Did anybody else think the festival at gaydon was pants?

[smack]

After everyone’s comments, I am happy I decided to not go (iffy weather half made up my mind). Shame, as it sounded like it has been a good event in past years.

[Beedub]

tbh im glad i went because now i know i wont go next year.

byron

[Webdunk]

tobybmw535i said:

...we turned up early in the m5 and they wouldnt let us take our car to the paddock because there was no space. Even though there was loads...

All the space was pre-booked but I think the weather put some folk off.

E31Shrew said:

i go every year and am always amazed at the lack of 'trade' type stands. You would think that they would be swamped with requests.

We're not swamped. Traders do not find shows good investments. This year they weren't even charged to attend... The rain/wind combo stopped many of them setting their stands up fully and a couple of gazebos got killed early on.

Beedub said:

its a very poor showing by the big tuners like alpina and shnitzer, hartge, they had like one or 2 cars on show, maybe this was just a huge case of disorganisation.

This was the first year there was any official presence from the tuners so that's actually a big step forward - again there's a problem with what they get in return for attendance.

GTWayne said:

Sign of the times?

For sure. Car club attendance/membership (AFAIK) across the UK are down across the board. I run the Scottish Region of the BMWCC and our numbers (in terms of meet attendance) have been about 75% of last years so it looks like credit crunch / fuel / tax is having an effect on leisure expenditure.

davpkav said:

Maybe the guys with all the amazing cars we were all hoping to see know how rubbish it is so they don't bother turning up?

I think that does a dis-service to many of the cars there. In terms of pristine, rare BMWs there were a good number of cars in attendance. I'm not conversant enough with the model numbering to quote them but there were two examples of Alpinas of which from a run of about 7, my own car is one of only 31 known to be left on the road. E30 Sport Evos (including one with all but one option box ticked!) were well represented. Even the Z4M mentioned earlier is not that common a car so to me it's no surprise there weren't many there.

belleair302 said:

BMW should do

This isn't a BMW UK or AG show. It's a club show. And, again, there in some force for the first time, BMW dealer's were encouraged along to support and they brought along a lot of the 'BMW Performance' goodies which many folk would not yet have seen in the flesh.

---

Thanks for all the comments tho. I will make sure they get back to the organisers :-)

[belleair302]

Its funny how BMW AG do such a good job at GP's with the BMW Pit Lane Experience, but BMW UK do 'bugger all' at Gaydon, the Silverstone Classic, Goodwood etc. The marketing dept in Reading are quite clearly rubbish at connecting with the fans of the marque and the dealerships obviously have no interest in the history of BMW nor the amazing cars they used to produce.

Too many ill educated plebs selling boxes and not enough 'cognosci' to educate the underclass.

Its a shame that such great event is not promoted and stage managed properly. If I ran my business like that I would be out of clients within a month. Luckily I don't.

[GTWayne]

belleair302 said:

...If I ran my business like that I would be out of clients within a month...

I feel the same about much of what you say but in all fairness you can't really blame BMW for not attending said events because for all we know they may not have even been approached and if they were and declined, who knows what the reason may have been; Times are hard, they can't pander to everyone. BMW DO care about their history and take a keen interest in all models past but to high light your point above, if this sentiment is shared by others, and there is little doubt in my mind that this is the case, it shows just how strong their business is and how we are prepared to put up with it so long as we may still enjoy their products.

[belleair302]

BMW today could not give a stuff about events....I know because we tried to get them interested in the Silverstone Classic month ago. Little interest and they don't exactly fall over themselves at the WTCC events either. As somebody who has spent 11 years at the top end of sponsorship and event management I know how the business works and am amazed the somedodyin Munich has not come over to teh UK and sacked the senior marketing people.

Most BMW's sold today are dull, most buyers are either individuals with fixed budgets or corporates buying fleets....but what BMW forget is those with real money are looking elsewhere, Maserati, Porsche, Ferrari, Aston Martin, Alpina, AMG, etc and if they don't do more the M People will not buy new BMW's.

The BMWCC needs to be shaken up a tad by improving the show and developing a much more proactive relationship with BMW AG, BMW UK and us the people who spend thousands a year on parts and take time to prepare our older cars and keep the spirit alive.

I also think they need to look at how Porsche and Jaguar / Ferrari work with owners to arrange some amazing events and hospitality.