Arrogance, bad manners, Cholmondeley PoP ???

[oilandwater]

I have heard, from very reliable people, that car clubs are being treated very badly by the management of the Cholmondeley Pageant of Power. I believe the car clubs are dropping their support from this event, because in this third year they are being put in an even worse field position, with no facilities. Even the the VSCC the VCC and I believe now the Bentley Drivers Club have withdrawn their support. I have been informed that the powers that be haven't even acknowledged their withdrawal, let alone questioned it. What's going on? Surely they should welcome these premier car clubs to what is supposed to be a varied car event. Without these clubs and their cars this sort of event would be non-existent.
Makes you think....three years, three different positions, where will they be next, in the middle of a car park in Nantwich or Chester maybe, or do they just not want them?
Anyone in the know, know what's going on?

[ianqv]

Hi

I think this is widespread now.
A lot of us have had it with "car park" events (not that P.O.P is a car park event), it costs you £100 in fuel, usually £25 to get in, Lunch, Tea's and Coffee's and before you know it you've spent £200 on an event where the organiser is charging for people to look at your car!! I think a lot of these events are going to feel it over the next year or so!
If you have taken the time and trouble to display your car you should get in for free, and at very least get complimentary Tea's and Coffee's.

The above just isn't my personal view, this is a shared view by many who I have attended events with over the past few years.

I hope the big event organisers read this, and take it onboard!

[Lambochick]

I have to say that personally I'm rather ambivalent about these events, but my OH is very much of the opinion that Ian has expressed above. It's one reason why we no longer do any of the Auto Italia events - it's all very expensive with little or no thanks from the organisers, who are relying on our cars to be able to stage the event in the first place.

[oilandwater]

I think that the different cars at these sort of 'shows' add something extra to look at for the public and other exhibitors. It seems that Cpop (like Goodwood) just want the public to pay for their own friends to go on track. Only invited drivers that they already know, same drivers, same cars, as far as I can gather. If you are lucky enough to be invited to drive your car on track, as I believe maybe one or two privileged people have, you have to pay an extra entrance fee, plus you still have to pay for your partner/friend, as it's not the sort of thing to do on your own is it? Where is the fun in that?
Sorry to sound a little bitter, but it really p***es me off.
I've seen enough dancing diggers to last a life time.
There are some fantastic cars in this area alone, it's about time they realised just what they are missing by not treasuring the car club displays.

[tvrtaff]

Our regional club no longer supports "car park" events if they charge an admission for those displaying their cars.
It's pretty much a no brainer now, do you spend 150 < 200 quid in supporting an event. Or, do you go away in a small group for the weekend!!

Taffy

Edited by tvrtaff on Friday 25th June 13:45

[SB - Nigel]

I'm with you all about "car park" events charging display cars unless all the profit is going to charity and they've laid on loads more entertainments, shows like the Kimbolton show

Or better still shows where you can actually drive your car like Sporting Bears Dream Rides or ASDA day see - http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a... CHARITY DAY - BRUNTINGTHORPE - 15/8/2010

I think ianqv has been on one of our events but not when we used to do them at Brooklands (ianqv's profile photo)

As you've said above going to these shows can cost a bit of money so why pay to help the profits of the organisers when you can spend it (and more, see ASDA thread) raising money for charity and having a fantatic time

Edited by SB - Nigel on Friday 25th June 15:59

[Lambominx]

I totally agree with everyones thoughts on car park and field events where you have to pay to get in for the public to potentially damage our cars as push chairs and their drivers dont seem to have any respect !

We do not get fed or watered and loo's are miles away and to top it all we have to be there early o'clock to also be told we cannot leave til 4 or 5 as it will ruin the event, oh and if you bring a picnic you have to eat in the next field along so not to distract the publics view of the cars and so the push chairs can damage them more !

[chevronb37]

I can't possibly comment on the CPoP's organisation - I'm not involved. But I go to a lot of motor racing events and Cholmondeley in 2008 was one of them - I grew up near by and wanted to support the event. When my car was accepted onto the Pistonheads stand for 2009, I was delighted. Since I was tiny, I've been drooling over special cars at motor racing events and to actually have my car on one of these stands is actually an honour. I got my entry gratis and had the pleasure of watching other people enjoy my P & J. I'd have paid the entrance fee anyway so felt I won every way. I've done similar at a couple of events and don't mind a few sticky finger prints from kids if they can take some pleasure in seeing the cars. I don't have a 250GTO or anything - an Elise is hardly the world's most exotic vehicle - but when I was a child, it made my year to be allowed to explore cars like that and to extend the same to somebody else is entirely gratifying. If anyone paid an interest, they sat in the car, had a look at the boot space, chatted, whatever. It's fun to share with others at these events. I would never expect to be given refreshments for what is probably 90% vanity and 10% altruism on my part. I'll be at the Saturday of CPoP this year, but have to attend in my Rallye so will pay my entry and make sure I have a good nose around the club stands anyway.

[oilandwater]

chevronb37 said:

I can't possibly comment on the CPoP's organisation - I'm not involved. But I go to a lot of motor racing events and Cholmondeley in 2008 was one of them - I grew up near by and wanted to support the event. When my car was accepted onto the Pistonheads stand for 2009, I was delighted. Since I was tiny, I've been drooling over special cars at motor racing events and to actually have my car on one of these stands is actually an honour. I got my entry gratis and had the pleasure of watching other people enjoy my P & J. I'd have paid the entrance fee anyway so felt I won every way. I've done similar at a couple of events and don't mind a few sticky finger prints from kids if they can take some pleasure in seeing the cars. I don't have a 250GTO or anything - an Elise is hardly the world's most exotic vehicle - but when I was a child, it made my year to be allowed to explore cars like that and to extend the same to somebody else is entirely gratifying. If anyone paid an interest, they sat in the car, had a look at the boot space, chatted, whatever. It's fun to share with others at these events. I would never expect to be given refreshments for what is probably 90% vanity and 10% altruism on my part. I'll be at the Saturday of CPoP this year, but have to attend in my Rallye so will pay my entry and make sure I have a good nose around the club stands anyway.

Just my point. The majority of cars on these club stands invite questions, sticky fingers et al. No problem. They love to talk about their pride and joy. They just don't like being taken for granted, and taken for a ride (pardon the pun) by the organisers.

[sclayto2]

Again not CPoP specific as it is free but I'm also getting fed up with shows where I have to pay to bring my car.

Especially as for me, these events are about catching up with friends in variuos clubs, that live at the other end of the country.

Looking at the growth in groups like Petrolhead Nirvana, Ultimate GT, etc and the reduction in attendance from club members, it would seem we're not alone.

I'm wondering if a weekend hoon with overnight stay would make a better 'club' event.

[SB - Nigel]

sclayto2 said:

Again not CPoP specific as it is free but I'm also getting fed up with shows where I have to pay to bring my car.

Especially as for me, these events are about catching up with friends in variuos clubs, that live at the other end of the country.

As always my personal opinions now;

I think here you are moaning more about your club's lack of imagination than the events

At (some of) theses shows you're partly paying for the entertainments and facilites that are there for you but you chose not to use

I'm sure someone in your club would say if you've got a better idea then organise it - are you going to do it ?

I'm not getting at you or defending most shows as I go to very few and those I do are usually ones where I actually drive my car and have a great load of fun and help to raise a bit for charity

I've always detested paying to take my car to fully commercial shows just to support a club I'm a member of so now I don't do it, if you feel the same you could do the same

See my post above for ideas of shows I think are worth supporting

[oilandwater]

SB - Nigel said:

sclayto2 said:

Again not CPoP specific as it is free but I'm also getting fed up with shows where I have to pay to bring my car.

Especially as for me, these events are about catching up with friends in variuos clubs, that live at the other end of the country.

As always my personal opinions now;

I think here you are moaning more about your club's lack of imagination than the events

At (some of) theses shows you're partly paying for the entertainments and facilites that are there for you but you chose not to use

I'm sure someone in your club would say if you've got a better idea then organise it - are you going to do it ?

I'm not getting at you or defending most shows as I go to very few and those I do are usually ones where I actually drive my car and have a great load of fun and help to raise a bit for charity

I've always detested paying to take my car to fully commercial shows just to support a club I'm a member of so now I don't do it, if you feel the same you could do the same

See my post above for ideas of shows I think are worth supporting

I do organise events for various car clubs, and various charities are supported too.

My feeling is how soon these big event organisers forget the support they were given from car clubs when they first started out. They wanted them then.

[andy-integrale]

I have never really thought about this subject in the way others obviously have. And it's clearly not right if organisers are treating clubs with disdain or not making life easy for them to organise displays.

I usually view it as an opportunity to attend events that I would probably want to go to anyway but where being on a stand provides a good base from which to explore the show without being stuck miles away in the car park.

You also have to look at what your club is charging you. For example I attended the Chatsworth Rally Show with Club Lancia Sport and I know from conversations with others their club was charging significantly more than CLS had charged their members.

For example CPoP is £15 for Club Lancia Sport which is a good discount on the gate price and a prime location from which to explore the event.

[SB - Nigel]

oilandwater said:

I do organise events for various car clubs,

oilandwater said:

and various charities are supported too.

oilandwater said:

My feeling is how soon these big event organisers forget the support they were given from car clubs when they first started out. They wanted them then.

yes that's true, so why not tell them and if you now feel badly done by and don't organise or attend shows these organisers put on

I'd sooner pay a few quid to display at a charity event, but I've never been bothered about showing my cars and used to attend the "car park" shows only to support the clubs I was a member of or if the show was for charity

I'm sure most of the organisers of large shows couldn't care less and are even happy not to have the bother of one or two car clubs attendance

So to summerise: tell the organisers what you think, if they're not interested tell them you wont attend any shows they oraganise even to estabilsh a new show

[Harsh]

Speaking from the perspective of an organiser of events such as Dads Day Out and the Dunton charity day, I tend to agree with what has been said in terms of treating car clubs as the lifeblood of the event.

The way i see it is this; if it is an event that is there for profit then i would feel somewhat miffed at paying to display my car, however if it is a charity event then so long as the car club members get a decent parking spot closer to the main event than the general public and there is a lot more going on in terms of entertainment then i feel that paying a nominal fee (preferably at a discount to the public) is part of the charity fund raising aspect and is worth doing.

Going from my experience (and I'm talking about charity events here), these events take a lot of time and effort to put together, also organising car clubs can feel a bit like herding cats at times with people commiting and then pulling out. For a charity to put on an event they need to know that it will be financially worthwhile as opposed to putting in the effort to do something else (an opportunity cost if you like)

That said those car clubs do deserve to be treated well and get the better spaces at the event. if that doesn't happen then the event clearly doesn't value your input (Dads Day Out and Dunton clearly do as they listen to peoples input about entertainment and parking and try to improve the experience year on year)

[ianqv]

SB - Nigel said:

I'm with you all about "car park" events charging display cars unless all the profit is going to charity and they've laid on loads more entertainments, shows like the Kimbolton show

Or better still shows where you can actually drive your car like Sporting Bears Dream Rides or ASDA day see - http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a... CHARITY DAY - BRUNTINGTHORPE - 15/8/2010

I think ianqv has been on one of our events but not when we used to do them at Brooklands (ianqv's profile photo)

As you've said above going to these shows can cost a bit of money so why pay to help the profits of the organisers when you can spend it (and more, see ASDA thread) raising money for charity and having a fantatic time

Edited by SB - Nigel on Friday 25th June 15:59

My profile pic (which I must update) is indeed at Brooklands - the event was the Supercar celebration which then headed to Brighton for the weekend.

[ianqv]

Just to clarify........

Charity events = Worth EVERY penny!!

It's the commercial "profit" making events which I have been referring to.

[SB - Nigel]

ianqv said:

Just to clarify........

Charity events = Worth EVERY penny!!

It's the commercial "profit" making events which I have been referring to.

with you all the way

and I thought (wrongly) that you'd been on one of our SBDRs somewhere

have this for Brooklands SBDRs - here

and Kimbolton offers discount to pre-booked displaying cars and lovely surroundings to diplay in as well as loads to entertain all the family see here

ASDA day you'll probably end up paying £5 no matter what but £5 for a fantastic day (that raises tens of thousands of pounds) is nothing

[MikeTiger]

The car club pitches have been moved from where they were last year, if you look at the location they are situated next to the track by the chicane which looks to be a good viewing point.
The general public will walk through the club area to the entry gate.
Car clubs who register have ten free tickets including paddock passes for both days and reduced prices for other tickets.
We have allocated our free tickets by lottery.
The P of P is not a charity event but it is supporting a charity.
I cannot see why people who can afford cars that are many of tens of thousands more valuable than mine whinge about paying for entry. I personally
have no problems about paying, I get my pleasure from chatting to members of the public and kids being interested in my car.

[SB - Nigel]

MikeTiger said:

The car club pitches have been moved from where they were last year, if you look at the location they are situated next to the track by the chicane which looks to be a good viewing point.
The general public will walk through the club area to the entry gate.
Car clubs who register have ten free tickets including paddock passes for both days and reduced prices for other tickets.
We have allocated our free tickets by lottery.
The P of P is not a charity event but it is supporting a charity.
I cannot see why people who can afford cars that are many of tens of thousands more valuable than mine whinge about paying for entry. I personally
have no problems about paying, I get my pleasure from chatting to members of the public and kids being interested in my car.

So now we see the other side of the coin, no one mention this until you

If it wasn't supporting a charity the SBDRs wouldn't be there

Not everyone that's wealth moans about paying to get in

I hope your club attends Sporting Bears events as you have the right attitude