I've been twice now 2003 and last year. Both times on the Saturday. Not really too crowded and the atmosphere is something else. My two sons 8 and 14 love it. As of last year there is a rally stage in the forest at the top of the hill. There is rides in Paris Dakar type Land Rover rides towards the top of the hill too. I've only ever watched these but the speed at which these travel over rough terrain has to be seen to be believed. You can look around the various paddocks at different cars from different race series around the world. Getting right up close to the cars as already said usually whilst the cars are being warmed up. Last year Honda were the main sponsor and when we arrived a couple of men were revving up a 60's Honda powered F1 car. The noise was amazing, hearing protection recommended, everyone applauded when they switched it off. Each year there is a different main sponsor and they will have a huge display in front of Goodwood House. There are a few good places to get good photos of the cars in action up the hill. One is where the cars come out passed the wall into an open area. My Avatar is from a series of photos I took of a Ford Focus WRC doing a 360 degree handbrake turn before continueing up the hill. This is also another place where the F1 cars as well as a few others will perform their burnouts. Tickets are only available in advance not on the gate and for Saturday and Sunday Grandstand tickets are like gold dust. Car manufacturers sometime allow their diguised prototypes to be driven up the hill too. Last year Jaguar had a disguised XK8 and Aston Martin their new V8. Expect to see other supercars too. There are aircraft flyover/displays too. I'd definately recommend it, as well as a good comfortable pair of shoes
. Like all motorsport events, arrival and departure times are important time it wrong and you'll be sitting in traffic. take some weather protection just in case as their is little or no shelter out on the hill. Take a picnic although their will be plenty of places and stalls to get food(if you don't mind queuing) there are lots of displays and things to do at the bottom of the hill too. I very much doubt you could get bored there, unless of course you absolutely hate cars of course.
Renault will be title sponsor this year.