55 replies to this topic

[Barry Boor]

There was a Mike Hailwood bike there on Sunday, or at least, an M.V. Agusta on the Hailwood stand.

[Giraffe]

I'm borrowing this from Stephen W's post on the 'Northern' thread as it touched a nerve.......

 

"Race Retro - general concensus was that it has steadily deteriorated over the years and is now just a handy place to meet people"

 

On the Friday, I was waiting for the Chevron interviews to begin on the main stage whilst a representative of the organisers wrestled with the PA, and was thinking that it was a good crowd that had assembled for the presentation (betwixt the Fire Engine Bar and the stage).  I was wrong, the interviews commenced and hardly a soul batted an eyelid. Pints clenched firmly in hand, they were all just busily catching up with their mates, almost all of the assembled mob totally blanking the proceedings. 

Next year, they should simply open a much bigger bar in one of the halls & nothing else, halve the admission price and quadruple their profits.

Personally, I enjoyed the day but there was definitely something missing. The show's mojo is on the wane.  

[Tim Murray]

Personally, I enjoyed the day but there was definitely something missing. The show's mojo is on the wane.

I'm inclined to agree. My memory may be letting me down, but I can only recall seeing four F1 Grand Prix cars (not counting the Brabham fake sorry, 'continuation') and very few other genuinely historic cars. It was great to meet and chat to so many of my TNF friends, but to look back on that as the highlight of my day means there must have been something a bit lacking in the show itself.

[Allen Brown]

I hate to have to agree with everybody - it's really not my style - but there was something lacking this year.  For one reason or another it's not quite the "must" that it was two years ago.  A lot of people who used to attend have skipped this year and as it's primarily a meeting place/catch-up to me, that makes it a bit less attractive. 

[Alan Cox]

It's really become just a place to meet up - and, in that respect, is hard to better - but the organisers really need to put in some more effort as they can't rely on the exhibitors to produce the star goods. A noticeable lack of the top preparers who used to exhibit their latest projects (e.g.. Jim Stokes Workshop, Crosthwaite and Gardiner etc), fewer booksellers and few of the top model retailers. If you had to pay on the door it was very expensive for what was on offer.

[LotusElise]

Yes, the same for me. I've attended every RR and reported them in usually three publications. the "dscount" to press was less than a club discount or even that to MS readers! Andrea who does the PR was very embarrassed. I gather only 100 passes were given rather than the 300 in the past. I wonder how many of the 200 did not bother to go. I think it's worth writing to Live Promotions directly.

While I enjoy the show I do think they need to improve their act. The number of stands and stalls goes down each year as does the attractions. 3 cars each for the BMC and Brabham celebrations is simply an insult. There used to be a BTRDA autotest and at one point an indoor trials arena. The bike side has almost disappeared and the publicised Mike Hailwood celebration display had not bikes on it. What happened to the promised "fire ups".

Must do better.

 

There were definitely some bike fire-ups going on on Saturday, in one of the tarmac courtyards, just outside the connection between the halls and the "shed".

Dad and I haven't been for a couple of years, and the price has gone up drastically. It was a good day out, but perhaps not the best value.