I think you're wrong about the SSC - comparing it to the Goodwood FoS it's refreshingly LACKING in pretention. Yes the BRDC have their stand and private car park, but it's the home of British motorsport and they pay their dues. SSC ask all the clubs into the infield, whether MX5, MG or Maserati...Goodwood FoS want to charge you to park your supercar on display and want to vet the suitability of your car first! And there you really do get the monied 'look at me' set, and the F1 hangers-on.
At the SSC I've got chatting to owners of all sorts of cars, and most are happy to chat, whether competition machines or car-club - spent 15mins with a Diablo SV owner this year, including sitting in his car admiring the sheer lack of practicality!
Was on quite good terms with the #2 driver of the old white/green Group-C Jaguar for a couple of years, after nothing more than a few chats at my first SSC. That said, I'll grant you there's a lot more 'money' at the SSC, just by the nature of owning/running classic racing cars. And there are a few 'monied' people who act-up, though more often those owning a car with a donkey or a cow on the front than those running a D-Type/Sauber/Mclaren...
I agree JAE/Japfest are more accessible to the 'chap in the street'...IF said chap is into modding/tuning Japanese cars. I'm not - my S2000 and both ITRs were virtually standard, my NSX is mechanically standard and the cosmetic stuff was added by a previous owner. The times I've been to either event I've actually got bored with the repetitive "look at my shiny engine bay with a huge turbo and dozens of pipes everywhere, all colour-coded" at each club stand, and the repetitive trade stands, all offering tuning/cleaning kit - the *** scene in that regard is very 1-dimensional - it's all about modding - "yes, we are all individual!". And attempts to engage such owners in conversation usually descend into bragging-rights of 1/4 mile times or rolling-road results. Or worse, which wax lasts longest!
So it depends what you like. I like variety...I've had a series of Hondas but have a real appreciation for a whole range of 'modern classics' as well as the older, prettier stuff. And while I've massive respect for stuff like the 22B, TME and V-Spec IIs, and would happily pore over one for a while, my experience of Japfest is that such machines are almost drowned out by the acres of Type-UKs, VIII MR FQ-xxx's and cooking Celicas. At the SSC you genuinely don't know where to look first - the mint E30 Cecotto, the Boxster Spyder, the gorgeous short-nose D-Type, Tim Harvey's old R500, wow that is an Enzo...next to another one...next to a 250 SWB!!!
Anyway, essay over. I guess we're coming from different viewpoints...I've done the ***-scene and got bored of it - the sameness and the egos. And I know I'll never be able to afford to 'take part' in the competition side of the SSC (let alone the lack of driving ability), but just soaking the atmosphere, sounds and smells up is good enough...it genuinely IS the best m'sport event in the country, so forgive us for being a little evangelical...and please try it before you condemn it.
Originally Posted by Papalazarou
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