[Other Sport] Goodwood Festival of Speed

FloatLeft · Jul 13, 2018

Going to my first ever Festival of Speed on Sunday and I was wondering if any of you learned gents could tell me if I need to be there at the crack of dawn to avoid the traffic queues.

Car parks open at 7am but I wasn’t planing to leave Lewes until then which would get me there about 8ish (with a bit of queuing).

Or should I plan to be there for 7?

GT49er · Jul 13, 2018

You'll be queuing to get out at the end*, so just get used to a day of queuing! Just take a flask, sandwiches and some good music or audiobook!

*Unless things have changed significantly since I last went.

neilbard · Jul 13, 2018

FloatLeft said:
Going to my first ever Festival of Speed on Sunday and I was wondering if any of you learned gents could tell me if I need to be there at the crack of dawn to avoid the traffic queues.

Car parks open at 7am but I wasn’t planing to leave Lewes until then which would get me there about 8ish (with a bit of queuing).

Or should I plan to be there for 7?

Goodwood can be a logistical nightmare, so I would give yourself ample time.

Greg Bobkin · Jul 13, 2018

I've been a few times and never got stuck in REALLY bad queues. It's a bit of a lottery, but it's almost better to leave a bit later to miss the rush with all the keeno fans who want to be before it all kicks off. There is so much to see during the day, that even if you miss the first bit, you'll still get more than your fill of motors going up the hill for the duration...

Have a good one!

Bedsex · Jul 13, 2018

I went today, but left Crawley at just after 6am and was in the car park at just after 7, so no queueing issues that early. I’m not sure what it was like later on though. We also left at just before 5pm, again to avoid the queues, but we’d seen everything we wanted to by then.

Stat Brother · Jul 13, 2018

£6 for a bacon roll, a pint is £8.

I loves the queues for FoS, it is rather fun overtaking millions of ££££'s of car porn on my push bike!!

grubbyhands · Jul 13, 2018

Can't speak for your,presumably, A27 journey but I'm in Godalming and it's about 25 miles from me and I would approach via Petworth. It can be horrific and has ,in the past, taken an hour and a half if I leave my place at 8 O'clock. It's worse at weekends, it's also on thursday and friday this week, and Sunday is usually the worst. As others have said, embrace the queues, take a cool box, have a great time. Getting out is usually worse. Beware Sussex Police speed traps in sleepy villages, they'll be out to spoil your day.

vegster · Jul 13, 2018

Stat Brother said:
£6 for a bacon roll, a pint is £8.

I loves the queues for FoS, it is rather fun overtaking millions of ££££'s of car porn on my push bike!!

If lord March can get away with those prices is it any wonder he does the Revival weekend as well to cash in . I bet the old prices for a pint and a butty aren't "Revived " ?

Stat Brother · Jul 13, 2018

vegster said:
If lord March can get away with those prices is it any wonder he does the Revival weekend as well to cash in . I bet the old prices for a pint and a butty aren't "Revived " ?

As Lord March does get away with them, it is a wonder as to why the road from the race track to the horse racing is comfortably the worst quality road in West Sussex.

You'd think he could 'help out' or 'help out' a decision maker.

AIT76 · Jul 13, 2018

Stat Brother said:
£6 for a bacon roll, a pint is £8.

I loves the queues for FoS, it is rather fun overtaking millions of ££££'s of car porn on my push bike!!

Was riding around the back roads of Chichester this morning, that 'car porn' appeared to being driven by ***** intent on shaving my elbow with their wing mirrors and 'hilariously' revving their engines to scare me...

hoveboyslim · Jul 13, 2018

Arrived at 8am on Thursday and it was fine. Not sure if Saturday will be busier though

afcb · Jul 13, 2018

hoveboyslim said:
Arrived at 8am on Thursday and it was fine. Not sure if Saturday will be busier though

Likewise did Thursday but arrived at 11am.

I came from the Portsmouth direction, ignored all signs as traffic was backing up on the A27 so went through Chichester city centre and popped out into a 2 minute queue.

The weekend will probably be manic mind

Pavilionaire · Jul 13, 2018

I went yesterday for the first time and had a great time, but the dust in the car park was incredible, the cars next to the drive ways were covered in a brown film.

surlyseagull · Jul 13, 2018

I live in the area and the festival makes local people prisoners in their own houses as you cant do anything .Having said that the times I have been I have parked in the goodwood hotel as I am a member of the club which is in the grounds ,I have on occasion been to the club when Fos is on and found the roads busy but not too bad at about 10-11 and drive in via boxgrove as most are already in .

Just beware when coming out as a lot of drivers are tw*ts and think they are Lewis bloody Hamilton .

Originunknown · Jul 14, 2018

vegster said:
If lord March can get away with those prices is it any wonder he does the Revival weekend as well to cash in . I bet the old prices for a pint and a butty aren't "Revived " ?

Pints ranged from £5-£6 at the bar closest to our vantage point. One could have easily brought in ones own hooch if ones drinking problem and tight wallet necessitated.

The old F1 cars are worth the admission alone. If you're into that sort of thing of course.

FloatLeft · Jul 14, 2018

Thanks everyone. Great advice! Looking forward to it!!

Felpham Seagull · Jul 15, 2018

Fasted thing I saw was the red arrows from my garden in Felpham

vegster · Jul 15, 2018

Felpham Seagull said:
Fasted thing I saw was the red arrows from my garden in Felpham

There's a rich irony about being stuck in queues for hours to get in and out of The Festival of Speed.

The Spanish · Jul 15, 2018

surlyseagull said:
I live in the area and the festival makes local people prisoners in their own houses as you cant do anything .Having said that the times I have been I have parked in the goodwood hotel as I am a member of the club which is in the grounds ,I have on occasion been to the club when Fos is on and found the roads busy but not too bad at about 10-11 and drive in via boxgrove as most are already in .

Just beware when coming out as a lot of drivers are tw*ts and think they are Lewis bloody Hamilton .

That’s the sort of seriously middle class equivalent of people bowling out of the boxing thinking they are invincible hard men

FloatLeft · Jul 16, 2018

Just for the NSC record I’ll just add my experience from yesterday.

Although I’d planned to leave at 7am, we didn’t actually get going until 7:45 from Lewes. As you’d expect for that time on a Sunday the roads were nice and clear until we got very near to the event. We queued for about half an hour in total and were into Goodwood by 8:45.

Had an absolutely amazing time and I have to say the actual setting is amazing. The house and grounds are beautiful and provide a perfect backdrop to the stunning selection of modern and classic cars.

Obviously the fantastic weather helped but it did feel pretty hot come the afternoon.

We left at 4:30pm, had no real trouble getting out and was home for the last half hour of the World Cup final. We only left a little earlier as my partner was feeling the effects of the heat.

If you have even the slightest interest in cars and motor sport then I’d say you would have a fantastic time.

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