Thanks. I thought I might have missed something important! We have not made a final “go/no go” decision. We will this weekend, though, as friends in England are involved in our plans, and we want them to be able to adjust accordingly.
If I were in your shoes, my main concern would be whether you would be able to get back home afterwards. There is no logic in the UK being excluded from the travel ban (as J Trudeau can testify), so if it were included, even though you would still be allowed to go home, would there be any flights for you to take? My money says it will be cancelled anyway, for what that is worth. Ironically, even if it is not cancelled, I may be unable to attend, as I have injured my foot and am now booked in for a procedure on Monday next, following which I am likely to be immobile for one / two weeks.
Thanks, John. I’m very sorry to hear of your foot injury. I trust it’s not from kicking the dog! I wish you a quick recovery. Why do you think the event will be canceled or rescheduled? The Goodwood emails seem to have a “we’ve taken precautions and are carrying on regardless” tone. You’re correct that my main concern is being caught in some sort of travel disruption or even quarantine. I’m not especially troubled by the prospect of contracting the infection. And based on new information there’s a possibility that the UK will be added to the border closure, thus making my decision for me. Jack.
Two reasons: Other sporting events are cancelling voluntarily, e.g. football, as per my previous post. If others do the same over the coming week, GW could decide to follow suit, however reluctantly. HMG could come under pressure to follow various other nations, e.g Ireland, Scotland, in banning major events. In the meantime, they have to put out a positive message until the minute before they cancel. Just my opinion. Oh, and I think rescheduling is unlikely. By the time circumstances have improved to the point that rescheduling would be appropriate, we shall be into the FoS, or even the Revival. IMO, it's now or never - hopefully now, and hopefully I shall be fit to go. Fingers firmly crossed.
This has just appeared on the BBC News site: Coronavirus: Mass gatherings could be banned in UK from next week https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-51882897
Through gritted teeth, I imagine! However, he may not have to bear the cost himself. From the article I posted: "Emergency legislation - including compensation for organisations affected by a temporary ban on big events - is due to be published next week." If I were a cynic, I would say that he is waiting for HMG to pass the legislation, so that he can then cancel and put in a big fat claim for compensation. If he cancels before that, he may get nothing.
I have just seen this in the Terms and conditions: 11 CANCELLATION OR ABANDONMENT OF GOODWOOD EVENTS OR GOODWOOD EXPERIENCES 11.1 We are unable to offer refunds or exchanges in respect of Ticketing purchased unless the relevant Goodwood Event or Goodwood Experience is cancelled due to circumstance(s) for which we are covered by our relevant insurance cover. Sneaky!
Let’s hope Goodwood have decent insurance. Not just from a personal point of view but because I wish them well. March/Richmond has been a good friend to us over the years.
I’m sure, with all the events, thousands of public visitors, business operations and incredibly valuable assets of the estate, that plenty of insurance coverage is in place. Fortunately MM is one of the smaller events of the year, so losses may be minimized. I do feel badly for the numerous small vendors and local employees for whom this will probably represent a significant financial loss.
Goodwood just sent out this email confirming the postponement (cancellation) : https://goodwoodmail.com/4S6T-BB0V-FD3HYUKZ02/cr.aspx
Yes, I received the postponement email this morning. For me this is the best possible outcome, as Virgin Atlantic cancelled our flights last night. So we can hold out hope that MM will be rescheduled rather than abandoned until next year. Let’s hope that this awful situation is controlled soon and that life can return to something resembling normal.
Pleased for you Jack, I hope the world will get through this more or less intact, Iet's grab a beer at the rescheduled event, whenever that may be.
Bonhams Goodwood Member's Meeting Sale 2020 CANCELLED. Not even a closed auction on Sunday 29 March. As per press information received a few secs ago. Marcel Massini
Hardly surprising. It would have been totally irresponsible to go ahead with it under the circumstances.Indeed, it is surprising that it was not cancelled at the same time as the MM itself.
Not the exactly the same thing but BMA are still running their auctions online, but attendance and hence realised price are way down; 1/3 I think I was told. Likely they will stop all together soon! So even if they could run online, questionable if the sellers would stomach lower prices! There will for sure be bargains to be had; unfortunately we can only guess at the human cost the other end!
Anyone watching the "virtual MM" being streamed from the Goodwood website? One or two technical hitches have interrupted transmission early on, but that apart, great first race with two beautiful Ferrari 250s - LM and GTO64 - with some good on board filming in the GTO.
We had organised a fleet of six special cars heading down for the FOS. I love the optimism of Goodwood thnking this will run at all in 2020. Once this virus is done with the UN needs to invoice China.
