AM Heritage Trust Festival
Discussion
Brilliant day, but fiercely hot!
We parked right at the top , looking down.
The row of vintage red Astons we’re wonderful.
A great atmosphere, Aston owners are a friendly bunch too.
Met LTP and his wife for coffee and a catch up which was great, the Lagondas are always a great car to see, and nice to be part of the Aston crowd.
We parked right at the top , looking down.
The row of vintage red Astons we’re wonderful.
A great atmosphere, Aston owners are a friendly bunch too.
Met LTP and his wife for coffee and a catch up which was great, the Lagondas are always a great car to see, and nice to be part of the Aston crowd.
Westlondondriver said:
I will be there in a Minotaur Green DBX. It will be interesting to see how many DBXs turn up. My wife is really not keen on the heat so we may only be there for an hour or so but only a 40 minute drive for us so still worth it.
Can you post a pic of your DBX? I've ordered mv V12 Final in Minotaur and would love to see it on a DBX
Seconding all the above who said it was bloody hot! The better half and I went to the AMHT dinner the night before and that was also very hot in that room.
I thought the event, on the historic Brooklands campus, was far better than the previous year at the Dallas Burton Polo Club, with what looked to me like more exhibitors, better food and drinks provisions and the benefit of having access to some of the Brooklands museum's buildings and exhibits. The downside was the heat - more of our time was spent sitting in the shade drinking water than walking round the exhibits. I'd vote for an AMHT return to Brooklands next year - preferably in slightly lower temperatures
Well done to all concerned
typo corrected
I thought the event, on the historic Brooklands campus, was far better than the previous year at the Dallas Burton Polo Club, with what looked to me like more exhibitors, better food and drinks provisions and the benefit of having access to some of the Brooklands museum's buildings and exhibits. The downside was the heat - more of our time was spent sitting in the shade drinking water than walking round the exhibits. I'd vote for an AMHT return to Brooklands next year - preferably in slightly lower temperatures
Well done to all concerned
typo corrected
Edited by LTP on Monday 15th August 00:46
Perhaps I'm an irascible curmudgeon but I didn't enjoy it as much as last year.
I had high hopes. I really enjoyed the one at the polo ground last year. I had never been to Brooklands before and was expecting to be in awe of the place.
I have to say that I was disappointed.
It probably wasn’t helped by being 36° and everything located on either baking concrete or scorched dust-bowl earth.
My thoughts:
I had high hopes. I really enjoyed the one at the polo ground last year. I had never been to Brooklands before and was expecting to be in awe of the place.
I have to say that I was disappointed.
It probably wasn’t helped by being 36° and everything located on either baking concrete or scorched dust-bowl earth.
My thoughts:
- The museum was far scruffier than I expected (and the bits I saw weren’t that interesting compared to, say, Duxford or Beaulieu). The banking was largely inaccessible and screened by eyesore 'elf 'n' safety barriers
- The parking was a little chaotic. The display was broken into different areas - some of which were overflowing (e.g. VH), others were a bit sparse (e.g. Newport Pagnell V8). The current models were just in a car park (that few people seemed to bother visiting - and I include myself in that)
- The Bulldog was at one end, parked on a scrub wasteland under the scruffiest Concorde I’ve ever seen, surrounded by steel crash barriers that made it looked more like an impounded repo than the star of the show.
- There was no signage on most of the display cars - which one was the oldest Aston (I knew but I'm an anorak)? Which year did this car race at Le Mans (pre-war is not my specialist subject)?
- There was no timetable in the programme - I missed the hill climb
- The PA was largely unintelligible (it seemed to be clear in perhaps 5% of the area)
- There didn’t seem to be a factory presence (or I didn’t find it).
- At the polo place last year the factory had the Victor and Valkyrie, plus all the range.
- Oddly, the dealers area with cars for sale almost felt like the most interesting place.
Edited by AstonZagato on Sunday 14th August 20:05
AstonZagato said:
Perhaps I'm an irascible curmudgeon, but I didn't enjoy it as much as last year.
My thoughts:
- The museum was far scruffier than I expected (and the bits I saw weren’t that interesting compared to, say, Duxford or Beaulieu). The banking was largely inaccessible and screened by eyesore 'elf 'n' safety barriers
- The parking was a little chaotic. The display was broken into different areas - some of which were overflowing (e.g. VH), others were a bit sparse (e.g. Newport Pagnell V8). The current models were just in a car park (that few people seemed to bother visiting - and I include myself in that)
- The Bulldog was at one end, parked on a scrub wasteland under the scruffiest Concorde I’ve ever seen, surrounded by steel crash barriers that made it looked more like an impounded repo than the star of the show.
- There was no signage on most of the display cars - which one was the oldest Aston (I knew but I'm an anorak)? Which year did this car race at Le Mans (pre-war is not my specialist subject)?
- There was no timetable in the programme - I missed the hill climb
- The PA was largely unintelligible (it seemed to be clear in perhaps 5% of the area)
- There didn’t seem to be a factory presence (or I didn’t find it).
- At the polo place last year the factory had the Victor and Valkyrie, plus all the range.
- Oddly, the dealers area with cars for sale almost felt like the most interesting place.
Agree with your scruffy comment, but I think that is what helps to make the museum fit the period of circuit use (1907 to 1939).
Many of the car exhibit buildings are the originals, so they help to provide a real feeling of how things were at the time.
Agree that cleaning the aircraft appears to be well behind schedule, but maybe the volunteers are backward in coming forward for that task.
I did notice that the BOAC double decker bus is in desperate need of a wash. That must be easier to do, than cleaning the top of an aircraft fuselage. Don't know why that job has been ignored.
AML factory were indeed there with a display stand. You should have received an AMHT email (think last week), which included a plan of the whole event site, indicating where everything would be located. I suppose you could have had an opportunity to talk to the AML staff, but I just saw a few current models (presumably for sale), including V12V and Vantage Speedster. No Victor (it is privately owned) or Valkyrie (trying to deliver them as soon as possible to the owners). Perhaps they are putting more effort into exhibiting at Pebble Beach, next week.
Enjoyed talking to other Aston Martin owners, and also receiving flying instruction, whilst sitting in the cockpit of a real Hawker Siddeley Harrier ('Jump Jet'). A wonderful day out, for a more mature 'small boy'.
Even Mrs. Dewi 2 enjoyed her day. Her technique is to talk to the AM owners wife, then neither of them can tell the difference between a DB9 and a Vantage. Only joking.
AstonZagato said:
Perhaps I'm an irascible curmudgeon but I didn't enjoy it as much as last year.
I had high hopes. I really enjoyed the one at the polo ground last year. I had never been to Brooklands before and was expecting to be in awe of the place.
I have to say that I was disappointed.
It probably wasn’t helped by being 36° and everything located on either baking concrete or scorched dust-bowl earth.
My thoughts:
I guess it depends on your sphere of interest. I'll don my flak jacket now, but I have no interest in looking at a field full of modern Astons in Warwickshire. Today I could pore over 8 Bamford and Martin vehicles - more than 10% of the total produced getting on for 100years ago - at a venue where many of them competed. I also believe this was the largest gathering of the Bertelli team cars ever. Sounds like quite an achievement for the AMHT, if not appealing to the more modern Aston enthusiast.I had high hopes. I really enjoyed the one at the polo ground last year. I had never been to Brooklands before and was expecting to be in awe of the place.
I have to say that I was disappointed.
It probably wasn’t helped by being 36° and everything located on either baking concrete or scorched dust-bowl earth.
My thoughts:
- The museum was far scruffier than I expected (and the bits I saw weren’t that interesting compared to, say, Duxford or Beaulieu). The banking was largely inaccessible and screened by eyesore 'elf 'n' safety barriers
- The parking was a little chaotic. The display was broken into different areas - some of which were overflowing (e.g. VH), others were a bit sparse (e.g. Newport Pagnell V8). The current models were just in a car park (that few people seemed to bother visiting - and I include myself in that)
- The Bulldog was at one end, parked on a scrub wasteland under the scruffiest Concorde I’ve ever seen, surrounded by steel crash barriers that made it looked more like an impounded repo than the star of the show.
- There was no signage on most of the display cars - which one was the oldest Aston (I knew but I'm an anorak)? Which year did this car race at Le Mans (pre-war is not my specialist subject)?
- There was no timetable in the programme - I missed the hill climb
- The PA was largely unintelligible (it seemed to be clear in perhaps 5% of the area)
- There didn’t seem to be a factory presence (or I didn’t find it).
- At the polo place last year the factory had the Victor and Valkyrie, plus all the range.
- Oddly, the dealers area with cars for sale almost felt like the most interesting place.
Edited by AstonZagato on Sunday 14th August 20:05
(Irascilbe curmudgeon who likes pre-war cars..)
Pretty good event - parked up on the banking under the members bridge just after 9am and left after 3 after second wave of hill climbs with the 707 going up 3 or 4 times.
Some great cars there, line up of early Astons, loads of Vantage editions, Dreadnought, new V12 Vantage, parked next to V12 7 speed press car. Museum had some great places and exhibits especially car sheds and plane warehouses.
Cars on car park area (formerly main straight) excellent too. Was pretty hot but great car my car in shade from 11am ish
Some great cars there, line up of early Astons, loads of Vantage editions, Dreadnought, new V12 Vantage, parked next to V12 7 speed press car. Museum had some great places and exhibits especially car sheds and plane warehouses.
Cars on car park area (formerly main straight) excellent too. Was pretty hot but great car my car in shade from 11am ish
Two thoughts:
Regarding the event, it has to be said that Rob and the AMHT team did a fantastic job organising this. Without going into all the details, the most LM team cars ever assembled, 50 pre-war Astons, Bulldog, some stunning modern Astons; V12Vantage, Speedster, OHMSS DBSS etc. Probably 750+ Astons to suit every taste. Had we not had 6 weeks of intense heat the surroundings would have been much greener with some lawns in places to sit around which bring me on to point two.
Regarding Brooklands: I agree it always strikes me as somewhat scruffy, it certainly doesn't have the manicured appearance of Beaulieu or Duxford, but then again is this because it doesn't have the budget. It has an air of enthusiastic amateurism and I'm not sure why because they certainly must get income and grants just like any other museum/attraction. One commundrem for the curators must be how to maintain the place without destroying the originality? For example the banking has been crumbling for the past 80 years and will continue to do so unless preserved. Perhaps preserve 25 yards as was and maintain the rest in a condition that it's usable?
All in a great event, despite the heat, and I still enjoy visiting the place.
Regarding the event, it has to be said that Rob and the AMHT team did a fantastic job organising this. Without going into all the details, the most LM team cars ever assembled, 50 pre-war Astons, Bulldog, some stunning modern Astons; V12Vantage, Speedster, OHMSS DBSS etc. Probably 750+ Astons to suit every taste. Had we not had 6 weeks of intense heat the surroundings would have been much greener with some lawns in places to sit around which bring me on to point two.
Regarding Brooklands: I agree it always strikes me as somewhat scruffy, it certainly doesn't have the manicured appearance of Beaulieu or Duxford, but then again is this because it doesn't have the budget. It has an air of enthusiastic amateurism and I'm not sure why because they certainly must get income and grants just like any other museum/attraction. One commundrem for the curators must be how to maintain the place without destroying the originality? For example the banking has been crumbling for the past 80 years and will continue to do so unless preserved. Perhaps preserve 25 yards as was and maintain the rest in a condition that it's usable?
All in a great event, despite the heat, and I still enjoy visiting the place.
Wife and I enjoyed it but the heat spoiled it a little for me - and not much the organisers can do about that. Perhaps a few more water stations would have been good - the only one we found was in the cafe and involved battling people in the queue.
As it was, after 3 hours, I couldn't take any more sweating and we left fairly early.
If I had one criticism, and I know it was only for a short period, but shutting our only entrance/exit for the hill climbs seemed nuts. I like to know I can leave when I like, and that put me on edge a bit.
As it was, after 3 hours, I couldn't take any more sweating and we left fairly early.
If I had one criticism, and I know it was only for a short period, but shutting our only entrance/exit for the hill climbs seemed nuts. I like to know I can leave when I like, and that put me on edge a bit.
friederich said:
I guess it depends on your sphere of interest. I'll don my flak jacket now, but I have no interest in looking at a field full of modern Astons in Warwickshire. Today I could pore over 8 Bamford and Martin vehicles - more than 10% of the total produced getting on for 100years ago - at a venue where many of them competed. I also believe this was the largest gathering of the Bertelli team cars ever. Sounds like quite an achievement for the AMHT, if not appealing to the more modern Aston enthusiast.
(Irascilbe curmudgeon who likes pre-war cars..)
I like to see diversity - from the early pre-war stuff though to the latest models. The Dallas Burton event had a great range. It felt more "one marque" than this did. With the NP V8 cars separated out at Brooklands - and therefore interrupting the pre-war/Feltham/NP DB/NP V8/Bloxham/VH progression - it felt to me more disjointed.(Irascilbe curmudgeon who likes pre-war cars..)
However, I would agree that the polo club had nothing else going for it other than the space to park cars (and, even there, we were in two fields - which felt a bit 'us and them'). It was a far nicer drive to get there than Brooklands.
It's a difficult one to find the right venue. A stately home might work but they usually don't want cars parked on the lawns around the house, so you are relegated to a field. Same with museums - they have some limits on places you can park.
As a suggestion, I'd like the cars parked radially (think pie chart) - so one can walk in a circular fashion to progress though the ages or outward to stay in an era. Have the display cars in the centre and the dealers delineating the modern from the pre-war.
AstonZagato said:
It was a far nicer drive to get there than Brooklands.
Wasn't so much getting there as getting home. Sitting in stop/start traffic on the M25 is a ball-ache at the best of times, but really not much fun in a manual V12. I know others left early purely to avoid the worst of it.AstonZagato said:
<clip> As a suggestion, I'd like the cars parked radially (think pie chart) - so one can walk in a circular fashion to progress though the ages or outward to stay in an era. Have the display cars in the centre and the dealers delineating the modern from the pre-war.
I seem to remember Ed tried this arrangement at Burghley in 2016. Not sure you were there for that one? I think all those involved need a 'huge pat on the back'; these things are never easy and you can't please everyone. I recall being part of the organising committee, five of us, for the Lagonda Centennial in 1999, we got circa 436 Lagondas parked on the banking. All I recall was that I was exhausted at the end of the weekend and we didn't have to cope with a heatwave then! So while there are always things to improve I thought is was great to see so many old friends. The Brooklands Museum is really an icon to the aviation and automotive industry driving a synergy that led the world in the1930s, arguably we still enjoy that spirit and engineering legacy today. Yes a bit scruffy but perhaps it has always been so. I decided to leave the M45 at home and take a modern. 
Edited by callevascm on Monday 15th August 10:11
I thoroughly enjoyed the day, as did my partner who is not a car nut. I met Adam and Mrs Adam, and Kermit. Also bumped into Clive from CCCharger, and a few of my neighbours (I live locally).
My thoughts:
The amount of pre-war cars, road and racing was beyond what I was expecting, and was a great delight to see them in action on Test hill. The parking for very modern Astons was well, just parking, but there was nowhere else to put them. Given the nature of the event it made sense that the earlier cars are given priority for the best spots. The range of the DB cars was spectacular.
The area where the aircraft are and the display of some of them is in need of a makeover, but money is an issue as always. None of the aircraft or service vehicles are being cleaned externally at the moment, for obvious reasons.
My thoughts:
The amount of pre-war cars, road and racing was beyond what I was expecting, and was a great delight to see them in action on Test hill. The parking for very modern Astons was well, just parking, but there was nowhere else to put them. Given the nature of the event it made sense that the earlier cars are given priority for the best spots. The range of the DB cars was spectacular.
The area where the aircraft are and the display of some of them is in need of a makeover, but money is an issue as always. None of the aircraft or service vehicles are being cleaned externally at the moment, for obvious reasons.
callevascm said:
clip I decided to leave the M45 at home and take a modern.
Ah that's a shame, would have like to see it. I was tasked with encouraging as many Lagondas as possible to attend. In the end we had five pre-war and only one David Brown car which was a pity as we wanted more DB Lagondas in the David Brown timeline. Here's a few snaps of the Lagondas that made it.
RichB said:
AstonZagato said:
<clip> As a suggestion, I'd like the cars parked radially (think pie chart) - so one can walk in a circular fashion to progress though the ages or outward to stay in an era. Have the display cars in the centre and the dealers delineating the modern from the pre-war.
I seem to remember Ed tried this arrangement at Burghley in 2016. Not sure you were there for that one? callevascm said:
I think all those involved need a 'huge pat on the back'; these things are never easy and you can't please everyone.
Absolutely!I also think the organisers deserve huge praise for pulling off a great event. These things are never easy.
The issues I didn't like were more around the venue and events beyond their control (weather, space, attendance).
callevascm said:
Nice to see another Ultimate there. I took a close look as you drove in (I think you commented on my Leander cap).[quote=RichB]
Ah that's a shame, would have like to see it. I was tasked with encouraging as many Lagondas as possible to attend. In the end we had five pre-war and only one David Brown car which was a pity as we wanted more DB Lagondas in the David Brown timeline.
Rich, sorry we didn't meet we keep missing each other! I did try to get more Lagondas out as I am the Lagonda Club liaison poc for AML/AMOC/AMHT - sorry not to see Peter & Natalie Blenk too.
Here is our M45
Ah that's a shame, would have like to see it. I was tasked with encouraging as many Lagondas as possible to attend. In the end we had five pre-war and only one David Brown car which was a pity as we wanted more DB Lagondas in the David Brown timeline.
Rich, sorry we didn't meet we keep missing each other! I did try to get more Lagondas out as I am the Lagonda Club liaison poc for AML/AMOC/AMHT - sorry not to see Peter & Natalie Blenk too.
Here is our M45
AstonZagato said:
Nice to see another Ultimate there. I took a close look as you drove in (I think you commented on my Leander cap).
You should have stopped to chat - I think I was talking to Gillian at the time when you walked past. Sorry I didn't see your car, it would have good to compare notes. Gassing Station | Aston Martin | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff