Bicester Scramble - too big now?
Discussion
Here's a controversial thought. Has Bicester Scramble got too big now, too successful?
I understand it's a heritage business park, but there's absolutely no incentive now to get your classic car out and attend as unless it's a pre-90's you now have to park in the main car park with all the euro boxes.
Previously Interesting cars were parked on the lawn by the Air Control tower, which gave another aspect to walk through, stroll the lines of the cars taking in different models. As it's sold out everytime, theres thousands of boring cars now with the odd gem mixed in, so many don't bother strolling the main car parking area. It was noticeable in October there were fewer interesting cars, and despite being a clear but cold day on Sunday, there were less again. Even the pre 90's area was sparce compared to previous years.
Unless of course you own a modern Aston, McLaren, Ferrari or Porsche as there were many parked around inside along with the heritage cars. P.S. Well done to the two BMW 3 series with the personalised plates who got to park in the pre 90's area based on plate alone
And the price keeps creeping up. £20 now for a max of 4 hours strolling around many of the same display cars and businesses.
I miss the previous years of rows of interesting cars from car enthusiasts who turned up, chatting about the details of their cars. Having been to almost every scramble since the start, the last two now have me thinking of giving it a miss and looking for alternatives.
I understand it's a heritage business park, but there's absolutely no incentive now to get your classic car out and attend as unless it's a pre-90's you now have to park in the main car park with all the euro boxes.
Previously Interesting cars were parked on the lawn by the Air Control tower, which gave another aspect to walk through, stroll the lines of the cars taking in different models. As it's sold out everytime, theres thousands of boring cars now with the odd gem mixed in, so many don't bother strolling the main car parking area. It was noticeable in October there were fewer interesting cars, and despite being a clear but cold day on Sunday, there were less again. Even the pre 90's area was sparce compared to previous years.
Unless of course you own a modern Aston, McLaren, Ferrari or Porsche as there were many parked around inside along with the heritage cars. P.S. Well done to the two BMW 3 series with the personalised plates who got to park in the pre 90's area based on plate alone
And the price keeps creeping up. £20 now for a max of 4 hours strolling around many of the same display cars and businesses.
I miss the previous years of rows of interesting cars from car enthusiasts who turned up, chatting about the details of their cars. Having been to almost every scramble since the start, the last two now have me thinking of giving it a miss and looking for alternatives.
So buy a pre-90's if you want to show it off! (I won't mention I got golden ticketed on my way in 
)
I think the opposite, it was sold out, and busy, but not overly busy and plenty of lovely cars both old and new. Isn't the idea of these things to have a eclectic mix of cars? I thought it was a good balance yesterday. Only issue I saw was long queues for food, but I just eat before.
Personally I'm not a fan of earlier stuff, 30's 40's type stuff, but other will go just for them. And they are the grandfathers of motoring, they should be there!
)I think the opposite, it was sold out, and busy, but not overly busy and plenty of lovely cars both old and new. Isn't the idea of these things to have a eclectic mix of cars? I thought it was a good balance yesterday. Only issue I saw was long queues for food, but I just eat before.
Personally I'm not a fan of earlier stuff, 30's 40's type stuff, but other will go just for them. And they are the grandfathers of motoring, they should be there!
illmonkey said:
So buy a pre-90's if you want to show it off! (I won't mention I got golden ticketed on my way in )
I think the opposite, it was sold out, and busy, but not overly busy and plenty of lovely cars both old and new. Isn't the idea of these things to have a eclectic mix of cars? I thought it was a good balance yesterday. Only issue I saw was long queues for food, but I just eat before.
Personally I'm not a fan of earlier stuff, 30's 40's type stuff, but other will go just for them. And they are the grandfathers of motoring, they should be there!
It's not about showing off personal cars but for me the enjoyment of seeing and talking to other owners about their cars. That seems to be missing if they just lump everyone into general parking, people don't bother bringing their cars, just bring their dailies.)I think the opposite, it was sold out, and busy, but not overly busy and plenty of lovely cars both old and new. Isn't the idea of these things to have a eclectic mix of cars? I thought it was a good balance yesterday. Only issue I saw was long queues for food, but I just eat before.
Personally I'm not a fan of earlier stuff, 30's 40's type stuff, but other will go just for them. And they are the grandfathers of motoring, they should be there!
I understand it's a heritage business park and hence they've chosen a cut off date, but there seems to be a greater number of modern expensive cars there now that are creeping in as well. Interesting to see occaisionally but the numbers are growing significantly now?
Perhaps have a parking area for cars of interest, that don't make the pre 90's rule, south of the air control tower maybe?
I didn't see the long queues for food too much, I thought they'd actually got a large number of food/drink providers now, along with several toilets scattered around. The street food stands were quiet, the noodles were great
I guess as a business model it's working for them, sold out at £20 a ticket, it seemed quieter than other times so I guess some were put off by the weather and didn't come .
Its also only 15 minutes from me so I much prefered the old format of just deciding on the day whether to go or not.
They then moved to advance tickets only and I suspect reduced the overall numbers as post this any one Ive been to has always seemed quieter .
To a degree it does feel a bit " samey " but there again so do many other shows.
Not having the separated parking including club parking also seems a mistake but perhaps the majority of ticket holders prefer this.
Will be interesting to see attendance at the next one in April -£40 for two tickets for a couple of hours feels expensive now.
They then moved to advance tickets only and I suspect reduced the overall numbers as post this any one Ive been to has always seemed quieter .
To a degree it does feel a bit " samey " but there again so do many other shows.
Not having the separated parking including club parking also seems a mistake but perhaps the majority of ticket holders prefer this.
Will be interesting to see attendance at the next one in April -£40 for two tickets for a couple of hours feels expensive now.
It opens at 9am, you can get in parked up and out by around 9:30 but then most leave 12-1, with it finishing at 1, so you can get 3.5-4 hours
If you stayed until the end then there used to be an opportunity to put your car around the site for a few photos, against the rusty hanger doors etc, but thats gone now as well. It's so busy you just get told to leave with no other option.
If you stayed until the end then there used to be an opportunity to put your car around the site for a few photos, against the rusty hanger doors etc, but thats gone now as well. It's so busy you just get told to leave with no other option.
I went on Sunday and came away thinking it doesn't represent good value for money at £20 per ticket when a Goodwood Breakfast Club meeting is free to attend.
I also think it makes flagship Goodwood events like (FOS, MM, The Revival) seem good value for money at around £85 for a Saturday ticket.
I might still attend the odd Scramble but really, for me, it's just an excuse to plan a nice drive out, which coincides with looking at some cars afterwards.
I also think it makes flagship Goodwood events like (FOS, MM, The Revival) seem good value for money at around £85 for a Saturday ticket.
I might still attend the odd Scramble but really, for me, it's just an excuse to plan a nice drive out, which coincides with looking at some cars afterwards.
HWW said:
I went on Sunday and came away thinking it doesn't represent good value for money at £20 per ticket when a Goodwood Breakfast Club meeting is free to attend.
I also think it makes flagship Goodwood events like (FOS, MM, The Revival) seem good value for money at around £85 for a Saturday ticket.
I might still attend the odd Scramble but really, for me, it's just an excuse to plan a nice drive out, which coincides with looking at some cars afterwards.
I’ve just booked my first event for April (I’ve done the summer show with PH a few years ago) and my thoughts were £20+pp was very steep I’ll do it this once but I wouldn’t make it a regular thing, I’m fortunate to have goodwood on the doorstep and Wilton house and both their breakfast meets are free. I also think it makes flagship Goodwood events like (FOS, MM, The Revival) seem good value for money at around £85 for a Saturday ticket.
I might still attend the odd Scramble but really, for me, it's just an excuse to plan a nice drive out, which coincides with looking at some cars afterwards.
Regarding goodwood events I’ve always found them good value for money, similar price to a west end show or football match or concert that lasts a few hours and goodwood you get 12 hours.
My first was October so I can't compare with past events but I really enjoyed it. Went with friends who'd been before and was impressed by the number and diversity of cars brought by joe and shown by traders and restorers. Loved the atmosphere, only waited a polite few mins to buy coffees and a bit of lunch, didn't feel I was battling crowds to walk and see.
Had such a great morning out only the senior moment of forgetting to book tickets before they sold out prevented a return visit last week.
I can justify spenfing the value of only 3 posh pints and WILL book for April.
Had such a great morning out only the senior moment of forgetting to book tickets before they sold out prevented a return visit last week.
I can justify spenfing the value of only 3 posh pints and WILL book for April.
gruffgriff said:
My first was October so I can't compare with past events but I really enjoyed it. Went with friends who'd been before and was impressed by the number and diversity of cars brought by joe and shown by traders and restorers. Loved the atmosphere, only waited a polite few mins to buy coffees and a bit of lunch, didn't feel I was battling crowds to walk and see.
Had such a great morning out only the senior moment of forgetting to book tickets before they sold out prevented a return visit last week.
I can justify spenfing the value of only 3 posh pints and WILL book for April.
October was really busy, and packed with cars, autojumble, but again had a huge number of interesting cars mixed into the eurobox parking for the sine of being post 90, whilst modern cars were evident everywhere, especially the electric mix, with Merc/extreme/forumlae e cars there, electric converted vehicles, electric motorbikes. Interesting to see, but hardly heritage/classicHad such a great morning out only the senior moment of forgetting to book tickets before they sold out prevented a return visit last week.
I can justify spenfing the value of only 3 posh pints and WILL book for April.
Probably why they are buiding the technology site further around, to keep that part as heritage?
Thats really my complaint is that they are now ignoring a niche of cars that many want to see/own whilst the classic/pre90 side seems to be reducing in favour of the expensive stuff - as well as the price increase...
Went to my first one last June and if I’m being honest I found it a bit meh. I was lucky and got a golden ticket on arrival but didn’t have a clue what it was for until told. Nice mix of cars but pre 80’s and super cars do not really interest me. Queue’s for food and drink were long as was trying to have a look into all the units that were open. Possibly a once a year trip for me at best.
wolfie28 said:
Went to my first one last June and if I’m being honest I found it a bit meh. I was lucky and got a golden ticket on arrival but didn’t have a clue what it was for until told. Nice mix of cars but pre 80’s and super cars do not really interest me. Queue’s for food and drink were long as was trying to have a look into all the units that were open. Possibly a once a year trip for me at best.
That leaves you a band of 10 years to see the80-90’s cars. I’ve been 3/4 times over the last couple of years and I always really enjoy it. I’m about an hour away. It has gradually changed, I think numbers are limited now and the prices have gone up considerably
It’s a great setting. Some gems can be found in the main car park. They could go on show but don’t want to. I wouldn’t go more than twice a year as it will lose its novelty
For anybody that has never been I’d strongly recommend it, always an amazing atmosphere. The Dad’s Army make me laugh
It’s a great setting. Some gems can be found in the main car park. They could go on show but don’t want to. I wouldn’t go more than twice a year as it will lose its novelty
For anybody that has never been I’d strongly recommend it, always an amazing atmosphere. The Dad’s Army make me laugh
Xcore said:
Post 90s arnt really classic cars now are they…
Various definitions of Classic cars start at 20-25 years for insurers etc By most standards a 1990 car which is now 33 years old is very much a classic
MX5, 205 GTi, RS Turbo, R32 Skyline are definitely classics and I love seeing them
Gassing Station | Events & Meetings | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff