TVR stand at the NEC Classic Motorshow - your thoughts?
Discussion
Did anyone visit the TVRCC stand at the NEC?
I'm surprised not to see anything already on here about it.
My first impressions were good. You could see the TVR stand from the door and it was one of the main doors for people arriving by train. So a prime position and well done to whoever managed to bag it.
The stand itself was professional looking, with a central section with the TVRCC logo nicely emblazoned across it, it was tall so you could see if from a distance and I was surprised to see doors in it so it was like a small room where presumably coats and coffee cups etc were nicely hidden from view. Again, this all adds to the professional view and is to be congratulated. All-in-all from a stand point of view it was probably one of the most impressive club stands at the show.
But (you were waiting for this weren't you)
The cars
Actually there was a decent collection of cars on the stand. Nice to see a Sag racer there and a good collection of road cars representing the marque.
I won't pick out individual cars, thats not fair and they all deserved their place rightfully.
Less impressive was the way the cars were displayed or supported.
By this I mean cars with their roofs on, parked on the stand with no effort to light them inside or out, or have mirrors under them, or even open bonnets. All of which I saw on other stands so wasn't beyond the realms of possibility and seeing someone peering in the Griff through the side window broke my heart. The convertible TVRs are the easiest way to show off the fantastic attention to detail TVR put into their interiors. Seeing convertibles with the roof on was criminal.
And while there were a lot of people on the stand they all seemed to be having some kind of club meet in the middle rather than being out there extolling the virtues of the cars. I talked to owners of other cars who were ready with iPad in hand with all their restoration pictures to show, and was invited to sit in a Marcos after talking over the various differences between Marcos and TVR chassis layouts.
Yet there was barely a soul out with the cars at 11am and 1pm when we went through the stand.
All in all, a good try chaps, but certainly some opportunities for improvement.
I'm surprised not to see anything already on here about it.
My first impressions were good. You could see the TVR stand from the door and it was one of the main doors for people arriving by train. So a prime position and well done to whoever managed to bag it.
The stand itself was professional looking, with a central section with the TVRCC logo nicely emblazoned across it, it was tall so you could see if from a distance and I was surprised to see doors in it so it was like a small room where presumably coats and coffee cups etc were nicely hidden from view. Again, this all adds to the professional view and is to be congratulated. All-in-all from a stand point of view it was probably one of the most impressive club stands at the show.
But (you were waiting for this weren't you)
The cars
Actually there was a decent collection of cars on the stand. Nice to see a Sag racer there and a good collection of road cars representing the marque.
I won't pick out individual cars, thats not fair and they all deserved their place rightfully.
Less impressive was the way the cars were displayed or supported.
By this I mean cars with their roofs on, parked on the stand with no effort to light them inside or out, or have mirrors under them, or even open bonnets. All of which I saw on other stands so wasn't beyond the realms of possibility and seeing someone peering in the Griff through the side window broke my heart. The convertible TVRs are the easiest way to show off the fantastic attention to detail TVR put into their interiors. Seeing convertibles with the roof on was criminal.
And while there were a lot of people on the stand they all seemed to be having some kind of club meet in the middle rather than being out there extolling the virtues of the cars. I talked to owners of other cars who were ready with iPad in hand with all their restoration pictures to show, and was invited to sit in a Marcos after talking over the various differences between Marcos and TVR chassis layouts.
Yet there was barely a soul out with the cars at 11am and 1pm when we went through the stand.
All in all, a good try chaps, but certainly some opportunities for improvement.
I spent 2 days (sat & sun) on the stand with our Sag racer. I was talking to people all day (I have nearly lost my voice)and lost count of the amount of people (not only kids) who I invited and let sit in the car. I had a quick look around the show and a lot of cars looked like they were behind barriers and no one was letting people sit in them (they had notices do not touch or do not sit in) I however only looked round for an hour so may not be a fair assessment.
Barreti said:
Less impressive was the way the cars were displayed or supported.
By this I mean cars with their roofs on, parked on the stand with no effort to light them inside or out, or have mirrors under them, or even open bonnets. All of which I saw on other stands so wasn't beyond the realms of possibility and seeing someone peering in the Griff through the side window broke my heart. The convertible TVRs are the easiest way to show off the fantastic attention to detail TVR put into their interiors. Seeing convertibles with the roof on was criminal.
The Griffith on display unfortunately has a sensitive, self setting alarm that can't be disabled and went off when anyone walked past so unfortunately that's why the roof was on. The 3000S, 350i, S4 and Chimaera were all displayed with their roofs down throughout the show.By this I mean cars with their roofs on, parked on the stand with no effort to light them inside or out, or have mirrors under them, or even open bonnets. All of which I saw on other stands so wasn't beyond the realms of possibility and seeing someone peering in the Griff through the side window broke my heart. The convertible TVRs are the easiest way to show off the fantastic attention to detail TVR put into their interiors. Seeing convertibles with the roof on was criminal.
Bonnets and doors were opened on a regular basis, you must have missed that and it's down to the individual owner as to how they display their cars. Howard spent all Sunday showing people all around his car but naturally having spent a great deal of time and money wasn't happy for us to leave his car open while he wasn't there. We've been congratulated on how helpful and approachable the staff were so you probably passed at a quiet time.
IMO putting mirrors under car is about as tacky as it gets and I'm not sure as to the value of lights under cars but we'll certainly look into the possibility of internal LED lighting as suggested elsewhere.
That said we're obviously doing something right as we came second in the Best Club Stand award and were only beaten by the Morris club who did a special display for an anniversary.
Edited by V8 GRF on Tuesday 19th November 16:29
Barreti said:
And while there were a lot of people on the stand they all seemed to be having some kind of club meet in the middle rather than being out there extolling the virtues of the cars. I talked to owners of other cars who were ready with iPad in hand with all their restoration pictures to show, and was invited to sit in a Marcos after talking over the various differences between Marcos and TVR chassis layouts.
Yet there was barely a soul out with the cars at 11am and 1pm when we went through the stand.
All in all, a good try chaps, but certainly some opportunities for improvement.
As a non owner enquiring about a few things on the behalf of an actual TVR owner who couldn't make it, I thought the stand was great. As you say easily spotted from a distance and well arranged and surprisingly sizeable!Yet there was barely a soul out with the cars at 11am and 1pm when we went through the stand.
All in all, a good try chaps, but certainly some opportunities for improvement.
I actually thought it was only half of the actual size (not realising that the other half of the stand was behind the partition wall) and got a nice surprise to get a doubling in capacity and cars free!
I have to disagree strongly with your take on the people on the stand though. As said I'm not an owner and was there to ask vague questions on behalf of someone else. My father and I had a long and exceptionally informative chat with one of the chaps on the stand (forgive me I forget your name, I'm fairly sure your badge said you were the clubs PR co-ordinator or similar) who gave us much more help and info than we were expecting - as well as grabbing us a free club magazine to take away. I'm sure it's unfair to expect anyone to keep up that level of effort constantly throughout the 2 or 3 days of the show but there was certainly a clear will to help (and sell club membership
) apparent.We were certainly glad we dropped by and definitely a highlight of the show for us.
V8 GRF said:
IMO putting mirrors under car is about as tacky as it gets and I'm not sure as to the value of lights under cars but we'll certainly look into the possibility of internal LED lighting as suggested elsewhere.
When I get a chance, Dave, I'll post you some pictures from the Macros display of previous years which did it to very good effect.Edited by V8 GRF on Tuesday 19th November 16:29
alex_gray255 said:
V8 GRF said:
IMO putting mirrors under car is about as tacky as it gets and I'm not sure as to the value of lights under cars but we'll certainly look into the possibility of internal LED lighting as suggested elsewhere.
When I get a chance, Dave, I'll post you some pictures from the Macros display of previous years which did it to very good effect.
Barreti said:
Did anyone visit the TVRCC stand at the NEC?
I'm surprised not to see anything already on here about it.
My first impressions were good. You could see the TVR stand from the door and it was one of the main doors for people arriving by train. So a prime position and well done to whoever managed to bag it.
The stand itself was professional looking, with a central section with the TVRCC logo nicely emblazoned across it, it was tall so you could see if from a distance and I was surprised to see doors in it so it was like a small room where presumably coats and coffee cups etc were nicely hidden from view. Again, this all adds to the professional view and is to be congratulated. All-in-all from a stand point of view it was probably one of the most impressive club stands at the show.
But (you were waiting for this weren't you)
The cars
Actually there was a decent collection of cars on the stand. Nice to see a Sag racer there and a good collection of road cars representing the marque.
I won't pick out individual cars, thats not fair and they all deserved their place rightfully.
Less impressive was the way the cars were displayed or supported.
By this I mean cars with their roofs on, parked on the stand with no effort to light them inside or out, or have mirrors under them, or even open bonnets. All of which I saw on other stands so wasn't beyond the realms of possibility and seeing someone peering in the Griff through the side window broke my heart. The convertible TVRs are the easiest way to show off the fantastic attention to detail TVR put into their interiors. Seeing convertibles with the roof on was criminal.
And while there were a lot of people on the stand they all seemed to be having some kind of club meet in the middle rather than being out there extolling the virtues of the cars. I talked to owners of other cars who were ready with iPad in hand with all their restoration pictures to show, and was invited to sit in a Marcos after talking over the various differences between Marcos and TVR chassis layouts.
Yet there was barely a soul out with the cars at 11am and 1pm when we went through the stand.
All in all, a good try chaps, but certainly some opportunities for improvement.
Always room for improvement, but have to say its was the highlight of the show for me! All those manning the stand were very approachable and happy to let people clamber all over the cars. Visited several times over Friday/Saturday - always well manned, unlike many other club stands. Couple of pics for those who couldn't make it...I'm surprised not to see anything already on here about it.
My first impressions were good. You could see the TVR stand from the door and it was one of the main doors for people arriving by train. So a prime position and well done to whoever managed to bag it.
The stand itself was professional looking, with a central section with the TVRCC logo nicely emblazoned across it, it was tall so you could see if from a distance and I was surprised to see doors in it so it was like a small room where presumably coats and coffee cups etc were nicely hidden from view. Again, this all adds to the professional view and is to be congratulated. All-in-all from a stand point of view it was probably one of the most impressive club stands at the show.
But (you were waiting for this weren't you)
The cars
Actually there was a decent collection of cars on the stand. Nice to see a Sag racer there and a good collection of road cars representing the marque.
I won't pick out individual cars, thats not fair and they all deserved their place rightfully.
Less impressive was the way the cars were displayed or supported.
By this I mean cars with their roofs on, parked on the stand with no effort to light them inside or out, or have mirrors under them, or even open bonnets. All of which I saw on other stands so wasn't beyond the realms of possibility and seeing someone peering in the Griff through the side window broke my heart. The convertible TVRs are the easiest way to show off the fantastic attention to detail TVR put into their interiors. Seeing convertibles with the roof on was criminal.
And while there were a lot of people on the stand they all seemed to be having some kind of club meet in the middle rather than being out there extolling the virtues of the cars. I talked to owners of other cars who were ready with iPad in hand with all their restoration pictures to show, and was invited to sit in a Marcos after talking over the various differences between Marcos and TVR chassis layouts.
Yet there was barely a soul out with the cars at 11am and 1pm when we went through the stand.
All in all, a good try chaps, but certainly some opportunities for improvement.
Barreti said:
Did anyone visit the TVRCC stand at the NEC?
........... but certainly some opportunities for improvement.
It's a good thing to have a debate about these things as there are always various ways things can be done and anything can be improved on........... but certainly some opportunities for improvement.
I agree, the display structure is good, it provides a focus and an advertisement and as you say there is a small room.
The cars on display each belong to a private owner and they may have (and are entitled to) different preferences as to whether cars are left open etc. Certainly when they were not on the stand we held most (maybe all) the keys centrally and owners were happy for people to be shown round whilst one of us was there (I was there Thurs-Sun).
Each car was well prepared, not surprisingly there were some comments made about wanting to see more classics or more race cars and that's a great debate to have. We each have an opinion and that's a very good thing although it is not possible to please all of us!
As the video shows, most cars had their roofs off virtually all the time (I think one was put on for a while when someone asked to see how easy it was to do, so you may have come then). We have had problems in the past with people doing things with the cars without being invited, one car ending with a flat battery and items of rubbish left in others including engine bays (cans etc.).
We opened various bonnets and cars to show people when asked but I also had an interesting chat with someone we met at a previous show who had silver foil placed in his bay so as to cause electrical problems - so there is a risk if vehicles are unattended, and as I said these are private vehicles.
I have no opinion on lights for displays, to me they can look either nice or tacky. Personally, I do quite like the mirror idea
I'm surprised you didn't see many volunteers, especially at the time you were there. I actually thought there were times when there were too many of us around and it may put some people off. It is a fair comment that at times helpers will congregate together, but it also has to be remembered we are all volunteers and were there for about 9 hours a day. It is unrealistic to expect each to stand on their own all day. Some helpers never left the stand, some took a break.
Thanks for attending the TVRCC stand at the show.
Thanks for handing in your ticket stubs,....
Thanks for all your comments makes it all worth while....
Thanks to those circa 47 people who worked upto 12 hours daily ...prepping cleaning up on tables after folks, making drinks selling clobber, prepping their cars, constantly keeping them presentable, trailering race cars, picking rubbish up after visitors had dropped it, fielding hundreds of questions, working as part of a team even though you had never worked together before, you looked brilliant, thanks for build up on Thursday ...staying each night until the doors closed, thanks for staying behind at the close of the show breaking down the stand ...putting all the display stuff away properly in readiness for the next event, thanks to Dave M and Dave H for staying at my place to save hotel bills and club finances, thanks to everyone who rallied round when Angus took ill....
Thankfully Angus is on the mend....
All Good!
Thanks for handing in your ticket stubs,....
Thanks for all your comments makes it all worth while....
Thanks to those circa 47 people who worked upto 12 hours daily ...prepping cleaning up on tables after folks, making drinks selling clobber, prepping their cars, constantly keeping them presentable, trailering race cars, picking rubbish up after visitors had dropped it, fielding hundreds of questions, working as part of a team even though you had never worked together before, you looked brilliant, thanks for build up on Thursday ...staying each night until the doors closed, thanks for staying behind at the close of the show breaking down the stand ...putting all the display stuff away properly in readiness for the next event, thanks to Dave M and Dave H for staying at my place to save hotel bills and club finances, thanks to everyone who rallied round when Angus took ill....
Thankfully Angus is on the mend....
All Good!
Adrian@ said:
Try This, not mine but...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uItVj1RozyE
Adrian@
Cheers Adrian...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uItVj1RozyE
Adrian@
Edited by Adrian@ on Tuesday 19th November 19:31
Shows that it was a little busy ....though I would have seen you there mate?
Adrian@ said:
Hi Steve,I did, sort of, I went to meet some people at the NEC station, AND then there were people who visited the show calling in at home (ALL good reports). But as you know, we are a busy household, with bike riding and Zane's training, he has been picked to represent the Coventry City Swimming Club this coming weekend in a novice gala, along with the club championship on the 15th of next month (his 9th birthday)...not bad for a deaf kid 
to the NHS...
AND OMG, yes...a snapshot of a hectic weekend on video, speaks for it's self.
Adrian@
Hi Mate, to the NHS...AND OMG, yes...a snapshot of a hectic weekend on video, speaks for it's self.
Adrian@
It would have been good to see Julie, Zane and your good-self, know you are busy....glad you heard positive stuff...you will have a few people call you over the next few Weeks as I gave your details as a point of expertise ....
Glad Zane is doing well...little super star....probably bump into you swimming at the Pingles then....George wants to go swimming more regularly....
schimg said:
Thanks for attending the TVRCC stand at the show.
Thanks for handing in your ticket stubs,....
Thanks for all your comments makes it all worth while....
Thanks to those circa 47 people who worked upto 12 hours daily ...prepping cleaning up on tables after folks, making drinks selling clobber, prepping their cars, constantly keeping them presentable, trailering race cars, picking rubbish up after visitors had dropped it, fielding hundreds of questions, working as part of a team even though you had never worked together before, you looked brilliant, thanks for build up on Thursday ...staying each night until the doors closed, thanks for staying behind at the close of the show breaking down the stand ...putting all the display stuff away properly in readiness for the next event, thanks to Dave M and Dave H for staying at my place to save hotel bills and club finances, thanks to everyone who rallied round when Angus took ill....
Thankfully Angus is on the mend....
All Good!
Thanks for handing in your ticket stubs,....
Thanks for all your comments makes it all worth while....
Thanks to those circa 47 people who worked upto 12 hours daily ...prepping cleaning up on tables after folks, making drinks selling clobber, prepping their cars, constantly keeping them presentable, trailering race cars, picking rubbish up after visitors had dropped it, fielding hundreds of questions, working as part of a team even though you had never worked together before, you looked brilliant, thanks for build up on Thursday ...staying each night until the doors closed, thanks for staying behind at the close of the show breaking down the stand ...putting all the display stuff away properly in readiness for the next event, thanks to Dave M and Dave H for staying at my place to save hotel bills and club finances, thanks to everyone who rallied round when Angus took ill....
Thankfully Angus is on the mend....
All Good!
Trev
PS...Heres some of the TVR's at the Sporting Bears.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EmtodeHzzx8
Finally managed to get this one loaded to. Was rather big...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-haRVj4g6vU
...TVR stuff starts at about 16:10
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-haRVj4g6vU
...TVR stuff starts at about 16:10
Edited by alex_gray255 on Thursday 21st November 12:46
IVANHOE said:
Brilliant cause,See Mike had his Tuscan there, Anthony Snookes usually doe this in his LS cerbera, unfortunatly he couldn't make it this year....we were trying to encorouge folk along there especially if they didn't own a TVR and potentially wanted one...ideal opportunity for a test ride...
alex_gray255 said:
V8 GRF said:
IMO putting mirrors under car is about as tacky as it gets and I'm not sure as to the value of lights under cars but we'll certainly look into the possibility of internal LED lighting as suggested elsewhere.
When I get a chance, Dave, I'll post you some pictures from the Macros display of previous years which did it to very good effect.Edited by V8 GRF on Tuesday 19th November 16:29
IVANHOE said:
Hi Trev, another person I missed to say hi to at the NEC, shame you didn't get te sag on film, was busy with rides all day sat and sunday, the TVR`s were very popular as usual, and a total of £41k was raised by the sporting bears over the 3 days!alex_gray255 said:
alex_gray255 said:
V8 GRF said:
IMO putting mirrors under car is about as tacky as it gets and I'm not sure as to the value of lights under cars but we'll certainly look into the possibility of internal LED lighting as suggested elsewhere.
When I get a chance, Dave, I'll post you some pictures from the Macros display of previous years which did it to very good effect.PS Marcos didn't have any under car lights this year.
Edited by V8 GRF on Saturday 23 November 19:51
IVANHOE said:
That's my Cerb on the video (a full three days into my ownership!)Nice to see it in action and thanks for sharing.
Julian.
The Marcos with the light underneath is down to the owner displaying it that way. Lights close to the car IMO do not look good, and cars should be lit from above, not upwards, but its difficult getting light stands off the stage if people want to look around. The Marcos's next to the wall only had a long thin space, so no walking around the cars.
Marcos stand with overhead lights:
http://m.flickr.com/photos/garyharman/8504281161/l...
But it does depend on the colour of the car being displayed as there are only hall lights on the front of this Marcos, apart from the one the cameras looking at.
Marcos stand with overhead lights:
http://m.flickr.com/photos/garyharman/8504281161/l...
But it does depend on the colour of the car being displayed as there are only hall lights on the front of this Marcos, apart from the one the cameras looking at.
Edited by B1GRLM on Sunday 24th November 00:56
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