Race Retro Stoneleigh 2015

[johngee]

Originally Posted by chunder

Out of interest, could you give us in percentage terms what the difference in fees would be between exhibiting there and at the NEC for instance?

Difficult because of the 'deals' that are done and, as they are commercially sensitive, I wouldn't comment further.
Race Retro is considerably cheaper than NEC and can work well for the smaller exhibitors.

[andy97]

Originally Posted by johngee

We (as 360MRC) won't be there as an exhibitor this year. Claire and I did a careful cost/benefit analysis and regrettably came to the conclusion that we could no longer justify the expense.
Perhaps this will cause rumours of our decline but nothing is further from the truth. Our tie in, as the organising club, with the new Endurance Racing Series, means that 360MRC will be busier than ever in 2015 and our traditional 6 hour race will be at Snetterton on Saturday 4th July - a visit to our website will give details of this and of our other meetings this year. We still have the enormous benefit of the support (big thanks to Grant and Terri) both of this site and of Radio Le Mans.
Hope you all enjoy the show which is still the best in the UK.

A shame John, as I was going to introduce a potential entrant to you, (but he is now aware of you anyway) but fully understand the cost/ benefit. Did you consider a stand out in Hall 3, they are much cheaper I understand?

[johngee]

Originally Posted by andy97

A shame John, as I was going to introduce a potential entrant to you, (but he is now aware of you anyway) but fully understand the cost/ benefit. Did you consider a stand out in Hall 3, they are much cheaper I understand?

We'll miss seeing you too Andy. I think that Hall 3 is a bit cold and the location would send out the wrong message for us. It works well for some exhibitors but not for 360MRC, I fear.
Next year we may reconsider with a joint stand with the Endurance Racing Series.

[midgetman]

I'm not afraid to tell you the figures.

Hall 3 - the Outer Darkness where you find impecunious racewear vendors - costs me about £350 inc VAT for a 4 x 2 stand
Hall 1 - I think that was about the same, but now it's full of artist types
Hall 2 - the glamorous bit - 3 x 3 IIRC cost around £2000 inclusive but it was a while back and my memory may have dimmed

Your position depends on if you want to make a profit or be seen. I make more of a profit now in the Outer Darkness than in the Shiny Bits Hall, although I see fewer people and have a different brand association. But I decided a few years back that paying bills was more important than "being seen". also in the Outer Darkness you can get away without paying through the nose for electricity/lighting as people have fewer expectations.

For comparison, 4 day stands at Autosports cost around £3000 upwards. Then there's service charges etc on top.

Sometimes you can get some really good last minute deals if you don't care where you go. Last time I exhibited at the NEC under my own name (2010?) I paid £600 at 4:00pm on the night before the show opened.

My enthusiasm for shows as exhibitor waxes and wanes. On the whole, there's more work done on t'internet and in motor club meeting rooms at a fraction of the price.

There, race car show exhibiting busted wide open. Really, if you're paying £3k to be there plus staff costs, plus hotel, food etc, you really don't want to be doing "show deals" even though visitors expect them. In what other market would you pay for the privilege of selling at less than retail price? Ah well, see you in the Outer Darkness, just past the Tunnel to Civilisation and a stone's throw from The Frozen North.

[Derwent Motorsp]

Tha tis very interesting Max. With a NESCRO hat on we had a stand for three years under the original management and that was quite a bit cheaper than what you quote. The big cost was for our members on the stand. As we are all from the North and Scotland it meant several overnight stays even if we manned it on a rota.The guys who brought a car down had to set up on the Thursday and then be there to dismantle and take the car away on Friday evening. The organisers were tight on folk packing up early as well. The extras light power and light added to the cost. As has been said the internet and doing club classic car shows is much more cost effective.
I did notice the autojumble stalls were thinner on the ground last year and this seems to be a trend at all shows. The amount of old bits available to sell is declining and if you have some an advert on Ebay is better value than going to a show.

[Derwent Motorsp]

Join us for a drink in 'Steady' Barker's memory, on Motor Sport magazine stand at Race Retro

What: 1934 Lancia Astura 'Steady Special', now complete, unveiled

Where: Motor Sport magazine stand, Hall 2, stand n. E16, Stoneleigh Park, Race Retro

When: Midday, Friday 20 February

Why: to celebrate the life of Autocar road tester and star columnist 'Steady' Barker, whose project the Steady Special was.

How: the car will be unveiled by The International Guild of Specialist Engineers President and British designer Tony Southgate.

[andy97]

Originally Posted by johngee

We'll miss seeing you too Andy. I think that Hall 3 is a bit cold and the location would send out the wrong message for us. It works well for some exhibitors but not for 360MRC, I fear.
Next year we may reconsider with a joint stand with the Endurance Racing Series.

Understand all of the reasons but I think that Hall 3 is just the right place, it's the "clubman hall", and it would emphasise low cost and value for money! In fact The organisers should rename it that, I will give them that for free; a nice counter point to "speed Street".

[midgetman]

Originally Posted by andy97

Understand all of the reasons but I think that Hall 3 is just the right place, it's the "clubman hall", and it would emphasise low cost and value for money! In fact The organisers should rename it that, I will give them that for free; a nice counter point to "speed Street".

Very good thought Andy. Hall 1 seems to be mostly Rallyists and Arty Types, it would give some definition to The Outer Darkness.

[MartinSmith]

Originally Posted by andy97

A shame John, as I was going to introduce a potential entrant to you, (but he is now aware of you anyway) but fully understand the cost/ benefit. Did you consider a stand out in Hall 3, they are much cheaper I understand?

Sorry been away and just got back

The cost wasn't really the major factor....and in truth...we could actually still do it if we wanted to but Im not going out to the outer hall...I got cold there enough !!! and I would sooner spend the money (as we are going to) on other forms of marketing that we believe would get us more exposure to potential customers.

In the fours years that we have done Race Retro we have had two successful weekends but if you weigh up the whole cost ...what we mean by successful really is that it paid for itself ...so If we don't do it...we are not losing...it will be sad not to be there but I may pop up there anyway and say hello to a few people...depends...Ive been manically busy at work and may not get the time x

[Lancsbreaker]

My mate Steve and I will be there on the Friday, as usual Will pop round to the Outer Darkness, Max, as I'll have to change my helmet next year so will be interested to see your HANS display.....

[Chigley]

Ekkk! I'm a bit bewildered! I have just won two complimentary tickets on Facebook to RR for Friday. Does anyone want a free e-ticket for the Friday?

[Chigley]

The ticket has been claimed. Thanks.

[Mike Bell]

Originally Posted by Chigley

Ekkk! I'm a bit bewildered! I have just won two complimentary tickets on Facebook to RR for Friday. Does anyone want a free e-ticket for the Friday?

No more deserving recipient, Ian......

Although I'm not going to RR, I've played a (very small) part in getting an exhibit ready- the high airbox ex- Watson 'Matchbox' Surtees TS16 will be around somewhere! Sure you won't miss it- it's bright enough.........

[Eric Falce]

You can all envy me instead, off to Centre Parks on Friday with my two daughters,two teenage granddaughters, four year old grandson,two year old twins plus sharing the weekend with two Westies and maybe my german shepherd,and of course SWIMBO. The weekend was a birthday treat for my younger daughters fortieth birthday , not that I won't enjoy all that cycling,swimming ,walking and other hidden treats they have in store for me, enjoy yourselves and try to spare a thought for a poor old age wrinkly.

[Alan Morgan]

Sounds good to me Eric. That's what memories are made of.

[geordiecriag101]

Hi all, I'm off to Race Retro on Saturday for first time, what's the best hints and tips for the event, cheers

[andy97]

Get there very early, ie when the doors open. Wear warm clothes and sensible shoes to view the rally demos

[Derwent Motorsp]

Live Promotions have cut back a lot on press passes this year and there will not longer be the well run press room. They've offered press folk the usual £2 discount on admission instead - hardly encouraging to getting good reports I think. They seem to be relying on social media for publicity.
They are also charging extra for parking nearer the halls on the tarmac.
You can only squeeze an orange so far before they object!

[delta]

Originally Posted by Eric Falce

You can all envy me instead, off to Centre Parks on Friday with my two daughters,two teenage granddaughters, four year old grandson,two year old twins plus sharing the weekend with two Westies and maybe my german shepherd,and of course SWIMBO. The weekend was a birthday treat for my younger daughters fortieth birthday , not that I won't enjoy all that cycling,swimming ,walking and other hidden treats they have in store for me, enjoy yourselves and try to spare a thought for a poor old age wrinkly.

As I allways say good old Uncle Eric. Have a great time.

[midgetman]

The house is full of the smell of baking - home made biscuits - and I'm not allowed to touch any of them!!!!

See you at the weekend? The Outer Darkness, turn right out of the Tunnel to Civilisation and second left. Please do feed the animals!

[MartinSmith]

I was looking at the RR website and I see that GT917's car is actually on the picture slideshow

[Tim Falce]

Originally Posted by Eric Falce

You can all envy me instead, off to Centre Parks on Friday with my two daughters,two teenage granddaughters, four year old grandson,two year old twins plus sharing the weekend with two Westies and maybe my german shepherd,and of course SWIMBO. The weekend was a birthday treat for my younger daughters fortieth birthday , not that I won't enjoy all that cycling,swimming ,walking and other hidden treats they have in store for me, enjoy yourselves and try to spare a thought for a poor old age wrinkly.

That makes the nightmare three nights work I've just had seem like a holiday.

[Lancsbreaker]

Originally Posted by midgetman

The house is full of the smell of baking - home made biscuits - and I'm not allowed to touch any of them!!!!

See you at the weekend? The Outer Darkness, turn right out of the Tunnel to Civilisation and second left. Please do feed the animals!

Should have checked these directions again, Max, before setting off - despite AFAIK covering all the halls I failed to find you.... - mind you as usual the day was constantly punctuated by bumping into old friends who I haven't seen for a while........Hope you're having a good show, anyway

Enjoyed the show overall, again as usual - arrival was a bit disorganised - the traffic light over the bridge seemed stuck on red for an age despite no oncoming traffic, and as they seemed to be keeping parking off the (very wet) grass, we were just directed to park on the roadways, with no directions as to where the show actually was - fortunately some sort of genetic memory kicked in and we successfully navigated our way there.

No access to the auction viewing this year without a cataloogue, which was a shame, but I suppose saved me getting pangs of envy!

[Cliff Ryan]

Just back from Race Retro, bought some gloves off Max, some alcohol and Win Percy's book, which he kindly signed for me. Chatted with him about racing XJS's & his DIY accident, which unbelievably was over 11 years ago.

Bumped into Colin & a few other familiar faces, consensus seemed to be that the show that celebrates the sport of trying to recreate historic motor racing wasn't as good as it was in the past

[chunder]

Agreed about the traffic deal, coming in from Coventry there were no signs at all other than VIP parking, and I knew that wasn't the way in, so had to turn round and hey presto there are all the signs, coming from the wrong side of the way huh! bit silly.

Enjoyed the show, not much really there other than the usual but some nice cars and was great to see a huge queue waiting to see Ari, rally stage was superb as usual, seeing guys like McRae, Gwynne, Llewellin in all sorts of things was awesome. Bikes were a little under represented, seems the organisers are not that interested.

And there were two actual hens teeth there, an RS1700 and an Astra 4S, running and looking quick, fair play to the lad for running that there, must be one of only 1 or 2 in the world.

Getting a little tired of the cretin in that Firenza, put a silencer on it for Gods sake.

Sadly not needing to buy anything means you are likely to feel a bit hard done by, but there is anough there, and it's cheap, the food isnt too pricey and the weather was fine if a little cold. For 20 quid you cant ask a lot more, saw a few events I might do and that's a good day for me