Autosport International 2023?

Autosport International 2023?

Author
Discussion

CKY

1,386 posts

16 months

Thursday 28th December 2023
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Yes I believe it normally is around February/March time - it's certainly not warm when standing spectating the rally cars!

As an aside, I see there is an 'Autosport International' YouTube page, haven't been able to stand watching any more than a minute of the videos, but somewhat embarrassing for them - apparently trying to extol the virtues of their show, with for the most part less than 1,000 people watching their videos LOL

https://youtu.be/7kll9bD29NM?feature=shared

flatlandsman

764 posts

8 months

Thursday 28th December 2023
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Race retro USED to be quite a big show but sadly has become less of a thing recently, probably for the same reasons, dear trade stand prices etc, there is still a bit to see but in recent years things like model cars and stuff very loosely linked to cars have become the main attendees. They also suffered a little I think by this idiotic London show doing what seems popular these days and having their show on the same weekend, something that seems very common in the weird, dumb and very odd world of events. Also the auction has become a thing but you are only allowed anywhere near it if you are potential purchaser, so I will be avoiding it this year, that was disgraceful stuff in my view.

the outside show is decent but not really all historic anymore.

CKY

1,386 posts

16 months

Thursday 28th December 2023
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flatlandsman said:
Race retro USED to be quite a big show but sadly has become less of a thing recently, probably for the same reasons, dear trade stand prices etc, there is still a bit to see but in recent years things like model cars and stuff very loosely linked to cars have become the main attendees. They also suffered a little I think by this idiotic London show doing what seems popular these days and having their show on the same weekend, something that seems very common in the weird, dumb and very odd world of events. Also the auction has become a thing but you are only allowed anywhere near it if you are potential purchaser, so I will be avoiding it this year, that was disgraceful stuff in my view.

the outside show is decent but not really all historic anymore.
Ahh i've not been for a couple of years, it's a shame to hear it sounds like it's also in decline!

Oooh but you can't bad mouth anything London - it's the centre of the known universe and home to anyone who's anyone, don't you know... hurl

tonymor

1,481 posts

173 months

Thursday 28th December 2023
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Possibly so mr” Kahn”?

61GT

579 posts

181 months

Friday 12th January
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Did anyone else go along to the opening trade day yesterday?

If so, what did you think?

majordad

3,601 posts

198 months

Sunday 14th January
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I went Friday, it was ok, a lot smaller and a lot of missing trade stands. One less hall and even then one of those halls comprised JDM type tuned cars.

Had a good night in Birmingham though !

Kev_Mk3

2,777 posts

96 months

Monday 15th January
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Strange to see hardly any mention of it on social media this year so far

Megaflow

9,434 posts

226 months

Monday 15th January
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Kev_Mk3 said:
Strange to see hardly any mention of it on social media this year so far
There's not a lot to talk about.

1 hall for the engineering show, 1 for motorsport and one for tackily modified stuff. The engineering hall was largely taken up with a stage, as was the motorsport hall and the 'performance' hall was basically a car park.

Ghostrain

2 posts

4 months

Sunday 21st January
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Having read all the negative postings about Autosports 24,I thought it may be of interest from the viewpoint of an exhibitor,namely Rally Design.
Rally Design,now in its 52 nd year of trading,exhibiting at Autosports was a yearly pilgrimage but even before Covid it had been going downhill. The rack rate is £300 per sq metre ,compare that with the November Classic show at £65 per sq metre and Race Retro at £60 per sq metre.
Building big stands is a 2 day job and very disruptive to the normal operation of a mail order business,you have to have a reason to be there. Covid changed the way we all shop ,the website is all important,retail shows have lost their necessity. We haven’t published a catalogue for 3 years but oldies like a book to read so are currently working on a new one to last a couple of years.
The organisers of Autosports are not pleasant to do business with,they are arrogant and officious,they realise last minute that the show is poorly attended so hand out cheap stands to sweet sellers,boot polishers and poster sellers,this devalues the show.
So please support the Classic show,it was rammed last year,attendees remarked they needed 2 days yo look at everything. We hope Race Retro ,Feb 23-25 will appeal to classic motorsport.





Ghostrain

2 posts

4 months

Sunday 21st January
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Just looked at a video on Autosports 24. One thing surprised was the vast areas that were empty and much not carpeted. Autosports always carpeted everything,I remember always erecting stands over carpet. The floor of the NEC is badly scratched and show cars need carpet surround to look their best-at least they could have planted the cars on carpet.
The Classic show is not carpeted,the cost reflects this,but because so much is covered by stands it is not so noticeable.
The Kit Car show at Stoneleigh was always carpeted,not sure about Race Retro.
Carpeting makes the show feel part of a special day out,it is important.

flatlandsman

764 posts

8 months

Sunday 21st January
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Fascinationg insight Ghost, the cost difference there is staggering.

As an aside have you worked at Race Retro is that similar, they seem to have areas full of tatt aswell at times.

blue al

954 posts

160 months

Sunday 21st January
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Nec carpet can vary between 12-25 quid a sq mtr perhaps a bit more with, polythene, shiny edges “nap-lock” and disposal charge post show.

This isn’t the reason there is a difference between £300+ or 65 quid per mtr as space rental….

Also lots of events are now doing without carpet to the gangways as it isn’t “very green”





Edited by blue al on Sunday 21st January 21:07

Megaflow

9,434 posts

226 months

Monday 22nd January
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Ghostrain said:
Having read all the negative postings about Autosports 24,I thought it may be of interest from the viewpoint of an exhibitor,namely Rally Design.
Rally Design,now in its 52 nd year of trading,exhibiting at Autosports was a yearly pilgrimage but even before Covid it had been going downhill. The rack rate is £300 per sq metre ,compare that with the November Classic show at £65 per sq metre and Race Retro at £60 per sq metre.
Building big stands is a 2 day job and very disruptive to the normal operation of a mail order business,you have to have a reason to be there. Covid changed the way we all shop ,the website is all important,retail shows have lost their necessity. We haven’t published a catalogue for 3 years but oldies like a book to read so are currently working on a new one to last a couple of years.
The organisers of Autosports are not pleasant to do business with,they are arrogant and officious,they realise last minute that the show is poorly attended so hand out cheap stands to sweet sellers,boot polishers and poster sellers,this devalues the show.
So please support the Classic show,it was rammed last year,attendees remarked they needed 2 days yo look at everything. We hope Race Retro ,Feb 23-25 will appeal to classic motorsport
A great insight, thank you for that. Rally Design are one of the company's, along with Demon Tweeks and Burton Power that are a big loss. When they go, you know a show is in trouble.

Everything you have said is not a surprise sadly.

I will be back for the classic show again this year, a proper show, 5 halls rammed with content, I walked 8 miles round it last year!

MrBig

2,705 posts

130 months

Tuesday 23rd January
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Ghostrain said:
Having read all the negative postings about Autosports 24,I thought it may be of interest from the viewpoint of an exhibitor,namely Rally Design.
Rally Design,now in its 52 nd year of trading,exhibiting at Autosports was a yearly pilgrimage but even before Covid it had been going downhill. The rack rate is £300 per sq metre ,compare that with the November Classic show at £65 per sq metre and Race Retro at £60 per sq metre.
Building big stands is a 2 day job and very disruptive to the normal operation of a mail order business,you have to have a reason to be there. Covid changed the way we all shop ,the website is all important,retail shows have lost their necessity. We haven’t published a catalogue for 3 years but oldies like a book to read so are currently working on a new one to last a couple of years.
The organisers of Autosports are not pleasant to do business with,they are arrogant and officious,they realise last minute that the show is poorly attended so hand out cheap stands to sweet sellers,boot polishers and poster sellers,this devalues the show.
So please support the Classic show,it was rammed last year,attendees remarked they needed 2 days yo look at everything. We hope Race Retro ,Feb 23-25 will appeal to classic motorsport.
Very interesting post, thank you. I generally do go to Autosport, despite paying £40+ for the privilege, but it's constant decline is very difficult to hide. I heard the main reason for some of the bigger names not attending anymore is precisely because they hand out cheap floor space at the last minute. Other shows, such as the Caravan and Camping show or the Boating Live are a fraction of the cost and they seem to manage ok. I genuniely wonder how much longer Autosport is sustainable under its current business model. Although I will say the live show was very good this year. The rest is a shadow of its former self.. the days of a mock grid full of F1 cars and a hall full of autograss, autocross and stock cars are very much missed.

My club exhibits at the Classic Motorshow every year, and it's always 5 halls packed to the walls, it's similarly priced to Autosport, but I think it does offer value for money.


flatlandsman

764 posts

8 months

Tuesday 23rd January
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And there is the rub, I think punters WILL pay the money if the feedback and general consensus is fine, as they used to with the Hayshed show.

Seemingly the Classic is turning into that what was, so IT CAN BE DONE< it is just that the people running these things often have no idea what they are doing *(or no idea of the crowd and their mindset) and obsess over profit and nothing else, who would have though that a fairly new show about old cars would become far, far bigger than a show punting just about every motorsport there is, in the country where most of the major motorsport manufacturers are based!

I find it hilarious and a very real snub of this show that has become a shadow of itself mainly because of the desperation for profit.

egor110

16,877 posts

204 months

Tuesday 23rd January
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Just because the manufacturers are here doesn't equate to the general public being interested in motor sport .

The trouble with a lot of these shows is people just go to get free stuff , the amount of business that's actually done is probably tiny .

RONV

538 posts

135 months

Sunday 28th January
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This is the car that takes the race winners on a circuit of the track.

RONV

538 posts

135 months

Monday 29th January
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Sorry I have put it on the wrong page and it will not delete.

pethedxx

4 posts

7 months

Saturday 24th February
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Was hoping to attend this year but couldn't get time off work. In a way I'm glad I didn't, after reading the feedback on here. It's so sad to see the decline of such an iconic show. I'll remember the good years.

flatlandsman

764 posts

8 months

Saturday 24th February
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Honestly, not going is the best fans can do, that way the message gets across hopefully. I do gather the organisers did and try go a different way, more lowered, racy type road cars for a few years, as it was clearly getting tired, but the prices, parking are now so ridiculous.

But they still get a steady drip of fans, and it is akin to motorway services to me, it is the way it is because it can be and you have no choice as it's off season, the prices are that high because they say "they can"

So ignore and move on, use the toilets and go to your destination!!