Would You Go Next Year?
Discussion
It's a start, but it needs working on if it's happening next year.
The owners' cars area was a good idea but needed something extra - they looked a bit plain parked up, as if it were a car park. Perhaps a backdrop or some sort of floor design would have helped, plus a bit of information for those that weren't sure what the car/spec was.
It strayed dangerously close to a Max Power-type event. If this is the demographic for PH then fair enough, I'm mistaken. But there seemed to be a bit too much drum 'n' bass going on.
Fundamentally, though, there's a useful concept here. For years I've been going to Autosport International and always felt here was an opportunity to cater more fully to the track day/sportscar market, I personallhy think it needs to be tweaked a little.
The owners' cars area was a good idea but needed something extra - they looked a bit plain parked up, as if it were a car park. Perhaps a backdrop or some sort of floor design would have helped, plus a bit of information for those that weren't sure what the car/spec was.
It strayed dangerously close to a Max Power-type event. If this is the demographic for PH then fair enough, I'm mistaken. But there seemed to be a bit too much drum 'n' bass going on.
Fundamentally, though, there's a useful concept here. For years I've been going to Autosport International and always felt here was an opportunity to cater more fully to the track day/sportscar market, I personallhy think it needs to be tweaked a little.
I've been going to the Autosport for about the last 10 years and will be getting tickets again for 2009 for sure. The PH side of the show was pretty incidental for me, bit like last years "extra" bit on the side.
The McRae display was superb, good to see such a fine display of his cars. The Live Arena show was better than previous years, sitting front row in the block by the dragsters was almost dangerous.
Got decent shots of Button, Webber, Coulthard and Gronholm.
Seeing the GTP GroupC cars and finding out they are supporting the 24hr at Le Mans.
If anything I was a bit disappointed with the PH part. For an outsider you would have no idea about what PH is all about. You'd have no idea from the show about things like the hoons - mega, mini, IoM, Scotland etc. That events like the BTaP, Pistonfest, Le Mans WRR etc occur on an annual basis. That there are various motorsport meets such as the British GT championships, Cars In The Park.
The McRae display was superb, good to see such a fine display of his cars. The Live Arena show was better than previous years, sitting front row in the block by the dragsters was almost dangerous.
Got decent shots of Button, Webber, Coulthard and Gronholm.
Seeing the GTP GroupC cars and finding out they are supporting the 24hr at Le Mans.
If anything I was a bit disappointed with the PH part. For an outsider you would have no idea about what PH is all about. You'd have no idea from the show about things like the hoons - mega, mini, IoM, Scotland etc. That events like the BTaP, Pistonfest, Le Mans WRR etc occur on an annual basis. That there are various motorsport meets such as the British GT championships, Cars In The Park.
Well impressed with the show, worth the 200 mile round trip. I was happy to appreciate the fabulous collection of PH'ers cars for what they were; fancy display presentation I'm not fussed about, I was too busy drooling. It felt like walking through my own personal-favourite car museum. I'm one of those saddos that will cross the street to look at an Integrale, UrQuattro or a Venturi; to see so many well-kept examples in one place was almost sensory-overload for me.
I'd agree that the PH 'identity' seemed a little vague. If I were a member of the public I would have entered the hall, looked at some fantastic cars, but left none the wiser as to what Pistonheads actually 'is'.
The rest of the Autosport show itself was great, liked the Colin McRae tribute line-up of cars, and was amused by DC's frank interview comments (when asked how good he reckoned Lewis Hamilton was, Coulthard replied that LH was probably quicker than him when he was 9!).
I must be easily entertained, but I found the live show to be well-produced and punchy, even if we were subjected to 20 feet high images of Louise Goodman's face on the monitor screen. A decent mix of motorsports, lots of noise and drifting on the zero-grip floor. An F1 car bouncing off the limiter doing a few donuts would have capped-it nicely, but I suppose H&S would have a fit if someone suggested running one indoors...
Edit: Wrote the above without seeing Vette 1978's post above. Some spookily similar comments...
I'd agree that the PH 'identity' seemed a little vague. If I were a member of the public I would have entered the hall, looked at some fantastic cars, but left none the wiser as to what Pistonheads actually 'is'.
The rest of the Autosport show itself was great, liked the Colin McRae tribute line-up of cars, and was amused by DC's frank interview comments (when asked how good he reckoned Lewis Hamilton was, Coulthard replied that LH was probably quicker than him when he was 9!).
I must be easily entertained, but I found the live show to be well-produced and punchy, even if we were subjected to 20 feet high images of Louise Goodman's face on the monitor screen. A decent mix of motorsports, lots of noise and drifting on the zero-grip floor. An F1 car bouncing off the limiter doing a few donuts would have capped-it nicely, but I suppose H&S would have a fit if someone suggested running one indoors...
Edit: Wrote the above without seeing Vette 1978's post above. Some spookily similar comments...
Edited by speedtwelve on Sunday 13th January 17:28
ali_kat said:
kevin ritson said:
It strayed dangerously close to a Max Power-type event. If this is the demographic for PH then fair enough, I'm mistaken. But there seemed to be a bit too much drum 'n' bass going on.
PLEASE - Don't start Garlick off on that again 
I would definitely go again 
The PH main stand was tidy and nicely executed, maybe next year the main stand selling the merchandise and promoting PH could be a little bigger with a little more negociating? It would be nice to see the same format as the stand they used, but with a car at each corner
The supercar paddock was a lovely collection, but did feel a little like a museum of tasty motors...maybe a backdrop would work well and help to capture the spirit of PH
As for the everyday PH paddock; There was a lovely collection of motors there, but they did look like a big cluster of cars as opposed to a display and with the space they offered, maybe the next time the PH gang could have their cars parked at an angle around the edge of that particular section, with another PH stand in the middle showing videos and stuff?
All told though, I think the PH Staff did an absolutely spectacular job of getting everything ready especially considering that they were working right up until the last bell so big respect for that.
Saying that the show was dangerously close to the Maxpower brigade is understood, but maybe a tad extreme. Afterall, there werent an excess of chavs knocking about and the D&B was coming from the FUEL stand, which a lot of PHers are enthusiastic about their sound systems...all in all it helps to show the diversity of our little army
I thoroughly enjoyed it and the only thing I would consider for next time, is maybe plan a little better....not PH, but myself.
Plan for somewhere to stay so I can have a wee drink with the PHers and not have to worry about driving the 146 miles home immediately after the consumption of alcoholic bevarages.
Plan to have a set meeting point and time for those who wish to meet with one another so we dont end up walking about and probably walking past each other numerous times
You never know, maybe I could get the Tasmin Project in the hall next time
I honestly and sincerely loved it, from start to finish. Made some good contacts which has helped to make things cheaper in the "performance project" department for my friends and myself. Gained a whole heap of experience with regards to photography in such limited lighting and the one thing I shall do next time, is bring a large stick or airhorn to stop them getting in the way when Im trying to take a photograph
Top effort people, look forward to seeing you all again
The PH main stand was tidy and nicely executed, maybe next year the main stand selling the merchandise and promoting PH could be a little bigger with a little more negociating? It would be nice to see the same format as the stand they used, but with a car at each corner
The supercar paddock was a lovely collection, but did feel a little like a museum of tasty motors...maybe a backdrop would work well and help to capture the spirit of PH
As for the everyday PH paddock; There was a lovely collection of motors there, but they did look like a big cluster of cars as opposed to a display and with the space they offered, maybe the next time the PH gang could have their cars parked at an angle around the edge of that particular section, with another PH stand in the middle showing videos and stuff?
All told though, I think the PH Staff did an absolutely spectacular job of getting everything ready especially considering that they were working right up until the last bell so big respect for that.
Saying that the show was dangerously close to the Maxpower brigade is understood, but maybe a tad extreme. Afterall, there werent an excess of chavs knocking about and the D&B was coming from the FUEL stand, which a lot of PHers are enthusiastic about their sound systems...all in all it helps to show the diversity of our little army
I thoroughly enjoyed it and the only thing I would consider for next time, is maybe plan a little better....not PH, but myself.
Plan for somewhere to stay so I can have a wee drink with the PHers and not have to worry about driving the 146 miles home immediately after the consumption of alcoholic bevarages.
Plan to have a set meeting point and time for those who wish to meet with one another so we dont end up walking about and probably walking past each other numerous times
You never know, maybe I could get the Tasmin Project in the hall next time
I honestly and sincerely loved it, from start to finish. Made some good contacts which has helped to make things cheaper in the "performance project" department for my friends and myself. Gained a whole heap of experience with regards to photography in such limited lighting and the one thing I shall do next time, is bring a large stick or airhorn to stop them getting in the way when Im trying to take a photograph
Top effort people, look forward to seeing you all again
escargot said:
ali_kat said:
kevin ritson said:
It strayed dangerously close to a Max Power-type event. If this is the demographic for PH then fair enough, I'm mistaken. But there seemed to be a bit too much drum 'n' bass going on.
PLEASE - Don't start Garlick off on that again 
You need glasses Phil!!ali_kat said:
escargot said:
ali_kat said:
kevin ritson said:
It strayed dangerously close to a Max Power-type event. If this is the demographic for PH then fair enough, I'm mistaken. But there seemed to be a bit too much drum 'n' bass going on.
PLEASE - Don't start Garlick off on that again You need glasses Phil!!If you go on the weekend then "Max-Power" is exactly what you will get.
Go on Thursday / Friday and it's a different place.
As for the Girls, these were the only ones i bothered with on Friday..
I was very impressed with the McRae tribute too.
Go on Thursday / Friday and it's a different place.
As for the Girls, these were the only ones i bothered with on Friday..
I was very impressed with the McRae tribute too.
Edited by MonkeyHanger on Sunday 13th January 19:00
speedtwelve said:
Well impressed with the show, worth the 200 mile round trip. I was happy to appreciate the fabulous collection of PH'ers cars for what they were; fancy display presentation I'm not fussed about, I was too busy drooling. It felt like walking through my own personal-favourite car museum. I'm one of those saddos that will cross the street to look at an Integrale, UrQuattro or a Venturi; to see so many well-kept examples in one place was almost sensory-overload for me.
Couldn't have put it better. I'll be back next year!escargot said:
ali_kat said:
Fit totty? You need glasses Phil!!
No way. There were some absolute stunners knocking about. Admittedly there were also some hounds but they got swiftly erased from the mental wank bank. You need glasses Phil!! But once you got closer 
How much did you drink whilst there??!!
Edited by ali_kat on Sunday 13th January 19:18
ali_kat said:
escargot said:
ali_kat said:
Fit totty? You need glasses Phil!!
No way. There were some absolute stunners knocking about. Admittedly there were also some hounds but they got swiftly erased from the mental wank bank. You need glasses Phil!! But once you got closer How much did you drink whilst there??!!
Edited by ali_kat on Sunday 13th January 19:18
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