Race Retro

[Moosehead]

Originally Posted by geordiecriag101

Had a canny day there yesterday, prtty much agree with everyone elses comments as it the first time i been to motorsport show and come home with a bag full of pies n cheese!

Loved the action on the live stage as sum crews were giving it there all and putting on a fantastic show. Really hope someone got on video who ever was at the wheel of the 555 Impreza overtake on Mick Strafford in the Firenza Can AM as that was so close to a monster accident and had everyone watching close their eyes.

Anyways heres my vid from the live stage, enjoy:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ywj1-MMQIDE

If you're on FB - https://www.facebook.com/Racingist/

[geordiecriag101]

Cheers for that Moose, yea that was sum great driving from both

[midgetman]

Personally I chose not to use RR as part if my marketing mix this year because of a shift in business emphasis and a change in the MSA rules away from my core USP. This has been happening for a number of years.

This was actually a relief. Last year I made a modest profit but considering that represents five days of hard work the daily rate was probably much less than many people on this forum charge per hour. This year I decided the marketing benefits, although many, did not outweigh the benefits gained in other areas of my life by not going.

That is one exhibitor's story. Multiply by many people who have similar "excuses" for not going and just the personal side brings down the exhibitor numbers.

In fact the stand price in the Outer Darkness is modest, I suspect I spent more karting and possibly did my brand more good. What does hurt for any exhibitor is the lack of care shown to us from poor ticket allowances through the loss of the evening drinks soiree to over zealous security staff. (This last is a generalisation, Stoneleigh is actually quite helpful) In my personal case Live Events have never got my company name right, putting capital letters in random places in both the brand and company names. The absolute nadir was when they produced a name board for the stand which read "RACEWEAR.CO.UK (NO CAPITALS)"!

I think RR has run its course. Customers can get great deals online and returning ill fitting products is cheaper than a day at a show. Visitors say nothing is new - but what can be new in "historic" racing? It's all happened.

So I think farewell to RR for specialist retailers. I think it will stagger on for a few years pandering to the souvenir market - retro clothing, cheap tools and historic photographs for example - but the Internet is moving the goal posts yet again.

And Chunder I don't believe Live Events were making an obscene profit otherwise it would not have been sold. The last few years had every impression of being put on to fulfil a contract. Clearly no money being made.

[Mike Bell]

Just out of curiosity, have any of those that post their disappointment with the show on tenths ever contacted the organisers to express same to them?

Maybe if RR is now being promoted by a new / different company, it's a good time to make feelings known?

Just a thought.....

And Max, your final added point is valid!

[midgetman]

Thanks Mike sorry for the edits I'm working via Tapatalk and caught the "post" arrow by mistake!

[Mike Bell]

Originally Posted by midgetman

Thanks Mike sorry for the edits I'm working via Tapatalk and caught the "post" arrow by mistake!

I'm quite capable of doing that without blaming tapatalk.....

[GORDON STREETER]

I remember (in my "yoof") going to the Motor Show when it was at Earl's Court, I used to go for a while and then decided that things didn't change enough between the years, I then found it was best to give it a miss and go alternate years and found it more of an interest.
The problem with historic shows is that they're stuck in a time warp and only have a limited audience that will slowly diminish over the years, unless newer things are brought in to attract a younger audience then they will fade out.
One other thing the weather is everything in this country and even if a lot of stuff is under cover people will go out if it's a nice sunny day even if they are not that interested !

[PeterMorley]

Originally Posted by Derwent Motorsp

Ive been every year and this year was the worst. It's gone down hill since Live Events took it on. They seem only interested in fleecing folk.

Once upon a time I did some work with a large events management company - who had taken over an event I was involved in.

The usual plan is to start an event and see it grow for a few years and then sell it to someone who thinks they will make loads of money from it, in a similar way to bars and restaurants.

Of course if an event has been started by someone who really knows the field, it is difficult for someone without their knowledge and contacts to continue the growth - which makes you wonder why the buyers haven't worked this out over the years...

Having attended the early Race Retros it is a shame to hear that it has gone downhill but not surprising.

[andy97]

I appear to be in a minority in thinking it was pretty good, and clearly some are dissatisfied but we have been caught out on here in the past in thinking that 10-20 forum contributors represent the majority view!! I bet the vast majority of show goers don't even use forums!

I wonder what the actual attendance figures are year on year.

I think there is also a big difference in perception between those that went on the Friday and those who went at the weekend as the latter group had the chance to see the live rally stage, a big draw and pretty unique.

A friend of mine shared a trade stand in the cow shed for the first time ever this year and did well and really enjoyed it.

So, some people are not happy with the format - let's have some ideas on what should be done to improve things - how do you change a motor show that largely relies on static car exhibits, how does the promoter encourage more smaller car clubs to take part, how do you get the bigger clubs like BARC or AMOC to exhibit? Let's not moan, let's have some ideas.

[zefarelly]

I agree re historics being static, although the rate of development render it anything but

What we are now seeing, and some of us predicted this 7- years ago, is that the next wave of car are now popular . . . . pre66 has got so stupid people are moving on . . .I missed the bout and should have bought a Capri MK1 I was offered 8 years ago! now it's up to the 80's super tourers . . . . . and on it'll go.

[The Fat Clerk]

Originally Posted by chunterer

Trying to add the 'lifestyle' element no doubt!!

Sorry but in my 40+ years in the sport, Lifestyle is about getting up @ 4 in the morning driving hundreds of miles living on Service Station/Garage slop etc etc

[Alan Raine]

I actually quite enjoy it but I hope the new organisers give it a bit more thought. It has been a bit bland for the last few years and I thought the Damon Hill main exhibit this year was dreadful. Just plonking a car in each corner plus a small stage in the middle looked a bit of an afterthought. It wouldn't have taken much to make it quite an impressive display given the machinery available - He deserved better.

I was only there on the friday but saw very little interaction between the organisers, exhibitors and punters. They could try a lot harder.

I still enjoy it as it it's a good opportunity to meet up with friends (and enemies) before the season starts plus meet others who I only have had contact via the internet.

[kipper]

Originally Posted by andy97

how does the promoter encourage more smaller car clubs to take part, how do you get the bigger clubs like BARC or AMOC to exhibit? Let's not moan, let's have some ideas.

I have to admit that this year's event was the first in a while that I've not attended; however, I did wonder if the downturn in clubs is reflective (from a racing perspective, at least) of there being less organisers in general. Off the top of my head; in the 10 years or so that I've been more actively involved in club level motorsport; AMOC, BRDC, SUNBAC, JEC, SEMSEC, Eight Clubs and Peterborough Motor Club have all ceased organising events. I appreciate that some of these still run various series, but there has been a general reduction in the number of organisers and therefore exhibitors.

I can also understand why the likes of BARC don't have a stand as due to their limited historic offering they would only be duplicating the efforts of the CTCRC and Classic FF1600.

[geordiecriag101]

For me the main draw of Race Retro is the live stage, not just the rally but also the karts. If the live stage was not on or poorly supported then i probably wouldnt have gone.
I got there at about 9 on the Saturday morning, by the time i had got my breakfast the show had just opened so spent an hour or so having a look round at all the stands. Although there were sum nice cars on show it felt a bit flat and a bit sparse in places. After that all my day was spent out watching the live action apart from a quick trip to get a few pies n cheeses that i had seen earlier.

I agree with pretty much everyone else comments, maybe a change to every other year may help to stop it being samey same every year.

I'm only 30, so i enjoy seeing all these old cars being used as they should, not just here but at other events and hope that historic racing in general can find a way to get younger people intersted.

[PeterMorley]

Originally Posted by zefarelly

What we are now seeing, and some of us predicted this 7- years ago, is that the next wave of car are now popular . . . . pre66 has got so stupid people are moving on . . .I missed the bout and should have bought a Capri MK1 I was offered 8 years ago! now it's up to the 80's super tourers . . . . . and on it'll go.

That's always been the case, when Juniors became popular, a few people had sheds full of them (that they'd picked up for nothing) as with plenty of other types of race car.

When I bought a few 1½ litre F1 projects people were saying they'd always be too expensive to run so you'd never get more than a handful out at once - by the time I could afford to finish them there were plenty of events.

I'm currently waiting for interest in F3000s to pick up...

But I do sometimes find it weird that there are events now where the historic cars are cars that we used to do support races for and of course I think that super touring cars are modern road cars...

[Derwent Motorsp]

it is interesting that LE are now pushing the Crystal Palace event. I can't really see why the host club need a commercial partner though.
Why did they not make more effort with RR I wonder? They seem to be big in truck shows and the like and the Sywell Pistons and Props event sees to go down well.

[BG76]

I thoroughly enjoyed this year's Race Retro. I've been going to the show since it started and it's always a good day out!

Here are a few images from the static displays:

https://flic.kr/s/aHskrJ7cyz

And some from the rally stage:

https://flic.kr/s/aHskv4tofU

Thanks for looking!

[The Fat Clerk]

Originally Posted by BG76

I thoroughly enjoyed this year's Race Retro. I've been going to the show since it started and it's always a good day out!

Here are a few images from the static displays:

https://flic.kr/s/aHskrJ7cyz

And some from the rally stage:

https://flic.kr/s/aHskv4tofU

Thanks for looking!

Well done, great photo's

[chunterer]

Originally Posted by BG76

I thoroughly enjoyed this year's Race Retro. I've been going to the show since it started and it's always a good day out!

Here are a few images from the static displays:

https://flic.kr/s/aHskrJ7cyz

And some from the rally stage:

https://flic.kr/s/aHskv4tofU

Thanks for looking!

Thanks.

Yes I enjoyed it too. It's always much more informal and open than the Autosport or the Classic Car show's and on Friday there seemed to be loads of people piling in if perhaps less than last year.

Spent time chatting to loads of people old and new.

I don't mind how stand are mixed up, in fact it's probably good to have catering vendors in amongst the traders so you don't have to go far for a snack and a drink!

[BG76]

Thanks for your kind comments, glad you like our pics! I'm ready for the season to start now!

[Mike Bell]

Very remiss of me, I was going to say a particular thanks for including a photo of the little Microbe (pic 4)! Guess from the amount of cars in the rally car parking area that you were there Friday morn.......

[BG76]

You're welcome Mike! Yes, we were there on Friday and returned on Saturday morning for the rally stage.