PH/Autosport Show Feedback
Discussion
Here is my comment from the other thread:
emailiscrap said:
I'm going to be the first person to really stick my head over the parapet and say that I thought it was pretty poor.
To say that the day cost over £100 for two of us, I was expecting a lot more.
The live show just tried to cram too much in and we ended up with about 2 minutes per motorsport type which was just not enough. Having Murray 'presenting' just didn't work. He wasn't there, he was reading from a script and just didn't add anything to it. The races were very scripted, with the announcer seeming to know the coming manouvers leading to it coming across that there was no real racing going on.
The stands were ok, but it was either nuts and bolts engineering components on sale or supercars. There was very little inbetween and as an occasional spanner wielder without the ability to field strip a gearbox blindfolded and without the bank balance to splurge £100k on a supercar I felt it was all pitched for someone else.
As has been said earlier, I've seen a lot of the exotica at meets, with the benefit of seeing them on the move. I guess I'm not into the social side of PH as much as others are, but the PH area left me cold.
I stretched it out to a 3 hour visit including the live show, but that was out of grim determination to get my moneys worth rather than there being enough to keep my attention.
Assuming this is was a typical AS/PH show and the format is unlikely to change, I'll not be back. I was really looking forward to it, and maybe that led to some unrealistic expectations.
To say that the day cost over £100 for two of us, I was expecting a lot more.
The live show just tried to cram too much in and we ended up with about 2 minutes per motorsport type which was just not enough. Having Murray 'presenting' just didn't work. He wasn't there, he was reading from a script and just didn't add anything to it. The races were very scripted, with the announcer seeming to know the coming manouvers leading to it coming across that there was no real racing going on.
The stands were ok, but it was either nuts and bolts engineering components on sale or supercars. There was very little inbetween and as an occasional spanner wielder without the ability to field strip a gearbox blindfolded and without the bank balance to splurge £100k on a supercar I felt it was all pitched for someone else.
As has been said earlier, I've seen a lot of the exotica at meets, with the benefit of seeing them on the move. I guess I'm not into the social side of PH as much as others are, but the PH area left me cold.
I stretched it out to a 3 hour visit including the live show, but that was out of grim determination to get my moneys worth rather than there being enough to keep my attention.
Assuming this is was a typical AS/PH show and the format is unlikely to change, I'll not be back. I was really looking forward to it, and maybe that led to some unrealistic expectations.
Too expensive
Getting in looked a nightmare for some on Saturday, queues all the way back down the M42. Not heard any complaints on Pistonheads, meaning they all probably found the same, poorly sign posted but otherwise quick route in.
Not enough show
Live action is included in the price. Don't do this. I don't want to see the live show, it's crap. Knock a tenner off the price.
PH bit was quite nice. Would have liked it to be bigger. Maybe invite a few more cars and group in sections more. As it was it just seemed to be set out as and when people go there.
Ban the models. Though these put me off my food, saving a fair chunk of cash.
Keep Thursday as trade only but allow non trade in on Friday, that was I can see the show without all the kids and parents knocking about.
Free guide was good, however it was a bit of a pain to try and read on the go, stands seemed fairly muddled about so I missed a few that I would have liked to see.
I'd say reduice the ticket price and charge for the live show seperately next year, makes so much more sense that way and will stop it getting booked up with spare seats available.
Getting in looked a nightmare for some on Saturday, queues all the way back down the M42. Not heard any complaints on Pistonheads, meaning they all probably found the same, poorly sign posted but otherwise quick route in.
Not enough show
Live action is included in the price. Don't do this. I don't want to see the live show, it's crap. Knock a tenner off the price.
PH bit was quite nice. Would have liked it to be bigger. Maybe invite a few more cars and group in sections more. As it was it just seemed to be set out as and when people go there.
Ban the models. Though these put me off my food, saving a fair chunk of cash.
Keep Thursday as trade only but allow non trade in on Friday, that was I can see the show without all the kids and parents knocking about.
Free guide was good, however it was a bit of a pain to try and read on the go, stands seemed fairly muddled about so I missed a few that I would have liked to see.
I'd say reduice the ticket price and charge for the live show seperately next year, makes so much more sense that way and will stop it getting booked up with spare seats available.
CampDavid said:
Too expensive
Getting in looked a nightmare for some on Saturday, queues all the way back down the M42. Not heard any complaints on Pistonheads, meaning they all probably found the same, poorly sign posted but otherwise quick route in.
Just thought I'd say this wasn't my experience. We drove up from Bristol with no directions or sat nav etc. Took about 1 hour 40 and we drove straight into the car park at about 10am with almost no delay (there was a moving queue which I'd guess we were in for about 5 mins max). We were inside the show within 2 hours of leaving the house which I thought was excellent.Getting in looked a nightmare for some on Saturday, queues all the way back down the M42. Not heard any complaints on Pistonheads, meaning they all probably found the same, poorly sign posted but otherwise quick route in.
Compared to queues for festivals, events at Ashton court, gigs and various other events I've been to I thought it ran amazingly smoothly.
Personally I liked the pistonheads area, even though I've seen a few of those cars before, just because there was a nice bit of info on the cars and they were (mostly) affordable and unique cars. Could have had a few more there though imo.
Liked the live show considering the limited space they had. Would have a liked to see a longer strip for cars to actually get out of 2nd gear on and really here them properly, the F1 type cars looked like they had too drive sooo carefully just to get around safely.
All in I enjoyed the show, there was a fair bit that didn't appeal to me at all but enough that did to make it interesting. Nice to see the M600/LF-A/Aspira up close.
The girls were a bit ropey, barely above the standards you'd expect at Max power. Apart from the blond with the nice ass selling Top gear. So perhaps for next year you can get rid of them all or perhaps bring in some super models.
Can't say it was really my cup of tea. Not enough exotica to drool over (although there of course were some nice cars (although not many genuine wows) in the PH area and dotted around elsewhere - coming across the Stirling Moss Ferrari 250 GT SWB parked casually on a random photographer's stand was a nice break from the models hawking sprockets and branded leisure gear) and too many stands selling motor-racing paraphenalia. Momentary interest factor from seeing Jensen Button I suppose.
Given my ticket was free and I had to go there anyway to pick my car up at the end of the show, it was ok. But there's absolutely no way, especially now I've seen it, that it's worth the price of the ticket, a London-Brum return train fare and an entire day out. Sorry if that sounds harsh, but it wasn't. I actually wouldn't go again even if it was free.
Given my ticket was free and I had to go there anyway to pick my car up at the end of the show, it was ok. But there's absolutely no way, especially now I've seen it, that it's worth the price of the ticket, a London-Brum return train fare and an entire day out. Sorry if that sounds harsh, but it wasn't. I actually wouldn't go again even if it was free.
CampDavid said:
Would have liked it to be bigger. Maybe invite a few more cars and group in sections more. As it was it just seemed to be set out as and when people go there.
To be fair to the organisers, the weather didn't really help this one. Some cancellations and I'm guessing arrival timeswent out of the window. I know that when I arrived (and mine was first), Alex and I discussed putting another V8 Vantage behind (where the purple Nissan was) so you could see the external differences between the standard and N400 models.I do agree though with the idea grouping cars in some way such as British sports, Japanese, classics, etc, etc. Maybe next year if weather permits?!
Was to expensive, as others have said should of knocked a tenner off and not included live show
As others have said aswell most of the models looked like a bulldog chewing a wasp!
It needed some thing to physically do (keep missus entertained and even me at the end of the show)
The PH shop had sold out of every thing, the missus wanted a T shirt that was on display,the only one they had one was a large (she's size 6-8) and about 4 different pattern of stickers ended up going home with nothing
Also paying £20 for 3 sandwiches peed me off a bit aswell
Minus all that probably 7/10
Alex
As others have said aswell most of the models looked like a bulldog chewing a wasp!
It needed some thing to physically do (keep missus entertained and even me at the end of the show)
The PH shop had sold out of every thing, the missus wanted a T shirt that was on display,the only one they had one was a large (she's size 6-8) and about 4 different pattern of stickers ended up going home with nothing
Also paying £20 for 3 sandwiches peed me off a bit aswell
Minus all that probably 7/10
Alex
Edited by Alexdaredevilz on Monday 18th January 13:06
Was to expensive, as others have said should of knocked a tenner off and not included live show
As others have said aswell most of the models looked like a bulldog chewing a wasp!
It needed some thing to physically do (keep missus entertained and even me at the end of the show)
The PH shop had sold out of every thing, the missus wanted a T shirt that was on display, the only one they had was size large (she's size 6-8) and about 4 different pattern of stickers ended up going home with nothing
Also paying £20 for 3 sandwiches peed me off a bit aswell
Minus all that probably 7/10
Alex
As others have said aswell most of the models looked like a bulldog chewing a wasp!
It needed some thing to physically do (keep missus entertained and even me at the end of the show)
The PH shop had sold out of every thing, the missus wanted a T shirt that was on display, the only one they had was size large (she's size 6-8) and about 4 different pattern of stickers ended up going home with nothing
Also paying £20 for 3 sandwiches peed me off a bit aswell
Minus all that probably 7/10
Alex
Edited by Alexdaredevilz on Monday 18th January 13:07
I really enjoyed the show having not been for about 5 years. I stopped going then because it had become a bit of a chav frenzy. Now that role seems to be taken by the MPH and Top Gear shows I thought I'd give Autosport a try.
I enjoyed the whole day, except for the pre 9 AM queue. It took me over an hour to get there and I only live 11 miles away!
The PistonHeads section seems like its an after thought which was stuck on the side - a bit like the Oval racing hall. Having said that it is always nice to see some nice cars - A rather strange lack of anything by Ferrari though!
The Live action show was OK although the BRDC young drivers were very dull, as was the Nissan GTR.
People on the stands were nice and friendly too
I enjoyed the whole day, except for the pre 9 AM queue. It took me over an hour to get there and I only live 11 miles away!
The PistonHeads section seems like its an after thought which was stuck on the side - a bit like the Oval racing hall. Having said that it is always nice to see some nice cars - A rather strange lack of anything by Ferrari though!
The Live action show was OK although the BRDC young drivers were very dull, as was the Nissan GTR.
People on the stands were nice and friendly too
steve_amv8 said:
CampDavid said:
Would have liked it to be bigger. Maybe invite a few more cars and group in sections more. As it was it just seemed to be set out as and when people go there.
To be fair to the organisers, the weather didn't really help this one. Some cancellations and I'm guessing arrival timeswent out of the window. I know that when I arrived (and mine was first), Alex and I discussed putting another V8 Vantage behind (where the purple Nissan was) so you could see the external differences between the standard and N400 models.I do agree though with the idea grouping cars in some way such as British sports, Japanese, classics, etc, etc. Maybe next year if weather permits?!
OT I don't know if you noticed but the colour on yours caused quite a stir. Some hated it while others loved it. I really don't like the look of the V8 as it stands but that colour does give the whole shape a general "rightness" and it was probably my favourite car on the PH stand
What amazed me was that there was a stand selling gas and electricity, and the salesman was surprised when I wouldn't tell him who I buy my energy from! They were pushy and rude and just didnt need to be there.
Otherwise it was OK, too many dolly birds and the car park charge is a rip off!
So there!
Otherwise it was OK, too many dolly birds and the car park charge is a rip off!
So there!
Seemed expensive for what it was.
I paid at the cash booth and my live show ticket stated 2pm, my friends in the booth next to me paying by credit card got a 6pm show. We had walked round everything in 3 hours.
Hoped there would be more cars/manufacturers on display, and less trade stands. We did not wait to see the live show.
Adding food and fuel to above made it an expensive day, glad that we made the effort, but will not be returning if prices stay the same.
Arrived midday, just drove straight into carpark.£8 fee seemed high.
I paid at the cash booth and my live show ticket stated 2pm, my friends in the booth next to me paying by credit card got a 6pm show. We had walked round everything in 3 hours.
Hoped there would be more cars/manufacturers on display, and less trade stands. We did not wait to see the live show.
Adding food and fuel to above made it an expensive day, glad that we made the effort, but will not be returning if prices stay the same.
Arrived midday, just drove straight into carpark.£8 fee seemed high.
rjnewman said:
What amazed me was that there was a stand selling gas and electricity, and the salesman was surprised when I wouldn't tell him who I buy my energy from! They were pushy and rude and just didnt need to be there.
Agreed, any time I went anywhere near that stand they pounced and I ended up being quite rude towards the end of my visit.I loved the line one of them came out with: "now the law has changed and we can't missell services". He sounded almost disappointed about this!
For the ticket price you really ought to get free parking, £8 extra is taking the piss
The cost of food and drink (try £3.30 for a small bottle of Carlsberg)is pure extortion. Also, as i was silly enough to forget to bring cash, i had to pay £1.75 for the withdrawing £20 from one of the on-site ATMs. (Yes i know there are a few in the NEC which dont charge but i was keeping my friends waiting and had already been queuing for 5mins)
The show itself was reasonable although i found few of the retailers i spoke to were willing to give any show discounts. The free guide was very confusing when trying to work out where certain traders where.
What really got up our noses was being pounced on by some twerps from NPower trying to get us to change gas/electric supplies the minute we walked in! Very poor on the organizers part to let these tossers in i think.
ETA. Also, FAR too many GTRs on display
The cost of food and drink (try £3.30 for a small bottle of Carlsberg)is pure extortion. Also, as i was silly enough to forget to bring cash, i had to pay £1.75 for the withdrawing £20 from one of the on-site ATMs. (Yes i know there are a few in the NEC which dont charge but i was keeping my friends waiting and had already been queuing for 5mins)
The show itself was reasonable although i found few of the retailers i spoke to were willing to give any show discounts. The free guide was very confusing when trying to work out where certain traders where.
What really got up our noses was being pounced on by some twerps from NPower trying to get us to change gas/electric supplies the minute we walked in! Very poor on the organizers part to let these tossers in i think.
ETA. Also, FAR too many GTRs on display
Edited by MartinM on Monday 18th January 14:02
This all sounds like exactly the feedback that I gave last year.
Too expensive, not enough content, ropey models, expensive food, too many chavs, PH "show" looked like an afterthought, live show crap etc.
Nice to see that the organisers took note of all that was said last year and didn't repeat the mistakes eh?
I am glad that I stayed away and will continue to do so.
Too expensive, not enough content, ropey models, expensive food, too many chavs, PH "show" looked like an afterthought, live show crap etc.
Nice to see that the organisers took note of all that was said last year and didn't repeat the mistakes eh?
I am glad that I stayed away and will continue to do so.
Edited by Strangely Brown on Monday 18th January 14:09
I guess it's the current flavour of the month amongst the tuning community ... CampDavid said:
OT I don't know if you noticed but the colour on yours caused quite a stir. Some hated it while others loved it. I really don't like the look of the V8 as it stands but that colour does give the whole shape a general "rightness" and it was probably my favourite car on the PH stand
Thanks 
The problem with the colour is it needs a particular light to show at its best - something like bright sunlight. The yellow tint of the big hall lights made it a bit more orange that normal!
Also, I suspect some thought it was an aftermarket respray or one the currently fashionable vinyl wraps rather than an official AM colour for a very specific model. I've got a sign that gives more background on the N400 (including the colour!) but I left it in the boot in favour of the official PH sign ...
It can work out to be pretty expensive, but thankfully for me it didn't work out that way.
Getting into the place was fairly quick and painless
We arrived about 11:15am on saturday and including a pee stop in the carpark, a brisk walk and the bus into the venue, we were in the show by 11:45 and setting up the cameras.
To be honest, it's one of those situations where if you've never seen stuff like that before, it's always good to have a nose around and take in the sights, but if you have been before, there's very little variety to keep you involved.
That being said, I normally go along to take photos and hopefully catch up with friends, that is about it!
It's nice to see the PH stand although for the sake of the photographers present, it would be nice if the NEC used more lighting and less black partitions/carpeting and red carpets which just make the place look dark and dingy!
I prefered the layout of the PH members cars area the first year as this year it just ended up looking too hemmed in.
As always with the NEC, the food is hideously expensive and generally s
te which is why I always take food with me and eat on the way down or way home.
What people need to remember is that this show was predominantly for people involved with or enthusiastic about motorsports and motorsports engineering for the largest part, something which I do take an interest in (spent ages talking to the guy on the PP Rotary stand)
The good thing that I found, was a definite fall in the chav population from 2008, which is fantastic as I was constantly watching my camera kit the first time around.
I think the rest of the issues I have all lay at the feet of the NEC rather than Haymarket
Having worked back stage at NEC based conventions and shows, I know how much hard work can go into something like this so I certainly appreciate the effort that the PH team went to for our enjoyment (and to drum up some business for HM obviouslly
)
Getting into the place was fairly quick and painless
We arrived about 11:15am on saturday and including a pee stop in the carpark, a brisk walk and the bus into the venue, we were in the show by 11:45 and setting up the cameras.
To be honest, it's one of those situations where if you've never seen stuff like that before, it's always good to have a nose around and take in the sights, but if you have been before, there's very little variety to keep you involved.
That being said, I normally go along to take photos and hopefully catch up with friends, that is about it!
It's nice to see the PH stand although for the sake of the photographers present, it would be nice if the NEC used more lighting and less black partitions/carpeting and red carpets which just make the place look dark and dingy!
I prefered the layout of the PH members cars area the first year as this year it just ended up looking too hemmed in.
As always with the NEC, the food is hideously expensive and generally s
te which is why I always take food with me and eat on the way down or way home.What people need to remember is that this show was predominantly for people involved with or enthusiastic about motorsports and motorsports engineering for the largest part, something which I do take an interest in (spent ages talking to the guy on the PP Rotary stand)
The good thing that I found, was a definite fall in the chav population from 2008, which is fantastic as I was constantly watching my camera kit the first time around.
I think the rest of the issues I have all lay at the feet of the NEC rather than Haymarket
Having worked back stage at NEC based conventions and shows, I know how much hard work can go into something like this so I certainly appreciate the effort that the PH team went to for our enjoyment (and to drum up some business for HM obviouslly
)Would like to go again as I did enjoy it, but having just been reminded about the prices I totted up the cost of going yesterday and it's quite shocking for a day out like that, tbh.
£65. Petrol (filled up at home when setting off and this was the cost of refilling what was used when almost home)
£106. Tickets for family of 4, inc. one classed as child.
£8. Booking fee for the privelege of using a website and printing the tickets on my own printer/paper.
£8. Parking
£15. Cup of coffee and a soft drink each
£35. Lunch consisting of just 4 burgers and 4 potions of chips. No plates, cutlery, waitresses - this was just your average 'burger van' fare.
£237 total!!!!
Show is not worth anything near that outlay I'm afraid. Will need to find one of those B-O-G-O-F offers to sway me to go again next year.
£65. Petrol (filled up at home when setting off and this was the cost of refilling what was used when almost home)
£106. Tickets for family of 4, inc. one classed as child.
£8. Booking fee for the privelege of using a website and printing the tickets on my own printer/paper.
£8. Parking
£15. Cup of coffee and a soft drink each
£35. Lunch consisting of just 4 burgers and 4 potions of chips. No plates, cutlery, waitresses - this was just your average 'burger van' fare.
£237 total!!!!
Show is not worth anything near that outlay I'm afraid. Will need to find one of those B-O-G-O-F offers to sway me to go again next year.
Enjoyed it. Very, very drunk by the end of it though thanks to the extra large free samples of McCallan (sp) Whiskey and quite a few pints after that!
Enjoyed talking to real petrolheads especially the tuning company that can take a 4.3 V8 Aston to about 540bhp. I will never be able to afford and Aston but I love talking about and listening to knowledgable people about cars.
Brought a lovely painting from Christopher Dugan (top bloke) of a LMP1 Aston which will always remind me of Le Mans 2009 and my 30th Birthday.
Food seemed fine payed £6.50 for a steak and ale pie, chips and mushy pies and a large drink. Got a return from Barnt Green for £5 on the train and was amazed how few people turned up on it for the show! As we made the short trek from the station to the show we could see the cars queing for miles. Use the train's people!
Like most others I didnt go to the live show so there should be a fiver off tickets for those who don't want to, also there seemed fewer cars on display than last year although I did see my next car on one of the stands, shame it was a Skoda Octavia vRS and not one of those GTR's.
Enjoyed talking to real petrolheads especially the tuning company that can take a 4.3 V8 Aston to about 540bhp. I will never be able to afford and Aston but I love talking about and listening to knowledgable people about cars.
Brought a lovely painting from Christopher Dugan (top bloke) of a LMP1 Aston which will always remind me of Le Mans 2009 and my 30th Birthday.
Food seemed fine payed £6.50 for a steak and ale pie, chips and mushy pies and a large drink. Got a return from Barnt Green for £5 on the train and was amazed how few people turned up on it for the show! As we made the short trek from the station to the show we could see the cars queing for miles. Use the train's people!
Like most others I didnt go to the live show so there should be a fiver off tickets for those who don't want to, also there seemed fewer cars on display than last year although I did see my next car on one of the stands, shame it was a Skoda Octavia vRS and not one of those GTR's.
Edited by Moley RUFC on Monday 18th January 14:56
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