A BIG THANK YOU - NOT!!
Discussion
This is just a huge thank you to the organisers of the Glamis Historic car show. It is advertised as the largest and most prestigious in Scotland.
So being in the business of classics, and knowing some of my customers would be attending, I spent many hours that, quite frankly, I can't afford right now, tarting up the old Merc 500, then the wife and I proceeded up the M80 and M9. Beautiful country but festooned with speed cameras, stupidly low speed limits, and numerous unmarked cars of the new Scottish police force who are hell bent on "proving" themselves. It takes an act of supreme discipline to stick to 50 MPH on a motorway when you have the guts of 300 BHP on tap!
So after all that, and not forgetting around 80 quid in fuel, we arrive at a junction near the castle at around midday to find the whole area gridlocked. Absolutely nothing moving except a wee policewoman; the smallest I've ever seen in fact. Bless her, she was trying to help. She said, "where are you going?" I felt like John Malkovich in the ad with George Clooney when he appears at the pearly gates and says, "where am I?" Malkovich says, "take an educated guess".
She got it. The traffic goes out of sight in both directions to the horizon totally immobile. I attempt to get out of the junction after a decision to abandon the show. There is no point in sitting in this heat for very probably 3 hours to get into the show at full price to find most people starting to leave.
A joker has stopped right across the junction completely blocking it, but leaving a car length in front and behind; almost as if he had done it deliberately. I toot the horn to ask him to move forward to let us out and I get a torrent of abuse from the passenger. Just as I'm getting out of the car, the driver moves forward. Another police officer on the pavement looks on bemused but motionless. I wonder if these 2 uniformed cretins have ever heard of the principle of directing and controlling traffic.
Now I would bet anything on the fact that any complaints with this will be met with, "We didn't expect so many people to turn up". Yes, I can understand that. It's just the biggest show in the country in the midst of the best weather we have had for many years, why would so many bother to turn out, eh?
It was the same at Leuchars a few years ago; we got out of the car park at 9 o'clock at night. Then there was the debacle at the Runrig concert in Drumnadrochit. Stinking filthy toilets, 6 quid to park in a mud-laden quagmire; 30 quid for the same farmer who had charged you to park there to tow you out. We finally got out at 2-30 in the morning!
Number 1 son is on the 'phone from Chicago to say he had taken his family to see the Bulls. Fabulous day out with everything laid on. The stadium was filled to capacity, i.e. 22,000 people! When the game was over it took only 15 minutes to get out of the car park, which was free.
I believe the appropriate expression is, "couldn't organise a piss up in a brewery".
Why do we pay so much for these events in this country and accept such utterly, bloody awful service?
J
So being in the business of classics, and knowing some of my customers would be attending, I spent many hours that, quite frankly, I can't afford right now, tarting up the old Merc 500, then the wife and I proceeded up the M80 and M9. Beautiful country but festooned with speed cameras, stupidly low speed limits, and numerous unmarked cars of the new Scottish police force who are hell bent on "proving" themselves. It takes an act of supreme discipline to stick to 50 MPH on a motorway when you have the guts of 300 BHP on tap!
So after all that, and not forgetting around 80 quid in fuel, we arrive at a junction near the castle at around midday to find the whole area gridlocked. Absolutely nothing moving except a wee policewoman; the smallest I've ever seen in fact. Bless her, she was trying to help. She said, "where are you going?" I felt like John Malkovich in the ad with George Clooney when he appears at the pearly gates and says, "where am I?" Malkovich says, "take an educated guess".
She got it. The traffic goes out of sight in both directions to the horizon totally immobile. I attempt to get out of the junction after a decision to abandon the show. There is no point in sitting in this heat for very probably 3 hours to get into the show at full price to find most people starting to leave.
A joker has stopped right across the junction completely blocking it, but leaving a car length in front and behind; almost as if he had done it deliberately. I toot the horn to ask him to move forward to let us out and I get a torrent of abuse from the passenger. Just as I'm getting out of the car, the driver moves forward. Another police officer on the pavement looks on bemused but motionless. I wonder if these 2 uniformed cretins have ever heard of the principle of directing and controlling traffic.
Now I would bet anything on the fact that any complaints with this will be met with, "We didn't expect so many people to turn up". Yes, I can understand that. It's just the biggest show in the country in the midst of the best weather we have had for many years, why would so many bother to turn out, eh?
It was the same at Leuchars a few years ago; we got out of the car park at 9 o'clock at night. Then there was the debacle at the Runrig concert in Drumnadrochit. Stinking filthy toilets, 6 quid to park in a mud-laden quagmire; 30 quid for the same farmer who had charged you to park there to tow you out. We finally got out at 2-30 in the morning!
Number 1 son is on the 'phone from Chicago to say he had taken his family to see the Bulls. Fabulous day out with everything laid on. The stadium was filled to capacity, i.e. 22,000 people! When the game was over it took only 15 minutes to get out of the car park, which was free.
I believe the appropriate expression is, "couldn't organise a piss up in a brewery".
Why do we pay so much for these events in this country and accept such utterly, bloody awful service?
J
Jith,
I think it's Strathmore Vintage Vehicle Club who organise this.
Contact them and offer to direct all the arrangements next year.
Then, everything will be done properly and to your liking.
I think it's Strathmore Vintage Vehicle Club who organise this.
Contact them and offer to direct all the arrangements next year.
Then, everything will be done properly and to your liking.
jith said:
Why?
J
It just made you sound very high maintenance, it's completely irrelevant and makes you come across as a bit self-important.J
"I have the best part of 300 horsepower on tap, I demand entrance to your little event."
Of course, that's not even paraphrasing, it's just making it up, but you were clearly in a mood right from the start. Poking fun at the size of the police officer doesn't make you sound any better either. Honestly, you just sound like a real pain.
That's how I read your post anyway, I'm sure someone else will be along soon to sympathise with your awful experience.
I don't see why having the best part of 300bhp would cause a problem sticking to the speed limit, I have about the same and have absolutely no problems with it. May I suggest if you are having difficulties with staying below the limit then something like a toyota yaris may be better suited to you.
In all seriousness this thread seems a bit like that one in GG the other day where someone went to Goodwood and wanted to complain because there were people there.
In all seriousness this thread seems a bit like that one in GG the other day where someone went to Goodwood and wanted to complain because there were people there.
Papa Hotel said:
jith said:
Why?
J
It just made you sound very high maintenance, it's completely irrelevant and makes you come across as a bit self-important.J
"I have the best part of 300 horsepower on tap, I demand entrance to your little event."
Of course, that's not even paraphrasing, it's just making it up, but you were clearly in a mood right from the start. Poking fun at the size of the police officer doesn't make you sound any better either. Honestly, you just sound like a real pain.
That's how I read your post anyway, I'm sure someone else will be along soon to sympathise with your awful experience.
Why did you write a quote that I didn't state? Is it because you are a real pain, or maybe you're in a mood.
I take it you're a police officer? My old Merc has that kind of power because it is a 5 litre. I'm in the motor trade and specialise in classics. I've driven and owned just about everything because it's my business to do so, not because I try to impress anyone or are on some sort of power trip. Frankly I don't give a toss what people think of my cars. I drive them because I like them, they're dead safe and reliable.
The issue with ludicrously low speed limits when you are driving something like a mid 80s 5 litre Merc is that it was designed to cruise at way over 100 MPH. At 50 mph on the motorway the engine is only doing some 1600 Rpm. I am literally only resting my foot on the throttle and have to constantly check the speedo and hold it back. That makes it wholly relevant.
There were hundreds of people on that road yesterday who were both very disappointed and frustrated at the disorganised chaos. All of these people had travelled to this show, some of them no doubt even further than I. We all had the right to be annoyed and "demand entrance". We were invited! And it's not a little show. It's the biggest meet in Scotland; all the more reason to bloody well organise it properly.
It wasn't the road network that was the problem. It was the fact that we couldn't get into the car parks. The reference to the police officers was made because they were doing absolutely nothing to help keep the junction clear or direct the traffic.
The WPC I referred to I reckon was under 5 feet tall. When did I poke fun at her? When I worked with the police they were all 6 footers and the ladies were tall too. I think it looks strange to see a police officer as small as this. I think in a conflict situation they are in danger of not being taken seriously.
Why can't people in this country accept criticism when they get things like this so wrong? If there is acceptance of this poor service, it will never improve.
Don't accept it!
J
jith said:
The issue with ludicrously low speed limits when you are driving something like a mid 80s 5 litre Merc is that it was designed to cruise at way over 100 MPH. At 50 mph on the motorway the engine is only doing some 1600 Rpm. I am literally only resting my foot on the throttle and have to constantly check the speedo and hold it back. That makes it wholly relevant.
Jesus, how do you cope with 30mph limits? It must be very difficult for you.Mine sits at about 17-1800rpm at 50, I manage just fine...A bad workman blames his tools and all that.
the problem with Glamis is all traffic has to come in one entrance drive, so it quickly backs up.
its a cracking show though, saturday is always the quietest of the two days, lots more turn up on the sunday.
us Aberdeen mini owners stayed both days, camped over at the bottom of the car park. nice to have a couple of dry days as well, normally the entrance to the car club stands turns into a mudbath..
its a cracking show though, saturday is always the quietest of the two days, lots more turn up on the sunday.
us Aberdeen mini owners stayed both days, camped over at the bottom of the car park. nice to have a couple of dry days as well, normally the entrance to the car club stands turns into a mudbath..
You should've gone to Knockhill for the SMRC day! Superbly well organised, excellent access with no queues, plenty of parking, a fabulous days entertainment with Legends, Minis, Classics and Sports and Saloon car racing not to mention the burger bars, ice cream vans and restaurants galore, with next to no queuing required anywhere, prime seating available across the venue, the sun shining all day - and all for £12.00!
And before you ask no I don't work for Knockhill, we were on the way back from a Saturday night away in Edinburgh and thought we'd capitalise on the weather and pop in by!
Seriously though, it was excellent value for money and it sounds like the folks at Glamis could learn a fair bit from the Knockhill organisers. 'Like clockwork' springs to mind......
S+
And before you ask no I don't work for Knockhill, we were on the way back from a Saturday night away in Edinburgh and thought we'd capitalise on the weather and pop in by!
Seriously though, it was excellent value for money and it sounds like the folks at Glamis could learn a fair bit from the Knockhill organisers. 'Like clockwork' springs to mind......
S+
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