Hoghton Lancashire Classic car show

[richardgrace75]

Hi all, did anyone else make it to the Hoghton Lancashire Classic car show?

Just curious what people thought, both exhibitors and visitors?

Not sure what the etiquette is with these things, but I was so disappointed. If I can be honest, it was awful! A complete waste of money. There were hardly any cars, although what was there was great. But within half an hour, we were a bit lost for what to do. I sensed that the exhibitors couldn't wait to leave and wondered what they had got themselves involved in.

Anyone else make it?

[droopsnoot]

I haven't been to that one, but I know people who have. One of the issues is that it's a difficult place to get in and out of if there's heavy rain, so a lot of people I talked to were going to make the decision of whether to go on the day, depending on the weather outlook. Also it won't have helped that (I think) this is a re-scheduled show from earlier in the year, which was cancelled due to waterlogged pitch. Cancellation emails went out at 07.30 on the day of the show for some reason, which led to a lot of people not seeing them (I don't check my emails before going to a show) and making the trip, only to be turned away.

[spoodler]

I believe this is another Andrew Greenwood show - suffice to say, neither I nor any of my mates are willing to attend his shows. I was chatting to a young lady at an event the other week and she stated that her Mini club wouldn't be attending any more A.G. shows after having "exhibited" at a recent one. I think that until his reputation improves that may be the case for a lot of folk.

[richardgrace75]

As we we were arriving, which was only half way through the day, there were streams of classics leaving already! It always seems a shame when the organisers can't be bothered to make the effort to put on a good show. Do they not realise that if they do it properly, people will come back year after year and may even be willing to pay more to get in. It's a very short-sighted approach to earn a quick buck.

[droopsnoot]

spoodler said:

I believe this is another Andrew Greenwood show - suffice to say, neither I nor any of my mates are willing to attend his shows. I was chatting to a young lady at an event the other week and she stated that her Mini club wouldn't be attending any more A.G. shows after having "exhibited" at a recent one. I think that until his reputation improves that may be the case for a lot of folk.

Why "suffice to say"? I've exhibited at his shows for many years in many different venues (OK, not that many different ones, but several in this area [NW]) without any significant trouble, and I don't understand what the issue is. Perhaps you could elaborate on what stops you and your mates, or perhaps let the organisers know? After all, if he's doing stuff you don't like it's in his interest to get feedback.

Only thing I don't like is that there is a charge to display a vehicle, but that seems to be the case in most shows now - if I limited myself to shows that are free to enter, I'd have a pretty small calendar. I have heard some issues with autojumble stallholders not being happy, but that didn't seem to be the case at Cholmondeley the other week.

richardgrace75 said:

As we we were arriving, which was only half way through the day, there were streams of classics leaving already! It always seems a shame when the organisers can't be bothered to make the effort to put on a good show. Do they not realise that if they do it properly, people will come back year after year and may even be willing to pay more to get in. It's a very short-sighted approach to earn a quick buck.

Other than not giving out the display plaques until last thing in the afternoon, I'm never sure what the show organiser can do about people leaving early though. I know at Tatton any movement is "strictly prohibited" until 4pm, but then I hear people (with cars on display) moaning about that as well. But the showground at Tatton is very well-contained and it's relatively easy to prevent cars coming and going - I don't know Hoghton Tower but it would be hard to do at, say, Cholmondeley, and there's an argument that you can't keep people there if they really want to leave.

I have made the point recently that show organisers need to consider what car owners are going to do for an entire day in these venues. Many of them have big gardens to look around, or big autojumbles or whatever, and of course circuit-based shows have racing going on. But it is a problem for all show organisers, not just AG.

[spoodler]

"Suffice to say" as I didn't really want to go into specific details... so let's just say that I've attended many shows as a paying customer or as an exhibitor and found certain organisers to be better than others. As for feedback, quite honestly why should I bother? There are already far more shows that I would like to get to but can't for one reason or another, I just won't waste my time and money bothering with the ones that I don't like. Maybe the show circuit would improve / attendance would be greater / quality would be higher if some of these shows failed and there were less folk putting on fewer shows? Who knows?

[droopsnoot]

Fair enough. Maybe I don't have enough experience of these shows as although I've been on 'the circuit' for 20+ years I must admit I do tend to do the same shows over and over, therefore with the same organisers. I just haven't noticed anything significant about AG shows that would make me never want to do one again. What's strange actually is that the quality of his shows seems to vary - I enjoy Cholmondeley, Bodelwyddan and so on, but won't do Arley again.

Biggest trouble I get now is clashing dates - I enjoyed Trentham, but I wouldn't select it over a 'live' event like CPOP which it always seems to clash with now. As for the feedback thing, it's your choice of course, but if I think someone is doing something badly I'd always prefer to let them know. Again, that's because I generally enjoy the shows so wouldn't want to see them dropped.

[spoodler]

Sorry if my last post came across as a bit "arsey"... wasn't meant to read like that. To be honest I rarely do static shows nowadays - was a bit different when I was more involved with a couple of clubs. You are right with the perpetual problem of any "minority" interest that becomes popular, in our case old cars. There is a fairly defined season in this country with only so many weekends, shows are bound to clash and this is to the detriment of all in many cases. Obviously if the shows are catering for different audiences then it is less of a problem, even so there are again only so many suitable venues in any given area... maybe it would be nice if there were only a handful of shows North and South, just think of the attendance at each... then we'd all be moaning about how long it took to get in and out!
Nowadays I find that some of the most enjoyable static shows are the small local ones organised in a pub garden or similar... roll on summer... damn, missed it...

[droopsnoot]

Not at all, I just wondered what scandal I'd missed. I'm with you on the pub thing, a mate of mine organises one local to me (500 yards from here) and it's a very enjoyable day as long as the weather plays ball.

I've done a few more active displays this year, not me being active but club stands at CPoP, Donington Historic, Oulton Park and so on, and it is nice to have something to watch all day. It got me thinking how busy this area is for stuff like that, especially if you add in Carfest and probably others that I can't think of just now.

[Pat H]

I live half a mile from Hoghton Tower, but can't be bothered with it these days.

But, then again, I can't be bothered with any static car show.

They really are desperately dull affairs.

I would rather pay the (very considerable) extra and go to the Gold Cup at Oulton Park.

At least you get to see some proper classic racing. And the paddock and the parking areas are varied and interesting.

The classic motorbike bike sprints up Hoghton Tower drive are worth a visit, however.

I prefer to see classics being used in anger, rather than being polished to destruction.

[droopsnoot]

The Gold Cup is a good meeting, very enjoyable and it's nice that they vary the stuff that's on the track from year to year. Remember though not all classics are suitable for that kind of use, and variety is good, also those of us who crave autojumble stands need to get their fix. Not sure about the cost - significant discounts are available if you can lower yourself to display in the classic car club area at the Gold Cup, assuming you're driving an eligible classic that is.

[madjules]

We went to the May Capesthone show this year, it was a blistering day, the show was packed and we had a great day. However, as AG has a fairly relaxed approach to attendance with cars coming and going as they please, this really can make his shows a bit hit and miss, and very much weather dependant.

With a young family this approach is great for us as I don’t have to drag the family out at the crack of dawn and we can leave when the wife and kids have had enough. Also, as Capesthone and Cholmondley are set in nice grounds this gives something additional for the wife and kids.

Saying that, Arley Hall really was absolutely dire this year. Bleak field, no autojumble and the tight buggers at the venue wanted to charge us extra to look round the gardens, even though it said it was included on the ticket! Never again.

[droopsnoot]

madjules said:

Saying that, Arley Hall really was absolutely dire this year. Bleak field, no autojumble and the tight buggers at the venue wanted to charge us extra to look round the gardens, even though it said it was included on the ticket! Never again.

Yes, I found that - free last year as an intro, £4.50 in May, £7.50 in August. Not again for me either. Never get much luck with the weather there, at least in August it didn't rain all day.

[4F6]

Yes, was rather disappointed though. Lot of people left early and by 3 it was almost deserted.

Its so often cancelled that I really don't know why they don't find another venue. Even when it is on its generally windy and cold due to the exposed location and other than the (small) show there isn't much else going on.

Shame, when we went 3 years ago it was pretty busy but I tend to think I won't bother in future.

[aw51 121565]

Pat H said:

I prefer to see classics being used in anger, rather than being polished to destruction.

Blimey... Good to read this; someone else sick of a field full of shiny showroom-lookalike virgins ! There are actually quite a few of us...

My MG Maestro is somewhat 'patina-ed' due to its history - the metallic silver paint on the horizontal surfaces is now grey (the car spent too long abandoned & neglected in a German garden come rain or shine), and it now has a metallic blue bonnet after the original succumbed to a couple of engine fires (blistered paint and corrosion) before I got my hands on the car.

I've only shown the MG at a few shows this year - and as well as its 'patina' it's been pretty mucky with road muck and flies on the front and windscreen, plus 'road muck travel marks' on the sides and roof, at these shows... But the punters have been all over it like flies around a jam jar - saying exactly the same as the quoted post !

The MG also has a potted history stuck in its windows at shows, plus pressed German number plates with its last German registration mark, several stickers around the car referring to its life in Germany - and it's LHD .

Patina-ed/'used in anger' cars at shows FTW .