Ragley Hall - DUBIOUS EVENT!
Discussion
Just returned from Ragley hall. Great weather, Great venue but I have to say that the event was less than satisfactory!
1.5 hours to queue and get in and only covered 1 mile!
Anyone like us who were expecting some sort of catering facilities will have been very disappointed. No catering to speak of due to them 'running out of food' - by 1.30pm!!!! Rubbish!
It was a good job I spent 15 mins in the coffee queue as this became unavailable after 2pm!
Got round the lot in about an hour!
All in all the most satisfying part of the day was strolling around the car park! - Great cars on display.
Unlikely to be attending next year.
Am I being harsh or do others share my view?
1.5 hours to queue and get in and only covered 1 mile!
Anyone like us who were expecting some sort of catering facilities will have been very disappointed. No catering to speak of due to them 'running out of food' - by 1.30pm!!!! Rubbish!
It was a good job I spent 15 mins in the coffee queue as this became unavailable after 2pm!
Got round the lot in about an hour!
All in all the most satisfying part of the day was strolling around the car park! - Great cars on display.
Unlikely to be attending next year.
Am I being harsh or do others share my view?
Sounds like I didn't miss much. I went the two years the event was held at Brands Hatch which was great but Ragley Hall just sounded boring.
Prior to the events at Brands Hatch the venue was at a castle(can't remember the name) and like you say you've seen everything after about an hour and like today the catering facilities were sh#t!
Geoff
Prior to the events at Brands Hatch the venue was at a castle(can't remember the name) and like you say you've seen everything after about an hour and like today the catering facilities were sh#t!
Geoff
Couldn't agree more, Daniel. There was a road closure about 7 miles from the event, which rerouted you about 20 miles out of the way. Why wasn't this posted on the club site? Getting in was a joke as you said, and there was little in the way of entertainment. No Cayenne Experience, and apart from the solitary Porsche going round doing the Driving Experience, everything else was static.
The reason the food ran out was due to there being twice the number of expected visitors, as most people bought tickets on the gate. I suspect this is why we had the queue at the start. There was no PA system, so no one knew what was going on, not that there was a lot to announce.
The Hog Roast was cancelled and it was just a BBQ, and the chef refused to serve anyone without a reserved ticket, even though I suspect most people with these tickets had already left. I was really looking forward to the Hog Roast, and the lack of this was the icing on the cake. Luckily I brought my 4 year old, so I spent a bit of quality time with her at the kiddies play area, and she even won a ride-on Boxster S from a painting competition!
We need to get on their case and get next years event moved to Brand's Hatch again. That was a fantastic weekend in 2005 and I was entertained for two whole days, rather than a couple of hours.
The reason the food ran out was due to there being twice the number of expected visitors, as most people bought tickets on the gate. I suspect this is why we had the queue at the start. There was no PA system, so no one knew what was going on, not that there was a lot to announce.
The Hog Roast was cancelled and it was just a BBQ, and the chef refused to serve anyone without a reserved ticket, even though I suspect most people with these tickets had already left. I was really looking forward to the Hog Roast, and the lack of this was the icing on the cake. Luckily I brought my 4 year old, so I spent a bit of quality time with her at the kiddies play area, and she even won a ride-on Boxster S from a painting competition!
We need to get on their case and get next years event moved to Brand's Hatch again. That was a fantastic weekend in 2005 and I was entertained for two whole days, rather than a couple of hours.
My first event of this type. It took too long to get in - one hour plus in the queue. Barely adequate toilet facilities and it would appear non existent catering facilities. Luckily we took out own picnic.
The kids had a good time in the play area and I had seen what I wanted to in an hour. Ragley Hall itself was a picturesque backdrop and the grounds provide an excellent venue.
I only live half an hour away and that was one of the main reasons for attending. I would have been sorely disappointed had I traveled half way across the country to attend.
pp
The kids had a good time in the play area and I had seen what I wanted to in an hour. Ragley Hall itself was a picturesque backdrop and the grounds provide an excellent venue.
I only live half an hour away and that was one of the main reasons for attending. I would have been sorely disappointed had I traveled half way across the country to attend.
pp
I went to this and was pretty dissapointed as well...nice setting, but there was only enough things to keep you entertained for a very short while.
Took over an hour to get in, and all we were told was..."Sorry, didn't expect this many cars"
In my opinion, the Porsche events at Brands Hatch in previous years beat this hands down..I dont think i will be going again until there is something a little more than static displys.
Took over an hour to get in, and all we were told was..."Sorry, didn't expect this many cars"
In my opinion, the Porsche events at Brands Hatch in previous years beat this hands down..I dont think i will be going again until there is something a little more than static displys.
Edited by jamesrose on Sunday 9th September 21:10
My first and hasn't left me with a great impression. Abandoned my car at the Little Chef and walked in (they didn't charge me which I was quite glad about!) Saved about 2 hours in the queue from the cars I was passing on foot......
Not as much going on as I expected, not enough bathroom facilities, way too few food stands (glad I ate at the Little Chef before venturing in), although did at least get a beer in the tent.......the day was made by the people I spent it with.........................
Not as much going on as I expected, not enough bathroom facilities, way too few food stands (glad I ate at the Little Chef before venturing in), although did at least get a beer in the tent.......the day was made by the people I spent it with.........................
We attended the event today; as others have noted there was a long queue to get in (a few signs showing an alternative route in would have been nice), 'running out of food' and 'not expecting this many cars' are pretty unacceptable excuses in this day and age. Maybe PCGB could consider getting some professional events organisers in, especially as hundreds of owners made the effort to get their cars down for the day. Anyhoo, for me loads of superb cars (and tractors) in apparently excellent condition were a real treat, and a credit to the UK Pork community. My faves were the various Turbo Slantnoses and 997 GT3RSs, not to mention a gorgeous white 993 Turbo S (R reg?) that I followed from Ragley to just short of High Wycombe on the M40. What a beauty. Bring on next year (with a few important changes!)
A3Targa said:
We attended the event today; as others have noted there was a long queue to get in (a few signs showing an alternative route in would have been nice), 'running out of food' and 'not expecting this many cars' are pretty unacceptable excuses in this day and age. Maybe PCGB could consider getting some professional events organisers in, especially as hundreds of owners made the effort to get their cars down for the day. Anyhoo, for me loads of superb cars (and tractors) in apparently excellent condition were a real treat, and a credit to the UK Pork community. My faves were the various Turbo Slantnoses and 997 GT3RSs, not to mention a gorgeous white 993 Turbo S (R reg?) that I followed from Ragley to just short of High Wycombe on the M40. What a beauty. Bring on next year (with a few important changes!)
Im even more sorry to hear you resorted to the little Chef. Although I was hungry, I wasn't THAT hungry! 
Funny you mention the 993 Turbo S. I followed from around High Wycombe all the way to Ragley! - Don't think I saw him doing 70 mph, Ever!
Great cars, great weather, cr*p venue, worst annual show i have been to.
This is why i didn't renew my membership with PCGB and why a lot of fellow enthusiasts i know haven't. TIPEC far better IMO.
Who in the right mind has one marquee for food, which low and behold runs out at 1.30!!!!!!!
Discusted, loads complaining and if you were there with the family then i feel sorry for you.
Obviously done on the cheap.
This is why i didn't renew my membership with PCGB and why a lot of fellow enthusiasts i know haven't. TIPEC far better IMO.
Who in the right mind has one marquee for food, which low and behold runs out at 1.30!!!!!!!
Discusted, loads complaining and if you were there with the family then i feel sorry for you.
Obviously done on the cheap.
Get the feeling this forums gonna run and run and run!!! my 1st experience of a pcgb event, and i to think it was awful!!!
From various people and forums it sounds like Brands or indeed any other circuit based venue would be better, and they may even have staff who know what they are doing??
I hope the powers that be at pcgb are getting the message loud and clear!
although i think this may not be the case as i believe a forum at there site covering "The Ragley nightmare" has been removed already.
From various people and forums it sounds like Brands or indeed any other circuit based venue would be better, and they may even have staff who know what they are doing??
I hope the powers that be at pcgb are getting the message loud and clear!
although i think this may not be the case as i believe a forum at there site covering "The Ragley nightmare" has been removed already.
Our first experience of a PCGB event...we took two cars, and two children billed as it was as a "great day out for all the family".
My definition of a great day out starts and ends with being able to feed my children...we couldn't stay to look around the cars or fully enjoy the setting or play area because after a 2 hour drive and an extra hour to do the last mile it very rapidly became clear that there was no real food remaining by around 12.30pm...
I am in absolute shock, a total waste of a day and hard to remember the last time that I willingly spent money and time to feel like such a poor parent.
My definition of a great day out starts and ends with being able to feed my children...we couldn't stay to look around the cars or fully enjoy the setting or play area because after a 2 hour drive and an extra hour to do the last mile it very rapidly became clear that there was no real food remaining by around 12.30pm...
I am in absolute shock, a total waste of a day and hard to remember the last time that I willingly spent money and time to feel like such a poor parent.
I think I am going to be a lone voice here but....... overall me and my two boys enjoyed it! Arrived just after 10am and took about 30 mins to get in. After that a walk around the stands, ok not many trade stands but I wasn't expecting loads. Then a picnic and chill out whilst the boys played in the play park - although they were disappointed to be kicked off between 1pm and 2pm whilst the adults "played"!
I was expecting a gathering of Porsches at a stately home in the countryside with something to amuse the kids........... and that is what I got. However, I must admit I wasn't expecting there to be quite so many people but the variety of cars (including the R8!) made it more interesting.
Had the event been at Brands Hatch, I wouldn't have travelled that distance with the kids; I am from Glos. However, I would go to something like this again if it was in the Midlands area.
Perhaps what PCGB need is an event like this... billed as a family day and a more "hardcore" event at Brands or Silverstone??
I was expecting a gathering of Porsches at a stately home in the countryside with something to amuse the kids........... and that is what I got. However, I must admit I wasn't expecting there to be quite so many people but the variety of cars (including the R8!) made it more interesting.
Had the event been at Brands Hatch, I wouldn't have travelled that distance with the kids; I am from Glos. However, I would go to something like this again if it was in the Midlands area.
Perhaps what PCGB need is an event like this... billed as a family day and a more "hardcore" event at Brands or Silverstone??
What a really poorly organised and disappointing day! Spent almost 2 hours in traffic trying to get into the place and then found the catering facilities an absolute joke - they had run out of food by 13:30 and only had cakes left! Toilet facilities very poor and so after spending 45 minutes looking at the numerous fabulous cars in the car park we left as kids were so hungry!
I have never been to such a poorly organised show and the PCGB should be totally ashamed with the catering facilities they provided - won't ever be going again and won't be renewing my membership!
I have never been to such a poorly organised show and the PCGB should be totally ashamed with the catering facilities they provided - won't ever be going again and won't be renewing my membership!
Ref Andyglos, i agree that a location like Brands would be a little to far for some, but a venue like Donnington would be more centralised! And if the venue actually allowed you to enter on arrival, not making you q for 1 to 2 hours, you could do the extra distance, i would rather have driven an extra 50/100 miles in an hour, not 1.5 miles stuck in a q with a rather warm engine!!!! I am going to pass on Goodwoods details to pcgb as they seem to have little problem dealing with events on a larger scale and provide suitable entertainment for the children! oh and food etc!
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