RaceRetro 2023

[geordiecriag101]

So after a 3 year break, RaceRetro is back at Stoneleigh Park, Coventry on 24-25-26 February.
As in previous years, the live rally stage has been organised by Rallying with Group B and the entry list has been released, should be a great return!

[coppice]

I will be there- people to catch up with, cars to see and hear . First motorsport weekend of the year as I am staying down to see CSCC Silverstone on Sunday and may drop in to see the end of the Pomeroy en route to my B and B

[Derwent]

The entry list is excellent, better than that for the first round of the BRC a couple of weeks after. Perhaps too many cars though and a few too many moderns.
Given that the Autosport Show hasn't said how many people attended I assume not as many as hoped and reports say it wasn't that good.
RR was a bit thin of stalls and displays in 2019 so hopefully it will be bakc up and worth going to.

[MGDavid]

Originally Posted by Derwent

The entry list is excellent, better than that for the first round of the BRC a couple of weeks after. Perhaps too many cars though and a few too many moderns.
Given that the Autosport Show hasn't said how many people attended I assume not as many as hoped and reports say it wasn't that good.
RR was a bit thin of stalls and displays in 2019 so hopefully it will be back up and worth going to.

RR not looking too promising from one perspective. Apparently halls 3 & 4 are out on a longterm let so RR just has halls 1 and 2. This means no indoor autojumble; just 16 stalls are being provided outdoors, where you will find Delta and me. Do come and say allo allo, hopefully it'll be milder than this week!

[eamonn ledwidge]

Originally Posted by MGDavid

RR not looking too promising from one perspective. Apparently halls 3 & 4 are out on a longterm let so RR just has halls 1 and 2. This means no indoor autojumble; just 16 stalls are being provided outdoors, where you will find Delta and me. Do come and say allo allo, hopefully it'll be milder than this week!

It all sounds quite grim, but I just heard that Delta is buying beers for all who call by.

Where's my hat??

[delta]

I would love to buy you a beer Eamonn

[GORDON STREETER]

Originally Posted by delta

I would love to buy you a beer Eamonn

What no cups of tea ?

[eamonn ledwidge]

Originally Posted by GORDON STREETER

What no cups of tea ?

Tea for the Kentish men

[Peter Mallett]

I'll be there on Friday. Got my medical at 0930, then a full English to follow.

[justracing]

Originally Posted by Peter Mallett

I'll be there on Friday. Got my medical at 0930, then a full English to follow.

Very sensible scheduling

[Peter Mallett]

Medical completed, quick chat with MGDavid and Delta in the auto jumble, then the full English. Now for a wander around.

[Alan Morgan]

Well, apart from viewing the wonders on Delta and MGDavid's autojumble store, I found the whole Race Retro experience pretty underwhelming this year. Maybe things will improve for the weekend visitors with the rally stage.

Mind you, if I'd been in the market for a watch, a pizza oven, some jewellery or a pie it might have been a different story...

[Peter Mallett]

Originally Posted by Alan Morgan

Well, apart from viewing the wonders on Delta and MGDavid's autojumble store, I found the whole Race Retro experience pretty underwhelming this year. Maybe things will improve for the weekend visitors with the rally stage.

Mind you, if I'd been in the market for a watch, a pizza oven, some jewellery or a pie it might have been a different story...

Agreed. I took a few pics but it wasn't buzzing like the last time. Good to chat with some old friends though.

[Brynmor]

We were offered a stand about three weeks ago (Racewear suppliers incidentally), when we saw the way it had shrunk into the two halls and the exhibitor list booked in we decided to give it a miss. I know ASI gets a kicking but as a retailer it’s always been better, I do hope however that both shows survive and grow back to the levels they were pre Covid but I’m not overly hopeful.

[Peter Mallett]

A few pics from Race Retro 2023. https://www.smugmug.com/gallery/n-NQXssT

[Alan Morgan]

For me, the highlight of the show was MGDavid's expression when Iain sold a Jaguar XK cam cover for a tenner.

[brands]

Disappointed with the indoor content but the rally stage entry was worth the travel.

[Derwent]

Many folk by the "over restored" Bloody Mary on the 750MC stand. it was like brand new and had lost all it's history.

[Brian A]

I was at Stoneleigh yesterday for a Historic Lotus Register meeting in the on-site hotel. Managed to catch up with Delta briefly and wandered around the Rally Car paddock.

Didn't bother to shell out the money to go into the main show and from all those I spoke with there was general disappointment both with quantity and quality.

Still, there seemed to be plenty of people there so it will be interesting to see if the organisers claim a successful event!

Most of the competition cars in the Friday auction appear to have failed to meet their reserves and are still available. The Saturday selection of road cars did much better and the large collection of "special" Lotus Elans found new owners with the Emma Peel DHC going for over £164,250, and the Peter Sellers car fetching £74,250, Remarkable what people will pay for celebrity ownership

[midgetman]

I don't think the marketing has been anywhere near as effective as on the past. I'd forgotten it was on TBH and if it hadn't been for this thread wouldn't have noticed.

As a population I think the pandemic has meant we've forgotten about social events like shows and exhibitions in general. Plus exhibitors are questioning the value of attendance, if you're a retailer all you're doing is offering customers the chance of trying something on and looking for it cheaper online. I sympathise with the decision of the Racewear supplier earlier, I have been there and come to the same conclusion!

As with online, content is king. The organisers will have to stump up some serious Dosh to get attractive exhibits there which in turn will pull in the visitors. Apparently Autosport is having a major rethink. A friend of a customer of mine has a number of historic F1 cars and ASI rang him up asking him to bring them along, he said "sure" and they then asked for £2.5k! Unsurprisingly they didn't appear.

Content, content, content, and the organisers are going to have to stop treating exhibitors as cash cows.

[rbs]

Originally Posted by Derwent

Many folk by the "over restored" Bloody Mary on the 750MC stand. it was like brand new and had lost all it's history.

It was not Bloody Mary but a new build tribute to it. Bloody Mary did not have one Harley Davison engine but 2 JAP engines, it also had a wood frame for them to sit in not a metal one.

[Derwent]

Originally Posted by rbs

It was not Bloody Mary but a new build tribute to it. Bloody Mary did not have one Harley Davison engine but 2 JAP engines, it also had a wood frame for them to sit in not a metal one.

Good to hear that. Many people were concerned when they saw it.

[geordiecriag101]

Had a great day there on Saturday, yes there were less stalls in the indoor show compared to Pre-COVID but that's to be expected, the world has changed and will take a long time to get back to how it was.

The live rally stage was great action from start to finish and the extended viewing areas for this year were perfect.

Here's my vid from the live stage for anyone who interested:

https://youtu.be/4DycChTic4M

[Derwent]

On the rally, I would have liked to see fewer but better cars. Quality and not quantity. Not many Group B cars or genuine historics.



Who was driving the MG Maestro that was not in the entry list? He was going well and putting some of the Escorts and Sunbeams around him to shame.

[chunterer]

I was there with a couple of friends on Friday and also quicky noticed less floorspace in use this year.

Bit miffed that the auction took ober a huge exhibitor space but maybe Nick Whale wanted (and paid) to be in the main site rather than in one of the outer buildings from previous years.

However the overall atmosphere was great, lots of people attended and the BRM stand was possibly the highlight?
Therr wss a gorgeous Spice Capri on the ToP Hat/Equipe GTS stand. Andy Rouse's nane was on the roof. Is he going to be sharing the car with Rob Cull?

RR was far more enjoyable and better value tham ASI.

Be interesting to see if the organisers sell extra exhibitor space again for next year.