PH/Autosport Show Feedback
Discussion
First time I've worked on one of the stands and not having to pay to get in certainly made a lot of difference. It really depends what you go there for and nowadays it's very much a social event for me and I had a good opportunity to catch up with a lot of people. On the minus side I missed the Live Action show and Autosport stage interviews but on the whole I was happier to save the entry fee 
Travel - with advance train fares if you live within range of a decent link it's a no-brainer. £35 London-Birmingham return for me and I only bumped up the price by taking the return journey first class (worth it after two days!). The same journey by car would have been £40 fuel and £8 a day parking...
I've no idea what the balance sheet says for the organisers but the show is a fair bit smaller than a couple of years ago, whilst that's understandable in the current climate the costs for visitors have increased and I wonder if its the same for exhibitors?
I do also think the Pistonheads section isn't achieving its potential. Having What Hi-Fi/Stuff was a good idea but not followed up with enough exhibitors around this market, which works well with the Pistonheads demographic.
Overall it's still enough to get out of the Christmas rut and on the calendar as a regular event but I feel the format needs a shake-up.
Travel - with advance train fares if you live within range of a decent link it's a no-brainer. £35 London-Birmingham return for me and I only bumped up the price by taking the return journey first class (worth it after two days!). The same journey by car would have been £40 fuel and £8 a day parking...
I've no idea what the balance sheet says for the organisers but the show is a fair bit smaller than a couple of years ago, whilst that's understandable in the current climate the costs for visitors have increased and I wonder if its the same for exhibitors?
I do also think the Pistonheads section isn't achieving its potential. Having What Hi-Fi/Stuff was a good idea but not followed up with enough exhibitors around this market, which works well with the Pistonheads demographic.
Overall it's still enough to get out of the Christmas rut and on the calendar as a regular event but I feel the format needs a shake-up.
Jag-D said:
Goochie said:
I was surprised by the distinct lack of official large volume manufacturers at the show. Nissan, Porsche and Skoda being the only 3 that I can think of
Did you not see all the GTRs?The bloody things are getting like Mondeos
The GTR in the live action arena was very dull.
Goochie said:
Jag-D said:
Goochie said:
I was surprised by the distinct lack of official large volume manufacturers at the show. Nissan, Porsche and Skoda being the only 3 that I can think of
Did you not see all the GTRs?The bloody things are getting like Mondeos
The GTR in the live action arena was very dull.
dont worry..I was just being daftIt does strike me as interesting that none of the major manufacturers seem to have a dedicated stand there, but maybe they save their efforts for the big motorshows in Paris/London/Geneva and Detroit?
I dunno
To be honest I thought the show was average;
+ Saw the M600 which was awesome as was the SV and the Group B rally stand. Saw some great PH owners cars (LS Cerb a highlight).
- Action show was really poor (why wasn't Terry Grant in it!!!), PH could of been bigger (No T350's and one Sag aswell
) but was OK (got my best bits book which was a good read on the train) and Autosport was way too mobbed.
Highlight: Anyone see Jakki Degg's (Page 3 model) stall! One of the funniest parts of the show...she was sat there with her Mum selling copies of her own calendar at a car show!
Still very sexy though (no not her Mum).
+ Saw the M600 which was awesome as was the SV and the Group B rally stand. Saw some great PH owners cars (LS Cerb a highlight).
- Action show was really poor (why wasn't Terry Grant in it!!!), PH could of been bigger (No T350's and one Sag aswell
) but was OK (got my best bits book which was a good read on the train) and Autosport was way too mobbed. Highlight: Anyone see Jakki Degg's (Page 3 model) stall! One of the funniest parts of the show...she was sat there with her Mum selling copies of her own calendar at a car show!
Still very sexy though (no not her Mum).
I enjoyed the show overall but didn't think it was a good as last year as there didn't seam to be as many quality stands and got the impression it had been bulked out with sales stands, some good, some just selling junk. I expect the reduction in stands has more to do with the current climate than anything the organiser did wrong.
IMHO the show would benefit from the following.
- Less sales stands and the organisers being more selective over who's there selling, some stalls were looking a bit picky.
- Charging for parking is a bit of a piss take after charging a fair amount for the tickets.
- If your going to cater for several 100 people and charge a lot for cheap food, a fair bit more seating might be any idea.
- Send a number of the NEC employees on a customer care course, Little hitlers.
- I'd really have liked to see some of the smaller club level organisers there. I expect the cost of stands stops them.
- I'd also prefer to see the engineering show rather than loads and loads of banger / stock cars although it is good to have all motorsport represented.
Other than than I think its a good show.
IMHO the show would benefit from the following.
- Less sales stands and the organisers being more selective over who's there selling, some stalls were looking a bit picky.
- Charging for parking is a bit of a piss take after charging a fair amount for the tickets.
- If your going to cater for several 100 people and charge a lot for cheap food, a fair bit more seating might be any idea.
- Send a number of the NEC employees on a customer care course, Little hitlers.
- I'd really have liked to see some of the smaller club level organisers there. I expect the cost of stands stops them.
- I'd also prefer to see the engineering show rather than loads and loads of banger / stock cars although it is good to have all motorsport represented.
Other than than I think its a good show.
Skipe said:
Highlight: Anyone see Jakki Degg's (Page 3 model) stall! One of the funniest parts of the show...she was sat there with her Mum selling copies of her own calendar at a car show!
Yup, I saw this, most amusing indeed, she looked thoroughly p'd off when I walked past.. I was lucky enough to get free tickets to the show, to be honest, I'm glad I didn't pay for them.. Although the show wasn't that bad, I'd left by 1200.. There just wasn't enough there to hold my interest and by gum the models were ropey!
It's a great shame the Engineering show doesn't push into the public days, I wanted to have a nose around the MoTeC stand..
I have been going to the AutoSport show, been pretty much every year. I would still go even if it was £50 because it's one of the best places to catch up with people from all walks of motorsport...how often are said people in a few halls, all at the same time?
I was working on the SpecV GTR stand Thurs-Sun and apart from the repeatative questions of "why does it cost twice as much", "how much faster is it" and "can I sit in it" it was very pleasant and most people were respectful and met some very interesting characters...(although no PH or other club members?).
I'm not sure about anyone else, but I can spend several minutes gawping over the old F1 cars. I enjoy studying them from all angles...even the current ones too. I like seeing all the new karting kit that's out and how it's changing all the time. I also had a couple of goes on the GT Academy stand, managing to get the best time of the weekend, aswell as the 2nd best time of the weekend on two seperate pods
I've always considered it the AutoSport show. Whether PH was there, or not it wouldn't effect my choice of attending. It's an added bonus as far as I'm concerned and food wasn't as badly priced this year...£5.95 for a Tikka, rice and pappadom...not bad if you ask me!
Not all the girls were ropey. The Nissan ladies, as far as I saw were far from that, infact! A lot of the girls walking around, were there as public trying to promote themselves...nothing you can really do about that!
On the whole, if you can't afford it you don't have to come
I was working on the SpecV GTR stand Thurs-Sun and apart from the repeatative questions of "why does it cost twice as much", "how much faster is it" and "can I sit in it" it was very pleasant and most people were respectful and met some very interesting characters...(although no PH or other club members?).
I'm not sure about anyone else, but I can spend several minutes gawping over the old F1 cars. I enjoy studying them from all angles...even the current ones too. I like seeing all the new karting kit that's out and how it's changing all the time. I also had a couple of goes on the GT Academy stand, managing to get the best time of the weekend, aswell as the 2nd best time of the weekend on two seperate pods
I've always considered it the AutoSport show. Whether PH was there, or not it wouldn't effect my choice of attending. It's an added bonus as far as I'm concerned and food wasn't as badly priced this year...£5.95 for a Tikka, rice and pappadom...not bad if you ask me!
Not all the girls were ropey. The Nissan ladies, as far as I saw were far from that, infact! A lot of the girls walking around, were there as public trying to promote themselves...nothing you can really do about that!
On the whole, if you can't afford it you don't have to come
Ian Davidson said:
I have been going to the AutoSport show, been pretty much every year. I would still go even if it was £50 because it's one of the best places to catch up with people from all walks of motorsport...how often are said people in a few halls, all at the same time?
A true statement, and fair play for your commitment in being happy to spend £50 to go... Ian Davidson said:
I was working on the SpecV GTR stand Thurs-Sun and apart from the repeatative questions of "why does it cost twice as much", "how much faster is it" and "can I sit in it" it was very pleasant and most people were respectful and met some very interesting characters...(although no PH or other club members?).
Working? Hang on, I thought you'd spent money to get in... Ian Davidson said:
On the whole, if you can't afford it you don't have to come
Stop the bus... You were working there?!?!
Ok here's a gripe, now this does not only apply to this show but most places So you exit the show and stand in the Que waiting for your bus to get you back to the car park. Gas masks should be provided, I'm sick to bloody death of people Smoking around the Entry and Exit areas of public buildings 
The only smoking I like to enjoy is the smell of burning rubber 
Skipe said:
PH could of been bigger (No T350's and one Sag aswell ) but was OK (got my best bits book which was a good read on the train) and Autosport was way too mobbed.
To be fair to Alex and the team, quite a few of us were unable to make it with our cars cos of the snow, so I guess it might have made things look a little thinner on the ground. It was a real shame as they put in a hell of a lot of work beforehand to organise all the owners and cars etc. ) but was OK (got my best bits book which was a good read on the train) and Autosport was way too mobbed. Ant
Ian Davidson said:
On the whole, if you can't afford it you don't have to come
Nice...It's not a question of an individual affording or being able to afford the entry fee, IMHO, it's an expectation of value for money for that given entry fee. The Autosport show has been suffering for a while, with an ingress of non motorsport related stands and with them a change in the demographic of people going to the show. Take the aforementioned Page 3 model's calender stand as an example. I have no desire to visit a show where I cannot see a stand or get onto a stand as a plethora of hot water tank jacketed yoofs are trying to be the next David Sullivan with their mobile phones and a model who forgot to get dressed.
My last visit after many years of regular trips was the first year that PH were involved. I shall not be returning as I fairly certainly know that I am not going to get VFM for the entry fee. Now, Race Retro on the the other hand, does offer me VFM. I can afford both, I choose not to visit both. I'd like to believe your comment was poorly worded.
I'll have to explain it was half in jest, hence the smiley face.
Though there is some truth in that, because whilst value for money as you say is important, I'd feel for me that £50 would still have covered that. Perhaps for people who go to shows every month, that might not be the case. For me though, I only attend the Festival of Speed and the Revival...then any other local meet from various clubs/forums.
If you don't feel the show is worth the money then you don't have to go. I will conceed though, it's unfair that the Live Show was included in the price. It used to be optional and I believe it still should be.
Other than that, I met a lot of great people all in one day and unfortunately if you had not realised the growing public proportion of whome are of the chav variety is increasing wherever you go in the UK - not just at car shows. It's not just the chavs who are irritating though...
Though there is some truth in that, because whilst value for money as you say is important, I'd feel for me that £50 would still have covered that. Perhaps for people who go to shows every month, that might not be the case. For me though, I only attend the Festival of Speed and the Revival...then any other local meet from various clubs/forums.
If you don't feel the show is worth the money then you don't have to go. I will conceed though, it's unfair that the Live Show was included in the price. It used to be optional and I believe it still should be.
Other than that, I met a lot of great people all in one day and unfortunately if you had not realised the growing public proportion of whome are of the chav variety is increasing wherever you go in the UK - not just at car shows. It's not just the chavs who are irritating though...
epoch911 said:
Skipe said:
PH could of been bigger (No T350's and one Sag aswell ) but was OK (got my best bits book which was a good read on the train) and Autosport was way too mobbed.
To be fair to Alex and the team, quite a few of us were unable to make it with our cars cos of the snow, so I guess it might have made things look a little thinner on the ground. It was a real shame as they put in a hell of a lot of work beforehand to organise all the owners and cars etc. ) but was OK (got my best bits book which was a good read on the train) and Autosport was way too mobbed. Ant
There were to be an extra 8-10 cars at the show that didn't make it because of the adverse weather conditions.
My car included.
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