Virtual Autosport show?

Virtual Autosport show?

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Discussion

Steve H

Original Poster:

5,773 posts

202 months

Monday 7th December 2020
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I assume Autosport isn’t going ahead in January for the obvious reasons. Are there any plans for an online/virtual alternative where the traditional show bargains may be had??

DanielSan

19,171 posts

174 months

Monday 7th December 2020
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Given how much it costs most companies to exhibit I'd be amazed if anyone bothers and just choose to save the cash instead

jo3_C

66 posts

186 months

Wednesday 9th December 2020
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As a regular exhibitor, we received confirmation that there is a plan for a virtual show to go ahead called ASI connect on March 10th / 11th
They are offering a platform in which companies can showcase their products, set up a virtual shop and allow visitors to book meeting slots for video conference.

Hope that helps.


anonymous-user

61 months

Wednesday 9th December 2020
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It’s such a tired format, and desperately needs to be hosted in the summer, at a circuit and with some track action and things.

Steve H

Original Poster:

5,773 posts

202 months

Wednesday 9th December 2020
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Depends on whether you’re gearing up for a season or just after a day browsing I guess. Even March is too late for the stuff I’m after.

DanielSan

19,171 posts

174 months

Thursday 10th December 2020
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pablo said:
It’s such a tired format, and desperately needs to be hosted in the summer, at a circuit and with some track action and things.
It's a trade show that just happens to be open to the public, having it halfway through the race season is a bit pointless. There's plenty of better alternatives through summer anyway

andy97

4,741 posts

229 months

Thursday 10th December 2020
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pablo said:
It’s such a tired format, and desperately needs to be hosted in the summer, at a circuit and with some track action and things.
It’s not a summer event but there is already “motorsport days live” at Silverstone, I think in November.

anonymous-user

61 months

Thursday 10th December 2020
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It’s not really a trade show is it, yes it’s useful to make contacts but those big trade deals would most likely be done without the show. I’ve been on Thursdays, Fridays and the weekend and every time I go I see bored people on stands with products that haven’t changed in decades and the trade element of the show gets smaller and smaller as hall hire, and subsequently stand costs, go up. Last year or two it has been less relevant than ever, half empty halls with supercar concours displays trying to fill them. The only useful bit is talking to championship organisers.

Very few amateurs buy parts there, the idea of “show prices” disappeared with the internet now everything is online and I’ll bet You can count the number of people who commit to a series or buy a car as a direct result of attending on barely more than one hand. In its current format, it’s barely viable for exhibitors or customers but we’re magpies and will attend just for the pre-season fix

The Motorsport live event is a good idea but no one wants to stand around Brands Hatch in November, the very nature of the sport doesn’t lend itself well to a static show. Look at how Silverstone expanded the Classic event into something that families can attend as well as the purist.

Somewhere like silverstone could have a trade show in the Wing pits complex and surrounding area so the beards can be safe away from normal folk. Have a car demo area in the National pits complex going out on to the track for demo rides and the miracle wonder chamois stalls in the infield.

I don’t think the timing is relevant really. If you’re building a car for 2021 for example, you shouldn’t need to attend a show to determine what bits you need. I can’t ever see me paying the £50+ to attend again.


Kraken

1,710 posts

207 months

Thursday 10th December 2020
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pablo said:
It’s such a tired format, and desperately needs to be hosted in the summer, at a circuit and with some track action and things.
Not a lot of use having it then when everyone is already racing or away on holiday in a break between races. It's not a show aimed at the motorsport fan. It's aimed at motorsport businesses and competitors.

AWRacing

1,732 posts

232 months

Thursday 10th December 2020
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It was going downhill before they added the ‘performance/show car scene’ which IMO made it even worse as you then had to do battle with people who had no interest in motorsport but were there to see the latest ICE etc for their cars. Trade days seem as bad as general public days too.

It does need a revamp but who is going to want to attend a virtual day?

anonymous-user

61 months

Thursday 10th December 2020
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Kraken said:
pablo said:
It’s such a tired format, and desperately needs to be hosted in the summer, at a circuit and with some track action and things.
Not a lot of use having it then when everyone is already racing or away on holiday in a break between races. It's not a show aimed at the motorsport fan. It's aimed at motorsport businesses and competitors.
It isn’t and hasn’t been for the last decade, if it was there wouldn’t be huge halls full of car club displays and concours, celebrities and reliant robin racing in the “action” arena....

Do you really need to go to Birmingham on two specific days of the year to speak to a man about poly bushes.... big business to business deals will be done regardless, car prep will be done regardless, it’s just not relevant anymore. Yes it’s fun to look at shiny things but the target audience is the fan/enthusiast. Just look at how relaxed trade admission is these days.

Kraken

1,710 posts

207 months

Thursday 10th December 2020
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pablo said:
It isn’t and hasn’t been for the last decade, if it was there wouldn’t be huge halls full of car club displays and concours, celebrities and reliant robin racing in the “action” arena....

Do you really need to go to Birmingham on two specific days of the year to speak to a man about poly bushes.... big business to business deals will be done regardless, car prep will be done regardless, it’s just not relevant anymore. Yes it’s fun to look at shiny things but the target audience is the fan/enthusiast. Just look at how relaxed trade admission is these days.
So the general public are interested in CNC machines costing hundreds of thousands, 3D printers, the latest advances in composite technology, 30k enclosed trailers, 100k transporters etc etc?

And while I don't absolutely need to go to a trade show to talk about those things it's one heck of a lot easier to meet up in one place and get it all done in a couple of days rather than driving here there and everywhere for a month.

There are countless car shows and club racing events all over the country throughout the summer months if people are really only interested in the cars on display so absolutely no need to mess about with the show being in January as those enthusiasts are obviously well covered already.


DanielSan

19,171 posts

174 months

Thursday 10th December 2020
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https://www.autosportinternational.com/news/371

Online event confirmed for March, details regarding the January show to be confirmed. I'll be amazed if it's anything other than cancelled

Steve H

Original Poster:

5,773 posts

202 months

Friday 11th December 2020
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I have to agree with a lot of the comments about the show, I don’t go regularly but it happens that this year I have a shopping list and deals are often available so I was interested to see if anything was going to happen even just if online.

LukeBrown66

4,479 posts

53 months

Friday 11th December 2020
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It stopped being a car show many years ago, it is basically a trade show with a few punter themed things tossed along to try and tempt bored race fans out of 40 quid. the parking cost is absolutely scandalous, the costs of stalls are so dear only businesses can afford them, no-one else bothers anymore as they used to unless they can claim the costs back as marketing.

If you need stuff and want deals fair enough, but unless you are doing that, in business, there is no reason whatsoever for fans to attend, it is not for you in any way, its like a weapons industry trade show with the Red Arrows and a few tanks displaying that charges you 40 quid to watch that, nothing else there is for you.

Sebring440

2,315 posts

103 months

Friday 11th December 2020
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DanielSan said:
details regarding the January show to be confirmed. I'll be amazed if it's anything other than cancelled
"Details on the physical edition of Autosport International, initially scheduled for 14-17 January 2021 at NEC Birmingham, will be communicated in the coming weeks."

The "initially scheduled" bit would certainly lead you to believe that has been postponed and not cancelled.