Brooklands new year day classic gathering
Discussion
Queued for ninety minutes to get in, only to get to the front of the queue to be told that it was "Full" with twice the amount of expected cars.
Still, got squeezed in somewhere and didn't have to pay the entry fee, so that's something.
Lack of communication and no idea why they weren't turning people away at the entrance, instead of throwing 600 cars down that one way ramp.
However, an excellent array of cars there!
Still, got squeezed in somewhere and didn't have to pay the entry fee, so that's something.
Lack of communication and no idea why they weren't turning people away at the entrance, instead of throwing 600 cars down that one way ramp.
However, an excellent array of cars there!
It was the craziest I’ve ever seen it!
Brilliant turn out, some lovely lovely cars. I really feel for the people that got turned away. The volunteers and staff did a great job. It was nowhere near as busy last year so I just don’t think they expected it or could plan for the turnout they got.
Brilliant turn out, some lovely lovely cars. I really feel for the people that got turned away. The volunteers and staff did a great job. It was nowhere near as busy last year so I just don’t think they expected it or could plan for the turnout they got.
Missed previous two years so this time it was 'catch up'. Left home with two friends half hour earlier this time but with queued up traffic got parked in the Heights at 10.10. Thoroughly enjoyed the sheer diversity of machinery and left at 12.30. As mentioned elsewhere there were still cars coming in which we would have missed. Sunshine, dry, mild weather and more capacity was a recipe for reaching the limit within Brooklands boundaries.
Superb selection of diverse machinery turned out for the event. Full marks to all those owners who braved the queues. Even spotted the Chrysler Alpine which won the 2018 Exhibition of the Unexceptional!
Superb selection of diverse machinery turned out for the event. Full marks to all those owners who braved the queues. Even spotted the Chrysler Alpine which won the 2018 Exhibition of the Unexceptional!
delta037 said:
. Even spotted the Chrysler Alpine which won the 2018 Exhibition of the Unexceptional!
Thanks for reminding me to look this up.2019 Festival of the Unexceptional is on 20th July at a new venue ,Claydon house Bucks.
Never been before but want to take the unexceptional FIAT with me.
Gosh it was busy, wasn't it?
I got there just before 10 and parked in the Sportscar/supercar area - left around 11.45 as had a lunch engagement as well. Sadly almost lost my splitter to the crazy speed humps on exit until a good Samaritan offered to hold up the splitter with his fingers whilst I slowly drove over it awaiting a yelp as I chop his fingers off!! (all worked out ok in the end!)
Nice day for it, busy, large diversity of well maintained machinery.
People were still queuing to get in when I left and I suspect they may not have had the best experience given the high demand for the day.
I got there just before 10 and parked in the Sportscar/supercar area - left around 11.45 as had a lunch engagement as well. Sadly almost lost my splitter to the crazy speed humps on exit until a good Samaritan offered to hold up the splitter with his fingers whilst I slowly drove over it awaiting a yelp as I chop his fingers off!! (all worked out ok in the end!)
Nice day for it, busy, large diversity of well maintained machinery.
People were still queuing to get in when I left and I suspect they may not have had the best experience given the high demand for the day.
That was CrAzY. I've never been so glad to be in a vehicle with no coolant as being stuck in that queue in the bus 
Felt for the poor sods who brewed up right when the Campbell Gate was in reach
. And also for the dude with the Mustang who ran out of petrol at the roundabout 
To those moaning about the entrance cost; I've been to many organised car shows with a poorer turnout than this "meet". Worth every penny IMHO, there were sooooo many cool things to look at. Plus the Museum and all the usual attractions. Or even better, as someone already pointed out, join as Trust Members and then today and the next two events would have been essentially free
Felt for the poor sods who brewed up right when the Campbell Gate was in reach . And also for the dude with the Mustang who ran out of petrol at the roundabout To those moaning about the entrance cost; I've been to many organised car shows with a poorer turnout than this "meet". Worth every penny IMHO, there were sooooo many cool things to look at. Plus the Museum and all the usual attractions. Or even better, as someone already pointed out, join as Trust Members and then today and the next two events would have been essentially free
I've been a Brooklands Member for over 20 years ...... and still get upset when they make people who are essentially making the show for them pay full whack to actually get into the place in the first place, it is a bit much. BUT........ saying that, take out an individual membership for around £30 (or is it £35 now?), go to two events and it's paid for itself. So, if I go to New Year's Day and the VSCC Winter Trial in Jnauary again (which I usually do) ....then EVERY visit for the rest of the year is free. That's the way I look at it. I'm lucky in that I live just 15 minutes away, so even during the week, if I'm out and about, I'll pop in for a cup of coffee or a bit of lunch.
NDA said:
anonymous said:
[redacted]
If I was running it, it's exactly what I would do. They'd clean up.I refuse to go to Brookwood to show my car as I don't think they should charge a full entrance fee for entrants.
It is a tricky one I do see your point.
I’ve been doing various car shows for 20 odd years now and I’ve always had to pay entry for me even if I’m exhibiting. Sometimes I’ve got away with it on a trade stand, but the trader has paid the entrance. It is a high cost and clearly by turning people away yesterday as well as people who gave up, they weren’t short of people willing to pay it.
They sort of phrase it like ‘come to the museum and if your cars old enough you can park in the grounds’. So it’s not the traditional turning a field or hanger into a display of cars.
As a pp says the tiered entry wouldn’t work as they would need so many more volunteers to Man every exhibit.
I’ve been doing various car shows for 20 odd years now and I’ve always had to pay entry for me even if I’m exhibiting. Sometimes I’ve got away with it on a trade stand, but the trader has paid the entrance. It is a high cost and clearly by turning people away yesterday as well as people who gave up, they weren’t short of people willing to pay it.
They sort of phrase it like ‘come to the museum and if your cars old enough you can park in the grounds’. So it’s not the traditional turning a field or hanger into a display of cars.
As a pp says the tiered entry wouldn’t work as they would need so many more volunteers to Man every exhibit.
I've always paid the entry fee when showing a car, the only show I can think of that I didn't was a big VW show in Esher where they gave us weekend passes as your car was in the show all weekend. I really don't see the entrance fee as a big deal in all honesty, nor did all of the people that came, so many in fact that it was crammed to capacity.
Miner49er said:
Being the only car show over the Christmas break, it’s an event my kids and I always look forward to. With Mercedes World on the doorstep, it turns into a decent half-day out. I’m more than happy to pay Brooklands’ entrance fee, particularly as a proportion of it gets reinvested straight back into a venue I’m keen to support.
Hopefully the comments earlier in this thread don’t put anyone off as it’s a great event and always has a good turn-out.
If Brooklands held monthly car meets early on a Sunday morning, then a lower fee to attend would be justifiable, but that’s not what we’re talking about here.
Well said that man....a polite reminder to all the tight wads here.....if you don't support such Venues offering motoring related events then such Venues and events will cease to exist...and one more thing don't forget the workers who set up and run the event for your enjoyment on "NEW YEARS" Day.....think about it.....also as was previously mentioned Membership offers better VFM.....so quit whinging and join up Hopefully the comments earlier in this thread don’t put anyone off as it’s a great event and always has a good turn-out.
If Brooklands held monthly car meets early on a Sunday morning, then a lower fee to attend would be justifiable, but that’s not what we’re talking about here.
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