Cars, coffee and the economy and a divide
Discussion
There’s a few cars n coffee type events around me. One is a monthly Saturday morning thing, the other is an evening pub meet.
Last year the evening pub meet, called Sixes and Eights (relating to what’s welcome by the number of cylinders) was so well attended, it filled a pub car park… all of it, not just the spaces, but the whole lot, packed the entrance, everything, until it was spilling onto the road.
We went to one last month and there was about 8 cars (now called Sixes, Eights and Classics to attract more)…and the missus and I were in one each!
The Saturday morning event a few weeks back had about 6 cars in attendance, the organisers had baked cakes, cookies and flapjacks to sell for their local charity. I helped out as much as I could, I do like cookies..
Our local rally car club organised a day at Curborough Sprint Track, limited to 20 cars I booked on early, I told a mate about it who may have been interested who booked on too. A week before the event the club sent an email to say that there was not enough booked on and would need to cancel the catering laid on (breakfast and lunch in with the £100 cost) and that the club would probably be running at a loss. Being the person who always want clubs to succeed, i campaigned my friends and another booked on.
There were 11 cars…. The catering DID turn up, as they misunderstood the cancelling email, so the club definitely made a loss…. We all took our own food too, so there was a lot of wasted food..
Signs of people feeling the pinch?
The Porsche club (PCGB R5) run a monthly weekend drive, limited to 20 cars, organised on a whatsapp group… that was over-subscribed and a reserve list was sizeable within 24 hours.
Are people experiencing the same kind of thing?
Last year the evening pub meet, called Sixes and Eights (relating to what’s welcome by the number of cylinders) was so well attended, it filled a pub car park… all of it, not just the spaces, but the whole lot, packed the entrance, everything, until it was spilling onto the road.
We went to one last month and there was about 8 cars (now called Sixes, Eights and Classics to attract more)…and the missus and I were in one each!
The Saturday morning event a few weeks back had about 6 cars in attendance, the organisers had baked cakes, cookies and flapjacks to sell for their local charity. I helped out as much as I could, I do like cookies..
Our local rally car club organised a day at Curborough Sprint Track, limited to 20 cars I booked on early, I told a mate about it who may have been interested who booked on too. A week before the event the club sent an email to say that there was not enough booked on and would need to cancel the catering laid on (breakfast and lunch in with the £100 cost) and that the club would probably be running at a loss. Being the person who always want clubs to succeed, i campaigned my friends and another booked on.
There were 11 cars…. The catering DID turn up, as they misunderstood the cancelling email, so the club definitely made a loss…. We all took our own food too, so there was a lot of wasted food..
Signs of people feeling the pinch?
The Porsche club (PCGB R5) run a monthly weekend drive, limited to 20 cars, organised on a whatsapp group… that was over-subscribed and a reserve list was sizeable within 24 hours.
Are people experiencing the same kind of thing?
Would probably help to not try and filter by cylinder count. A lot of modern enthusiasts cars are 4-cyl, and a lot of enthusiasts may even have had to downsize to more economical vehicles. Not to mention alternative fuels.
I’d happily continue to attend meets, but all the regular ones I used to frequent aren’t happening any more (were in decline well before the pandemic, so unlikely to be “the squeeze”).
I’d happily continue to attend meets, but all the regular ones I used to frequent aren’t happening any more (were in decline well before the pandemic, so unlikely to be “the squeeze”).
I have been a few 6’s and 8’s in the past and enjoyed them. Not been for a while though (or many car meets really)
I don’t know when they are happening now as I aren’t on Facebook. So that’s a big reason I miss out on meets/ events. Is there anywhere else to look? (Could be arranged/ advertised in the midland section on here perhaps)
I have booked up for the Morgan saturday service and looking forward to that though.
I don’t know when they are happening now as I aren’t on Facebook. So that’s a big reason I miss out on meets/ events. Is there anywhere else to look? (Could be arranged/ advertised in the midland section on here perhaps)
I have booked up for the Morgan saturday service and looking forward to that though.
MrNoisy said:
A slightly different thing but I got an email last week from a TDO saying they had an event that week with less than 20 cars booked on. Last year you needed to book a trackday months in advance.
2 tanks at over £2 a litre is now clearly the most expensive bit of the day
Wasn't that at least partly down to the Covid lockdown and people not being able to go on holiday/spend money elsewhere, so they did more track days.2 tanks at over £2 a litre is now clearly the most expensive bit of the day
A bit yes and a bit no...
Couple of weeks ago it was the Doune Hillclimb, it's about 80 miles from me so that's around 6 or 8 gallon depending upon which car I took, the weather was poor at home, better there but I just said "sod it" I'm not going and grumped around the house all day.
Few weeks previous it was the Classic at Doune and did go and enjoyed it!
Trying to keep mileage down at home but failing miserably as young Son thinks I'm his personal taxi and TBH it's just nice to get out, even if just a run into town.
I've been looking at getting back into motorsports but the cost of fuel to get there, plus entry, plus licence and anything damaged is making me think twice. Where I live now is quite away from my preferred venue of Harewood (300mile/7 hours) so I'm looking at 25 gallon just to attend. Might get 5 runs up the hill in a day so not much sport per buck. Add that to the miles I'm doing during the year in the Caterham (about 1500 in 7 year) I'm tempted to sell it and save the VED/Insurance/MoT money too.
Couple of weeks ago it was the Doune Hillclimb, it's about 80 miles from me so that's around 6 or 8 gallon depending upon which car I took, the weather was poor at home, better there but I just said "sod it" I'm not going and grumped around the house all day.
Few weeks previous it was the Classic at Doune and did go and enjoyed it!
Trying to keep mileage down at home but failing miserably as young Son thinks I'm his personal taxi and TBH it's just nice to get out, even if just a run into town.
I've been looking at getting back into motorsports but the cost of fuel to get there, plus entry, plus licence and anything damaged is making me think twice. Where I live now is quite away from my preferred venue of Harewood (300mile/7 hours) so I'm looking at 25 gallon just to attend. Might get 5 runs up the hill in a day so not much sport per buck. Add that to the miles I'm doing during the year in the Caterham (about 1500 in 7 year) I'm tempted to sell it and save the VED/Insurance/MoT money too.
Wheels on Wednesday has been heaving the last few evening and Sunday meets.
Never seen it so busy. Although it's a very well organised and promoted event.
Everything there from a few advenatadors to a bond bug with everything in between. It helps that the usual ford pops and bangs crew don't seem to be attacted.
We also have a "unnamed classic car group" event at a local pub which is really popular. Good ethos of everything goes and nothing shunned so you get some oddball cars attending which is refreshing.
Never seen it so busy. Although it's a very well organised and promoted event.
Everything there from a few advenatadors to a bond bug with everything in between. It helps that the usual ford pops and bangs crew don't seem to be attacted.
We also have a "unnamed classic car group" event at a local pub which is really popular. Good ethos of everything goes and nothing shunned so you get some oddball cars attending which is refreshing.
Zarco said:
Wasn't that at least partly down to the Covid lockdown and people not being able to go on holiday/spend money elsewhere, so they did more track days.
I’m sure that’s true also yes. The last few events I have done there has been lots of chat from people saying that they were going to have to be more selective and do fewer days. It has crossed my mind too.
Then, getting that email made me wonder if that could be another sign of a cooling off of fun spending.
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