Kit car industry and how to revive interest and sales

[KDIcarmad]

I have bee reading the postings about Stoneleight. A lot of disappointment. This is or was the big show of the year, clearly if so many are finding it disappointing less people will attend next years. A number of question need asking, are the right people running the show? Is there commitment from the manufactures? Is it to costly to get to, or the entree price to high? Does this bring in new customer for the industry? What would improve this show?

Would a new location for the National Kit Car Motor Show do anything to improve the show?

I notice many of the same comments came up about the Delting show, run by the same company. I ask again are the right people running these shows?

Do we need a new and different show not connected to replace it as the big show of the year?

I put forward the idea of the O2 holding a kit car show, now I put forwards two different locations, Brands Hatch and Lydden hill. The tracks offer the chance to show off the cars in action. What do you think? Would you go to these?

[Pat H]

KDIcarmad said:

I have bee reading the postings about Stoneleight. A lot of disappointment. This is or was the big show of the year, clearly if so many are finding it disappointing less people will attend next years. A number of question need asking, are the right people running the show? Is there commitment from the manufactures? Is it to costly to get to, or the entree price to high? Does this bring in new customer for the industry? What would improve this show?

Would a new location for the National Kit Car Motor Show do anything to improve the show?

I notice many of the same comments came up about the Delting show, run by the same company. I ask again are the right people running these shows?

Do we need a new and different show not connected to replace it as the big show of the year?

I put forward the idea of the O2 holding a kit car show, now I put forwards two different locations, Brands Hatch and Lydden hill. The tracks offer the chance to show off the cars in action. What do you think? Would you go to these?

I think the location is spot on. It is nice and central for everyone, whether they are traveling from London or Scotland.

I think that the entry fee is a touch on the steep side, but I like the way that kit car drivers get in for nowt. One of the most interesting elements of the show are the club gatherings and the random kits parked up outside.

You need to encourage people to bring their kit cars and the discounted entry fee is vital. Three of us came in an Elan/Esprit convoy, saved some money and gave other visitors a couple of interesting cars to look at. But for the discount we would have just gone in a BMW.

I enjoyed the show. It seemed very well attended by the public on the Sunday and I wasn't disappointed in the least.

I think that you need to encourage as many of the manufacturers as possible to attend. In this day and age, the show is competing with the vast amount of information freely available on the interweb and other media and I am sure that there are many manufacturers that decide that it isn't worth the time and effort to attend.

As it remains the biggest show if its type, I was disappointed not to see that Caterham Cars didn't have an official presence.

There were loads of Germans and French visitors, who had plainly made a big effort to attend. If the venue and the admission prices are not the problem, then are the manufacturers being asked to pay too high a price for a pitch in the hall?

[KDIcarmad]

That's one! How many more are there!

Is it just that happy people don't moan?

[Ferg]

I agree with Pat entirely.
I spoke with maybe around 50 people at the show this year and none of them said they thought it was disappointing.

I think it's important to realise something about our hobby, and that is that MANY people promise themselves a kitcar for years and years. They go to shows, look at stuff, chat with owners, but it just never happens. Like many car shows, Stoneleigh is for a vast number of people just a day out to look at something interesting.
Once Sandown and Hindhead didn't exist, Stoneleigh became my main show. Numbers are certainly down on a few years back, but I think the show is actually better. Less mini-motos etc, more projects seeing the light of day.

[rog3k]

^^^ This. I too enjoyed the show & the weekend (aprat from it being so cold & the wet driving home on Monday afternoon) but, may be, I have different priorities - it's partly to meet up with 'old mates', see other cars outside, chat to people interested in your own car & to see the new cars in the halls & the tools, parts, etc, etc.

Personally, I wouldn't be aggrieved at paying a small entrance charge of, say £5 (or even £10 for the weekend) - if you multiply that by a few hundred it would become a bit more significant & lightne the load of the exhibitors or provide extras.

[qdos]

I too will say that Stoneleigh was a good show and certainly does not need to change venue. I don't know what it is with some people on this thread but they are doing a damned good job of talking things down. Quite frankly I've got bored with the non stop moaning and winging from those few folk on here that I've given up bothering to take much note of them.
If others want to have a look on other threads they will find that there's a majority of people over on those who thought the show was well worth going to.

[Fastpedeller]

The only minus point of the Stoneleigh show was the weather - No organiser can influence that!
As always a good show, and soooo much to see that it can't be fitted into the weekend. Lets be enthusiastic for what we have - the numerous French visitors I encountered were delighted with the show, and many had travelled a considerable journey.
Newark is only a month away -lets hope the weather brightens (but go there anyway despite the weather!!!!)

[Stuart Mills]

Fastpedeller said:

The only minus point of the Stoneleigh show was the weather - No organiser can influence that!

May I disagree, the organisers could move the date to the summer, that could have a bearing on weather.
It appears the biggest show of the year for open top cars is in the spring, when it is far more likely to be wet/cold than say Newark in June or Donny early Sept. No guarantees of course.
Anyone feel it may be a good idea to hold one in July Aug, I know the kids are off school, so what, family holidays are popular in July/Aug because of the likely hood of decent weather, we need that period too don't we?.

[KDIcarmad]

Stuart Mills said:

Fastpedeller said:

The only minus point of the Stoneleigh show was the weather - No organiser can influence that!

May I disagree, the organisers could move the date to the summer, that could have a bearing on weather.
It appears the biggest show of the year for open top cars is in the spring, when it is far more likely to be wet/cold than say Newark in June or Donny early Sept. No guarantees of course.
Anyone feel it may be a good idea to hold one in July Aug, I know the kids are off school, so what, family holidays are popular in July/Aug because of the likely hood of decent weather, we need that period too don't we?.

Looks like I was right and it's only unhappy people who moan and post. I am very glad that many of you enjoy the show. Clearly more people need to hear this and need to be told how good the show was.

I like the idea of a show in July or Aug. A new summer kit car show, would help the whole industry. I personal hope this would be at new location. I would point to this been held in a location near to people. Do any of you know the Bromley Pageant of Motoring? This is held in Norman park, just a few minutes from the centre of Bromley (10 minutes by bus from Bromley South station at the southern end of the high street). With over 3000 classic cars(a few kit cars among that, some very rare ones, I saw a Concept Centuar a few years back and a Adams Probe 2001 a few years before that) this is the biggest one day classic show in the world. This is a great day out, for both car people and none car people. The key to this shows success is its location in Southeast London meaning good public transport, also close to the A2/A20/M25 and a large local population many of whom like cars. By local I mean most of Southeast London and North Kent.

I personal know many from the areas around Bromley, who only decide to go on the day and have only a passing interest in classic cars. These would also go if this was a kit car show, just as a day out. I know of one person who's wife fall in love with a Rochdale Olympic and bought one before the next show. Point made I think. (Question to all manufacture have you considered this show? I understand about 30,000 people went last year! How many went to Detling or Stoneleight?) A quick thought could a kit car show become a part of this? A London Kit car show!! A southeast London kit car show!!!

This year's shows on Sunday 10th June 2012. Which I think shows a kit car show could work in June and draw a lot of people.

Edited by KDIcarmad on Wednesday 16th May 16:23

[spaximus]

any more info on that metro?

[Artstu]

spaximus said:

any more info on that metro?

Not much I'm afraid. http://www.metropower.org.uk/forum/forums/thread-v...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/8165854@N08/718965748...

[KDIcarmad]

I was looking at the posting on Kit car and found this new one on kit car crisis a programe from around 2005/6, that is often re-shown on satellite. I fee the following is a very fair comment on the car and the industry...

200Plus Club said:

its interesting in some ways as it highlighted some of the pitfalls of building a kit, namely choosing the right chassis for the engine etc, and planning ahead to some extent, like when he was having the exhausts made up in situ and access was blocked due to the seats and dash being fitted, the exhaust being one of the last jobs to be made up.

I bet this put a lot of people off kit cars. In the last episode the car broke its chassis! Mainly as it was poorly put together by the owner, not bad design. He fitted a motorbike engine as he intended to race it the RGB series, which had not been used in the car before, main of the problem came from this. There is another programe also on satellite that shows a kit car being build, A Car is Born. A Cobra, this is build by some one who knows what they are do and works.

The real question is why only one series of each, why no follow up with other kits? Or a series on building kits?

Edited by KDIcarmad on Sunday 20th May 14:56

[Steffan]

KDIcarmad said:

That's one! How many more are there!

Is it just that happy people don't moan?

I thoroughly enjoyed Stoneleigh it was an excellent show for me.

I saw several new cars including the outstanding MEV X5 variants and the razor three wheeler which is the best three wheeler I have seen this year.


The weather was acceptable, the various displays and exhibitions were good and the Market areas were full of the stalwarts like SVC and Woollies, and a few new suppliers bringing a different slant to the affair.

So another happy Stoneleigh post from me. Roll on the rest, I really do think the Kit Car industry is picking up the pace. Good!

[KDIcarmad]

Steffan said:

I thoroughly enjoyed Stoneleigh it was an excellent show for me.

I saw several new cars including the outstanding MEV X5 variants and the razor three wheeler which is the best three wheeler I have seen this year.


The weather was acceptable, the various displays and exhibitions were good and the Market areas were full of the stalwarts like SVC and Woollies, and a few new suppliers bringing a different slant to the affair.

So another happy Stoneleigh post from me. Roll on the rest, I really do think the Kit Car industry is picking up the pace. Good!

Another happy person! Is the Kit Car industry picking up pace, Or just going down hill?

[MG CHRIS]

I also enjoyed the show was my first time and was the biggest show i have attended outside of the autosport show, joined the quantum owners stand, meet some very intresting people and picked up some tips for my quantum and exocet build.

I also made a vist to the mev stand and ordered a exocet and will be picking up on friday. There was some manafactures missing im surprised to not see caterham there but overal the standared of the cars were outstanding didn't see a bad looking or designed car there in the main halls.

Plenty of stalls selling everything you could possibly need and plenty of club stands even though some did look empty.

I will keep on going and suporting the show should be able to take 2 cars next year if i finish my exocet build in time.

[The Black Flash]

KDIcarmad said:

I bet this put a lot of people off kit cars. In the last episode the car broke its chassis! Mainly as it was poorly put together by the owner, not bad design. He fitted a motorbike engine as he intended to race it the RGB series, which had not been used in the car before, main of the problem came from this. There is another programe also on satellite that shows a kit car being build, A Car is Born. A Cobra, this is build by some one who knows what they are do and works.

The real question is why only one series of each, why no follow up with other kits? Or a series on building kits?

Edited by KDIcarmad on Sunday 20th May 14:56

There's a whole series of "xxx... is born", he did a westfield, mgb, various bikes, a landy I think and others. But it's a bit of a niche program I guess.

As for Stoneleigh, yeah I enjoyed it as always. As I said on another thread, personally I'd like it if they changed the arrangement of the club pitches a bit as it gets a bit samey in that regard.

[KDIcarmad]

There is a topic running on the Fait X1/9. I always feel that the GMT was a kit car X1/9. Funny I learnt the Fiat was insiped by the Unipower GT, a update of the any of these would be a great kit car!!

[Ferg]

I'd be interested to see some concrete testimony that the X1/9 was inspired by Unipower. I've never heard that before. And if you mean GTM, it pre-dated the Fiat by some while. Interestingly GTM sold a mid-engined road car before Ferrari got 'round to it.

[SystemParanoia]

it will be nice to see some kits designed around these new tax exempt city cars, that can then swap a duratec into it after sva

tax free awesomeness

[KDIcarmad]

Ferg said:

I'd be interested to see some concrete testimony that the X1/9 was inspired by Unipower. I've never heard that before. And if you mean GTM, it pre-dated the Fiat by some while. Interestingly GTM sold a mid-engined road car before Ferrari got 'round to it.

Cannot find the book I read it in. Both the GTM under Cox and Unipower GT were in production in 1967/8. The Autobianchi Bertone Runabout that became the X1/9 was shown in 1969 and the production 1972.



Looking at the Runabout I don't see any styling links. Clearly from the dates it is possible.