Bicester Sunday Scramble
Discussion
Having been to the Flywheel Festival and a few of the Sunday Scramble events, I was looking forward to the next one in April - but saw that they had 7,000+ attendees for the January meet up and are now getting pretty uppity about car clubs registering to attend the next one, presumably thanks to the 500 odd varieties of Boxster that showed up in April last year... They only want clubs with <1990 models to attend, and want more than 50% of the cars that show up to be pre-1990, otherwise park in the public car parks.
Is it a victim of its own success now?
Is it a victim of its own success now?
turbotoaster said:
the january one felt like half the attendies were in 911s
Yes including me, was great so see so many 911s in one place. Seriously its not like thay are short of space. Why not make space for all, keep the building area for pre 90s if wanted but the fields near general parking could still allow clubs to park together of any age. mikey P 500 said:
turbotoaster said:
the january one felt like half the attendies were in 911s
Yes including me, was great so see so many 911s in one place. Seriously its not like thay are short of space. Why not make space for all, keep the building area for pre 90s if wanted but the fields near general parking could still allow clubs to park together of any age. I attended in January and had to drive round the site twice to find somewhere to park. Queues for food/coffee were frankly ridiculous.
Reminded me of Goodwood Sundays a few years ago until they tidied up the entrances and parking.
It was great fun but I won't be rushing back on a Sunday/
Reminded me of Goodwood Sundays a few years ago until they tidied up the entrances and parking.
It was great fun but I won't be rushing back on a Sunday/
I agree it has become a victim of its success, but what else do you expect in our increasingly over-crowded island?
Having attended EVERY Bicester from the very first I'm now acutely aware of what a delight & how civilised the early events were. If January is indicative of the rest of the year then I'll call it a day as I have with Goodwood. Only too happy to make a very early start for a 100 mile journey in order to be amongst the first to enter the site, but tired of having to rush parking up in order to visit the workshops & get a drink & a snack before the crowds. At Goodwood I used to take my own food/drink but it made the occasion less special, now Bicester has gone the same way crowd & queue-wise.
Agree about 'moderns'. In view of the period atmosphere of the establishment & emphasis on earlier decades endless line-ups of MX-5's/Boxsters/911's/MGF's etc etc just so boring resembling any suburban high street. Friend very proud of his DB4 much put out that his car the only classic AM on the club stand. I don't visit Bicester to gawk at the club car parks but to admire the proper 'period' classic cars parked around the workshop area & observe the skills & motors as displayed in the various workshops
Hopefully entry numbers will become restricted & the prices given a hefty hike so that the place doesn't become overwhelmed.
On reflection maybe best visit on any day OTHER than a special event.
Having attended EVERY Bicester from the very first I'm now acutely aware of what a delight & how civilised the early events were. If January is indicative of the rest of the year then I'll call it a day as I have with Goodwood. Only too happy to make a very early start for a 100 mile journey in order to be amongst the first to enter the site, but tired of having to rush parking up in order to visit the workshops & get a drink & a snack before the crowds. At Goodwood I used to take my own food/drink but it made the occasion less special, now Bicester has gone the same way crowd & queue-wise.
Agree about 'moderns'. In view of the period atmosphere of the establishment & emphasis on earlier decades endless line-ups of MX-5's/Boxsters/911's/MGF's etc etc just so boring resembling any suburban high street. Friend very proud of his DB4 much put out that his car the only classic AM on the club stand. I don't visit Bicester to gawk at the club car parks but to admire the proper 'period' classic cars parked around the workshop area & observe the skills & motors as displayed in the various workshops
Hopefully entry numbers will become restricted & the prices given a hefty hike so that the place doesn't become overwhelmed.
On reflection maybe best visit on any day OTHER than a special event.
I attended my first SS in January. The drive up from SW London is easy on a Sunday morning and the sat nav routes is around the worst of the queues.
Once in, though fairly crowded in places for catering, the event was excellent. I spent a while talking to the great rep of Aston Martin and then delighted in seeing the cornucopia of workshops whilst discovering the assorted older cars parked arbitrarily around. The highlight was the black and gold esprit.
Once in, though fairly crowded in places for catering, the event was excellent. I spent a while talking to the great rep of Aston Martin and then delighted in seeing the cornucopia of workshops whilst discovering the assorted older cars parked arbitrarily around. The highlight was the black and gold esprit.
Having been the past couple of years it could be argued that it is definitely a victim of it's own success. Perhaps a SS for non-classics could be run?
Personally don't think January was that bad. The issue was more the 488's that seemed adamant about driving up & down the little roads around the workshops full of people looking for a parking space, occasionally revving the engine to the guys patiently waiting with their camera phones by the exhaust. Just didn't seem in keeping with the spirit of the event
Personally don't think January was that bad. The issue was more the 488's that seemed adamant about driving up & down the little roads around the workshops full of people looking for a parking space, occasionally revving the engine to the guys patiently waiting with their camera phones by the exhaust. Just didn't seem in keeping with the spirit of the event
Interesting post. Goodwood events (Breakfast Club, Revival ,Fos) were just like the early Bicester meets. They just get busier and busier as more and more people find out how good they are, and they then become more mainstream. This is just progress, I guess, and the natural way of things . I was looking forward to heading up to Caffeine and Machine,but that seems to already have this issue.
For me, small local Sunday morning breakfast meets are great. Just enough cars to be interesting, plus a bacon sandwich and a coffee.
I could just be getting old though !
For me, small local Sunday morning breakfast meets are great. Just enough cars to be interesting, plus a bacon sandwich and a coffee.
I could just be getting old though !
Bahnstormer said:
Interesting post. Goodwood events (Breakfast Club, Revival ,Fos) were just like the early Bicester meets. They just get busier and busier as more and more people find out how good they are, and they then become more mainstream. This is just progress, I guess, and the natural way of things . I was looking forward to heading up to Caffeine and Machine,but that seems to already have this issue.
For me, small local Sunday morning breakfast meets are great. Just enough cars to be interesting, plus a bacon sandwich and a coffee.
I could just be getting old though !
Depends where you live but the meets at Wilton House & at Haynes Museum retain some dignity& civility. I live 20 minutes from Goodwood but have ceased attending the major events there. The exception are mid-week test days & charity days meaning no crowds & those that do attend or spectate seem more mature & better behaved. For me, small local Sunday morning breakfast meets are great. Just enough cars to be interesting, plus a bacon sandwich and a coffee.
I could just be getting old though !
WJNB said:
Depends where you live but the meets at Wilton House & at Haynes Museum retain some dignity& civility. I live 20 minutes from Goodwood but have ceased attending the major events there. The exception are mid-week test days & charity days meaning no crowds & those that do attend or spectate seem more mature & better behaved.
\Yes, I've given up on Goodwood as it is just too busy. Going to give Bicester another go on 28th April.Good idea on mid-week visits - The cafe is very civilised when it is quiet. Cheers ....Will try the Wilton and Haynes meets.
We're helping Petrolicious launch a new event at Bicester - Petrolicious Drivers' Meeting. Similar to a Scramble, but the cars on the technical site will be heavily curated, and there are some amazing cars already lined up from a WIlliams F1 car to a collection of Zagatos and an array of Group B rally cars. Maybe worth a look. 12th May
I have just checked the Bicester scramble website and it’s saying that it’s sold out, but more worryingly it’s also saying no tickets on the gate.
I’ve been a handful of times now and never bought tickets in advance.
Does anyone have any idea if the tickets are going to be limited or if there is any way of getting tickets, I now have an extremely disappointed 14-year-old who was looking forward to going
I’ve been a handful of times now and never bought tickets in advance.
Does anyone have any idea if the tickets are going to be limited or if there is any way of getting tickets, I now have an extremely disappointed 14-year-old who was looking forward to going
JetskiJezz said:
I have just checked the Bicester scramble website and it’s saying that it’s sold out, but more worryingly it’s also saying no tickets on the gate.
I’ve been a handful of times now and never bought tickets in advance.
Does anyone have any idea if the tickets are going to be limited or if there is any way of getting tickets, I now have an extremely disappointed 14-year-old who was looking forward to going
I was wanting to go as well it sounds slightly different to a normal scramble event shame its sold out I’ve been a handful of times now and never bought tickets in advance.
Does anyone have any idea if the tickets are going to be limited or if there is any way of getting tickets, I now have an extremely disappointed 14-year-old who was looking forward to going
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