Anyone used Focused Events?
Discussion
clarki said:
I was at bedford with Focused Events yesterday and they were first class, I mean really good, one of the best ive used.
Great hospitality, ensured correct driving standards were met...and even managed to stop it rainning!!
Me too - and enjoyed their event.Great hospitality, ensured correct driving standards were met...and even managed to stop it rainning!!
What car were you in mate?
The white renault megane, there with my friend in the blue evo and another in the black CSL - you?
Few "moments" in the morning, but once it dried up it turned into a great day out.
Love seeing all the different cars out on track and chatting to the drivers; DBS was fantastic, loved the yellow integrale, the blue TVR and the CSR also. But tbh the red 2Eleven does it for me.
Few "moments" in the morning, but once it dried up it turned into a great day out.
Love seeing all the different cars out on track and chatting to the drivers; DBS was fantastic, loved the yellow integrale, the blue TVR and the CSR also. But tbh the red 2Eleven does it for me.
clarki said:
The white renault megane, there with my friend in the blue evo and another in the black CSL - you?
Few "moments" in the morning, but once it dried up it turned into a great day out.
Love seeing all the different cars out on track and chatting to the drivers; DBS was fantastic, loved the yellow integrale, the blue TVR and the CSR also. But tbh the red 2Eleven does it for me.
Cool - I spoke to you then as was driving the Racing Puma - was a good dayFew "moments" in the morning, but once it dried up it turned into a great day out.
Love seeing all the different cars out on track and chatting to the drivers; DBS was fantastic, loved the yellow integrale, the blue TVR and the CSR also. But tbh the red 2Eleven does it for me.
Hi guys, yep i would recommend them as i have been using them with no probs for the last year, and i,ve done a few bike days with them as well.Seems the same format as the bikes, well organised, not expensive and their discount card works with discounts and even a free day, and i've been getting my card signed on both so i get 10% of all my bookings with them. I've booked Oulton with them this weekend with my friends car and 2 more this year and i'll get a freebie, probabaly try to get it while the summer is here as they are more expensive. And i was at Bedford yesterday as well. Did any of you get a ride in the X-Bow. I believe talking to the organiser that its going to be with them again and they will be offering demo drives.
fergus said:
I spoke to Kevin Healey (FE owner) today about some of the comments on the other FE thread and he informed me that this was a function of the booking company used by some of the posters on the other thread not knowing precise details of the day......
Just to be clear, the input I made as a poster was NOT "a function of the booking company used by some of the posters"; the source of my 'information' (to paraphrase, it is contrary to our company policy to tell you how many bookings in total we will take and how many we will allow out on track at any one time and that there are no refunds within 10 days of the event) was a telephone conversation with them; here is the email I subsequently received from them >Trevor
Thank you for your inquiry regarding our refund policy regarding Oulton Park and open pit lanes.
Within 10 days of the event we are unable to offer refunds, transfers or cancellations and any name changes, transfer of places and cancellations outside of ten days of the event are subject to a 15% administration fee.
The numbers of vehicles out on track on an open pit lane is managed and limited to give each driver plenty of space out there.
I do remember your request last week for information on garage sizes to which you would get approximately 1.5 cars per garage so safely with room to spare I would suggest 1 vehicle per garage. Oulton has about 26 garages so you can either turn up on a first come first serve basis or reserve a garage at £25.00.
Kind Regards
Philip Young
Focused Events
t: 08450 26 72 72
Hi splitpin
I am a regular user of Focused as it would appear is Fergus. The circuits have a limit as far as i am aware, and that is the limit for vehicles on the track. Having chatted to the manager on the day (3 various pretty decent chaps i would say) they do not manage those numbers the pitlane marshal or race control do. With regards to your continued persistence over numbers booked. Do you ask easy jet how many are on the plane, or how many are going to the cinema or the football match. The obvious answer is no. We are not entitled to that sort of information because we did not take the risk and we are not running the business, and looking at this from their point of view for a second, how are they to know that you are not actually a competitor. I would suggest that you go on one of their events, hopefully have a great day and make your own mind up with regards to FE.
Or the other opportuinity is that you throw your own hat into the ring, hire a race circuit (not cheap i would imagine) pay staff, pay for advertising, pay for bank charges, and take a load of losses while you get your name out and about.....i have heard people go on about this before, and its obviously not as easy as it appears....all these operators take a huge gamble with THEIR money and don't have the luxury of being to put a tick in the sunshine box. And yet you also complain regarding their cancellation period. Well its pretty obvious to me that if you were to have your way, if the forcast was rain, then you would expect everyone to be able to get their money back and sod the Operator. Well there would,nt be too many operators left in a very short while would there. We live in the UK not the south of spain, if your in an open top then get some waterproofs and enjoy the experience, i fortunately just have to turn the wipers on, but the challenge is equal and i really enjoy it because i feel it makes me a better driver anyway.
And finally, i have seen a couple of your posts on this subject, but i did,nt see you complaining or questioning their pricing, which from what i see is very competetive in the market.
Sorry to have a pop my friend, but you really seem to be on your high horse on these guys and they are a good company, and lets not forget all these guys are keeping us on track in a very turbulent time. As the saying goes, you can't have your cake and eat it ! Get a little more real my friend. And i really do hope your not a competitor just trying to give them are hard time.
I am a regular user of Focused as it would appear is Fergus. The circuits have a limit as far as i am aware, and that is the limit for vehicles on the track. Having chatted to the manager on the day (3 various pretty decent chaps i would say) they do not manage those numbers the pitlane marshal or race control do. With regards to your continued persistence over numbers booked. Do you ask easy jet how many are on the plane, or how many are going to the cinema or the football match. The obvious answer is no. We are not entitled to that sort of information because we did not take the risk and we are not running the business, and looking at this from their point of view for a second, how are they to know that you are not actually a competitor. I would suggest that you go on one of their events, hopefully have a great day and make your own mind up with regards to FE.
Or the other opportuinity is that you throw your own hat into the ring, hire a race circuit (not cheap i would imagine) pay staff, pay for advertising, pay for bank charges, and take a load of losses while you get your name out and about.....i have heard people go on about this before, and its obviously not as easy as it appears....all these operators take a huge gamble with THEIR money and don't have the luxury of being to put a tick in the sunshine box. And yet you also complain regarding their cancellation period. Well its pretty obvious to me that if you were to have your way, if the forcast was rain, then you would expect everyone to be able to get their money back and sod the Operator. Well there would,nt be too many operators left in a very short while would there. We live in the UK not the south of spain, if your in an open top then get some waterproofs and enjoy the experience, i fortunately just have to turn the wipers on, but the challenge is equal and i really enjoy it because i feel it makes me a better driver anyway.
And finally, i have seen a couple of your posts on this subject, but i did,nt see you complaining or questioning their pricing, which from what i see is very competetive in the market.
Sorry to have a pop my friend, but you really seem to be on your high horse on these guys and they are a good company, and lets not forget all these guys are keeping us on track in a very turbulent time. As the saying goes, you can't have your cake and eat it ! Get a little more real my friend. And i really do hope your not a competitor just trying to give them are hard time.
Hi x-bow1
1. I am not a competitor.
2. Your comparisons are ridiculous, but ......... for example, if I book with Easyjet, I know the plane is likely to be full, the legroom is likely to be tight and it's likely to be a less than great experience.
3. FE's pricing is generally very good.
4. Their cancellation policy is way inferior compared to such as Gold Track or Bookatrack.
5. I do not expect any TDO to lose money if a Customer changes his/her mind (whether by choice or necessity) late in the day. Two people I know had to cancel at the last moment; one had a very close relative pass away, the other broke his leg; both were on a Gold Track Day and both received a full refund; yes, GT were able to find replacements, but even then they decided to forgo any admin charge.
6. I shall use Focused Events at some point; like I said in an earlier post, the general concensus seems to be that they do provide good trackdays, but there is clearly scope for improvement in terms of their T&Cs, the information that they are able or willing to give to their Customers - the people without whom they have no business.
Thanks for the advice on how to enjoy myself driving in the rain my friend.
I'm nipping out now to buy a set of step ladders so I'll be able to get on a horse as high as yours.
1. I am not a competitor.
2. Your comparisons are ridiculous, but ......... for example, if I book with Easyjet, I know the plane is likely to be full, the legroom is likely to be tight and it's likely to be a less than great experience.
3. FE's pricing is generally very good.
4. Their cancellation policy is way inferior compared to such as Gold Track or Bookatrack.
5. I do not expect any TDO to lose money if a Customer changes his/her mind (whether by choice or necessity) late in the day. Two people I know had to cancel at the last moment; one had a very close relative pass away, the other broke his leg; both were on a Gold Track Day and both received a full refund; yes, GT were able to find replacements, but even then they decided to forgo any admin charge.
6. I shall use Focused Events at some point; like I said in an earlier post, the general concensus seems to be that they do provide good trackdays, but there is clearly scope for improvement in terms of their T&Cs, the information that they are able or willing to give to their Customers - the people without whom they have no business.
Thanks for the advice on how to enjoy myself driving in the rain my friend.
I'm nipping out now to buy a set of step ladders so I'll be able to get on a horse as high as yours.
x-bow1's easyjet analogy is just stupid. you know that you're going to get a seat if you book a flight. a better analogy would be buying a timeshare property with an unknown number of other shareholders - you won't know until you're paid up if you're going to get 1 week per year or 10 weeks per year till the cards are shown.
same as track days, if a TDO takes 100 bookings for a day at Oulton, you will spend more time queuing in the pits than you will on track, and when you're on track it will feel like the M25 out there. not all TDO's run up to the maximum numbers of cars allowed on track as it's not always safe to do so in OPL format.
not a dig at FE by the way - I have no first hand experience of them at all - just a response to the comment on number of attendees.
Jonny
BaT
same as track days, if a TDO takes 100 bookings for a day at Oulton, you will spend more time queuing in the pits than you will on track, and when you're on track it will feel like the M25 out there. not all TDO's run up to the maximum numbers of cars allowed on track as it's not always safe to do so in OPL format.
not a dig at FE by the way - I have no first hand experience of them at all - just a response to the comment on number of attendees.
Jonny
BaT
Interesting reply jonny, however i am a business person and so are you, do you like people asking about the in depth procedures of your days.... and surely you take the point re booking procedures and cancellations....i am not sure what yours are but do you offer a refund on cancellation the day before ?
Actually i think your in a business where you take a lot of risk and i appluad you for that as it allows me to have my fun, but i think my analogy is correct, and incidentally it dos'nt matter if its easyjet or BA you will not be allowed a refund within a certain time frame, and i think that is quite acceptable.... bereavements are one thing and i would be surprised if FE would'nt accept that and be accomodating...however if your not feeling to good, or your cars broken or you don,t like the weather forcast...my view would be tough !, why should the business take the loss.
And remember i'm on your side here, because customers should respect your business as well as you respect theirs. It called resonability !
Now just going to pop back up my ladder to see whos on the same level......and yes you guessed it ....a Splitpin !
Actually i think your in a business where you take a lot of risk and i appluad you for that as it allows me to have my fun, but i think my analogy is correct, and incidentally it dos'nt matter if its easyjet or BA you will not be allowed a refund within a certain time frame, and i think that is quite acceptable.... bereavements are one thing and i would be surprised if FE would'nt accept that and be accomodating...however if your not feeling to good, or your cars broken or you don,t like the weather forcast...my view would be tough !, why should the business take the loss.
And remember i'm on your side here, because customers should respect your business as well as you respect theirs. It called resonability !
Now just going to pop back up my ladder to see whos on the same level......and yes you guessed it ....a Splitpin !
Just a further note....having been off to have a look at pricing, if Goldtrack are charging £299 for a trackday at Oulton Park in October and FE are charging £175 in August..... i would presume they a have a lot more room to be negoitable.... across 80 customers thats a further £9920 in profit over the FE day on the same 80 customers.
And i would also ponder if the circuit is cheaper in October to hire than August? i bet it is.
I know that i would rather save the £124 and use that for fuel to and from the event and maybe a good breakfast on the day.
I now that i think more on it.... if i did 10 days with them across the year....and i've done 5 already this year, on average (if thats the difference it equates to £1240. hmmmm.a lot of money. Thank god i don't smoke anymore either.
Time to get down off that ladder again ..... sorry .
And i would also ponder if the circuit is cheaper in October to hire than August? i bet it is.
I know that i would rather save the £124 and use that for fuel to and from the event and maybe a good breakfast on the day.
I now that i think more on it.... if i did 10 days with them across the year....and i've done 5 already this year, on average (if thats the difference it equates to £1240. hmmmm.a lot of money. Thank god i don't smoke anymore either.
Time to get down off that ladder again ..... sorry .
Edited by x-bow1 on Saturday 1st August 13:43
Edited by x-bow1 on Saturday 1st August 13:47
we're charging £325 for a weekend at Oulton Park in August and will be limiting the day to just 50 cars, expecting no more than around 20-25 on track at once - goldtrack will be doing similar and certainly nowhere near the 80 cars you suggest
personally, i'd rather pay a few quid more and have a clear track, no pit lane queues and no pikeys who value breakfast over their own safety!
as with most things in life, you get what you pay for.
Jonny
BaT
personally, i'd rather pay a few quid more and have a clear track, no pit lane queues and no pikeys who value breakfast over their own safety!
as with most things in life, you get what you pay for.
Jonny
BaT
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