autosport show -been today

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Discussion

nutsytvr

Original Poster:

579 posts

205 months

Thursday 8th January 2015
quotequote all
I know everyone will have an opinion, but having been to NEC today, I can only say what a total waste of time and money. I was only there an hour and a half. It is much smaller than previous years, with half the space being taken up by engineering stands - ok if that's your thing but I guess most people go to see cars and accessories.
Took me longer to drive there than I spent at the show. Maybe its because I went on a trade day -someone told me that the engineering stands leave tomorrow, and are replaced by a food court........

Not many interesting cars at all - in fact I called at Autofarm Porsche on my way back - there is more interesting stuff there than at the show.

Don't waste your money, pistonheaders.

Cheers
Paul

PD1

148 posts

211 months

Thursday 8th January 2015
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Thanks for that.. I was debating giving it another chance after blowing it out as a bad deal last year. Definitely won't go now. Thanks for saving me the money.

PD1

148 posts

211 months

Thursday 8th January 2015
quotequote all
Thanks for that.. I was debating giving it another chance after blowing it out as a bad deal last year. Definitely won't go now. Thanks for saving me the money.

chrisgtx

1,250 posts

217 months

Thursday 8th January 2015
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I didn't think the show was bad,I quite like the engineering stuff.
Although I don't think there was as much as last year,I don't know how you could walk it in an hour and a half!.
As I mentioned in another thread,the live action show was completely ruined by 110db of music drowning out the noise of the cars racing. When will they learn that we want to see and HEAR the cars,not David bloody Guetta's latest hit!!!
Knobs.

DiscoColin

3,328 posts

221 months

Thursday 8th January 2015
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I cannot recall going to the show and it ever being quieter than today. It seems to have shrunk a lot...

nutsytvr

Original Poster:

579 posts

205 months

Friday 9th January 2015
quotequote all
chrisgtx said:
I didn't think the show was bad,I quite like the engineering stuff.
Although I don't think there was as much as last year,I don't know how you could walk it in an hour and a half!.
As I mentioned in another thread,the live action show was completely ruined by 110db of music drowning out the noise of the cars racing. When will they learn that we want to see and HEAR the cars,not David bloody Guetta's latest hit!!!
Knobs.
I didn't do the live action on purpose. Same old, year after year. Andvas you say, always ridiculously loud music.

ImJimbo

78 posts

137 months

Friday 9th January 2015
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Thanks for this, I've been umming and ahhing if I wanted to make the 8 hour round trip tomorrow but this has made up my mind.

I went four years ago and made sure I sent feedback regarding the music in the Live Action arena. Ruins the whole thing.

aka_kerrly

12,490 posts

217 months

Friday 9th January 2015
quotequote all
DiscoColin said:
I cannot recall going to the show and it ever being quieter than today. It seems to have shrunk a lot...
Shrunk?! I thought since it is the 25th Anniversary of Autosport it was going to be bigger than last year.

Oh well, I'm going on Sunday and still looking forward to it.

Paul Dishman

4,824 posts

244 months

Saturday 10th January 2015
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I've been going to Autosport for years and this year is the first time that I can ever remember that Chaters the booksellers weren't there.

jagracer

8,248 posts

243 months

Saturday 10th January 2015
quotequote all
nutsytvr said:
I know everyone will have an opinion, but having been to NEC today, I can only say what a total waste of time and money. I was only there an hour and a half. It is much smaller than previous years, with half the space being taken up by engineering stands - ok if that's your thing but I guess most people go to see cars and accessories.
Took me longer to drive there than I spent at the show. Maybe its because I went on a trade day -someone told me that the engineering stands leave tomorrow, and are replaced by a food court........

Not many interesting cars at all -
Don't waste your money, pistonheaders.

Cheers
Paul
The first two days are trade days that's why there's engineering stands. If you want boy racer and bling then go at the weekend. It was originally and hopefully still is a racing show and although I have had no need to go for a few years it was aimed at racers and the trade. Haymarket/PistonHeads seem to have hijacked part of it for a private car show which to myself and most racers I know is pretty boring and naff.
As you say, differing opinions but maybe the Piston Heads show should be at a different venue.

61GT

590 posts

187 months

Saturday 10th January 2015
quotequote all
Paul Dishman said:
I've been going to Autosport for years and this year is the first time that I can ever remember that Chaters the booksellers weren't there.
Thought it was just me, noticed this too.

yorkieboy

1,845 posts

182 months

Saturday 10th January 2015
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I'm going tomorrow. Haven't been for a few years. See how it goes.

fatboy18

19,151 posts

218 months

Saturday 10th January 2015
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Wow Surprised some here don't seem to understand the concept of the show!

Thursday and Friday are Trade only days where engineers in the industry can show their latest products,
Lots of business done in those couple of days. The Weekend is for the public and race fans to come in, watch interviews with race team engineers and Drivers and also to see Race and Performance cars.

Normally the show is over 3 linked halls + The live show rubbish (I've never been interested in that bit) The Trade stands in the engineering hall are normally dismantled Friday evening and replaced with Food stands, a dance stage Hot rods and Drag racing cars. Well that's how its been for the last few years.

To be honest I go to these shows now more for the social side, always bump into a friend or two. smile

BUT, I do feel now the NEC are taking the Piss with pricing, £10 to park your car, £35.00 for a ticket to get in, then the rip off prices for food and drink frown

IT IS NOT A CHEAP DAY OUT BY ANY MEANS!

See you tomorrow smile

dandarez

13,444 posts

290 months

Sunday 11th January 2015
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Haven't been for a few years. See more in a car park these days, and the cost and hassle no longer worth it.

Mind you I have been spoiled, used to go to the 'real' Racing Car Shows (as they used to be called).

First was at the Horticultural Halls in January 1961 when the Ginetta G4 was launched. But there was SO MUCH to look at in those days, and you could bump into your hero on a stand, oh I could go on and on.

Here's a bit of nostalgia starting with the 1961 show. I could have been the 10 year old leaning over and drooling in that first shot!
Just 4 clips lasting about 5 mins which will be more exciting than anything at the Autosport Expense Show.

http://www.britishpathe.com/video/race-cars-on-sho...

http://www.britishpathe.com/video/race-cars-own-sh...

http://www.britishpathe.com/video/the-racing-car-s...

http://www.britishpathe.com/video/london-race-cars...

chunder27

2,309 posts

215 months

Sunday 11th January 2015
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Nice to know I am not alone.

For me 45 quid would be by far the most expensive meeting of the year, and the fact that you cant opt out of the live show garbage makes it senseless to go.

It is the same old stuff every year, gets smaller every year it seems yet the prices go up?

Just like magazines...

Can you spot the trend here?

I suppose, like F1, MotoGP etc, if enough people still pay through the nose on the quiet times of the year you cannot blame the promoters for taking the Mickey can you?

They are in business, so can you blame them when the world is full of fools?

psgcarey

611 posts

169 months

Sunday 11th January 2015
quotequote all
nutsytvr said:
I know everyone will have an opinion, but having been to NEC today, I can only say what a total waste of time and money. I was only there an hour and a half. It is much smaller than previous years, with half the space being taken up by engineering stands - ok if that's your thing but I guess most people go to see cars and accessories.
Took me longer to drive there than I spent at the show. Maybe its because I went on a trade day -someone told me that the engineering stands leave tomorrow, and are replaced by a food court........

Not many interesting cars at all - in fact I called at Autofarm Porsche on my way back - there is more interesting stuff there than at the show.

Don't waste your money, pistonheaders.

Cheers
Paul
You went on a trade day. Autosport is there for companies that sell to the motorsport trade on those days. People who work in the motorport trade are not so interested in going to see a nice car, they spend their lives with them. This is why shows like PMW are taking business from Autosport.

If the trade companies, who pay a fortune to be there, find that they are being squeezed out to have yet another shiny car on show, then ultimately the event will die.

Go at the weekend when the show is more tailored to the public you will have more fun, and leave the trade days for the trade.




Longnose

252 posts

120 months

Sunday 11th January 2015
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I went yesterday (Saturday) for the first time in a few years. It was dull! I wanted to talk to Xtrac about my Sauber gearbox but they went home on Friday, replaced by a food stand. The PistonHeads bar only sold gassy Boddingtons or Budweiser. Go at the weekend if you want a fart can for your Vauxhall Corsa, or go on a trade day if you want something serious. What's the world coming to?

JamesHayward

655 posts

171 months

Sunday 11th January 2015
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nutsytvr said:
... It is much smaller than previous years, with half the space being taken up by engineering stands - ok if that's your thing but I guess most people go to see cars and accessories...
It's actually bigger...

You also need to remember we are a motorsport industry trade show that opens it's doors to the public rather than the other way around.

Sorry you didn't enjoy it, many people have and exhibitors are all very happy.

Buff Mchugelarge

3,316 posts

157 months

Sunday 11th January 2015
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Going to against the grain it seems, I went today and really enjoyed it!
Loads of cars, lots of nice people to talk to and the live show was ace!
Maybe I'm easily pleased but it an enjoyable day. The go karting was great too, nice and slidey!

Tron1

120 posts

190 months

Sunday 11th January 2015
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Second year I have been and I enjoyed it as much as last year. Nice mix of things to see. Have to say though while I enjoyed the live show why the juddering fk did they see fit to put the music so loud. Ruined the noise of the cars. At one point it seemed like we were in danger of actually hearing the cars so obviously some halfwit out the back turned the music up event louder to drown them out! All in all enjoyed the day though!