40 replies to this topic

[Luke1508]

Should be an awesome day!!

[andyt]

I was slightly dissapointed, this is my local show and  look forward to it but there just didn't seem to be the same amount of traders and mini jumble type stalls as there has been in the past years, although I did enjoy the track action and there were lots of very nice cars! 

[minimotion]

My 3rd year of attending and Also thought the lack of traders was a disappointment is this due to lack of advertisement? Or traders going else where?

[greenwheels]

I've always thought Castle Combe was the best show of the year, but this was a great disappointment. Lots of the usual traders were missing, not so many clubs either. One of the autojumble traders told me the cost of a stand was ridiculously expensive and far to much for an autojumbler selling bits for a couple of quid each.

I do wish though, that this was just a classic Mini show, the atmosphere is spoilt otherwise, the traders were only for classic Minis really so why any other non classic Minis were there puzzles me. I've always felt this show attracted the best in traditional tuned Minis, and the sight and sounds were always so delightful and inspiring. This year it just wasn't the same.

[mini-geek]

I've not seen a single positive post about any shows this year..

Is this that people are expecting and demanding more? The scene had stagnated? Or it's all gone Pete tong?

[mab01uk]

I've not seen a single positive post about any shows this year..

Is this that people are expecting and demanding more? The scene had stagnated? Or it's all gone Pete tong?

 

Too many Mini shows in the calander now and fewer owners needing to or wishing to drive long distances on motorways when there are plenty of shows nearer to home......unlike years ago when there were only a few National shows like MOC Stanford, MCR Beaulieu, London to Brighton and Castle Combe Action Day. Same for the major traders as it costs alot to run a stand when you can sell to most owners online with less hassle and no transport costs.......and most enthusiasts have realised the cheap imported copy parts from the unbranded 'market' traders are usually of poor quality with no aftersales service........

Also the numbers of 'daily driver' classic Mini's with young drivers running on a shoestring are far fewer and reducing every year and these used make up the bulk of ticket sales on the gate at shows.

Edited by mab01uk, 18 September 2016 - 05:19 PM.

[nicklouse]

to be honest the Uk shows need to look at their format and change.

[mab01uk]

I've always thought Castle Combe was the best show of the year, but this was a great disappointment. Lots of the usual traders were missing, not so many clubs either. One of the autojumble traders told me the cost of a stand was ridiculously expensive and far to much for an autojumbler selling bits for a couple of quid each.

I do wish though, that this was just a classic Mini show, the atmosphere is spoilt otherwise, the traders were only for classic Minis really so why any other non classic Minis were there puzzles me. I've always felt this show attracted the best in traditional tuned Minis, and the sight and sounds were always so delightful and inspiring. This year it just wasn't the same.

 

As said in previous post the shows rely on ticket sales through the gate and like it or not the 'daily driver' classic Mini's which used to ensure enough ticket sales to make events financially viable are reducing every year since production ended. I know from personal experience in the Mini Cooper Register that the annual Beaulieu Mini Show would no longer be viable without the ticket sales to the large and increasing numbers of Modern MINI's through the gate. Without them the classic Mini would eventually have a very small number of events or like many other classic car marques have smaller shows in cheaper locations.....

 

The Modern MINI's don't need so many trade stands as they don't go rusty or need so many spares and as with the classic Mini everything to modify them is available online delivered to your door......most owners and enthusiasts are there to enjoy the other aspects of shows and in the case of Castle Combe some track action! Many modern MINI owners also like to look around the classic Mini's!

Edited by mab01uk, 18 September 2016 - 05:36 PM.

[THE ANORAK]

i think us classic mini owners have been spoilt for too long and now, for the reasons mab01uk has stated, the scene is shrinking and shrinking fast.
 
how long are we going to expect these "one car" shows to keep going with the quality and quantity we are used to ??
 
can anyone else smell coffee ???

Edited by THE ANORAK, 18 September 2016 - 07:46 PM.

[Steve220]

I love combe. Fast track, no run off, lots of silly drivers playing to the cameras and bumped by their cars. What's not to like?!

[Stevie W]

Interesting that others are finding the usual shows diminishing each year.

 

I attend the Cooper day at Beaulieu (local to me) and Stanford Hall (which is a fair old trot to get to). Stanford Hall always was a very good show, but I tend to agree with Nicklouse that maybe the show formats need to change a little to generate more interest.

 

Maybe it's because my Mini is finished now and that I don't need to search for goodies and parts for it. We went to Stanford Hall this year but it seemed a bit of an effort to drive all that way for a show who's format has hasn't changed much over the years.

 

I entered my (non-cooper) Mini into the concours at Beaulieu this year for the first time but the weather let the show down a bit and I spent all morning trying to wash the mud off of it with buckets of water!

 

Our Minis are fabulous little cars, it would just be nice to inject some more changes into the shows possibly.

 

Cheers, Steve.  

[racingbob]

coombe was disappointing has been for the last 2 years

[mab01uk]

 

Our Minis are fabulous little cars, it would just be nice to inject some more changes into the shows possibly.

 

 

What changes would you suggest?........remember all shows need organisers and a team to run them while also needing to be financially viable without risk of a loss......the MCR struggle most years to get enough volunteers to run the day and spend weeks before planning and organising things to meet all the rules and regs plus health and safety laws. It is thought rain on the day this year seriously reduced Beaulieu ticket sales which is always a concern.....

 

There are already probably more different annual Mini event formats than for for any other car marque:-

eg.

Castle Combe - track action,

London to Brighton - road run,

Mini in the Park - Drag strip racing,

Stanford Hall - traditional show + show n' shine,

Beaulieu - traditional show + Cooper & Ex-Works cars + National Motor Museum,

MiniWorld Show, Rockingham - Oval Circuit action,

Gaydon Mini Show + British Heritage Museum,

Brands Hatch Mini Festival - a full weekend of Mini & MINI racing (+ Oulton Park Mini Festival),

Mk1 Action Day, Blyton - trackday + early Mini show.

British Mini Club - Indoor Mini Shows,

Brooklands - Historic Cars, Buses and Aeroplanes open air museum + Mini show,

plus many more national, local and club events......

Edited by mab01uk, 18 September 2016 - 07:03 PM.

[Stevie W]

I'm not sure to be honest Mab,

 

I do appreciate the effort put in to organising and holding these shows, and my comment was not meant as any form of criticism of any show, and I know you cannot control the weather either. 

 

I can only start to imagine what you have to do to satisfy H&S rules before thinking of what else to include in shows! Do you find the enthusiasm has reduced slightly as you say that it's difficult to get volunteers to help run the show?

 

Cheers, Steve.

[mab01uk]

It is difficult to get keen volunteers if a club is organising a show like Beaulieu or Stanford, rather than being run by a commercial event/business organisation like 'Mini in the Park' or a race circuit group like 'Brands Hatch Mini Festival'. The MCR has nearly 2000 members but only a handful ever come forward to help run the Beaulieu show and on more than one occasion in recent years it has looked doubtful whether the show would continue as previous volunteers decided they needed a break from the months of preparation work involved to ensure things run smoothly every year.