Brooklands new year day classic gathering
Discussion
ewand said:
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
I don't disagree with what you say - however, for an event like this it fundamentally has to take two forms - one, let pretty much anything "interesting" in, which is always subject to the discretion of those on the gate. Get them all in ASAP, get them parked-up anywhere and avoid queues as much as possible. That would work at Brooklands. A generic theme can be named but then you get all sorts of moans from people about the theme, what "counts" etc - easiest without. Two, to get in you have to pre-register like Goodwood, no registration, no entry. The downside to that of course is the massive administrative burden, that people with interesting cars might not be minded to register, that interesting non-registered cars end up parked out of sight or that no-one can be spontaneous as to whether they want to come or not. 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
You can set very fixed "themes" or date ranges but that always risks precisely the complaint you mention above about the RS200. Why is a 1985 911 allowed in, but a 1986 model year not? You'd have a row of 911 SCs but not a 964 RS?
I've never quite understood the mentality of those who get wildly upset at not being able to "show" their car, and won't come to an event unless they are going to be parking in one place as opposed to another (as evidenced on the Facebook link you provided). If there is discretion then of course not everyone will agree with the decisions being made, but that is hardly the end of the world. I'd rather that than have a 918 Spyder in the car park and another Allegro in "the show". Of course that is just my personal opinion!
I hope that Brooklands take on board the positive, constructive criticism in this thread. I fear that they will not, as similar comments have been made before and nothing seems to have changed. There is huge demand for Breakfast Club style meetings which could massively improve the footfall at Brooklands, but not at £12 to show your car. Make it free, make it regular, let the word spread and it will be packed each month like Goodwood is.
I agree with the comments re entry price - I live 2 miles away and didn't attend today as I refuse to pay £23+ for myself and my kids to walk round and look at cars. I've been to the museum numerous times, having lived locally for 40+ years and that sort of entrance fee is off putting ( for me ), not only for this event but also for the ones Brooklands designate as "premium" such as Auto Italia in April where the entrance charge is £29 if not booked in advance.
Shame really as the photos here and IG look like there was a great assortment of cars
Shame really as the photos here and IG look like there was a great assortment of cars
It was my first time at the event and I thoroughly enjoyed it, that was until I read this thread... For me it was a fantastic day out and that's purely down to the cars, it's all that really mattered to me which is why I was oblivious to the other issues until they were raised here. Of course people will always have suggestions on how to improve an event and indeed a venue but some of the points raised here are valid.
The place was a bit of a mess and the ground was completely broken up where I parked, not ideal in a low sports car! This is to be expected on the banking but this was away from the old circuit.
If you're realistic events like this are always going to be busy and can be much more enjoyable if you come prepared, i.e. have a decent breakfast, bring warm clothes etc. I think they have the fundamentals in place, the event is great and everyone looked like they were having fun but they need to improve facilities for older visitors or people with families.
I really enjoyed it and can't wait for next years!
The place was a bit of a mess and the ground was completely broken up where I parked, not ideal in a low sports car! This is to be expected on the banking but this was away from the old circuit.
If you're realistic events like this are always going to be busy and can be much more enjoyable if you come prepared, i.e. have a decent breakfast, bring warm clothes etc. I think they have the fundamentals in place, the event is great and everyone looked like they were having fun but they need to improve facilities for older visitors or people with families.
I really enjoyed it and can't wait for next years!
I've been going every year since 2011 and I thought this year was the best I've done. We didn't go in a classic this year so we can't comment on the queues to get in but there wasn't any trouble getting to the public parking. Big events always have big queues for food, so we brought a packed lunch.
It was the first time I'd seen three rows of cars on the banking which would suggest it's the biggest turnout that Brooklands have had for a long time and maybe they weren't quite expecting that. I didn't enjoy last year half as much as we arrived early but were given one of the worst parking spaces (packed in the racing car bays, which were arranged better this year)and found the marshals unhelpful and unfriendly.
It was the first time I'd seen three rows of cars on the banking which would suggest it's the biggest turnout that Brooklands have had for a long time and maybe they weren't quite expecting that. I didn't enjoy last year half as much as we arrived early but were given one of the worst parking spaces (packed in the racing car bays, which were arranged better this year)and found the marshals unhelpful and unfriendly.
Edited by MrHorsepower on Saturday 2nd January 11:42
will_ said:
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.
That was probably me. The marshal said i could go through if i was a member, but as i wasn't he said i had to park in the general car park. The reason for this was if he let me through there was no way of getting my £12 entry fee off of me.
Seems a strange decision as its the cars that attract the crowds, forgoing £12 to let the Diablo in might have been a better decision (IMHO) particularly as Brooklands wasn't exactly awash with Lambo's!
100 IAN said:
Seems a strange decision as its the cars that attract the crowds, forgoing £12 to let the Diablo in might have been a better decision (IMHO) particularly as Brooklands wasn't exactly awash with Lambo's!
So should they let everyone in an interesting car in free of charge? Just curious on your opinion.
Could not agree more with you message, a lot of expensive cars shoved in a very run down poorly presented outdated museum - is this really the home of our motor sport! Plus £22 pounds to get in! I have also had an experience with the marshals telling me I can't take pictures of my own car because people pay s lot of money to photograph here!
Edited by Sebring3000 on Sunday 3rd January 16:17
It was a fantastic event! Everyone who got there at a reasonable time managed to park up, we parked a stones throw from Concord no issues. People were still arriving late morning and they had the parking problems. If these events were free of charge to enter, they would not happen. As for having to pay so people can look at your car........ ha ha ha ha ha
It was a fantastic event! Everyone who got there at a reasonable time managed to park up, we parked a stones throw from Concord no issues. People were still arriving late morning and they had the parking problems. If these events were free of charge to enter, they would not happen. As for having to pay so people can look at your car........ ha ha ha ha ha
I hope they sort the place out as I believe they have a £7million grant to do the place up ( in some areas ). Up to end 2014, the trust posted losses of £164k compared to a loss of £25k in 2013 so generating money and turning it around is paramount I guess.
Maybe Mr Tiff Needell could help as he's a director
There's always loads of events on which are busy so I don't know what the issue is if it's run down...
Maybe Mr Tiff Needell could help as he's a director
There's always loads of events on which are busy so I don't know what the issue is if it's run down...
damianmkv said:
There's always loads of events on which are busy so I don't know what the issue is if it's run down...
I was there back in Oct for the Classic American/Hot Rod event, and I didn't think it was run down as such. It's an old site with old buildings - perhaps it's some of the posters with unrealistic expectations?The only issue I have with the place is that what little is left of the banking seems to be getting ever more neglected.
RichB said:
100 IAN said:
Seems a strange decision as its the cars that attract the crowds, forgoing £12 to let the Diablo in might have been a better decision (IMHO) particularly as Brooklands wasn't exactly awash with Lambo's!
So should they let everyone in an interesting car in free of charge? Just curious on your opinion.
Indeed, which is why Goodwood breakfast club meetings are so successful. Also being themed you can turn up in a vintage car one month or a super-car the next and see roughly those type of cars on display. Others go in the fields so there's no arguing. Turn up one's Lambo on Thoroughbred Sunday and you know where you'll be parked. Brooklands NYD is all a bit random.
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