16 replies to this topic

[Jon Saltinstall]

Are any members of TNF planning to attend the Autosport international Show next week? Whilst it doesn't have much of a "nostalgic" element these days, it's always good to hook up with like-minded individuals if anyone fancies a coffee!

[ensign14]

I may be doing, shame they don't do the tickets without the live show as that is not really for me.  I'd rather spent a score to have a mooch around than nearly double that with "free" indoor superstox or whatevs.

[Collombin]

The list of exhibitors this year doesn't thrill. I am more interested in books and 1/43 models than engineering solutions. However, if I encounter any engineering problems during the week I will know where to head.

[RTH]

I may be doing, shame they don't do the tickets without the live show as that is not really for me.  I'd rather spent a score to have a mooch around than nearly double that with "free" indoor superstox or whatevs.

....£40  and how much is the car park charge on top of that  ?.. £15 for a coffee and a roll ..... add in  £50 in petrol - it is a very expensive day out for a huge amount of long distance walking .... and I am OK for furry dice and nodding dogs at present .

Oh for the days when it was sensibly priced held at  The Royal Horticultural Hall Westminster,  Olympia  or at Alexandra Palace 

[small block]

You can be assured that following weeks issue of Autosport will say that it was the best show ever (it always does)

[sstiel]

I'll be there on Saturday Jon if you fancy meeting.

[jonpollak]

I used to sneak out to go to The Racing Car Show at Olympia. I would tell my wife that I was going to a 'trade show.'

Met loads of great racing people there in the early 80's.

 

Later it moved to the NEC I attended many of these either working as a lighting guy or making racing connections or getting side jobs via Anne Bradshaw. We had full on shows with "Bernie Awards" and bands playing and all sorts of diversions. (Yes Virginia, that IS Ron with the cheeky girls in the same photo call).

 

One year (1995 I think ) Goodyear had a slew of Grand Prix cars on show and hired a huge lighting rig to light them up.
I was called in to direct the focus of these lights onto the 72 famous and not so famous F1 cars.
At one point I realized the kids they had hired to rig and crawl ladders were clueless so up the scaffolds and ladders I went and finished the job myself in quick order.
It was about 9 pm when on my last couple lights on the last car I felt a shake at the bottom of the ladder.
Not being at all happy about this i yelled down and said "What bastard is putting my life at risk".

From below I heard a apologetic Brummie voice saying "oh sorry mate" and as I looked down Nigel Mansell shot me a wily grin.

 

Haven't been since around 2007 ???

Jp

 

[PRD]

I've only just spotted Jon's original post, but I went to the Autosport Show on Thursday having paid £30 for a ticket just for the show. I wasn't bothered about the Live Action. Quite honestly, it's not the show that it used to be and I doubt that I'll bother with it again.

 

I find Race Retro rather more interesting nowadays and I'm sure that goes for most TNF members.

[Dick Dastardly]

I went 3 or 4 years ago just to see if it had changed much since my last previous visit in around 2003/4.....and regretted going, wondering why I'd bothered.

Nothing there that interested me very much. Still, I stayed over night at the nearby Birmingham Airport Travelodge, had a curry and went to the HRCR Open Day at Gaydon the following day....That was much more enjoyable, met plenty of friends, colleagues etc from the historic rallying world  

Was tempted to go down just for the latter today but have too many other things on just at present.....  

[mariner]

I went yesterday ( Saturday) and it was a bit disappointing. I think the emphasis has changed to having al the technical stuff only in the Engineering show , which joe punter can't in theory attend. 

 

Some good racing clubs stands but no  actual racing cards - probably because apart from F1 few pure racing cars are built in the UK now.  Really only Ginetta and Radical in two seaters. 

 

Speaking of F1 seeing the BRM V16 was great but otherwise a very half hearted F1 display. compared to prior years. 

 

Having said  that I do like the way t non-circuit racing is always given space, Tractor pulling  isn't my thing but to see a twin RR Merlin/(Meteor?) engine pulling tractor is nice. Also I have  found the non circuit people, grasstrack, Stock cars. drag cars etc.  people much more wiling to just chat about their stuff.

Edited by mariner, 15 January 2023 - 10:34.

[Derwent Motorsport]

By all accounts, from folk who have gone. it was a much smaller show, perhaps two halls?  It will be interesting to see how Race Retro gets on after a three year gap. A lot of these shows are losing trade displays which not only bring in revenue but are what the public also pay to see. For Autosport with entrance fee and dreadful parking fee, plus ridiculous food cost make it a costly do.  A visit to the Silverstone Classic would be much better value. 

Race Retro has reputedly lost two halls to HS2 and a new site for the rally and I wonder if there will be enough stalls?    I am going but it may be time is running out for these shows. 

[mariner]

This years show did actually spread across four halls but " spread" is the operative word as there was lots of open space, quite nice for easy moving and social distancing actually.

l

Hall 4 is purely "tuned cars" s which was bad ass bling on a gross scale, nothing wrong in that but maybe not a natural fit with race car engineering.

 

Still I hope it survives, does any body remember wandering down the loading ramp of a Townsend ferry next to HMS Belfast where  the old racing car show ended up there after Olympia?

[9203RW]

 

 

Still I hope it survives, does any body remember wandering down the loading ramp of a Townsend ferry next to HMS Belfast where  the old racing car show ended up there after Olympia?

 

All too clearly, as well as standing in the queue waiting for the shuttle service to transport us from a pier on the north bank of the Thames to the car ferry.  Strangely, though, the only car I can remember from the exhibition itself is the Connew. 

[AllanL]

Well, it was the best show for three years - but it was a close call. 

 

I went on Saturday with my son. The "History of F1" display seemed to have some link to the Silverstone Museum. The grand total was the first BRM V16, a 2019 Alpine (I know), and 2022 Red Bull and Aston Martin cars. Williams also had a car in a corner of one of the halls in what was quite a popular esports display.

 

I enjoyed a chat with a scientist funded by Racing against Dementia and felt afterwards that the entrance fee (2x£7.50) plus car parking (£16.95) would have been better donated to RaD.

 

I overheard a couple of stallholders venting their displeasure at the poverty of the overall display (the only rally cars were peeking out of transporters - presumably on the transporter sellers stands).

 

One was mentioning other stall holders who were not going to Race Retro, which is having a re-organisation of the layout which seems to be reducing the space for non-premium stands - whatever that implies. 

 

As my son said, in the past we have had WRC launches, interviews with current F1 drivers and a fullish display of cars from the F1 grid from recent years. Maybe next year we'll see the Renault   Alpine RS01.

 

Whether this is all down to teams/series losing interest in shows like Autosport or stall fees getting too high, it is a slippery slope that can only lead one way.

[Derwent Motorsport]

£7.50 admission to the show? 

[AllanL]

£7.50 admission to the show? 

If only - £37.50 in advance and £40 on the day. Mind you the lower figure might have improved my opinion of the event!

[ensign14]

I'm not saying that one can avoid the parking fee by rocking up at, say, a nearby railway station and jumping on the rattler...