classic car shows what do you think ?

[r4_rick]

Thinking of getting involved in these next year, as a business venture. Would be very grateful for your feedback on these type of events. Along the lines of:-

1. If there is a show and shine or a concours competition are they well run ?
2. What would you like to see at these events, that is tyoically missing ?
3. What is good about these events (a strength, that could be built on) ?
4. What do you normally pay to get in ?
5. Does the entrance fee represent good value for money ?
6. How far do you travel to go to events

And anythink else you can think of .

[ARH]

1 no idea never entered or taken much notice of them
2 I woukd like to see less market type stalls and more autojumble
3 not sure
4 the cheaper the better, free entry for exhibitors is something which has dissapeared these days, you can't run the show without them so let them in for free.
5 mostly
6 up to 50 miles, or much further if it is a big do.

[crankedup]

Seems to me that 'car shows' lack of stuff for kids to get involved with. Concourse shows are IMHO just plain boring and all the competition cars are trailered everywhere. Don't mind paying a fiver if the money go's to charity.
Other than that they are still fun.

[williamp]

Someone already does this:

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a... August - Hedingham Castle

Although when some poeple questionned why they should attend a car show where they pay, we got this response:

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a... August 2010 - Aston Martin meet (free entry)&mid=10435

Its a good question: why would anyone pay money to park in a field (usually)?

If you can answer this question then you have a business model

[davepen]

r4_rick said:

Thinking of getting involved in these next year, as a business venture. Would be very grateful for your feedback on these type of events. Along the lines of:-

1. If there is a show and shine or a concours competition are they well run ?
2. What would you like to see at these events, that is tyoically missing ?
3. What is good about these events (a strength, that could be built on) ?
4. What do you normally pay to get in ?
5. Does the entrance fee represent good value for money ?
6. How far do you travel to go to events

And anythink else you can think of .

A few different show type events.
http://www.hampshirepageantofmotoring.co.uk/ was a commercial venture, free entry to clubs, got Red Arrows or BoB Memorial Flight, never actually went, even though on doorstep. (Dorset TVRCC did attend).
http://www.romsey-classiccarandbikemeet.co.uk/ Went along this year, BiL took his Alvis. "Contributions to Bucket for charity" No concours - more Modified Cars.
http://www.bredoncarrally.org.uk/ Local to my parents, was started by local classic car dealer, now run by Round Table "for charity" Fee on entry. Venue usually the Cricket pitch - but does change.
Or for the top end of the market there would be Hurlingham Club do ... http://www.salonprivelondon.com/...
And Dad goes along (in his Sunbeam) to http://www.wellandsteamrally.co.uk/ - to see the Steam Engines.

What are your going to do that is different.

Other events would be the AlvisOC annual do - we went along this year - as much due to the venue.
In previous years we've been along to the RREC annual bash, which has a concours element.

Other events we attend this year (in the TVR) were Classic LeMans and Classic Silverstone. Joined the TVRCC stand, but only to park and watch the racing, also got cheaper ticket through club membership (VSCC and TVRCC)

Also did the VSCC Welsh and Western Navigation Rally in the 12/50. After the Western went to Madresfield, as a spectator, there is a "car most like to take home" Cup judged by the competitors in the the Driving Tests - which is about as serious a concours as the VSCC likes to do.
Also been to Brooklands a few times this year with the VSCC.

1) Not really into show and shine.
2) Interesting cars - obviously one man's meat...
3) Intersting venue or other attraction, ie race meeting.
4) Not much!! Unless for the main (race) event, or a club do.
5) If we go.... Didn't go to Goodwood this year - weren't able to blag tickets!
6) I guess the Welsh is the longest trip.

[davepen]

We also went down to see the London to Brighton Veteran run, which is done by a commercial venture, under the control of the RAC MSA.

[sdmurray]

r4_rick said:

Thinking of getting involved in these next year, as a business venture. Would be very grateful for your feedback on these type of events. Along the lines of:-

1. If there is a show and shine or a concours competition are they well run ?
2. What would you like to see at these events, that is tyoically missing ?
3. What is good about these events (a strength, that could be built on) ?
4. What do you normally pay to get in ?
5. Does the entrance fee represent good value for money ?
6. How far do you travel to go to events

And anythink else you can think of .

Go to lots of classic car events both public and club related:

1. Have never participated in these as I feel that there are too many cars trailered in rather than driven with good honest road muck on them! Prefer public vote or general vote on best cars in show.
2. They all vary depending on whether they are just a village/town fair or a pukka classic car show but always expect food, drink, autojumble (ok and some other stuff to keep the OH happy!) and a display ring with cars rolling through.
3. Variety of cars on display and turns around an exhibition ring always good. A pleasant setting is a must for an enjoyable day (i.e. don't mind parking in a field if it has a view). Having a driving element is always great fun (the ultimate being the Coventry Festival of Motoring where the cars are taken to the streets).
4. Very little if displaying a car (a few pounds only).
5. If displaying, yes, but I am reluctant to part with huge amounts if just visiting (the exception is the NEC classic car show but that is outrageously expensive!)
6. 50-70 miles for a large, top notch event. For more parochial shows only 30 miles, say.

Hope that helps.

[masermartin]

r4_rick said:

Thinking of getting involved in these next year, as a business venture. Would be very grateful for your feedback on these type of events. Along the lines of:-

1. If there is a show and shine or a concours competition are they well run ?
2. What would you like to see at these events, that is tyoically missing ?
3. What is good about these events (a strength, that could be built on) ?
4. What do you normally pay to get in ?
5. Does the entrance fee represent good value for money ?
6. How far do you travel to go to events

And anythink else you can think of .

I've been to quite a few of these events, from the small local ones up to the big stuff like Bromley. Typically with the concours you want to have a team of judges and a decent but not limitless number of categories. I find it silly that I (for example) got 2nd place in the "Other foreign" category at one of the local events to me, because my '98 Ghibli was IMO nowhere near as nice as the absolutely immaculate Renault Caravelle, the spotless late '70s 911 or a bunch of other stuff it supposedly beat; it's also much easier to prep a '98 car to look shiny than a '60s or '70s one.

If you have a concours, a public vote should be part of it (they do this at the BA meet near Heathrow for instance) and it might be nice for the cars competing in the concours to do a drive by of the arena to a) prove they are not complete trailer queens and b) let the public hear the engines which in many cases is a big draw. I think the latter is a must anyway, with or without a concours competition.

Strengths - well if you're getting into this as a business venture, really you have to come up with this. This is like asking us to write your business plan, we can't do that for you.

Paying to get in to display - well, some events I have done this but ONLY if the money is going to charity. I'm of the opinion that it wouldn't be a car show if there were no cars, so the fact that people are donating their time (travelling, staying around for the whole event rather than clearing off when they'd had a bit of a mooch round, and preparing the car the morning/day before) not to mention petrol to get there. Don't forget, they will probably be buying from the stalls and entering the raffles and so on just like the average punter so they're not getting in completely free. Personally, I wouldn't pay to display my car at an event where the aim is for the organiser to make money (except if that organiser is a charity e.g. Cranleigh Lions springs to mind). But, again, this is a business decision you will have to make.

I've exhibited at events over 100 miles away, but no more than a couple of those in a year (I can just about do that on a tank ) but most of them are about 50 miles or less. Often, the further ones are specifically related to my car (genre, country etc) or they are at the other end of a really good driving opportunity (south coast).

Saying that, I'm not sure where the money is in this. You have to arrange somewhere to host the event, and if it's not for charity then this is going to be costing a fair whack. I can't see how you'll get rich doing it that's for sure

Edited by masermartin on Thursday 30th December 12:35

[Old Merc]

I always enter the classic car shows that are part of a country fair,steam rally,etc with free entry to the site for car+2, make a w/end of it,stay at a local pub, see the show (beer tent),banter with enthusiasts, all laid back stuff and its nice to go away with a little trophy if poss`.Some of these serious car only shows can be very intense and "clicky".

[r4_rick]

thanks to everyone for their comments.

[Major Fallout]

davepen said:

We also went down to see the London to Brighton Veteran run, which is done by a commercial venture, under the control of the RAC MSA.

The entry fee has gone up this year. Over £200 to drive your car in the freezing cold and normally rain, on the worst roads and in London traffic.

Glad when its over, the best bit is the cocktail party at the RAC club the night before.