Autosport show 2024
Discussion
I’ve been going to the Autosport Show since the mid to late-90s, usually on the first (Thursday) trade day. It was always a good post-Christmas day out and an enjoyable curtain raiser for the new season.
I still enjoy going (probably out of habit/tradition) but agree it’s not a patch on the earlier shows.
From speaking to a couple of exhibitors it looks like there is now a new Events Director/Team with a 3 year ‘turnaround’ plan in place. This year was meant to be year 1 of the plan, I guess it won’t be a quick fix.
I also received an email on the Thursday advising of some much reduced stall rates for ASI 25, in general about 1/3 to 1/2 the cost of this year rates. I wonder if this will lead to an uplift in exhibitor/stall holder numbers?
Many years ago you had dedicated areas for historic racing, karting, club/national racing, etc. Most of these now have their own standalone shows which explains why they no longer need to attend the Autosport Show.
So, for the future it probably needs to be a show that largely focuses on F1, BTCC, WEC, WRC, British GT, BRC as that is what most of the general public will be interested in. The displays/stands for these headline series will need to be much better than those shown this year, BTCC in particular.
The real trick will be how do you also provide something to interest newcomers to the sport or those that wish to be more actively involved.
Keep the engineering bit as well.
I still enjoy going (probably out of habit/tradition) but agree it’s not a patch on the earlier shows.
From speaking to a couple of exhibitors it looks like there is now a new Events Director/Team with a 3 year ‘turnaround’ plan in place. This year was meant to be year 1 of the plan, I guess it won’t be a quick fix.
I also received an email on the Thursday advising of some much reduced stall rates for ASI 25, in general about 1/3 to 1/2 the cost of this year rates. I wonder if this will lead to an uplift in exhibitor/stall holder numbers?
Many years ago you had dedicated areas for historic racing, karting, club/national racing, etc. Most of these now have their own standalone shows which explains why they no longer need to attend the Autosport Show.
So, for the future it probably needs to be a show that largely focuses on F1, BTCC, WEC, WRC, British GT, BRC as that is what most of the general public will be interested in. The displays/stands for these headline series will need to be much better than those shown this year, BTCC in particular.
The real trick will be how do you also provide something to interest newcomers to the sport or those that wish to be more actively involved.
Keep the engineering bit as well.
Will be interesting to see what this turns into next year.
We are a trader that was meant to be placing a car on a shared stand but ended up with our own space due to the space available.
We have received pricing for next years stands and it is around 2/3 less than the current and the boss has already mentioned about booking, especially with the early bird additional discount. How many other places are having the same thought? At least they are trying something.
Hopefully more companies can be encouraged back and the ticket sales improved - although who knows what the price will be. Unfortunately the online world means the deals for punters are not there like they used to be.
Had the same at the bike show this year, was a worthwhile day out and good to catch up as I had a free ticket, had I paid would have had a different opinion!
Wonder if Autosport would team up with the magazine (are they the same people?) to offer discounted or free tickets. Get the footfall and the company's will come back!
We are a trader that was meant to be placing a car on a shared stand but ended up with our own space due to the space available.
We have received pricing for next years stands and it is around 2/3 less than the current and the boss has already mentioned about booking, especially with the early bird additional discount. How many other places are having the same thought? At least they are trying something.
Hopefully more companies can be encouraged back and the ticket sales improved - although who knows what the price will be. Unfortunately the online world means the deals for punters are not there like they used to be.
Had the same at the bike show this year, was a worthwhile day out and good to catch up as I had a free ticket, had I paid would have had a different opinion!
Wonder if Autosport would team up with the magazine (are they the same people?) to offer discounted or free tickets. Get the footfall and the company's will come back!
Haven't been for a few years, used to be a must do thing but I've found it underwhelming in recent years. A friend runs a race team and I was quite shocked at the cost of a stand, even with the 50% discount they were given this year!!
I may pop along next year if there's any signs of improvement.
I may pop along next year if there's any signs of improvement.
They will be wanting to bolster some income for nest year, remember if you pay now the money is in their bank account for basically a year, it is like anything. But if the prices are cheaper then fair enough, but you have to hope your business is able to sustain this all year, most can but some will not. As others have said what tends to happen is they charge a fortune, then pack it out with dross from local people selling stuff nothing to do with racing.
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