I was at Sushi Sunday Breakfast Club this year along with TG, H-L, and Kane. Later on I discovered Neil was there too (but with his Z rather than the Rev 3 turbo).
You had to pre-register your car on the Goodwood web site but entry to the circuit was free. A club specific slot in the pit area might attract a charge though and, being Goodwood, if money is involved I doubt it will be cheap.
Upside.
A great spread of Jap cars including types you seldom see at most other shows.
Downsides.
P1$$ poor marshalling and a very negative attitude when I tried to get my car moved (I eventually found a way to get where I wanted to without fuss while avoiding the Gestapo!).
The free entry meant that the spectators were a mixed bunch rather than car enthusiasts. There were a number of families on a day out with the parents seemingly quite happy to let their sweaty-palmed offspring run around unsupervised. At one point I thought TG was going to have a coronary!
If some people think that Japfest is too much of a trek, then that applies equally to other shows, for example BHP at Lydden Hill. Trax is simply too close (datewise) to JAE so from a purely personal perspective I couldn't justify the cost. As a newbie, the ambience at JAE is unique and I think that's the whole point. It should remain that way rather than any attempt to replicate it elsewhere.
The fact is that you can't please all of the people all the time. Also, much depends on where you live in relation to where the shows are.
I think Jay may be onto something though with local classic and similar type events. At the beginning of this month I went to
this. Not far from Andy (chaos19810). 400 cars isn't too shabby for a local show. It was organised to raise funds for a local hospice. Entry for exhibitors was free and left to the individual to make a donation. Including sponsorship the total amount collected was over £30k! I wouldn't have known anything about it but for PH. Loads of families attending and not a single palm print on any of our cars.
Have a look at the two short vids at the bottom of page 17 and the one on the last page. That's the mental Mini I was talking about at JAE. There is a Toyota in there too...
Oh I nearly forgot. Mine wasn't the only MR2 at the show. Had a chat with Steve Lumley who was displaying his MR2 Championship car.