Stot
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| posted on 3/1/15 at 06:12 PM |
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Go back to the late 90s and the shows were massive, but it was also the only place you could really go and buy most of the bits and bobs we need to
complete a car. You would go in with a list and walk out with rolls of carpet, pleather, some shocks, a nibbler and some DiDi7 for some reason.
These days you can buy all of that stuff on the internet for the same or sometimes even cheaper than you can get at the shows so theres less incentive
for suppliers and buyers to go along.
Cheers
Stot
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big_wasa
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| posted on 3/1/15 at 06:23 PM |
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And don't forget the weather.
There is nothing like a cold and rainy British summer to think nah I won't bother with this one.
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Doctor Derek Doctors
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| posted on 3/1/15 at 10:10 PM |
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Maybe kit car owners are too busy actually building and driving their cars to go to shows to look at a few static cars and stands selling bits you can
buy on the internet anytime? Certainly I am.
VW/concours/classic shows and similar work because they are all about the looks and showing off, a stationary kit car is as pointless as a deactivated
gun.
I saw more interesting kit car stuff at the Thoresby Park sprint this year than at the few shows I have been to and Thoresby Park was free for my
family to come in as spectators.
Designer and Supplier of the T89 Designs - Single Seater Locost. Build you own Single Seater Racecar for ~£5k.
Plans and Drawings available, U2U or e-mail for details.
Available Now: The Sports Racer Add-On pack, Build a full bodied Sports Racer for Trackdays, Sprints and Racing.
www.t89.co.uk
www.racecarwings.co.uk
callan@t89.co.uk
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NOTE:This user is registered as a LocostBuilders trader and may offer commercial services to other users
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Doctor Derek Doctors
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| posted on 3/1/15 at 10:12 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by big_wasa
And don't forget the weather.
There is nothing like a cold and rainy British summer to think nah I won't bother with this one.
I tend to think the opposite, if the weather is good we'll stay home and enjoy the garden with a drink and maybe get some mates round for a BBQ
with the kids, if the weather is grey and sh1tty we'll find something to do.
Designer and Supplier of the T89 Designs - Single Seater Locost. Build you own Single Seater Racecar for ~£5k.
Plans and Drawings available, U2U or e-mail for details.
Available Now: The Sports Racer Add-On pack, Build a full bodied Sports Racer for Trackdays, Sprints and Racing.
www.t89.co.uk
www.racecarwings.co.uk
callan@t89.co.uk
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NOTE:This user is registered as a LocostBuilders trader and may offer commercial services to other users
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danny keenan
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| posted on 3/1/15 at 10:28 PM |
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As a manufacture we found that the cost of the show,fuel and staff bills for the weekend didn't make it feasible to attend the shows
anymore.
We now just attend trackdays or race meetings and get lots mote interest than as static stand.
This is were I think I live track and drift or drag strip day with owners stands and stalls would be a lot better show.
As people have said it's a lot to do with internet sales,I have to agree.we get over 15,000 views a month so you have to move with the times.
If someone would come up with a decenct show with all the above I would be more than happy to bring a couple of cars along to give passenger rides etc
Thanks Danny
Mk sportscars
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rusty nuts
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| posted on 4/1/15 at 09:02 AM |
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I've been going to kit car shows for more years than I care to remember probably before a lot of members on here were born I always paid to get
in and never complained about the price however I see it as some kind of payback now to get in free with the kit car . How many times have I been
loading up the car looking at the weather and thinking is it worth taking a chance or should I go in the tin top? As others have said would it be a
kit car show without members cars being displayed? Whilst I sympathise with people like Danny and see his point about costs I wonder how long
manufacturers keep displaying the same old same old without a lot of new kits coming onto the market, no wonder attendances are falling? Another point
, I wonder what percentages of kits are brought on recommendations from members of the owners clubs rather than the often pathetic attempts at
marketing by the manufacturers,? There are several Luego owners/builders on here that only brought the kit due to talking to the owners club for
example, in fact how long is it since Luego having displayed at a kit car show? The only reason I now attend is to socialise like many I know. If I
have to pay to get in with the kit I may well take the tin top and at least arrive in comfort and not soaking wet with dry gear to sleep in and
actually save money on fuel
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AndyW
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| posted on 4/1/15 at 12:27 PM |
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I have only been to one show, and that's is where I ordered my car. Since then I was too busy building to go to another, then too busy driving
to go to another.
The thing I found disappointing with the show I went to (Detling) was that when on the manufacturers stands they didn't bother to do anything,
the made no effort other than stand around seeming to think they were better than the others. No effort is trying to make a sale.
In the end, one manufacturer actually took time to talk to me, find out what I wanted and made me a cup of tea. Although I knew what I wanted in terms
of a car, it was what the company was like to deal with at the very beginning that made a difference. They were then given a shed load of money (to me
it was a lot) and since then they have also had me spend a large amount with them.
They continue to attend all sorts of motor related shows and continue to do very well. Kit car manufacturers have to realise that customer service is
just as important nowadays as the ability to weld and make things.
I would like to attend another show, I don't care about getting in for nothing, just would be nice to attend a large event with lots of other
kits and suppliers.
A proper day out, or camp and make a weekend of it.
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Alfa145
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| posted on 4/1/15 at 12:44 PM |
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Even Stonleigh might not be around in a few years due to a little train line going through the middle of it (HS2), unless that all gets moved
elsewhere
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SteveWallace
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| posted on 4/1/15 at 03:04 PM |
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I think that there needs to be a re-think about the purpose of kit car shows.
I started to go to them because I wanted to build a kit and going to a show was the best way to select the one that was right for me. I had a good
look at a few stands and then went to the club area where JGG was good enough to give me a ride in his Viento. I then went back to the stand and
bought one. For the next couple of years, I went along to look at other peoples builds to make sure that I was doing it right. As has already been
said, you don't really need to go to buy bits anymore, because that's what e-bay and on-line shops are for.
However, IMHO, there is no way that kit car shows can be viable if the main draw is to look for something to buy.
Now I go because the Viento is on the road, its nice to show it off cos its new, and its good to catch up with fellow builders. If the weather was
looking a bit iffy and the show was a long way away, I don't think that this would be enough.
I think that it would be more of a draw if I had other thinks to do with the car when I got there. e.g. rolling road for BHP measurement, help with
set up etc that you could pay for. How may posts on here have been of the type "where can I get my car corner weighted ..." etc?
Also, linking it to a track time would work well, even if you just got a couple of laps, or half an hour - I appreciate that the logistics and safety
issues of this would need working through though.
I would be happy to pay to get into a show with a kit, but as others do come to look, I would want a discount compared to turning up in a tin-top.
Maybe a show linked to track time at an airfield would fit.
I have to say, the RHOC seem to have it right, they self organise, seem to have a good social around the event and go out for runs etc.
[Edited on 4/1/15 by SteveWallace]
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nick-york
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| posted on 23/1/15 at 05:20 PM |
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I have been to Stoneleigh the last 3 years while I've been building and to me the large areas of owners cars displayed there is very impressive
.I love comparing them and seeing how other people have overcome similar problems during the build stages. Ive had some good chats with drivers as
they ve parked their kits up .Ive bought a few bits and pieces but just having a good old rummage around around the parts is good.But times are
changing and events need to change accordingly to survive .I think ,as mentioned by others on here, there needs to be a bit more hands on stuff. A
rolling road and say a drag strip so people could test their bhp and 0-60 times would be really good.I d pay for both as long as they were reasonably
priced .Overall these would be good money spinners.Im also in favour of some kind of kit car event/show at elvington airfield !Very handy for me !I ll
be going to Stoneleigh this year in my 7 unless the weather is bad.It s a long way to go and it is going to cost me a lot in petrol so getting in free
is a bonus.But i wouldn't mind paying a discounted rate if this helps the survival of these shows .If its bad weather i ll be down in the tin
top.I think these shows need more support from everybody or they are going to disappear and nobody wants that.And I'm sure everybody could find
a bit of spare time to go to at least one event .If only to see if it was better than the last time they went !!
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