Autosport International 2023?
Discussion
Just got back and definitely disappointed, having been going for years.
It was busy though with loads of folk in the tuner area looking at shiny Lambos and GTRs. Not my cup of tea that to be honest and I was a bit Lambo-Blind after a while!
Definitely not what it was and loads of real motorsport stuff not there anymore, sadly.
And the NEC parking is always a rip off and I never use it. Park at the international station and have a 5 minute indoor walk for £9 (which ain’t cheap either TBH) or pay £15 plus for NEC and have a ten minute walk outside in the pissing rain!
It was busy though with loads of folk in the tuner area looking at shiny Lambos and GTRs. Not my cup of tea that to be honest and I was a bit Lambo-Blind after a while!
Definitely not what it was and loads of real motorsport stuff not there anymore, sadly.
And the NEC parking is always a rip off and I never use it. Park at the international station and have a 5 minute indoor walk for £9 (which ain’t cheap either TBH) or pay £15 plus for NEC and have a ten minute walk outside in the pissing rain!
I went today, it wasn't as good as 2020 and it has been getting worse over the years.
I think that there just isn't the return on the investment for companies to exhibit with costs increasing, other than making it cheaper to exhibit and also get more return on exhibiting I cannot see how it can get any better.
The live show was pretty much the same sort of thing as well, there isn't the space to do much more.
I think that there just isn't the return on the investment for companies to exhibit with costs increasing, other than making it cheaper to exhibit and also get more return on exhibiting I cannot see how it can get any better.
The live show was pretty much the same sort of thing as well, there isn't the space to do much more.
I am not sure what the organisers can do really? If the NEC charges X amount for the halls, then the NEC needs to lower its prices and then somehow more manufacturers need to attend and they need to see a return on this investment.
I agree with not attending, but this will become a vicious circle, lower attendance, means higher ticket prices to cover costs and also less interest from manufactures and exhibitors.
I would have thought there would have been some pent up hype from manufactures and exhibitors after last years being cancelled, but this doesn't seem to have happened and even proper motor shows are struggling, I wonder what impact this current economic climate has has had on manufactures and exhibitors, the smaller exhibitors likely don't have much choice to attend, but really unless the manufactures return, like Porsche, Ferrari, Pirelli, even Jaguar, Land Rover which are on the doorstep need to attend, I know they are not really into motorsport though.
I honestly doubt I will bother in 2024, I was hesitant in 2022 but got tickets and didn't get a refund so went this year, the thing for me is that I don't like very far from the NEC and I don't need parking either and can get dropped off in 15mins, if it moved to somewhere else then I wouldn't bother at all, especially if it ended up in London, even though it might attract more manufactures and exhibitors due to higher population.
I agree with not attending, but this will become a vicious circle, lower attendance, means higher ticket prices to cover costs and also less interest from manufactures and exhibitors.
I would have thought there would have been some pent up hype from manufactures and exhibitors after last years being cancelled, but this doesn't seem to have happened and even proper motor shows are struggling, I wonder what impact this current economic climate has has had on manufactures and exhibitors, the smaller exhibitors likely don't have much choice to attend, but really unless the manufactures return, like Porsche, Ferrari, Pirelli, even Jaguar, Land Rover which are on the doorstep need to attend, I know they are not really into motorsport though.
I honestly doubt I will bother in 2024, I was hesitant in 2022 but got tickets and didn't get a refund so went this year, the thing for me is that I don't like very far from the NEC and I don't need parking either and can get dropped off in 15mins, if it moved to somewhere else then I wouldn't bother at all, especially if it ended up in London, even though it might attract more manufactures and exhibitors due to higher population.
The reason people go is often to pick up things like fixtures aswell, certainly it used to be for me. They are always handy and you can then start chatting and finding out little trinkets. I have never been interested in the live show it has been the same for about 20 years I know they are limited, but thee is no imagination to any of it, it is just lets churn put the same crap every year, ask a bit more and hope it pays off. it has been the laziest show for 25 years, they know they dont have to make any real effort as people are bored and will watch cars being unloaded for a tenner!
I can recall going decades ago and there were tons of stalls selling clothing, art, supporters clubs had stands there, race teams had stands there, championships, loads of people there, was easily a full day maybe more.
I gather the venue is expensive, for all sorts of things, so why dont Hayshed go to another venue, the parking is borderline robbery, always has been yet they persist in going there, yes it is central, but there are other venues nearby (Stafford, Stoneleigh) that have history in hosting car shows and doing a damn better job than this dump, and probably the costs for exhibitors would be far less.
I can recall going decades ago and there were tons of stalls selling clothing, art, supporters clubs had stands there, race teams had stands there, championships, loads of people there, was easily a full day maybe more.
I gather the venue is expensive, for all sorts of things, so why dont Hayshed go to another venue, the parking is borderline robbery, always has been yet they persist in going there, yes it is central, but there are other venues nearby (Stafford, Stoneleigh) that have history in hosting car shows and doing a damn better job than this dump, and probably the costs for exhibitors would be far less.
Pflanzgarten said:
egor110 said:
What return are exhibitors going to get though?
The majority of people going just want free stuff and photos by the cars , there not going buy the cars or enter the race series.
I would disagree with that. The majority of people going just want free stuff and photos by the cars , there not going buy the cars or enter the race series.
I guess manufacturers maybe gave it a miss because of the supply chain delays , why budget for a stand when even if half the punters thru the door were able to put in a order you couldn't supply them.
egor110 said:
Pflanzgarten said:
egor110 said:
What return are exhibitors going to get though?
The majority of people going just want free stuff and photos by the cars , there not going buy the cars or enter the race series.
I would disagree with that. The majority of people going just want free stuff and photos by the cars , there not going buy the cars or enter the race series.
Between us we had 3 rally prepped historic cars, two were closed stage organisers and there were two with national licenses looking for sport or drives.
Me and my buddy specifically were interested in another mk1 mini shell and building up a track car. Anyone to talk to? No one.
I went today with my son. I’ve not been for 16+ years and thought it was a total rip off for what’s on offer now! The parking charge was an absolute joke, £16 on top of an already expensive ticket is ridiculous. Essentially £90 for the day for two.
I won’t be going again, they’re clearly milking it now. Seems like some of the stands were only available on trade days too. I went specifically to speak to the Link stand, to find they were only there thurs/fri.
I did however get to see the Mexorcist which I follow on Instagram. It is absolutely stunning and so well done, a really nice car and prob the car off of the day for me!
I won’t be going again, they’re clearly milking it now. Seems like some of the stands were only available on trade days too. I went specifically to speak to the Link stand, to find they were only there thurs/fri.
I did however get to see the Mexorcist which I follow on Instagram. It is absolutely stunning and so well done, a really nice car and prob the car off of the day for me!
Edited by Evolved on Sunday 15th January 19:35
Few thoughts -
- Demon Tweeks sponsored the show but didnt even bother to have a stand.
- Usually all the tyre, brake, suspension and exhaust manufactures ago but this year PBS as a sole brake company and nothing else
- No companies like rallye design, powerflex, MSV, Compbrake to name a few
- No detailing product companies
- Why would you go to a "motorsport show" to buy vintage trainers?
If you love wrapped crap cars and shocking music with a skyline or ford ST model randomly shoved in then its for you if not dont bother. I failed to see anything motorsport related especially in the F1 history section with 3 cars from 22 and another from years ago.
I tend to go every 5 years as its been getting worse but 2 hours to do the show was a joke. £150 on tickets plus £17 parking plus 2 hours each way to travel. Never again
Did everyone else spot that a lot of companies didnt bother going they just added to their website - "10% autosport show discount" instead?
- Demon Tweeks sponsored the show but didnt even bother to have a stand.
- Usually all the tyre, brake, suspension and exhaust manufactures ago but this year PBS as a sole brake company and nothing else
- No companies like rallye design, powerflex, MSV, Compbrake to name a few
- No detailing product companies
- Why would you go to a "motorsport show" to buy vintage trainers?
If you love wrapped crap cars and shocking music with a skyline or ford ST model randomly shoved in then its for you if not dont bother. I failed to see anything motorsport related especially in the F1 history section with 3 cars from 22 and another from years ago.
I tend to go every 5 years as its been getting worse but 2 hours to do the show was a joke. £150 on tickets plus £17 parking plus 2 hours each way to travel. Never again
Did everyone else spot that a lot of companies didnt bother going they just added to their website - "10% autosport show discount" instead?
Had a quick look on social. It’s being panned across the board, most feel ripped off. Not surprised tbh.
It took me a couple of hours to walk around it, and at one point had to go and ask at the gates if that was it or am I missing some more halls. Such a shame, but a sign of the times maybe.
It took me a couple of hours to walk around it, and at one point had to go and ask at the gates if that was it or am I missing some more halls. Such a shame, but a sign of the times maybe.
I haven't been since 2019 and it was going down hill then. Used to go every year and the very first year I went (mid 2000s) I can remember being there all day and then finding another hall we hadn't even walked around.
I've seen the comments on the shows Facebook page and it's almost unanimously given the thumbs down. I can't say I was particularly surprised even after my last visit so long ago, but it'll be interesting to see where it goes from here. £17 just to park is a disgrace when other shows at the same venue not only charge less for tickets but also make the parking free.
I guess for exhibitors somewhere like Race Retro maybe a better bet. For people who just want to see cars, for entry + parking at Autosport you could get a weekend ticket at a BTCC event. That was certainly the conclusion I came to the last time I considered going.
I've seen the comments on the shows Facebook page and it's almost unanimously given the thumbs down. I can't say I was particularly surprised even after my last visit so long ago, but it'll be interesting to see where it goes from here. £17 just to park is a disgrace when other shows at the same venue not only charge less for tickets but also make the parking free.
I guess for exhibitors somewhere like Race Retro maybe a better bet. For people who just want to see cars, for entry + parking at Autosport you could get a weekend ticket at a BTCC event. That was certainly the conclusion I came to the last time I considered going.
Kev_Mk3 said:
...
Did everyone else spot that a lot of companies didnt bother going they just added to their website - "10% autosport show discount" instead?
Probably a wiser move. If you are going shopping for some new race gear then any discount is going to be wiped out by the overpriced entry fees etc.Did everyone else spot that a lot of companies didnt bother going they just added to their website - "10% autosport show discount" instead?
I think you all need to vote with your feet really, the only way this changes if is nobody buys advance tickets online, that gives them an idea it has become unpopular, it was obvous trade was low due to all the cars paced in at clearly lower rates to pad it out.
Trung to put on a show like this at this time, and asking the prices they did was clearly bad for both fans and traders
The only way you make change is to change your own habits, dont buy.
Trung to put on a show like this at this time, and asking the prices they did was clearly bad for both fans and traders
The only way you make change is to change your own habits, dont buy.
LukeBrown66 said:
..it was obvious trade was low due to all the cars paced in at clearly lower rates to pad it out.....
It's been like that for several years, where the trade stands that are removed before the public days are replaced by random show cars.I suspect part of the overall problem is that there is still the differences between the trade and public days.
Any clubman motorsports competitor who has been busy working in the week to fund his racing goes along on the Saturday and finds all the good stuff has gone.
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