Discussion
I was frustrated after a 4 hour round trip and £20 entry price to find what I did.
The thing that suprised me was the lack of club stands outside. Was no one invited? Last time I went to Stafford it wasn't massive but there was an impressive array of private cars. Was Sunday any better?
I'm still doing the 10 hour round trip to Exeter next month so it would be nice to see everyone there!
The thing that suprised me was the lack of club stands outside. Was no one invited? Last time I went to Stafford it wasn't massive but there was an impressive array of private cars. Was Sunday any better?
I'm still doing the 10 hour round trip to Exeter next month so it would be nice to see everyone there!
Every one seems to agree that the kit car market is a tough place to be at the moment. Lets face it it's tough everywhere.
I think there is lots of positive stuff going on though. I specifically mean the move from some manufactureres for single donor cheaper to build kits. Basically back to where the kit car scene came from. There are new donor cars out there to use ie MX5, BMW, Focus etc So not all doom and gloom, there is a way forward and a massive new market in terms of cars that are suitable for track. 10 years ago there were very few track days, now everyone is doing them!
As for the shows.
It's times like these where people have to pull together. As has been posted before without magazines, manufacturers, shows, parts suppliers the whole thing fails if one drops out.
Total Kitcars action days were a great idea, but didn't really work. Perhaps if a full show was to take place at a circuit and manufacturers booked in for a track day at the same time, then we would see better results. Possible to do? It will be expensive and difficult to schedule on a weekend.
Stoneleigh isn't what it used to be...... Maybe, maybe not. Rose coloured glasses? I do know that people and manufacturers come and go and yes there were fewer manufacturers in the last few years but also some new ones.
My plan?
Well i think Stoneleigh can and should continue as it is. Maybe with a few new attractions for the general public.
Other shows? Well I love the idea of Stafford as I am a nothern monkey. Is it far north enough? Is it too close to Stoneleigh? Detling and Stafford need to be combined with something else? Classic car show? Motorsport show? I know the kits always go down well at the NEC.
If other shows are going to continue everyone needs to pull together. Owners, publications, manufacturers etc. Lets have combined shows, not each magazine having a show. If everyone can't agree how things should be done, get a professional to organise it. Everyone advertises it, every owners club gets an invite, every forum, local press/TV.
What do we end up with?
3 big shows! 1 North, 1 South and Stoneleigh in the middle. Everyone goes to at least 2 and everyone is happy! Provide camping and some CLEAN showers and my Mrs might even come too! Well providing it's not in January!
I think there is lots of positive stuff going on though. I specifically mean the move from some manufactureres for single donor cheaper to build kits. Basically back to where the kit car scene came from. There are new donor cars out there to use ie MX5, BMW, Focus etc So not all doom and gloom, there is a way forward and a massive new market in terms of cars that are suitable for track. 10 years ago there were very few track days, now everyone is doing them!
As for the shows.
It's times like these where people have to pull together. As has been posted before without magazines, manufacturers, shows, parts suppliers the whole thing fails if one drops out.
Total Kitcars action days were a great idea, but didn't really work. Perhaps if a full show was to take place at a circuit and manufacturers booked in for a track day at the same time, then we would see better results. Possible to do? It will be expensive and difficult to schedule on a weekend.
Stoneleigh isn't what it used to be...... Maybe, maybe not. Rose coloured glasses? I do know that people and manufacturers come and go and yes there were fewer manufacturers in the last few years but also some new ones.
My plan?
Well i think Stoneleigh can and should continue as it is. Maybe with a few new attractions for the general public.
Other shows? Well I love the idea of Stafford as I am a nothern monkey. Is it far north enough? Is it too close to Stoneleigh? Detling and Stafford need to be combined with something else? Classic car show? Motorsport show? I know the kits always go down well at the NEC.
If other shows are going to continue everyone needs to pull together. Owners, publications, manufacturers etc. Lets have combined shows, not each magazine having a show. If everyone can't agree how things should be done, get a professional to organise it. Everyone advertises it, every owners club gets an invite, every forum, local press/TV.
What do we end up with?
3 big shows! 1 North, 1 South and Stoneleigh in the middle. Everyone goes to at least 2 and everyone is happy! Provide camping and some CLEAN showers and my Mrs might even come too! Well providing it's not in January!
Meeja said:
rdodger said:
Provide camping and some CLEAN showers and my Mrs might even come too! Well providing it's not in January!
Pah. She is obviously a lightweight!Mrs Meeja would happily camp all year round (lots of thick fleeces!) But getting her to camp at a car show would be another challenge altogether!
I think it's more to do with the fact it then becomes a 2 day car show!
Stuart Mills said:
I hope not to offend anyone but here is a sad but true fact.
The average age of a kit car show visitor is getting older. Take me forinstance, I became seriously interested in kit cars when I was 18 or 19. I have maintained an interest ever since and vistied many many shows before becoming involved in the industry. I am now 53. We need too attract 18 year olds. Now that is not going to be easy when todays young appear to be more interested in a virtual world, AKA the Playstation generation. But that cannot apply to all 18-30 year olds can it.
So how do we attract new blood?
The body conversions seem to be attracting new blood as do the more track based models.The average age of a kit car show visitor is getting older. Take me forinstance, I became seriously interested in kit cars when I was 18 or 19. I have maintained an interest ever since and vistied many many shows before becoming involved in the industry. I am now 53. We need too attract 18 year olds. Now that is not going to be easy when todays young appear to be more interested in a virtual world, AKA the Playstation generation. But that cannot apply to all 18-30 year olds can it.
So how do we attract new blood?
It's funny really as youngsters pay a lot less insurance on a kit car than a Corsa.
A move to new donor cars like the MX5 can only help as there a lot of younger people out there with those quietly whatching them rot away while the blow thousands on Turbos and superchargers.
Making more affordable kits has to be the way forward (or back?)single donor, cheap to build, lots of fun!
Perhaps someone should be making low cost, lightweight MX5 based kits with a track bias? What do you think Stuart?
Finally a friend of mine builds kitcars for a living. He has been trying for a couple of years to find a youngster to train up. No one either wants to work or those that do can't even drill a hole. I bet they are good on GT5 though.
Gassing Station | Kit Cars | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff