Brooklands new year day classic gathering
Discussion
First time for me, and I had a great day. Yes, the site is a bit falling-to-bits, but then the more successful events like this are at bringing in the punters, the more cash they'll have to invest. I think the museum displays are great; didn't even look in any of them today, but I went to a Classic Breakfast there a few months ago and it was brill. I signed up for the Brooklands Trust last night and sailed into the Vickers Gate behind Mercedes Benz World at about 10:15, and was parked up 5 mins later.
Some good ideas above about pre-booking or stickering cars/zones, but there are downsides there too:
There was a great range of cars there today - from big ass Americana to pre-war stuff, and you can only imagine next year's event will be even bigger if the weather doesn't screw it up. Maybe if they combine pre-registration (so you get a yes/no about what's going to be allowed in, rather than leaving it to a marshall's discretion), to stricter rules, that would help...
Some good ideas above about pre-booking or stickering cars/zones, but there are downsides there too:
- What if you arrived in convoy with friends and split into 2 lanes, with the marshall on the right dishing out blue stickers and the one on the left handing out red ones? A recipe for complaint
Also, the marshalls on the gate would need to be coordinated so they don't over-populate some areas and leave others empty. - Prebooking is probably only good for the organisers to know who's coming and maybe even when; but it's always going to be weather dependent (if it was a lovely day, how many people would come along that hadn't pre-registered? And would you really want to turn them away if they hadn't?) And then there's the flap that could occur like at Goodwood when people show up without having printed out their flyer. Maybe if they offered pre-booking then it could be get you access to a defined area before a particular time, and anyone who showed up non-booked would be slotted into a different area...
There was a great range of cars there today - from big ass Americana to pre-war stuff, and you can only imagine next year's event will be even bigger if the weather doesn't screw it up. Maybe if they combine pre-registration (so you get a yes/no about what's going to be allowed in, rather than leaving it to a marshall's discretion), to stricter rules, that would help...
- Classic cars are old cars, that's all. Doesn't matter if the first version of your car appeared in the early 1980s, if your car was made in the 2000s then it's not a classic.
- By all means welcome supercars and other interesting modern stuff, but they need to go somewhere else - maybe MBW could be persuaded to set aside a parking area that would become an extension of the Brooklands NYD gig. A bit like a PHSS on the side...
Edited by ewand on Friday 1st January 18:08
Afraid I rather agree with duggan above (except I rather liked the bus museum!) - my second time at Brooklands and once again the conclusion is that Goodwood does this type of event much better and of course for free. I am sure that the income from today is a welcome boost for the coffers, but it could be so much better.
The queues appeared to be horrendous - I was in nothing special so parked in The Heights, and some of the show cars I'd seen on the way to Brooklands were only just parking up when I'd already done a tour of the whole site. The marshals appeared to be doing a good job in very stressful circumstances but there didn't appear to be sufficient communication to keep things moving. On my way out I saw a PHer in his Diablo heading for the public parking - a shame that a car like that wasn't part of the main event.
In my view Brooklands would be better doing some events for free which don't include access to the museums - that will increase the footfall, with income from food vendors etc. No-one is going to come regularly and pay £12 to see museums they have seen before. That format seems to work for Goodwood even if that is the "wrong" type of crowd, apparently.
On the positive side there was plenty to see and I could easily have spent a few more hours there.
I've uploaded a couple of hundred photos - a few highlights for me below:
IMG_3604 by Pics253, on Flickr
IMG_3605 by Pics253, on Flickr
IMG_3608 by Pics253, on Flickr
IMG_3615 by Pics253, on Flickr
IMG_3616 by Pics253, on Flickr
IMG_3617 by Pics253, on Flickr
IMG_3619 by Pics253, on Flickr
IMG_3625 by Pics253, on Flickr
IMG_3639 by Pics253, on Flickr
IMG_3641 by Pics253, on Flickr
IMG_3643 by Pics253, on Flickr
IMG_3646 by Pics253, on Flickr
IMG_3651 by Pics253, on Flickr
IMG_3653 by Pics253, on Flickr
IMG_3656 by Pics253, on Flickr
IMG_3659 by Pics253, on Flickr
IMG_3662 by Pics253, on Flickr
IMG_3664 by Pics253, on Flickr
IMG_3670 by Pics253, on Flickr
IMG_3673 by Pics253, on Flickr
IMG_3681 by Pics253, on Flickr
IMG_3686 by Pics253, on Flickr
IMG_3702 by Pics253, on Flickr
IMG_3708 by Pics253, on Flickr
IMG_3718 by Pics253, on Flickr
IMG_3731 by Pics253, on Flickr
IMG_3744 by Pics253, on Flickr
IMG_3760 by Pics253, on Flickr
IMG_3763 by Pics253, on Flickr
IMG_3780 by Pics253, on Flickr
IMG_3798 by Pics253, on Flickr
IMG_3801 by Pics253, on Flickr
IMG_3803 by Pics253, on Flickr
IMG_3808 by Pics253, on Flickr
IMG_3811 by Pics253, on Flickr
IMG_3819 by Pics253, on Flickr
IMG_3825 by Pics253, on Flickr
IMG_3833 by Pics253, on Flickr
IMG_3836 by Pics253, on Flickr
IMG_3842 by Pics253, on Flickr
IMG_3852 by Pics253, on Flickr
IMG_3854 by Pics253, on Flickr
IMG_3861 by Pics253, on Flickr
IMG_3874 by Pics253, on Flickr
IMG_3878 by Pics253, on Flickr
IMG_3880 by Pics253, on Flickr
IMG_3889 by Pics253, on Flickr
IMG_3894 by Pics253, on Flickr
IMG_3896 by Pics253, on Flickr
IMG_3902 by Pics253, on Flickr
The queues appeared to be horrendous - I was in nothing special so parked in The Heights, and some of the show cars I'd seen on the way to Brooklands were only just parking up when I'd already done a tour of the whole site. The marshals appeared to be doing a good job in very stressful circumstances but there didn't appear to be sufficient communication to keep things moving. On my way out I saw a PHer in his Diablo heading for the public parking - a shame that a car like that wasn't part of the main event.
In my view Brooklands would be better doing some events for free which don't include access to the museums - that will increase the footfall, with income from food vendors etc. No-one is going to come regularly and pay £12 to see museums they have seen before. That format seems to work for Goodwood even if that is the "wrong" type of crowd, apparently.
On the positive side there was plenty to see and I could easily have spent a few more hours there.
I've uploaded a couple of hundred photos - a few highlights for me below:
IMG_3604 by Pics253, on FlickrIMG_3605 by Pics253, on FlickrIMG_3608 by Pics253, on FlickrIMG_3615 by Pics253, on FlickrIMG_3616 by Pics253, on FlickrIMG_3617 by Pics253, on FlickrIMG_3619 by Pics253, on FlickrIMG_3625 by Pics253, on FlickrIMG_3639 by Pics253, on FlickrIMG_3641 by Pics253, on FlickrIMG_3643 by Pics253, on FlickrIMG_3646 by Pics253, on FlickrIMG_3651 by Pics253, on FlickrIMG_3653 by Pics253, on FlickrIMG_3656 by Pics253, on FlickrIMG_3659 by Pics253, on FlickrIMG_3662 by Pics253, on FlickrIMG_3664 by Pics253, on FlickrIMG_3670 by Pics253, on FlickrIMG_3673 by Pics253, on FlickrIMG_3681 by Pics253, on FlickrIMG_3686 by Pics253, on FlickrIMG_3702 by Pics253, on FlickrIMG_3708 by Pics253, on FlickrIMG_3718 by Pics253, on FlickrIMG_3731 by Pics253, on FlickrIMG_3744 by Pics253, on FlickrIMG_3760 by Pics253, on FlickrIMG_3763 by Pics253, on FlickrIMG_3780 by Pics253, on FlickrIMG_3798 by Pics253, on FlickrIMG_3801 by Pics253, on FlickrIMG_3803 by Pics253, on FlickrIMG_3808 by Pics253, on FlickrIMG_3811 by Pics253, on FlickrIMG_3819 by Pics253, on FlickrIMG_3825 by Pics253, on FlickrIMG_3833 by Pics253, on FlickrIMG_3836 by Pics253, on FlickrIMG_3842 by Pics253, on FlickrIMG_3852 by Pics253, on FlickrIMG_3854 by Pics253, on FlickrIMG_3861 by Pics253, on FlickrIMG_3874 by Pics253, on FlickrIMG_3878 by Pics253, on FlickrIMG_3880 by Pics253, on FlickrIMG_3889 by Pics253, on FlickrIMG_3894 by Pics253, on FlickrIMG_3896 by Pics253, on FlickrIMG_3902 by Pics253, on Flickrewand said:
- Classic cars are old cars, that's all. Doesn't matter if the first version of your car appeared in the early 1980s, if your car was made in the 2000s then it's not a classic.
- By all means welcome supercars and other interesting modern stuff, but they need to go somewhere else - maybe MBW could be persuaded to set aside a parking area that would become an extension of the Brooklands NYD gig. A bit like a PHSS on the side...
Edited by ewand on Friday 1st January 18:08
The only limitation on the gate is that the vehicle should be interesting - that encompasses a huge range. If people didn't get in then perhaps they should have turned up earlier, rather than complaining that the event is full of cars that merit being there!
haggy said:
Really enjoyed it. Those that moan, don't go next year. Simple! Less of a queue for a sausage for me then!
Typical and expected response - if you don't like it f
k-off 
I'm a member mate and hence do support the place - I just think the captain-mainwaring way of running a business is doomed to failure and want to make constructive criticism on how to address it.
I think a group of Ph'ers could run the event in a far more professional manner than I saw today and guess what, make more money to improve the place (it worked for Goodwood)....
Iva Barchetta said:
It's all very well saying,don't come next year.
I give you Surrey Street Rodders annual Good Friday show 2014.
Minor disaster with queuing. Lots of pissed off punters.
No one turned up in 2015.
Hmmmmm.......I give you Surrey Street Rodders annual Good Friday show 2014.
Minor disaster with queuing. Lots of pissed off punters.
No one turned up in 2015.
2014 was more than a minor disaster, and largely because they changed the venue to Dunsfold, which as anyone that's ever been to a big event there's knows, is a complete PITA in terms of access for large numbers of cars. It had disaster written all over it long before the day.
And the atrocious weather was a bigger reason that no one turned up in 2015, not because of what happened the year before.
will_ said:
Except that it's not an event limited to "classic" cars - it's billed as being for "All classic, vintage, veteran and super cars, motorcycles and classic commercial vehicles". Why limit what can be there to a completely arbitrary age (or even just "old")? Personally I prefer the more modern stuff (and "modern classic" cars) but appreciate the classics too. The range of cars on displays was the major plus factor of the event.
The only limitation on the gate is that the vehicle should be interesting - that encompasses a huge range. If people didn't get in then perhaps they should have turned up earlier, rather than complaining that the event is full of cars that merit being there!
No, it's not limited to classics, but that's the core of the theme. The event page said:The only limitation on the gate is that the vehicle should be interesting - that encompasses a huge range. If people didn't get in then perhaps they should have turned up earlier, rather than complaining that the event is full of cars that merit being there!
Brooklands web site said:
Everybody – whether you’re driving a “Classic” or not – is welcome to the largest New Year’s Day Classic Gathering in the UK. If you are arriving in a classic, vintage, veteran or supercar of any age, a classic motorcycle or classic commercial vehicle....
I too appreciate modern cars, and if Brooklands NYD event was only pre-War or vintage, then I doubt it would get anything like the turnout. What I'm saying is that if they said only 30+ year old cars in the main Brooklands site, and modern/interesting/etc stuff in an overflow area, then it could appeal to aficionados of both.One of the challenges with Goodwood Breakfast Club was when the definition of "interesting" was down to the marshall on the gate, people just got annoyed. I saw a Ford RS200 be sent into public parking at one Supercar Sunday, while dozens of Astons that arrived in convoy were waved straight through. So, best to not rely on consistency from marshall decision making on the day, as if they get overwhelmed that will necessarily be sacrificed.
Cracking pics, btw, Will - well done
Great pictures, thanks for posting!
Sadly we didn’t have a good experience at Brooklands today. Whilst the cars were great the organisation (or lack of) made it a family unfriendly event. Long queues to get in, parking chaos, long queues for toilets (not great with small kids), even longer queues for food, world’s loudest saxophonist (made my 4 year old cry and she is fine with loud V8s) and constant shuffling of cars as so many people seemed to be leaving early (perhaps they were hungry or had been "Kenny G'd"?).
As a family we’ve been members and supporters of Brooklands for a long time so I hope today’s shambles was a one off rather than an example of how they are now looking to run their events. Organising some extra toilets and food stalls and holding off on the musical "entertainment" could have made such a difference.
Brooklands I hope you read this and improve things in time for your Auto Italia and Super Car days later in the year.
Sadly we didn’t have a good experience at Brooklands today. Whilst the cars were great the organisation (or lack of) made it a family unfriendly event. Long queues to get in, parking chaos, long queues for toilets (not great with small kids), even longer queues for food, world’s loudest saxophonist (made my 4 year old cry and she is fine with loud V8s) and constant shuffling of cars as so many people seemed to be leaving early (perhaps they were hungry or had been "Kenny G'd"?).
As a family we’ve been members and supporters of Brooklands for a long time so I hope today’s shambles was a one off rather than an example of how they are now looking to run their events. Organising some extra toilets and food stalls and holding off on the musical "entertainment" could have made such a difference.
Brooklands I hope you read this and improve things in time for your Auto Italia and Super Car days later in the year.
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