and the passion of motor sports in all their glory.
Like most things in life, I feel that commercial greed has now hijacked what was once a bloody good event what ever the weather.
Like most things in life, I feel that commercial greed has now hijacked what was once a bloody good event what ever the weather.
TheOriginalGT40 said:
The problem with the GFOS is that it has become a victim of it's own success, plus it is far too commercialised now. I don't want to go to the GFOS to see the latest road car displays, I want to see the heritage and the passion of motor sports in all their glory.
Like most things in life, I feel that commercial greed has now hijacked what was once a bloody good event what ever the weather.
A little harsh. The 'corporate entertainment' is starting to creep into it too much (but much less so than F1, thankfully), while the road-car side of things is kept to a minimum on-track (just right, IMHO), and kept separate off-track.Like most things in life, I feel that commercial greed has now hijacked what was once a bloody good event what ever the weather.
My only 'gripes' were the number of people (just me being selfish) and the car-park fields/bogs. Otherwise I loved it. Much better organised than the music festivals I've been to, much more civilised too. And where else can you get THAT close to racing cars from all eras and disciplines?!?
As for advice...
- be prepared for whatever the weather brings, the shade is limited and/or expensive;
- if you want to take photos, then you need to either bring a stepladder, get to places early, and/or be patient;
- go for more than one day...you've no hope of seeing it all in a day, 2 is barely enough IMHO.
and remember, you will either get wet or get sunburned! I've been to nearly all and it seems to be 50/50 what weather you will get. Got to say yesterday tested the endurance of even the most hardiest motorsport fan. Although I braved it to the end when they had to stop the hill climb due to aquaplaning! I don't think the traders had a good day either.
I love it, i got there early (7 am - the best move i made i think) on the Sat so straight into the car park, parked right next to the entrance. Got to look at all the cars, with not many people around - loads of photos etc... . Found a nice place on the hill to watch the cars, took photos, videos etc. Got wet, wandered around the place in my waterproofs checking out everything whilst the general public were hiding away
left at 5, only a handful of people leaving, got out fine with no problem, no worries on the hill as i kept the momentum going so all good
awesome day - just go well prepared, at the end of the day we are all aware that this is an event in Lord March's back yard, i did not expect standards to be up to say a curcuit as it has not been developed as such
would i go again - damn right i will! : )
left at 5, only a handful of people leaving, got out fine with no problem, no worries on the hill as i kept the momentum going so all good
awesome day - just go well prepared, at the end of the day we are all aware that this is an event in Lord March's back yard, i did not expect standards to be up to say a curcuit as it has not been developed as such
would i go again - damn right i will! : )
Some good thoughts and points on this thread. Ultimately, I suppose whilst £50 entry + £20+ on ancillaries is not necessarily a cheap experience, equating it to the potential 8-10+ full hours you can spend there is perhaps more realistic when comparing it to other non-motoring leisure alternatives (cinema, theatre, golf etc). In this context, it is good value per hr and given the sheer variety and proximity of a very wide array of motoring history, there are few motoring experiences to touch it. Not sure I could spend 20 mins speaking to the owner of the P 4/5 or to Bob Riggle about his Hemi under glass anywhere else.
I compare the FoS to MPH for example and for that you pay almost the same with virtually zero option to get close to anything, a very hands-off experience, a relatively tepid "stage show" and more non-related motoring paraphenalia than I care to experience again.
Yes, there were lots of crowds and yes, it was muddy and tough to see the show at times. However, patience can help and getting there in good time in the am also benefits those who rise early. I heard people bitching about not getting good viewing sites within 5 mins of getting to a spot, but who turned up at 11am - hardly a fair representation.
I compare the FoS to MPH for example and for that you pay almost the same with virtually zero option to get close to anything, a very hands-off experience, a relatively tepid "stage show" and more non-related motoring paraphenalia than I care to experience again.
Yes, there were lots of crowds and yes, it was muddy and tough to see the show at times. However, patience can help and getting there in good time in the am also benefits those who rise early. I heard people bitching about not getting good viewing sites within 5 mins of getting to a spot, but who turned up at 11am - hardly a fair representation.
went for the first time this year and really enjoyed it,bought a three day pass but didnt bother going yesterday as the weather looked awful,camped in portsmouth thursday night about a 30 minute drive in,left at 7am to get there both mornings and didnt really get stuck in traffic,there was a small queue on the last roundabout which seemed to be 3 lanes trying to get into one but not a problem,managed to park in the flat areas!
Booked all three days plus Grandstands on sat/sun,had an absolutely fantastic time despite the rain on sunday.
Saw an unrivalled selection of machinery and drivers Lewis Hamilton, Paddy Hopkirk, Chris Atkinson, etc. all up close.
Three days was just about enough if you have as wide a range of appreciation as me.(we left at 6-15pm on Sunday)
Booking for 3 days again next year.
Saw an unrivalled selection of machinery and drivers Lewis Hamilton, Paddy Hopkirk, Chris Atkinson, etc. all up close.
Three days was just about enough if you have as wide a range of appreciation as me.(we left at 6-15pm on Sunday)
Booking for 3 days again next year.
Fantastic!
Yes it was wet, and yes it was busy, and yes it wasn't all about cars. It's also expensive once you're in - a half bottle of VC was £32.50 a pop!!!
BUT:
The rally stage is amazing as were some of the exceedingly rare cars actually driving around it.
The hill climb is more about putting on a show than getting a good time, so you see some good stuff and some amazingly rare cars and bikes.
The road cars are very quite compared to the race cars, but then they are real-life cars to be used on the road - I doubt anybody could live with a race car for commuting or shopping.
There is a LOT to see, we were there for three days and still didn't do all of it.
You can see pretty much everything you want to, and if the owners are in a good mood, you can get in some cars (having kids with you seemed to help - we never got into anything, but never asked).
As for seeing what's going on - no problem, just wait, or get there early (as said before).
Two things I would advise -
If you're only going to be there one day and can't get a day off work - go Saturday - a lot less people were there and everything is on on both days (though Sunday is supposed to be the day of actual competition.
If you drink a lot of champers, try to get GRRC membership (it seems a lot easier these days) - it's 5 quid per half bottle less in the members tent - the toilets are much better and you can sit in the shade/dry when you want.
If you're really posh, get Kinrara membership too - nothing's free once you're in, but the view is amazing and you get really nice facilities to lord/lady it up in
Yes it was wet, and yes it was busy, and yes it wasn't all about cars. It's also expensive once you're in - a half bottle of VC was £32.50 a pop!!!
BUT:
The rally stage is amazing as were some of the exceedingly rare cars actually driving around it.
The hill climb is more about putting on a show than getting a good time, so you see some good stuff and some amazingly rare cars and bikes.
The road cars are very quite compared to the race cars, but then they are real-life cars to be used on the road - I doubt anybody could live with a race car for commuting or shopping.
There is a LOT to see, we were there for three days and still didn't do all of it.
You can see pretty much everything you want to, and if the owners are in a good mood, you can get in some cars (having kids with you seemed to help - we never got into anything, but never asked).
As for seeing what's going on - no problem, just wait, or get there early (as said before).
Two things I would advise -
If you're only going to be there one day and can't get a day off work - go Saturday - a lot less people were there and everything is on on both days (though Sunday is supposed to be the day of actual competition.
If you drink a lot of champers, try to get GRRC membership (it seems a lot easier these days) - it's 5 quid per half bottle less in the members tent - the toilets are much better and you can sit in the shade/dry when you want.
If you're really posh, get Kinrara membership too - nothing's free once you're in, but the view is amazing and you get really nice facilities to lord/lady it up in
If I can add my 2p worth to the debate.........
This year was my 8th year in a row and I will be there again next year without fail. The GFOS is difficult to describe if you have not been there before, but I think what made it for me was in the first year I was there when I was looking at a Tyrrell,I was tapped on the shoulder and a very prounonced french accent politely asked if he could get by...and Jean Alesi stepped into the car and drove off. No where else could I imagine something like that happening. Yes it is getting busier and there are more and more corporate stands (and I have never figured why the GRRC pavilion isnt track side!) but where else can you:
See 5 of the 6 Bugatti Royales in one place - chatting to the currator he has doubts whether the 6th one actually exists and said they had them insured for £15 million each. And these were not roped off with armed guards - they were just there.
See the wonderous Chapparall 2J whih lives in a museum in the US - and see Vic Elford driving it. Or the have a nose round the Tyrrell P34, or as good as stand in the cockpit of the Audi R10 that last week won Le Mans - seeing it still with the dirt on.
I remeber a few years ago the Brabham Fan Car was there - its first public outing for 25 years. No where else manages to get such a variety in one place so i would say if you have never been then you must go at least once. Whilst the weather this weekend was the worst I have known in that 8 years, its only the second seriously wet GFOS I remember, and have been sunburnt more often than soaked.
This year was my 8th year in a row and I will be there again next year without fail. The GFOS is difficult to describe if you have not been there before, but I think what made it for me was in the first year I was there when I was looking at a Tyrrell,I was tapped on the shoulder and a very prounonced french accent politely asked if he could get by...and Jean Alesi stepped into the car and drove off. No where else could I imagine something like that happening. Yes it is getting busier and there are more and more corporate stands (and I have never figured why the GRRC pavilion isnt track side!) but where else can you:
See 5 of the 6 Bugatti Royales in one place - chatting to the currator he has doubts whether the 6th one actually exists and said they had them insured for £15 million each. And these were not roped off with armed guards - they were just there.
See the wonderous Chapparall 2J whih lives in a museum in the US - and see Vic Elford driving it. Or the have a nose round the Tyrrell P34, or as good as stand in the cockpit of the Audi R10 that last week won Le Mans - seeing it still with the dirt on.
I remeber a few years ago the Brabham Fan Car was there - its first public outing for 25 years. No where else manages to get such a variety in one place so i would say if you have never been then you must go at least once. Whilst the weather this weekend was the worst I have known in that 8 years, its only the second seriously wet GFOS I remember, and have been sunburnt more often than soaked.
MattT49 said:
If I can add my 2p worth to the debate.........
This year was my 8th year in a row and I will be there again next year without fail. The GFOS is difficult to describe if you have not been there before, but I think what made it for me was in the first year I was there when I was looking at a Tyrrell,I was tapped on the shoulder and a very prounonced french accent politely asked if he could get by...and Jean Alesi stepped into the car and drove off. No where else could I imagine something like that happening. Yes it is getting busier and there are more and more corporate stands (and I have never figured why the GRRC pavilion isnt track side!) but where else can you:
See 5 of the 6 Bugatti Royales in one place - chatting to the currator he has doubts whether the 6th one actually exists and said they had them insured for £15 million each. And these were not roped off with armed guards - they were just there.
See the wonderous Chapparall 2J whih lives in a museum in the US - and see Vic Elford driving it. Or the have a nose round the Tyrrell P34, or as good as stand in the cockpit of the Audi R10 that last week won Le Mans - seeing it still with the dirt on.
I remeber a few years ago the Brabham Fan Car was there - its first public outing for 25 years. No where else manages to get such a variety in one place so i would say if you have never been then you must go at least once. Whilst the weather this weekend was the worst I have known in that 8 years, its only the second seriously wet GFOS I remember, and have been sunburnt more often than soaked.
I agree totally with the above comment!This year was my 8th year in a row and I will be there again next year without fail. The GFOS is difficult to describe if you have not been there before, but I think what made it for me was in the first year I was there when I was looking at a Tyrrell,I was tapped on the shoulder and a very prounonced french accent politely asked if he could get by...and Jean Alesi stepped into the car and drove off. No where else could I imagine something like that happening. Yes it is getting busier and there are more and more corporate stands (and I have never figured why the GRRC pavilion isnt track side!) but where else can you:
See 5 of the 6 Bugatti Royales in one place - chatting to the currator he has doubts whether the 6th one actually exists and said they had them insured for £15 million each. And these were not roped off with armed guards - they were just there.
See the wonderous Chapparall 2J whih lives in a museum in the US - and see Vic Elford driving it. Or the have a nose round the Tyrrell P34, or as good as stand in the cockpit of the Audi R10 that last week won Le Mans - seeing it still with the dirt on.
I remeber a few years ago the Brabham Fan Car was there - its first public outing for 25 years. No where else manages to get such a variety in one place so i would say if you have never been then you must go at least once. Whilst the weather this weekend was the worst I have known in that 8 years, its only the second seriously wet GFOS I remember, and have been sunburnt more often than soaked.
It really gets me how anyone can criticise Lord March and his people for doing so much for us Petrolheads. Sure, as I have said on topics about this before, its not prefect but its a near as makes no difference. If you don't know by now that the food is going to be expensive, its going to be busy and you might get wet then God help you.
In the eight years that I have been going I seen things there that I would have NO chance of seeing without spending vast amounts of money treking around the world.
I mean for
sake Blue Flame was there this year. I had a poster of that on my wall when I was eight. I never dreamed I would ever see it in the flesh! I have no job at the moment and no car. But I found a way to get there and I had put some money in a special Goodwood fund that I didn't exceed and had a whale of a time.
I REALLY, REALLY, think that some of you guys need to stop and have a think and realise how lucky we are that this event still takes place in this stupid 'safety first' country we live in.
Looks like I am going to Goodwood then for three days! So far will be doing
in 2008:-
Northwest 200, (sad I know, bikes eh!)
Le Mans practice
Le Mans
GFS
GFS revival
Will also review Monza F1 for 2008 depending on how we get on this September.
Why is it all the best events are so close together!!!!!!!!!!
in 2008:-
Northwest 200, (sad I know, bikes eh!)
Le Mans practice
Le Mans
GFS
GFS revival
Will also review Monza F1 for 2008 depending on how we get on this September.
Why is it all the best events are so close together!!!!!!!!!!
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