Is Autosport 2006 now too expensive

[Larco]

I usually go to Autosport every year and thoroughly enjoy it .
I am having second thoughts this year now that they have added the live action arena (which I am not too bothered about) in with the entrance fee. This is now a wopping £25.
I am happy to pay 10 to 15 quid to go round the exhibition but its now £32 which the nec car park.
I think Goodwood will be a much better option and better value for money in my opinion.
What does everybody else think



>> Edited by Larco on Sunday 25th December 12:51

[tvrforever]

far too pricey for a browsing & shopping trip - even though it's a great do....

[flemke]

The worst thing about the Autosport show is that a lot of the more interesting exhibitors pack and leave after the second "Trade-only" day on Friday.
Looking at yet another collection of pretend Formula One rolling chassis may appeal to some folks, but I would have thought that most PHers would like to be able to speak with people who can educate them on everything from dampers to driveshafts to data logging.

[eccles]

i went to the first historic motorsport show last year, and i just couldn't get over the prices there....instead of doing 'show specials' where you get things a bit cheaper, it seemed just about all the traders there were charging the same as list price, and in some cases, even more!....but at least the cars were real!

[anonymous-user]

the autosport show is like going to a lap dancing bar. lots of things that you want to play with but you know you can never afford!!

i'll go in january though, well i can look but not touch (for now!)

[hornet]

There's always the Xtreme Wheels show.

www.xwishow.com/index.htm

[Trackside]

In answer to thread title, YES! I too phoned up to order tickets, only to be asked 'What live show do want to see?'. When I said I didn't want to see a live show, just a normal admission ticket, the operator told me it was still £25 'cos that's how much tickets were in advance. I was gobsmacked and told him I'd leave it, thanks very much.

Does anyone know if you can buy, and how much, tickets are 'on the door' 'cos I can't seem to find that out on any websites or phone lines? I haven't missed an ASI show yet and don't really want to start in '06. I can recommend the Historic Motorsport Show at Stoneleigh. Went last year and the Group B rally car display (in action BTW, not just a static display) was excellent.

[Trackside]

Found this on another motorsport-related forum. It's a reply to an email sent regarding entrance only tickets.

Autosport Show organisers said:

"I am afraid that we have discontinued with the entrance only tickets for the show this year. Only 5% of the audience were using entry only tickets and when we looked at the research it was found that those that had attended the live action arena had a far greater experience and enjoyed the day a lot more, than those that did not attend the arena. The decision was therefore taken to run with a combined ticket price for 2006 to ensure everyone attending the show had the best experience. This year the content for the live action arena includes racing stars like the McRae's (father and son), Brookes and Rowe who will be in Rally Cars, the 2005 championship winning Ferrari GT Team with Andrew Kirkcaldy and Nathan Kinch, Rallycross along with various BTCC cars amongst others. No entry-only tickets will be available on the day. I hope that this does not deter you from attending the show in January and I would also look forward to hearing your thoughts if you do visit as feedback is vital to ensuring the event delivers to the audience."

Will be emailing my 'thoughts' as to why this will be the first ASI I haven't attended since it started. I don't mind paying £15 to go in, wander round and pick up a few goodies (models, books etc) that you don't find on your local High Street but I object to being made to pay £25 for 'inclusive extras' i.e. the live show, when I don't want to see it.

[havoc]

I object to 25 quid for a glorified motor show full stop - absolute rip-off compared to Europe.

Not going - went to the last one and thought it was quite good, but barely worth the money then and certainly not now.

[kevin ritson]

Reading between the lines I think this is what they meant:

Autosport Show organisers said:

"I am afraid that we have discontinued with the entrance only tickets for the show this year. Only 5% of the audience felt that the motorsport world was not ripping them off enough and when we looked at the research it was found that those that had attended the live action arena had a far greater propensity to be fleeced again, than those that did not attend the arena. The decision was therefore taken to give ourselves more of a free ride for 2006 to ensure everyone attending the show had the best contribution. This year the content for the live action arena includes ex-racing stars like the McRae's (father and son), who will be in Rally Cars, Rallycross which is still new to the fat cat culture along with various BTCC cars amongst others that are getting to grips with the money game. We don't want your riff-raff type here. I hope that this does not deter you from giving us all of your money and I would also look forward to binning your thoughts if you do visit as ignoring feedback is vital to ensuring the event follows the motorsport trend."

Thankfully I took advantage of an offer but you're right - this fleecing culture is really starting to p*ss me off - I wrote to MSV about the 60% hike in season passes and got a load of guff about the DTM, they conveniently forgot that in 2003 a season pass (including Champ Cars) was only £99. Now it's £199.

[rubystone]

Yes, I've shied away from it on the basis of cost and quality. Autosport did offer a good deale to subscribers - a BOGOF before December 20th. But add in the cost of parking (stupid) and the irresistible temptation to spend money and it is not a cheap day out. The last tiime I went to such a show would have been when the Racing Car Show was held at the Alexandria Palace, sometime last century...

[Rufus]

I heard that you can get a discount if you have an MSA race licence?

does anyone know if thsi is trua and if so what the discount is?

[GreenV8S]

Not aware of the MSA discount thing, only that an MSA license entitles you to attend the trade days. By the by, I didn't realize that they are only selling the 'live' nonesense this year. I think that's enough to put me off this year.

[GreenV8S]

Looking at their web site it seems that the trade tickets are £22 without the live show rubbish, or £29 with the live show. That's quite a bit more than last year, isn't it?

[kevin ritson]

Page 41 of this week's Autosport says:

"Ticket Prices
Admission is £18 for adults and £10 for children. A combined ticket for entrance to both the show and the Live Action Arena costs £25 for adults and £17.50 for children."

So who's talking out of their ar*e then?

[johnjr]

Any one going then??

I'm working on the Classic Sports Car Club stand for the whole 4 days

It will have a mini tin top racer on it!!

Come down and see if you like...

john

[Trackside]

kevin ritson said:

Page 41 of this week's Autosport says: "Ticket Prices Admission is £18 for adults and £10 for children. A combined ticket for entrance to both the show and the Live Action Arena costs £25 for adults and £17.50 for children." So who's talking out of their ar*e then?

I emailed Haymarket, the show organisers...

Trackside said:

As I understand it, your website booking and telephone booking systems both insist that the only tickets available for the weekend (Sat & Sun) include a seat for a Live Arena Show and cost £25. In Autosport magazine today, the preview on page 41 indicates that tickets are available for £18, excluding the Live Show. As I don't want to go into a Live Show, can I buy tickets for the advertised £18? If so, can I buy them on the day and if not, how can I buy them if your online and telephone booking systems seem to be unaware, in my experience, of these tickets?

The reply I got was this...

Haymarket Marketing bod said:

We were aware that Autosport Magazine had printed incorrect information on the show on page 41. They will be making the a correction in next week's issue. Sadly we cannot fulfil information that is printed in the media unless it was information that the show have officially released. On this occasion Autosport Magazine are at fault. The information that had been supplied is £25 Entrance and Live Action - Adult £17.50 Entrance and Live Action - Child £31 Paddock Pass - Adult £23.50 Paddock Pass - Child The information that the magazine used on page 41 was information from January 2005 which also includes a booking hotline that is no longer in use.

So, Autosport magazine c*cked up , Haymarket continue to fleece us and I for one will not be going!

[woody]

I've been going for the last 7-8 years, and in my opinion over the last couple of years the entrance and parking price has gone way out of control (complete rip off!!).
There doesn't seem to be anything 'extra' for the price increase - if anything it seems to have gotten less and just a repetition of the last years show!
The 'live action arena' is getting tedious and boring - so didn't want to waste my time and money seeing it.
And the cost of food and drink at the NEC is another story!!!
So this year I will not be going.

Chris

>> Edited by woody on Saturday 7th January 19:10

[percy]

Don't know whether it's too late, but if you put MAS1 into the promotional code box on the website booking page - you get 2 tickets for the price of 1. This includes the live action event too.
Sorry, for not posting earlier - I've just seen this thread!

[Nicol@]

I have paid £31 for the paddock pass. Yes a stupidly high price, but I have never been to the Autosport show.

My plan is to see as much as possible. I hope the show lives up to expectations as I have been wanting to go for a few years.

For a newbie to the show, I am sure to enjoy it, but I know my purse will not. Knowing it will cost me at least £50 and that is before buying treats is not good.

p.s. I am going on Sunday.