Autosport 2025

[E1EXG]

Do Pistion head's have a display at autosport 2025 ??? I've always wanted to display a car there 😉😉

[bergclimber34]

Damn shame this show has seemingly totally fallen from grace.

[614-HSO]

There has been a thread every year on how bad the show is, I used to go every year but have not been the last two years and I am not going to bother this year either.

[bergclimber34]

What amazes me, is that this is the centre for motorsport in Europe and yet these people who run these shows cannot manage to make them work, they are simply after more and more money and offer less and less every year.

The NEC only works if you pack it, if stall space is cheap and you have multiple halls., this grows interest and gets people buzzing, the Classic Car show was incredible last year, vast, heaving and busy, if they can manage it why can't a show that involves tens of thousands of people, dominates the world in terms ability and technology. Classic Cars are a niche as much as motorsport is.

I find is staggering,

[Megaflow]

I suspect this year is going to be horrific. I had an email only 4 weeks ago offering discounted stands. They must be really in trouble if they have got empty stands with 6 weeks to go. Who is realistically suddenly going to drop something and decide with 6 weeks notice they are going to do a show like Autosport?

That said, a combination of boredom and January blues will probably still see me going.

[bergclimber34]

And I think that is what they rely on really and have done for decades now.

[Ben Lowden]

E1EXG said:

Do Pistion head's have a display at autosport 2025 ??? I've always wanted to display a car there ????

We don't I'm afraid, we haven't had a presence there for quite a few years now. Register your interest for our big Annual Service event in August and come and display your car at Bicester Heritage instead https://link.pistonheads.com/join/63g/annual-servi...

[Megaflow]

I just looked at the price, £34…



Plus £15 to park the car, plus ripped off for food, etc, etc.

[MrBig]

I'm going on Saturday, but mainly because there is fk all else to do in January and I desperately need something to look forward to in January every year.

It's only 30 mins away from me and a combination of being able to park for cheap and a discount code it's not too bad. Not sure I would go if I was paying full price for tickets and parking. That would be £100 for two of us before we've bought a coffee!

[bergclimber34]

And this is how this show has survive for decades I have never seen such negativity towards the event on Facebook, it is really bad! But the timing of it is impeccable each year.

The sad thing is, this industry should be celebrated over here, we are world leaders in motorsport, yet this show plods on just desperate to fleece everyone and offer less and less each year.

There are other factors, the deals you used to be able to get are now able to be had online without companies having to pack stuff up and attend, but it used to be huge, almost too much for a day, yet you see people now saying they were done by midday after walking round twice and going to the same as last 20 years live show.

A missed opportunity, simple as that.

[zorba_the_greek]

Wow is this still even on. It used to be so good. Remember picking up some great deal. Like bullet cameras and track day helmets.

Not been for at least 6-7 years as it was starting to lose sight of what it was and became silly expensive day out.

[cerb4.5lee]

I used to like going, and it has always been expensive if you're paying full price. But it was having to pay so much for parking that has always got my back up though. That seems very unnecessary to me.

It always used to be a good show though I thought.

[Megaflow]

MrBig said:

I'm going on Saturday, but mainly because there is fk all else to do in January and I desperately need something to look forward to in January every year.

It's only 30 mins away from me and a combination of being able to park for cheap and a discount code it's not too bad. Not sure I would go if I was paying full price for tickets and parking. That would be £100 for two of us before we've bought a coffee!

I gave up on weekend tickets years ago, the only half decent part of the show has been the engineering side for a long time.

[bergclimber34]

Actually a good point, I think they should really make it just a trade show

[61GT]

bergclimber34 said:

Actually a good point, I think they should really make it just a trade show

When I booked my ticket for the Thursday trade day I was asked whether I would be interested in attending a separate or standalone trade event. Maybe they’re thinking about going down this route for future events?

I’ve been attending the show with a good friend of mine for around 30 years. We’ve almost always attended on the Thursday and felt like it was an ideal post-Christmas motor sport ‘boost’, a good day out and a great way to kick-off the new season.

It’s clearly nothing like the show it once was. I’ve never bothered much with the live action arena but the engineering show, new car/racing series launches and motor sport personalities in attendance were always highlights.

I enjoyed the show this year more than I expected. The increased focus on club/national racing was welcome and while it was good to see other formula such as oval racing, rallying and autograss racing being better represented, sadly the quantity of exhibitors just wasn’t there. There was a lot of empty space around the halls.

Over time, many of the categories that would have attended the show now have their own events i.e. Race Retro and Karting Live. This must have had a big impact.

I fear the feedback on social media for those attending the public days this year will be far from positive, particularly from those expecting much more content in the way of contemporary F1, BTCC and WEC. I just don’t think there’ll be enough on show to meet expectations.

[autofocus]

Hi there,

Skipped the show last year due to a work commitment and didn't feel like I had missed out when seeing pics and hearing reports from people that went along as it looked quite poor.

Headed to the show yesterday for the 2025 event, arrived at 11:45am and left at 2:30pm having walked the show twice. The performance car show hall was frankly terrible, and adds nothing to the show. Its essentially just a car park space with a few modified cars (not all of them tastefully done). The engineering show was widely spread out to obviously hide the lack of exhibitors, with no major things of interest. As for the Autosport part of the show there was plenty of national / club racing which had a few interesting cars but when in the past the Autosport main stage had been a centre piece, this year it was a small stage with a few benches laid out on an uncarpeted floor, a bit rough and ready.

There was however one highlight, I am not an F1 fan, but the 75th anniversary display the organisers had put together was informative, with 22 great cars from over the years which were really nicely displayed along with some great artwork and photography.

I am still working through my pics but the bulk of the first gallery is now live which includes the F1 celebration. I should have the second gallery with more of the show live by the end of next week.

https://www.dunlopix.co.uk/Autosport-2025-NEC-Birm...

Regards

Tim

[bergclimber34]

For the most part motorsport to the casual fan is F1, so having that display means something, is it worth the money, no but it is a decent effort. It has to be backed up with more, but we all know why, the stand space is too dear, not the shows fault, the NEC's, online impacts the sales places hugely why display when you can advertise online at targeted areas and not have to travel.

I recall the bike show, which is still a huge show, the first few days were gear days, when the old years stuff was sold very cheaply, so many traders there, all the ones you saw in MCN! If you wanted gear you went on those days, Autosport also was a bit like that on a smaller scale, I can remember huge amounts of merch selling stalls, literally stuff on tables, it was awesome, those days are sadly much missed. There was a karting HALL, that was how big it was.

No reason why it could not come back, just not at the NEC it it too big and too greedy a venue.

[61GT]

autofocus said:

Hi there,

Skipped the show last year due to a work commitment and didn't feel like I had missed out when seeing pics and hearing reports from people that went along as it looked quite poor.

Headed to the show yesterday for the 2025 event, arrived at 11:45am and left at 2:30pm having walked the show twice. The performance car show hall was frankly terrible, and adds nothing to the show. Its essentially just a car park space with a few modified cars (not all of them tastefully done). The engineering show was widely spread out to obviously hide the lack of exhibitors, with no major things of interest. As for the Autosport part of the show there was plenty of national / club racing which had a few interesting cars but when in the past the Autosport main stage had been a centre piece, this year it was a small stage with a few benches laid out on an uncarpeted floor, a bit rough and ready.

There was however one highlight, I am not an F1 fan, but the 75th anniversary display the organisers had put together was informative, with 22 great cars from over the years which were really nicely displayed along with some great artwork and photography.

I am still working through my pics but the bulk of the first gallery is now live which includes the F1 celebration. I should have the second gallery with more of the show live by the end of next week.

https://www.dunlopix.co.uk/Autosport-2025-NEC-Birm...

Regards

Tim

I forgot to mention the 75th Anniversary F1 display, you’re right to point that out, it was very good. I was intrigued to see that the Stirling Moss F1 Cooper was carrying what appeared to be a front road registration number 536 XVS. Not seen or been aware of that before.

I took a quick look round the Performance Car part of the show, as you say it was very poor. Perhaps it will feel be a bit busier over the weekend if more cars arrive for the public days.

I’m not a huge classic car fan but overall I couldn’t help contrast it with the Classic Car Show in November that was absolutely brilliant. A huge variety of cars, a good selection of historic motor sport clubs and vehicles, every hall packed, great attendance and a feeling it would take several days to see it all properly.

Photos are great!

Edited by 61GT on Saturday 11th January 08:43

Edited by 61GT on Saturday 11th January 09:29

[Megaflow]

autofocus said:

Hi there,

Skipped the show last year due to a work commitment and didn't feel like I had missed out when seeing pics and hearing reports from people that went along as it looked quite poor.

Headed to the show yesterday for the 2025 event, arrived at 11:45am and left at 2:30pm having walked the show twice. The performance car show hall was frankly terrible, and adds nothing to the show. Its essentially just a car park space with a few modified cars (not all of them tastefully done). The engineering show was widely spread out to obviously hide the lack of exhibitors, with no major things of interest. As for the Autosport part of the show there was plenty of national / club racing which had a few interesting cars but when in the past the Autosport main stage had been a centre piece, this year it was a small stage with a few benches laid out on an uncarpeted floor, a bit rough and ready.

There was however one highlight, I am not an F1 fan, but the 75th anniversary display the organisers had put together was informative, with 22 great cars from over the years which were really nicely displayed along with some great artwork and photography.

I am still working through my pics but the bulk of the first gallery is now live which includes the F1 celebration. I should have the second gallery with more of the show live by the end of next week.

https://www.dunlopix.co.uk/Autosport-2025-NEC-Birm...

Regards

Tim

I can tell by the space in the background of the shots just how sparse the show is, in previous years you could barely move. This show is done, time to know it on the head once and for all.

[bergclimber34]

Regarding the rough and ready, I gather that you have to rent carpet etc from the NEC, I am sure people can expand on this, but there are all sorts of caveats to spending a fortune on space there I gather.