Goodwood Festival of Speed 2017
Overview
This is one of the largest events in the world and also one of the best.
Detailed report
The event centres around The Hill which is a road on the Goodwood Estate. The event is held over four days and brings in people from all over the world. 500 cars and bikes take part in the timed hill-climb and range from a 1905 Renault through to F1 cars driven by some of the greatest names in motorsport.
The event is well signposted and easy to find, although you can expect narrow, country roads. If you are driving in each day, you will find it takes hours, due to the amount of traffic. Plan well ahead and have a good read of the website to see if you have access to different car parks. Parking is generally on fields and it can get very muddy if it rains (they do plan for this and have alternative entrances/exits if required). You will also find parking is a good distance from the actual entrance to the event so wear good footwear (expect to cover a few miles every day).
This is a family event, but is also going to be very tiring, noisy and possibly hot.
This is also a very well organised event so expect security and bag searches etc at the entrances (you have many choices of entrance/exit).
Buy a programme (you can pick up a free site layout map at any entrance). The official programme of events gives details of each car running on the hill-climb and when it will appear. You also get an earphone to listen to the commentary which helps as it does get noisy.
Bring ear protection, especially when visiting the pits, as you will be next to cars that are very loud - ear-damagingly loud.
The site and show is so big you will not see it all in the four days, so plan well.
Not every run up the hill will interest you, and they are repeated twice a day. If you miss one, you get to see the same cars again. The grandstands are only accessible with a pre-purchased pass (a couple of stands are free to enter but are not covered and are mostly standing only).
The show side of the hill contains many top companies’ stands (at least 20). Ford, BMW, Mercedes and also many smaller companies, selling everything from wood carvings to kit cars.
Both sides of the track have food areas which provide just about all types of food and drink and have large areas where you can sit and eat. The 12 miles of walkways between the 300 shops/stalls are paved, so no worry about mud or walking.
Expect the food etc to be at the top end when it comes to cost. Fresh drinking water is available throughout the site so don’t throw your empty water bottle away re-use it. (It was extremely hot last year and you needed it).
The site is clean and tidy and just about everyone working there are volunteers. If they have a Goodwood coat/jacket on, they are working and available to help. The volunteers are there because they love cars, and therefore speak your language.
On the house side of the track, you will find lots of areas to sit and relax and listen to bands etc. You also have the Concourse lawn with some of the most expensive cars in the world sat there for you to photograph.
A little further and you have the modern supercar garages, with all the cars that will be running on the hill. This can range from ones available to purchase to prototypes not due out for a couple of years.
Above the house, on the hill itself, are the pits/paddock area and all the wonderful cars and drivers available to see, photograph and talk to. It does get busy, and some cars will always be out on the track or in the Parc Ferme waiting to go out.
This is one of the largest events in the world and also one of the best.
Detailed report
The event centres around The Hill which is a road on the Goodwood Estate. The event is held over four days and brings in people from all over the world. 500 cars and bikes take part in the timed hill-climb and range from a 1905 Renault through to F1 cars driven by some of the greatest names in motorsport.
The event is well signposted and easy to find, although you can expect narrow, country roads. If you are driving in each day, you will find it takes hours, due to the amount of traffic. Plan well ahead and have a good read of the website to see if you have access to different car parks. Parking is generally on fields and it can get very muddy if it rains (they do plan for this and have alternative entrances/exits if required). You will also find parking is a good distance from the actual entrance to the event so wear good footwear (expect to cover a few miles every day).
This is a family event, but is also going to be very tiring, noisy and possibly hot.
This is also a very well organised event so expect security and bag searches etc at the entrances (you have many choices of entrance/exit).
Buy a programme (you can pick up a free site layout map at any entrance). The official programme of events gives details of each car running on the hill-climb and when it will appear. You also get an earphone to listen to the commentary which helps as it does get noisy.
Bring ear protection, especially when visiting the pits, as you will be next to cars that are very loud - ear-damagingly loud.
The site and show is so big you will not see it all in the four days, so plan well.
Not every run up the hill will interest you, and they are repeated twice a day. If you miss one, you get to see the same cars again. The grandstands are only accessible with a pre-purchased pass (a couple of stands are free to enter but are not covered and are mostly standing only).
The show side of the hill contains many top companies’ stands (at least 20). Ford, BMW, Mercedes and also many smaller companies, selling everything from wood carvings to kit cars.
Both sides of the track have food areas which provide just about all types of food and drink and have large areas where you can sit and eat. The 12 miles of walkways between the 300 shops/stalls are paved, so no worry about mud or walking.
Expect the food etc to be at the top end when it comes to cost. Fresh drinking water is available throughout the site so don’t throw your empty water bottle away re-use it. (It was extremely hot last year and you needed it).
The site is clean and tidy and just about everyone working there are volunteers. If they have a Goodwood coat/jacket on, they are working and available to help. The volunteers are there because they love cars, and therefore speak your language.
On the house side of the track, you will find lots of areas to sit and relax and listen to bands etc. You also have the Concourse lawn with some of the most expensive cars in the world sat there for you to photograph.
A little further and you have the modern supercar garages, with all the cars that will be running on the hill. This can range from ones available to purchase to prototypes not due out for a couple of years.
Above the house, on the hill itself, are the pits/paddock area and all the wonderful cars and drivers available to see, photograph and talk to. It does get busy, and some cars will always be out on the track or in the Parc Ferme waiting to go out.
An area near the house is for drivers only, but you do get to see and meet them when they come out to sign autographs. If this is your thing, expect to spend a little time there.
Getting from one side of the track to the other takes place between races and only last a short while, although you do have a couple of bridges you can use if you must.
I nearly forgot, near the start is the Moving Motor Show for companies that provide a passenger ride up the hill in their latest cars. This is mostly on Thursday and because of that, is not so busy.
Moving further up the hill, you have the outdoor display fields where companies like Porsche and Landrover drive people around a field in their 4x4s. Jaguar also had their free ride in cars doing doughnuts and drifting on an area of tarmac.
At the top of the hill is the Rally Stage area. Here you can see all the great and modern Rally Cars showing how they can get round a challenging course. You can get a passenger ride in these also.
For
Everything. It’s just cars, cars, cars and a few bikes. The sounds and sights will never fade after this event and the organisation will not let you down.
Against
Apart from the issues of getting in and out of the site (unless you camp) and the cost, (which would get you a holiday abroad), there is very little to disappoint.
Attendance
Around 100,000 each day but capped at 150,000. 33% are female, which for a motorsport event is very high.
Website
Full of information.
Getting from one side of the track to the other takes place between races and only last a short while, although you do have a couple of bridges you can use if you must.
I nearly forgot, near the start is the Moving Motor Show for companies that provide a passenger ride up the hill in their latest cars. This is mostly on Thursday and because of that, is not so busy.
Moving further up the hill, you have the outdoor display fields where companies like Porsche and Landrover drive people around a field in their 4x4s. Jaguar also had their free ride in cars doing doughnuts and drifting on an area of tarmac.
At the top of the hill is the Rally Stage area. Here you can see all the great and modern Rally Cars showing how they can get round a challenging course. You can get a passenger ride in these also.
For
Everything. It’s just cars, cars, cars and a few bikes. The sounds and sights will never fade after this event and the organisation will not let you down.
Against
Apart from the issues of getting in and out of the site (unless you camp) and the cost, (which would get you a holiday abroad), there is very little to disappoint.
Attendance
Around 100,000 each day but capped at 150,000. 33% are female, which for a motorsport event is very high.
Website
Full of information.
