Goodwood Marshalls - Should have gone to spec-savers...
Discussion
Has anyone managed to decode the decision matrix used by the Marshalls to let cars onto the Start-Finish straight? I saw a fair few replica's (and not in a convincing way) + a load of TVR's - respectfully 
- these are not supercars - with droves of other rare / exotic machinery tucked away in Goodwoods many crevices - I thought they pre-booked many cars and hence can plan for the track display?
- these are not supercars - with droves of other rare / exotic machinery tucked away in Goodwoods many crevices - I thought they pre-booked many cars and hence can plan for the track display?I think the turnout caught them somewhat by suprise to be honest and given the circumstances I thought they managed pretty well but maybe it wasn't perfect. There were some replicas on the straight, but there were plenty of awesome cars too and part of the fun of Goodwood is the variety of stuff you get there.
I spoke to Goodwood last week and they advised me to get there before 8am.
The first of each type of car was then asked to go trackside. If you were then the 2nd, 3rd etc of a particular vehicle you were shown to the paddock/car park. When that was filled up (very quickly it seems) they then started to park more cars on trackside again.
I guess they were taken aback with the number of vehicles that turned up.
Fantastic day though.
The first of each type of car was then asked to go trackside. If you were then the 2nd, 3rd etc of a particular vehicle you were shown to the paddock/car park. When that was filled up (very quickly it seems) they then started to park more cars on trackside again.
I guess they were taken aback with the number of vehicles that turned up.
Fantastic day though.
Well I turned up in a boxster S ( NOT a super car ) fairly late on and was directed down the pitlane!
I was suprised to say the least (maybe the GRRC badge did it???) ! I didnt think the entire paddock to be full of exotica , so figured I may have made it in there but not down the Millionare's row!
Who really cares where cars park anyway? I just appreciate the owners bringing them out to play and let us drool over them!
Maybe some of the "chamios leather" owners get miffed if they dont get a good spot!
Anyway awesome day and some interesting car ! even the non "Supercars"
Same again next year please!!
I was suprised to say the least (maybe the GRRC badge did it???) ! I didnt think the entire paddock to be full of exotica , so figured I may have made it in there but not down the Millionare's row!
Who really cares where cars park anyway? I just appreciate the owners bringing them out to play and let us drool over them!
Maybe some of the "chamios leather" owners get miffed if they dont get a good spot!
Anyway awesome day and some interesting car ! even the non "Supercars"
Same again next year please!!
WhiteGTI said:
Yes, I found it especially suprising to see the two F430 Scuderia's parked right at the back of the paddocks and not on the track......?!
My point exactly - it looked like the rule of the first of a particular model being parked on the track went to pot...I didn't expect to park on the track and was directed to what looked like a customer parking area at the local Jewsons; no bother I though as the track is reserved for the true exotics....but having a sniff around and it looked as though the bar of entry was set at ones ability in a garden shed
As is expected, the same sorry excuse of not expecting that many people is wheeled out - although they seemed to have an infrastructure around the area (road management etc) to cope. I'll expect the responses from some to say words to the effect that "its free so stop complaining", but £12 breakfasts with the attraction provided free by the owners of the cars does turn it into a money spinner for Goodwood + a captive audience for other ticket only events.
Elmo
I'd be interested to know whether the circuit have to pay the staff/marshalls or whether they are volunteers, I presume they have to insure the premises, PI insurance for the event, liason with local police/council etc. It can't make it cheap to put on, so personally I don't object to paying the £12 for breakfast. But I can understand your concerns that perhaps it doesn't seem very logical. For a personal point of view only I'd sooner have the event running in a slightly illogical fashion than not at all.
Its grown and grown (particularly for the supercar breakfast), I wouldnt want to see it become a victim of its own sucess and part of its appeal is that you get up close and personal with some amazing cars (many that I will only ever dream of owning) and also meet lots of like minded enthusiasts. Its a great mixing pot, with the chap down the road with his £800 205 GTi chatting the owner of a Ferrari 250 GTL or discussing carb set up with the owner of a Marcos (examples only!) - thats why I enjoy it and if its slightly chaotic, well thats part of the fun!
I understand not everyones opinion will be the same, but the cost of breakfast is optional - if you don't to buy it, don't - then just think of it as a big PH meet!
Its grown and grown (particularly for the supercar breakfast), I wouldnt want to see it become a victim of its own sucess and part of its appeal is that you get up close and personal with some amazing cars (many that I will only ever dream of owning) and also meet lots of like minded enthusiasts. Its a great mixing pot, with the chap down the road with his £800 205 GTi chatting the owner of a Ferrari 250 GTL or discussing carb set up with the owner of a Marcos (examples only!) - thats why I enjoy it and if its slightly chaotic, well thats part of the fun!
I understand not everyones opinion will be the same, but the cost of breakfast is optional - if you don't to buy it, don't - then just think of it as a big PH meet!
Elmo B. Strokes said:
WhiteGTI said:
Yes, I found it especially suprising to see the two F430 Scuderia's parked right at the back of the paddocks and not on the track......?!
My point exactly - it looked like the rule of the first of a particular model being parked on the track went to pot...I didn't expect to park on the track and was directed to what looked like a customer parking area at the local Jewsons; no bother I though as the track is reserved for the true exotics....but having a sniff around and it looked as though the bar of entry was set at ones ability in a garden shed
As is expected, the same sorry excuse of not expecting that many people is wheeled out - although they seemed to have an infrastructure around the area (road management etc) to cope. I'll expect the responses from some to say words to the effect that "its free so stop complaining", but £12 breakfasts with the attraction provided free by the owners of the cars does turn it into a money spinner for Goodwood + a captive audience for other ticket only events.
Elmo
I think that the event is fantastic as it is and would prefer to see it run in the same manner, rather than pay an exorbitant amount to get in. The cars were all there, so you may have had to walk round the paddock and gravel area to see more of them, but the quality of the cars was great yesterday. We even took a walk into the 'public' tarmac car park and saw some great cars in there that arrived after the paddock was full. I overhead a marshall confirming at 8.30 that the paddock was full, so if you don't get there early, you don't stand a chance of getting in.
I'm glad that the majority of people enjoy the event and the breakfasts clearly aren't an issue when you see how busy the stalls were all morning. Goodwood were asking people to complete a feedback form yesterday, so I hope those of you that had some good ideas for ways to improve the event completed a form, or have contacted Goodwood to offer up their ideas.
I'm glad that the majority of people enjoy the event and the breakfasts clearly aren't an issue when you see how busy the stalls were all morning. Goodwood were asking people to complete a feedback form yesterday, so I hope those of you that had some good ideas for ways to improve the event completed a form, or have contacted Goodwood to offer up their ideas.
I think the marshalls were being generous as to what the idea of a supercar is. Frankly, I'm pleased though.
My daughter and I trundled in around 7:30 and were delighted to be directed onto the start/finish straight. It was an honour for my old plastic shed to share tarmac with a couple of Veyrons, an F50 and some Ford Gts etc.
I doubt very much that my car was given a second glance by the public with all the exotica around, but it made the morning all the more special for us.
It might be noteworthy to remember that the meet is called 'Breakfast Club'. Not 'Brunch Club' or 'Mid-Morning Snack' Club. If a lorry load of Enzos rolls in at 11:30, the marshalls are going to have trouble finding a pedestal to place them on.
My daughter and I trundled in around 7:30 and were delighted to be directed onto the start/finish straight. It was an honour for my old plastic shed to share tarmac with a couple of Veyrons, an F50 and some Ford Gts etc.
I doubt very much that my car was given a second glance by the public with all the exotica around, but it made the morning all the more special for us.
It might be noteworthy to remember that the meet is called 'Breakfast Club'. Not 'Brunch Club' or 'Mid-Morning Snack' Club. If a lorry load of Enzos rolls in at 11:30, the marshalls are going to have trouble finding a pedestal to place them on.
who cares, it was a quality day, loads of nice motors, and you could walk arounds the whole place and keep on finding other cars that you hadnt seen elsewhere. Surely thats more interesting. If you dont like paying
£12 for breakfast bring a sandwich, and if you dont like having your pride and joy parked down the road cos it offends you, then come in your mums micra next year.
£12 for breakfast bring a sandwich, and if you dont like having your pride and joy parked down the road cos it offends you, then come in your mums micra next year.
Edited by Thejimreaper on Monday 2nd June 18:15
Thejimreaper said:
who cares, it was a quality day, loads of nice motors, and you could walk arounds the whole place and keep on finding other cars that you hadnt seen elsewhere. Surely thats more interesting. If you dont like paying
£12 for breakfast bring a sandwich, and if you dont like having your pride and joy parked down the road cos it offends you, then come in your mums mcra next year.
I Agree.£12 for breakfast bring a sandwich, and if you dont like having your pride and joy parked down the road cos it offends you, then come in your mums mcra next year.
Thejimreaper said:
who cares, it was a quality day, loads of nice motors, and you could walk arounds the whole place and keep on finding other cars that you hadnt seen elsewhere. Surely thats more interesting. If you dont like paying
£12 for breakfast bring a sandwich, and if you dont like having your pride and joy parked down the road cos it offends you, then come in your mums mcra next year.
I've no problem in paying £12 for a breakfast, it was aimed at the usual response that I can't pass any constructive feedback because the event is "free" and put on by Goodwood as some form of charity gift - they clearly want to make money out of it ("free country and all that"). Again I have no problem parking off in a sleepy backwater - just didn't expect Mr Magoo to be in charge of selection - thought that was all very clear £12 for breakfast bring a sandwich, and if you dont like having your pride and joy parked down the road cos it offends you, then come in your mums mcra next year.
To be fair I think its a "dammed if you do dammed if you don't" with the marshals . If they had decided only to have let in "supercars" whatever that means - so the guy on the gate only lets in Veyrons and F40's - and then they have 5 cars on the track, thats wrong.... or they let in anything and its fills up too soon so the F40's cant get in then thats wrong.... I do feel "breakfast meeting" is a clue. If you want to display get there at 8am latest. I am fortunate to be only 25 mins drive away so not too much of an issue. And as a result my little plastic kit car got in ok - and on the track!
Other times (the last German day) I was told to naff off whilst around half a dozen VW 1.1l Polos were given the top slot!
Still.....Great meeting(s) after all... hope it doesn't get too "corporate" IE only cars costing £300k get in... wouldn't that miss the point? IMO Its all about seeing interesting cars after all, not just the most expensive, and cars lovingly restored etc, not just "bought".
In a way I do think its a victim of its own success. Interestingly....I have a couple of photos of my first "breakfast" meeting....... about 5 years ago, I recall around 10 cars a bike and a sidecar turned up! We had a bacon roll and left.
Other times (the last German day) I was told to naff off whilst around half a dozen VW 1.1l Polos were given the top slot!
Still.....Great meeting(s) after all... hope it doesn't get too "corporate" IE only cars costing £300k get in... wouldn't that miss the point? IMO Its all about seeing interesting cars after all, not just the most expensive, and cars lovingly restored etc, not just "bought".
In a way I do think its a victim of its own success. Interestingly....I have a couple of photos of my first "breakfast" meeting....... about 5 years ago, I recall around 10 cars a bike and a sidecar turned up! We had a bacon roll and left.
Dos it really matter where you park? FFS it's a great day out, a chance to gawp at some lovely cars, chat to friends and enjoy yourself in cracking surroundings. If anyone gets so stressed about whether or not they've got to park in the "right" place I suggest they find some mates and get a life.
The guys at Goodwood must read some posters and quite frankly, wonder why they bother. And don't give me any crap about breakfast costs either. If you don't like the way it's done, don't come. Simple. Lot's of us do like it and will continue to support it.
The guys at Goodwood must read some posters and quite frankly, wonder why they bother. And don't give me any crap about breakfast costs either. If you don't like the way it's done, don't come. Simple. Lot's of us do like it and will continue to support it.
s
thotfast said:
thotfast said: "breakfast" meeting....... about 5 years ago, I recall around 10 cars a bike and a sidecar turned up! We had a bacon roll and left.
That got me thinking when did it all start...I remember going in 2006...and thought that was the first year...again 15 ish cars a good chat and decent brekkie...I would exchange the decent brekkie for the fantastic turnout and event last Sunday. Elmo B. Strokes said:
Thejimreaper said:
who cares, it was a quality day, loads of nice motors, and you could walk arounds the whole place and keep on finding other cars that you hadnt seen elsewhere. Surely thats more interesting. If you dont like paying
£12 for breakfast bring a sandwich, and if you dont like having your pride and joy parked down the road cos it offends you, then come in your mums mcra next year.
I've no problem in paying £12 for a breakfast, it was aimed at the usual response that I can't pass any constructive feedback because the event is "free" and put on by Goodwood as some form of charity gift - they clearly want to make money out of it ("free country and all that"). Again I have no problem parking off in a sleepy backwater - just didn't expect Mr Magoo to be in charge of selection - thought that was all very clear £12 for breakfast bring a sandwich, and if you dont like having your pride and joy parked down the road cos it offends you, then come in your mums mcra next year.
. I can only assume you've obviously been offended as 'inferior' cars made it on the grid or perhaps the marshalls didn't recognise the 'worthiness' of your chariot or something. What time did you you arrive, were you with a large contingent of similar cars as this alone would have been enough to put you with mere mortals in the car park
. 
I suppose the Shelby GT500 Stang (for sale) in 'original condition' (needed a refurb) was a bit of shed and could have made room, but for me that was one of the true supercars there, each to their own and exactly what the day was about. I say well done to the marshalls for a great couple of hours on a sunday morning 
Gassing Station | Goodwood Events | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff