Originally Posted by
ERC
I first went on a very wet Friday 2000, with my wife and didn't stay too long. Had to buy a new pair of shoes or trousers that afternoon! We stayed at Midhurst along with Chris Barber's fine clarinet/sax player, John Crocker and his wife (also from Nottingham) and Saturday morning was bright but rather chilly. John, like Chris, has an interest in cars.
Again we didn't stay too long and my wife found the noise of the V16 BRM and other single seaters a bit much! (Which is just one reason for wanting to do the three days on my own.)
In 2009, it was a last minute decision to go to the UK for a school reunion on the Saturday, so only had part of Friday, with my youngest brother, but had to leave 3pm for a Chris Barber concert in Christchurch (UK!) that night.
In 2016 and 2018, I did the trip on my own and all 3 days - and will probably do all 3 in 2020, again, on my own.
A 7:30am gates open usually means getting up and travelling from wherever (Southampton 2016, Portsmouth 2018) so yes, beginning to flag by the end of the day. It is very exhausting and unless you have a grandstand seat, a lot of time on your feet. (Tip: take a $1.50 Warehouse tarpaulin to sit on. I forgot to pick mine up on the Friday and lost it!)
In 2018, I stayed for the start of the Kinrara Trophy on the Friday night then headed off early before it got too busy. A doddle getting out thanks to an extremely good acquaintance who gets me parking in the GRRC cark park, which is closest.
By the time Sunday afternoon came along, the exhaustion had taken its toll and I missed the Sussex Trophy and I notice that this year, they have shifted the Sussex Trophy to the last race on Saturday - it deserves an earlier time slot, but I'm determined to at least see the start next year, come hell or high water.
A stout pair of shoes is essential and a big umbrella and folding directors chair useful. I buy a cheap umbrella the day before for a few dollars and just deliberately leave it in the rental car if it is at the end of my visit. Thankfully, I didn't need it in 2018, but in 2016, it rained all day on the Saturday. Expect that at Goodwood.
As pointed out above, I do get frustrated with some aspects of the programme and next time, I'd probably sacrifice part of the Saturday morning by going to the paddock first thing before the racing starts, then hang around the Woodcote, Chicane or front straight area, then nip out again and spend more time wandering the pre 1966 car park, outside, which is fascinating - and huge!
Back in again for the afternoon's racing.
Friday, I'd always walk the whole circuit, as the viewing is excellent (no stupid, tall wire fences...) and fine for a camera with a 300mm lens. Lugging the 2.5kg bazooka lens around is a total waste of time.
Sunday, I'd still leave just before racing finishes, to beat the queues, but getting out is very well organised. Getting in is the slow bit, hence the early starts.
Despite my moans about the programme and the usual European and British running strictly to the clock, meaning often there is a lot of hanging about, it still knock spots off any other event, if only for the opportunity to get decent photographs. I'm still debating on whether or not Laguna Seca is worth the hassle of getting there, given that Ken's excellent paddock photos are supplemented by action shots taken by others.
The ability to walk right around Goodwood and get shots from every corner makes it worthwhile and although the majority will be right to left, I did find in 2018 that there was one position to get left to right shots. The dream is to get the left to right shots from the Chicane and I may have found that opportunity in 2020 for the Friday only. It may be a bigger expense than usual in 2020, but...
One or two gems in the entry list. My new 'friend' Duncan Ricketts running the recently restored (Reg) Parnell Challenger, rather than the GP1 ERA. Eight ERA's running.
St Mary's Trophy grid (Saturday & Sunday) is another good one and the prewar grid is an all Bentley affair. Sure, there are heaps of regulars, but there is still enough variety to make it worthwhile, any year.
