Goodwood Members Meeting March 2014

Apologies if a thread exists already for this meeting next year - I did look but I couldn't find anything (as usual I did find several other threads that I'm now engrosed in!!).  I don't know if anyone has seen this yet:-
 

There was an earlier thread, Gregor:

GRRC new event

but it's not your fault you couldn't find it. The search engine that came with the new software package is about as useful as a pile of wombat faeces. Among its major failings it refuses to recognise all posts made from the date of the software upgrade in mid-August until the last few days. As 'the last few days' are moving forward all the time, there is an ever-increasing black hole into which many posts, and now some complete threads, are vanishing without trace. The tech people claim to be working on sorting out the search engine's failings, but it's been nearly ten weeks now since the upgrade, and nothing has improved.

Anyway, the good news about the Gerry Marshall Trophy is new.

Although I saw Gerry win in 2001 at Goodwood,  as a humble non member prole I will not be allowed to attend this 2014 meeting. I know my place- even though , in the rest of the motor sport world it is, apparently 2014.

I am currently receiving multiple e-mails inviting me (a non-GRRC member) to purchase tickets for the meeting.  I thought they would have to open it to the hoi polloi or make it eye wateringly expensive. It appears they've done both!  

As I've got no tickets Tony, please send me the email, as I need to buy some for the family!!

Gregor,

If the March family have had not enough manners to invite you and your family by now, I would not bother attending.

The above link:  GRRC new event  says it all.

https://ticketing.go...,AWHIX4,7WBT2,1

At £75 per day or £120 for a two day ticket, I'm not sure if it will be the right crowd, but it will definitely be no crowding.  

Edited by Giraffe, 17 February 2014 - 10:23.

I have been getting invites - presumably on the basis of my record of attendances at the Revival but I am not a member of the GRRC. I suspect that there may have been a lack of take up of tickets and they are now trying to broaden their concept of who can be classed as the "right crowd" in an attempt to boost sales. It reminds of those offers you get that say something along the lines of .."due to overwhelming demand we are extending the offer" , when you know that what is really being said is ... due to underwhelming demand we are having to extend the offer.

I have been getting invites - presumably on the basis of my record of attendances at the Revival but I am not a member of the GRRC. I suspect that there may have been a lack of take up of tickets and they are now trying to broaden their concept of who can be classed as the "right crowd" in an attempt to boost sales. It reminds of those offers you get that say something along the lines of .."due to overwhelming demand we are extending the offer" , when you know that what is really being said is ... due to underwhelming demand we are having to extend the offer.

Ticketing started off with GRRC Members being allowed 4 tickets, then 8 tickets, then Mothers for free on Mothers' Day and now come one come all! 

Members' Meeting, hmmmmm............................

Edited by bill p, 18 February 2014 - 06:20.

I have been a GRRC member since 2006

This years membership fee is £200

When I saw the Members meeting mooted I honestly though it would be a freebie for us

Mistake.

I have been a GRRC member since 2006

This years membership fee is £200

 

When I saw the Members meeting mooted I honestly though it would be a freebie for us

 

Mistake.

My thoughts too

I also hoped it would be more of a "clubbie" event like the GRRC Sprint instead it seems to be turning into a Revival Meeting without the "TT" cars

I'd be astonished if the following hasn't been posted before but here goes...

Just happened completely by accident to stumble across a fascinating piece last evening on channel TVO, our provincial public broadcast network here in Ontario.  The programme was entitled, 'The Aristocrats', and it featured Goodwood and Lord March.  Time frame is up to 2012.  To say the least, it was Interesting to learn more about this great institution and the man behind it.

Here's a link to the(nominally)45-minute item.  Time well spent.

http://ww3.tvo.org/p...he-aristocrats/

Select episode #2.

Apologies if it's been posted previously elsewhere.

Goodwood are now advertising tickets on facebook, but with 2 x two day tickets with roving grandstand option amounting to £384, I think I'd prefer a continental holiday.....

I think that will be money better spent, John.

The entry list, 

http://www.goodwood....,AS675F,85UJ5,1

That looks tremendous.

I note the absence of the Tec Mec.

Gregor, make sure you have a video camera in the car for the race/s.

J

I have declare a bias up front and say I'm not going as - it's Mother's Day, there are too many dress rules and not being an ex public school boy the idea of " houses" seems silly not clever - and the website is a bit like buying a mobile phone - all about up selling but nowhere is the basic entry price clearly stated.

Rant over what does interest me is the logic and economics of this event. On the event forum one of the organisers ( I assume) states that they have 3,000 GRRC memebers but they need 13,000 tickets sold to break even. So they were , presumably, expecting each GRRC memeber to buy 4 tickets despite it being Mothers Day. That seems a real stretch so if they are now trying to persuade "Joe Public" to come I'm not surprised.

Assuming £75 per ticket plus £5 programe profit and, say, 40% grandstand sales @ £40 each the implied minimum revemue target is about £1.2 million.

Given Lord March owns the circuit outright there are no circuit hire fees like most race organisers face. I doubt if the variable overheads exceed £200k ( Marshalls, car park supervision, insurance etc). So the net income is £1M.

You could jump to the conclusion that Lord March is coolly making another fortune except for the size of the entry which is huge and very top - class indeed.The total entry is 420 cars, including more F1 turbo cars than ran in most FIA F1 events. I would guess that , in the era of Easter Monday Goodwood's that this event is trying to re-create the total entry was way less than half these 420 cars.

I know nothing of the financial arrangements between GRRC and the 420 entrants but £1M is only £2,500 per car so if Lord March has to pay any significant expenses it would soon get through the £1M net ticket income.

All of which is a long-winded way of wondering if this event is "too much, too soon". It seems to be trying to deliver a field as big as the Silverstone Classic from its first inception but with "only" 13,000 spectators to fund it.

Another way of looking at it is " how many modern British events beyond the Silverstone GP and Classic plus the Revival have an attendance of 10,000 plus? - very few I think.

Edited by mariner, 22 March 2014 - 10:27.

On paper it looks like being a good meeting. There is however no way that I am going to pay £75 to attend. It appears as though many GRRC members take the same view hence the necessity of opening up ticket sales for the "Members Meeting" to the public. The public school nonsense leaves me cold. My grandmother was in service until she married during WW1 so I am definitely not one of "the right crowd".

As for variable costs the cost of marshals should be insignificant. I only marshal at Brands Hatch so cannot comment on policy at other circuits. At Brands most clubs provide either a free breakfast (normal price about £7) or £5 contribution towards expenses.       

Did no TNFers go today?

Wrong crowd and lots of braying... ?  

No, I didn't go.

But I did set off early in the 1922 8/18 Talbot for a 55-mile return journey to Stokenchurch from West London on the A40  -  that's the longest journey the car has done since the 1970s. Faultless, despite rear-wheel brakes only, no diff., no shock absorbers, no wipers and no starter motor. In fact it is easier to say what the car has as original equipment rather than what it doesn't have. A pure post-WW1 experience.

Nick

Gregor,

If the March family have had not enough manners to invite you and your family by now, I would not bother attending.

The above link:  GRRC new event  says it all.

 I heartily concur with this point of view!

I went to Brands Hatch rather than Goodwood.

David

I was there yesterday, and it was as good a Goodwood meeting as I’ve been to. I recall someone in the know telling me a few years ago that he hoped the third event Goodwood are so keen to create wouldn’t be an Easter meeting, as he could remember some foul-weather occasions in the ‘50s and ‘60s, but yesterday was delightful. It was strange watching cars on the track without a leaf on the trees, but the sun outweighed the wind for most of the day, and the army of people who planted all the daffodil bulbs are to be applauded. The circuit looked in great shape.

The crowd was small compared to a Revival Saturday, and leaves me wondering if Goodwood will turn a profit on the weekend. A lot more branding went into the event that normal – enamel badges for every attendee, even a little box for the ‘ear radio’. We didn’t stay for the discos, circus acts and fireworks, and I can’t see how such a small crowd will have generated a return on all the cost. That said, with such relatively low numbers and no restrictions on paddock entry, it was much easier than normal to take photographs and to stop and talk to owners and drivers.

There were far fewer vendors than usual, and just the one bookseller: Ben Horton’s stand was half the normal size, but sadly his prices weren’t similarly adjusted. The house competition thing wasn’t to my personal taste, so I simply didn’t get involved. It certainly wasn’t intrusive.

The standard of driving was higher than at many a Revival Meeting, and the sight of Emanuele Pirro carving his way past every car but one, having started the Gerry Marshall Trophy from the pit lane, put a smile of my face which still hasn’t left. The way Jackie Oliver drifted the yellow SWB Ferrari, and Rob Newell ’s handling of the ex-Amherst Villiers Type 35, were other personal favourites. I certainly haven’t felt any need to watch the Malaysian GP highlights today.

All in all, a wonderful day, and if Goodwood do host the 73^rd Members Meeting next spring, I’ll be there. 

I can assure you that 'Malaysian GP highlights' is the very definition of an oxymoron, Paul.

I can assure you that 'Malaysian GP highlights' is the very definition of an oxymoron, Paul.

Touché!

Results at, http://www.tsl-timin...&eventid=141321

I sometimes wonder about some people on TNF.  They moan about the Revival and how all the razzamattaz and fancy dress ruins the event, then when Goodwood put on a racing meeting without these distractions, they still moan and refuse to go.  

Edited by BRG, 30 March 2014 - 19:05.

I think that will be money better spent, John.

Just come back, really, really enjoyable.  Lucky with the weather, but God smiles on the righteous.  First time I have been in the paddock with room to breathe - some great opportunities to photo some rare machinery close up (to cross-reference another thread, the Marina-RR was there), without having to make about 16 attempts at doing so.  And Jochen Mass hustling the Gullwing through the chicane was something to savour. 

Once in a while it's nice to be a total petrolhead where you can mention things like the JBW or Meo Costatini without people staring at you.  Great just to shoot the breeze with random people.  I didn't see so many of the big names being present, which in a way added to the clubbie nature, and perhaps helped to keep the thing to manageable levels; saw Pirro, Nick Mason and Chris Evans having a chat though.

Just home, Mrs dwh43scale and I both thoroughly enjoyed the weekend without having to resort to school house frivolities. More to follow soon.

Edited by dwh43scale, 30 March 2014 - 21:46.

Either you have a body double or had a change of mind as I could have sworn I saw you there!! Have to say those who stayed away missed a belter. Great racing and not overly crowded. Let's hope the bean counters consider it a success and the meeting is scheduled again for next year.

Yes, the late guest of an entrant & possibly the best day I have ever had at Goodwood!

Edited by Giraffe, 31 March 2014 - 07:58.

I went and really enjoyed it. Goodwood was at its best in the spring sunshine, with some great races, fantastic cars and a small (for Goodwood) enthusiast crowd with access to virtually everywhere.

 You didn't have to participate in the House events if you didn't want to, but they did keep some of the children there amused. I got two house points for my French translation though, not bad 44 years post O level .

Provided that they don't oversell it and crowd it out, I'll happily go back. It was worth the money and I much prefer it to the Revival nowadays

SWMBO and I had a great weekend at Goodwood.  The circuit looked lovely with the daffodils even before the cars got started.  The selection of cars was excellent, and the racing good.  My wife, who is more interested in people than cars,thought that the spectators were younger than the usual Revival audience, so that's promising for the future of historic racing (so long as not too many turn up next year!).

Geoff

Ferrari in the sun - with a few friends - Saturday a.m.

The Davids Isopon Trophy field taking to the daffodil-lined circuit - Sat a.m.

The magnificent Porsche 917 Langheck by generous permission of the Le Mans Museum 

The most frightening race of the weekend grid lined up - Sunday p.m.

Radio Goodwood round-up - Henry Hoar-Frost - Gary Axon - Chris Drewett - Barry Nutley - Sat p.m.

All Photos Strictly Copyright: The GP Library

DCN  

Edited by Doug Nye, 31 March 2014 - 22:38.

I wonder how many who didn't attend are viewing the reports of the 72nd MM in the same way as me? I can't decide if I'm sorry I didn't go or not.

I am actually having a year off the Revival this year for the first time, as whilst I enjoyed last years event I came away feeling I hadn't enjoyed it as much as previous years, and the crowds were just too big, and we arrived to find our booked camp spot was way up past the sculpture park. It just didn't feel special. All in all, I need a year without for it to feel fresh again.

The MM seems to have most of the cars without the crowds of fancy dressed eejits who appear to have little interest in the racing, and their wives who have none (hey, but they pay the bills.......)

BUT - The draw of Goodwood is the age appropriate pre '66 cut off. I like a 70's saloon car race as muc as the next man, but it just doesn't seem right at Goodwood?

And demo runs leave me cold. Either race it or let me look at it in the paddock.

If it were just a 'revival lite' (to use a horrid modern term)  I think I might be tempted, but the add ons actually put me off.

Al

Lord March outlining what '72' will be all about to the press - Jackie Stewart Building - Saturday - early a.m. 

Formula 1 field assembling for practice - Sat a.m.

'Birdcages' by night - Saturday late p.m.

Meanwhile - in 'The Great Hall' refectory...

Stuart Rolt (buff jacket) and Ferguson team still grappling with ignition problem in their unique P99 - Sat late p.m.

Oops-Yaroo....

Even big bangers need a good night's sleep...

Marcus Pye and Chris Drewett commentating on the terrific (Aston Martin DB4GT-won) one-hour day-into-dusk race - Sat p.m.

Graham Capel-inspired Lotus Eleven GT driven so well by Joe Twyman/Ollie Bryant - built-last-Tuesday, second-placed heroine of the one-hour race.

Hallusa's familiar but always so welcome 'Breadvan' Ferrari - hard-used and abused all its long life, now very tired but in fine hands...

The McLaren Collection's finest tending Turbo

Group B pack assembles on Sunday

Please Note: All Photos Strictly Copyright - The GP Library

DCN (with, hopefully again) great help from Vitesse2...

PS - Sorry - but this photo uploading malarkey is still s------

Edited by Vitesse2, 01 April 2014 - 11:10.

When I get a spare month I'll upload some pics, but for the meantime I quite liked this one:

One thing that always puzzled me about Goodwood is that Lord March as heir to the place brought back motorsport to the estate. Was/is his father not interested? A sort of genuration jump?

As a GRRC member and Goodwood devotee  I am so pleased that it was a success. I had my tickets and stand tickets ages ago, plus 2 night B&B, so was looking forward to it. Sadly I succumbed to a nasty throat and chest infection midweek, so by Friday pm was running a bad temperature, so the prospect of variable weather, a shaded and windy grandstand etc was not one to relish. So my usual stack of paddock and race shots etc did not come about. I just hope the usual photo galleries are posted variously, Wouter Melissen, SCD etc etc. Does anyone have shots of the Elites and the Capelised Eleven on track?  I am sorry I missed the serried ranks of the turbos and group Bs.

Next time, then.

Roger Lund

One thing that always puzzled me about Goodwood is that Lord March as heir to the place brought back motorsport to the estate. Was/is his father not interested? A sort of genuration jump?

Edited by Doug Nye, 01 April 2014 - 18:44.

A wonderful week-end, well worth the travel (and the money)! I just returned to this country, having had to endure a nasty throat and chest infection despite the sunshine.

Wonderful freshness about the whole week-end, not a downscaled Revival by any means, it was a true enthusiast's meeting in its own right. Much smaller crowds, and room to see everything. I hope the company met its fiscal aspirations, I would certainly go back for more.

Highlights? Oh, where to start... I thought the Group A/Group 1+ cars fitted in perfectly well, and they did provide excellent racing. And also some humourous touches...a Dolomite Sprint in works Triplex livery, racing sans windscreen,,,how's that for ultimate trust in the sponsor's product?

Watching Nick Swift drift the Cooper S  (1071   surely, the cutoff year being 1963...) through Madgwick inch-perfect, lap after lap...lap average of 92 mph in a car with a top speed of not much more than 100mph - hugely impressive. But as a Mk 2 Jaguar enthusiast, I do wish Grant Williams had been there to mix it with the Mins and the Cortinas. After all, the Mk 2 was still a force in 1963.

Like one or two others; I am not too keen on demonstrations, but the Langheck display worked wonderfully well, to my eyes. The F40  was run at sufficient pace to make these cars juuust starting to stretch their legs a little bit, reminding me of my nocturnal walks in the Mulsanne woods through many a June night in the late Eighties. And don't those cars look purposeful...

compare them to the latest LMP monstrosities.

The Mk 4 Ford looked so tiny, not at all the big 7-liter brute i had been expecting...re-inforcing my impressions form the Revival last September. But the cream of the crop....the irresistible wail of the Matra. Worth the entry ticket on its own, I reckon.

An no signs of any traffic jams, coming into the circuit - or leaving after a long day. Yes Mr Goodwood Sir, more of the same, please! (But an air display would not go amiss...)

And also some humourous touches...a Dolomite Sprint in works Triplex livery, racing sans windscreen,,,how's that for ultimate trust in the sponsor's product?

 

 

Like one or two others; I am not too keen on demonstrations, but the Langheck display worked wonderfully well, to my eyes. The F40  was run at sufficient pace to make these cars juuust starting to stretch their legs a little bit,

 

Watching Nick Swift drift the Cooper S 

 But the cream of the crop....the irresistible wail of the Matra. Worth the entry ticket on its own, I reckon.

 

 

Nicely put together picture gallery on the Telegraph website, including some of the less obvious machinery: http://www.telegraph...rs-meeting.html