I'm glad I'm not "working the gate" this weekend

[Bowler]

Bug Jam Website said:

Santa Pod Raceway would like to make the following official statement:

Our venue is now completely full and we are left with no alternative but to close the festival to all additional visitors including those who may already have booked tickets in advance.

This is not a decision we take lightly but unfortunately we significantly underestimated the number of people entering the venue early on Friday. This combined with the unusually large plots taken by campers means we have simply run out of space including all of our reserve camping fields.

We understand the huge inconvenience this may cause and realize that no apology can in any way make up for this. The small number of advance ticket holders affected by this will, of course, be reimbursed in full. Tickets should be returned to us at the following address.

Santa Pod Raceway, Airfield Rd, Podington, Wellingborough, Northants. NN29 7XA. Telephone queries to [phone]

Once again we are sorry for the disappointment this may cause.

It could be interesting on the gate this weekend!

[clausy26]

I did think this the other day saw the map n there barely any room for parking or camping

[central]

I left Santa Pod at 7:15 this evening. There was still a queue to get in two miles up the Irchester road.

Chaotic.

[JakesterUK]

central said:

I left Santa Pod at 7:15 this evening. There was still a queue to get in two miles up the Irchester road.

Chaotic.

Ouch, hope everyone gets in OK else there's going to be some very disappointed people..

[Bowler]

JakesterUK said:

Ouch, hope everyone gets in OK else there's going to be some very disappointed people..

That's the point according to the SPR announcement NO-ONE will get in!

A right pisser, if you've travelled from Europe (or Scotland/Cornwall for that matter)

[The Enthusiast]

I dont bother too much about the Pod now.Too popular now. Its getting ridiculous. Rather save up and go elsewhere where its easier to get in and out of. Roll on Vegas.

[Toyowner]

I can get my head round the fact that a beetle meet creates more aggravation and fills the place quicker than the core business model's premiumm event in September ?

[redvictor]

Toyowner said:

I can get my head round the fact that a beetle meet creates more aggravation and fills the place quicker than the core business model's premiumm event in September ?

because music festivals,of which Bug Jam has now become are far more popular than drag racing, much as i don't like that...

[CRR]

They were still accepting day trippers today. They were using the usual field on the right of Airfield Road, plus another one on the left of Airfield Road which I have never seen used before, plus they were using the grounds of Hinwick House for parking cars which meant that there were hundreds of people walking up Airfield Road to get to the Pod.

I think it's safe to say that the Pod will be hosting its biggest ever attendance this weekend.

[Bikermoore]

Toyowner said:

I can get my head round the fact that a beetle meet creates more aggravation and fills the place quicker than the core business model's premiumm event in September ?

I believe the pod has, for years, made more money from the life-style events such as the Bug Jam than they do from the FIA events.

[wicked fish]

goes to show how low down the pecking order drag racing realy is

obviously lower that vw air cooled cars by a long way

[Bikermoore]

but on the other hand, drag racing does get some of the benifits from the life-style events. More tarmaced pits, better facilities for the spectators, scrutineering shed etc. I know this doesn't really help the overall sport in terms of the championship, TV time, sponsorship etc but what would the pod be like without these non-drag racing events?

[firewalker]

Agreed the Pod and drag racing benefit from the revenue, it is a very popular auto festival after all with a racing class of its' own. I have heard from many regular drag racing regulars that their first intro was at the vw event.
In this case it looks like SPR is taking all the flack but if I'm right it's the bugjam promoters themselves as a seperate entity (???) who should be holding their hands up as well.
They seem to be coming up with some snappy solutions give em their due. They were caught out, I suspect by the number of pay on the gate entries arriving early, as you would.
It must be hard to determine from the numbers booked how much space is available, some people sleep in their vehicle, some in caravans, some in coach size things, some take a 4 man tent each and set up a mini party village.
All said, if I'd prebooked tickets to a drag racing event and arrived to be turned away I'd be none too pleased! Both sadly and gladly that seems unlikely.
On the plus side, it looks like good £££coffers for the track this weekend.

[The Enthusiast]

redvictor said:

because music festivals,of which Bug Jam has now become are far more popular than drag racing, much as i don't like that...

I agree with you. Seems to attract more people like that now. Festival goers/families. Looking back at the 1970s cine film and fans ranged more from bikers, muscle car enthusiasts and petrol heads. They were the majority.

[HD Adam]

Well Goody Gumdrops. Hopefully the Pod will make a pile of cash out of this event.

Also hopefully, they will reinvest a little bit of it emptying the bins and cleaning out the portable toilets instead of leaving them to fester for a week, just for the Mopar Nationals gang.

Smelled luvverly the other year

[Tet]

CRR said:

I think it's safe to say that the Pod will be hosting its biggest ever attendance this weekend.

Apparently, Ultimate Street Car is bigger. My guess would be that Bug Jam has lots of people camping on site, where USC has more day visitors, and thus more people through the gate. When I arrived just before noon on Friday, the queue was heading back to Irchester. It's a very different atmosphere to a normal drag racing meeting. Too many drunks with too little respect for the vehicles. Had it not been a championship round for me, I wouldn't have been there.

[The Enthusiast]

Tet said:

Apparently, Ultimate Street Car is bigger. My guess would be that Bug Jam has lots of people camping on site, where USC has more day visitors, and thus more people through the gate. When I arrived just before noon on Friday, the queue was heading back to Irchester. It's a very different atmosphere to a normal drag racing meeting. Too many drunks with too little respect for the vehicles. Had it not been a championship round for me, I wouldn't have been there.

Is it me or is it attracting more people that are not into drag racing? Shame really.

[central]

Tet said:

CRR said:

I think it's safe to say that the Pod will be hosting its biggest ever attendance this weekend.

Apparently, Ultimate Street Car is bigger. My guess would be that Bug Jam has lots of people camping on site, where USC has more day visitors, and thus more people through the gate.

[jalopyjoe]

I raced at Bug Jam last year in Sportsman ET and felt that the racers, in whatever class were treated like second class citizens. Decided to give it a miss this year and went to Shakey where we had a great day. This in spite of the fact that we live 15 minutes from the Pod but couldn't face another Bug Jam or Drug Jam as some refer to it now. I even work with a couple of hardcore VW enthusiasts who have stopped going because even they feel that the cars have become a secondary attraction.

[CRR]

Tet said:

Apparently, Ultimate Street Car is bigger.

I doubt it. I remember a few years ago when the weather at the Bug Jam was really poor which affected the gate, and then 2 or 3 weeks later the weather at the USC was excellent which increased the gate, and the statement from Santa Pod was that for the first time the USC gate was bigger than the Bug Jam.