40 replies to this topic

[FastReader]

I wonder if anybody else is going this year after last year's rather disappointing event? I've decided to give it another go in the hope that it'll be better than last year and because I need a motorsport fix after 3-4 months of inactivity on the motorsport front but with a 350 mile round trip the event is living on borrowed time for me. At least there isn't a clashing London Classic Car Show this year as "Olympia is undergoing a significant upgrade".

Edited by FastReader, 09 February 2024 - 16:05.

[Collombin]

Sounds like a bigger event this year, with an extra hall in use.

[Richard Jenkins]

I'm there Friday with only a few minor commitments and time to mooch. I want to get a book from BHP/Bob Evans though, thats the main highlight for me.

[FastReader]

Saturday for me. Apart from having a good old browse I'm hoping to get a look at and possibly buy the new Dalton Watson book on the Maserati 450S; also got some books I want to get autographed by John Watson and Mike Wilds.

[sabrejet]

I'm giving it another go. I rarely stay beyond lunchtime but it's been a worthwhile fix for me in the past.

[Allen Brown]

I will be there on the Friday. For me, it’s the one show of the year I never miss. Good to have the Autojumble back this year.

[john aston]

Saturday for me too. And ,like Richard , the Bob Evans book to collect .  

[2F-001]

I'd like to give RaceRetro another go.

 

Am I completely out of touch, or are the admission charges a little on the high side?

[Steve L]

Thought it was pretty crummy last year, and relatively expensive to get in. I'm thinking of giving it another go on the Saturday, but would welcome reading reviews from anyone who attends on the Friday!

[Allen Brown]

It’s £28.50 on the Saturday, which would only buy you a cup of coffee at Goodwood (after queuing for 30 minutes) so I think that reasonable.

[2F-001]

Although recently one could watch a whole day of good racing (with pits and paddock access too) at an MSV circuit for half of that.

 

I'll most likely still attend - I'm just concerned what the turnout numbers might be, with a thought to ongoing viability.

 

I'm assuming, Allen, that the comment about Goodwood coffee is in jest? (I don't often drink the stuff.)

Edited by 2F-001, 10 February 2024 - 10:40.

[FastReader]

I'd like to give RaceRetro another go.

 

Am I completely out of touch, or are the admission charges a little on the high side?

Ticket prices are pretty similar to last year but the show is bigger this time so whilst it was overpriced in 2023, it should be better value this year.

Edited by FastReader, 10 February 2024 - 10:46.

[Derwent Motorsport]

As it's a long way south I go down on the Thursday, go to the show on Friday, see the rally action on Saturday morning and then drive home.  I've never missed on but last year was a bit poor. I think if there was no rally action then I would not go.  As with all shows now there are less sales stalls. 

Edited by Derwent Motorsport, 11 February 2024 - 09:19.

[sabrejet]

As it's a long way south I go down on the Thursday, go to the show on Friday, see the really action on Saturday morning and then drive home.  I've never missed on but last year was a bit poor. I think if there was no rally action then I would not go.  As with all shows now there are less sales stalls. 

 

I have to say I've been to a few but never seen any of the rally stuff. I may have to see where it's done and take a look this year.

[Derwent Motorsport]

The rally stage is just a short walk from the main halls. The rally cars are indoors on Friday as well.  Most people go for the rally demos now.

[PRD]

I’ll be there on Friday

Edited by PRD, 16 February 2024 - 22:07.

[DogEarred]

I gave up going a few years ago because of the general decline.

 

I will go on the Saturday this year, to meet up with a couple of chums.

 

It will be interesting to see what's it's like.

[PRD]

Nobody's going now. Just had an email to say that it's cancelled due to the floods in the show ground

 

I was really looking forward to the day too

 

 

https://www.raceretr...5PlaIbv_eOF3eHg

Edited by PRD, 19 February 2024 - 18:39.

[FastReader]

Nobody's going now. Just had an email to say that it's cancelled due to the floods in the show ground

 

I was really looking forward to the day too

 

 

https://www.raceretr...5PlaIbv_eOF3eHg

Oh bugger.

[sabrejet]

Yes it's a shame: we were looking forward to it too.

[elansprint72]

Looks like heavy flooding is the issue. I wonder if this has anything to do with the massive nearby excavations for HS2, or has flooding been an historic problem?

[BRG]

More likely due to having the River Avon on three sides of the site.

[john aston]

Very odd place is Stoneleigh. It has the look and feel a scruffy , long abandoned secret research base- the sort of thing  you'd see in The Avengers. I've  looked in vain for Mrs Peel's Elan though . Or her successor's AC 428     

[Odseybod]

No Steed but the site used to host the Town & Country Show - a sort of redneck antidote to its Royal Show earlier in the year, with pedigree cattle and umpteen-farsand-parnd farming machinery replaced by beery blokes with traction engines and the outrageous riotousness of tractor pulling. Great fun.

 

Mind you, Race Retro's rally stage has also had its moments ...

 

 

 

[FastReader]

Very odd place is Stoneleigh. It has the look and feel a scruffy , long abandoned secret research base- the sort of thing you'd see in The Avengers. I've looked in vain for Mrs Peel's Elan though . Or her successor's AC 428

Actually, her Elan was there last year as part of the classic car auction! Full details here:
https://www.iconicau...stoneleigh-0223

[SteveJones]

I understand that Iconic Auctioneers have been able to get the use of the Wing at Silverstone for their auctions so if you were looking to bid, seems you still can.

 

SJ

Edited by SteveJones, 20 February 2024 - 19:23.

[ensign14]

Looks like heavy flooding is the issue.

I'm claiming shenanigans.  There's nothing outrageous about the weather forecast in the next few days.  The official flood risk is being given as very low and although there is an alert in place there is no warning.

[Vitesse2]

I'm claiming shenanigans.  There's nothing outrageous about the weather forecast in the next few days.  The official flood risk is being given as very low and although there is an alert in place there is no warning.

Something in the small print of their pluvius insurance, perhaps?

[Allen Brown]

I'm claiming shenanigans. There's nothing outrageous about the weather forecast in the next few days. The official flood risk is being given as very low and although there is an alert in place there is no warning.

Have you seen the pictures of the current flooding in the car parks?

[Richard Jenkins]

My concern is that, given this is held in February, we know the British weather is dire and the area is suspectible to flooding, is it realistic to expect it to not reoccur in future years?
Given that I think stallholders patience might be stretched with one event in 4 years and the flood risk, I'm seriously doubtful if it'll attract the people who could give the show that oomph factor.

[john aston]

Where I live, the fields have been sodden for months . It's not flooding from a river  that is the issue, I suspect, but the fact that every non paved area will be a sea of gloop.  I need to drive across fields and farm tracks frequently and even with 4wd and proper tyres  it's been very iffy indeed. 

 

But move it somewhere  else perhaps as Stoneleigh is a run down tip of a place .Donington ?  

[Derwent Motorsport]

It does seem that the Midlands as a whole have had a very wet winters, right from Milton Keynes across to Herefordshire.  Meanwhile here in the Lakes we have not done too badly considering I live about 20 miles from the wettest place in England. 

[BRG]

It's raining again here in Molesey.

 

And the River Mole was trying to get onto the A245 in Cobham last Sunday and might try again tomorrow if this rain continues.  Basically mst of England is sodden at the moment and just a little more rain is enough to make standing water areas.  Not to mention the mud, so I won't.

 

Pity as I was working myself up to go to the show this year.

Edited by BRG, 21 February 2024 - 09:53.

[ensign14]

It does seem that the Midlands as a whole have had a very wet winters, right from Milton Keynes across to Herefordshire. 

We haven't had a winter.  It's basically been November since about March 2022.

[PRD]

The free car parking at Race Retro is on fields just outside the entrances to the show ground, if you want to park on the hard standing then it costs extra. Given that there’s plenty of hard standing at Stoneleigh accessible on tarmac roads I’d have thought that the organisers could have used that even if it would mean dealing with the traffic queuing on the approach roads

Edited by PRD, 22 February 2024 - 10:23.

[yasmin]

I've recieved an email this morning informing me the event is cancelled due to flooding;

"Dear Race Retro Community,
It is with great sadness Clarion Events Ltd and Stoneleigh Park announces the cancellation of this year's highly anticipated Reis Race Retro event. "

[GTMRacer]

I went a few years ago now and my abiding memory is the sodden ground and rain!

[sabrejet]

I must admit I can't find any photos showing just how bad it is at Stoneleigh, but can easily imagine. Bearing in mind how awful the weather has been today, it will only be worse than it already was. It's annoying but now is not the time to try and cook up petulant BS conspiracy theories. It's rained: it's flooded. 

[FastReader]

This was one of the access routes a couple of days ago. With all the rain we've had I don't suppose it's any better now.

 

Edited by FastReader, 22 February 2024 - 17:37.

[FastReader]

Here's another. Both are taken from the Race Retro Facebook page. Not sure exactly what this one shows apart from the local ground conditions. I assume that's one of the entrance buildings to the left of the photo.

 

[sabrejet]

Here's another. Both are taken from the Race Retro Facebook page. Not sure exactly what this one shows apart from the local ground conditions. I assume that's one of the entrance buildings to the left of the photo.

 

 

 

I think this is looking up towards the field I sometimes enter through from the B4115 entrance at top right (it's looking the same direction as the previous photo but a bit farther into the show ground and to the right), with the bridge out of sight at left behind the building. I've never noticed a river at all (most years I suspect it's a trickle), so this is immense levels of flood.