Donington Lotus Show 2014

PostPost by: GrUmPyBoDgEr » Tue Oct 29, 2013 1:08 pm

Well how many have read the latest "Club Lotus News"?

On page 37 it is written that there are difficulties in securing a date at that venue for next year's show.
In fact the viability whole thing for 2014 is being questioned.

I would say, that judging by the (subjective) poor attendances at 2013 show by not only enthusiasts from all over the World but so many missing Lotus specialist vendors that something has to give.

To make the show what it used to be, I think that those vendors need to be tempted back & of course we should buy some of their goods from them at the show to make it all worth while.

Is there a problem with the managers of Donington? I think it looks like that
Would a move back to Malvern be a cure? I think it might
Is there a problem with Lotus vendors/ exhibitors? I think it looks like that
Will a biennial show cure the problems of the annual one? I think it might

My take, how about yours?
Cheers
John
Beware of the Illuminati


Editor: On Sunday morning, February 8th 2015, Derek "John" Pelly AKA GrumpyBodger passed away genuinely peacefully at Weston Hospicecare, Weston Super Mare. He will be missed.
User avatar
GrUmPyBoDgEr
Coveted Fifth Gear
Coveted Fifth Gear
 
Posts: 3062
Joined: 29 Oct 2004

PostPost by: Spyder fan » Tue Oct 29, 2013 1:18 pm

John,
Perhaps we are all getting older and more cynical?

Donington 2013 was marred by the clash with the touring cars event and the subsequent traffic hold ups especially on the Sunday morning. The car parking was poorly managed and a number of regular major contributors to the show were absent. (These are observations and not criticism Mr Morgan :wink: )

Perhaps the internet is to blame? We can look up information, search for parts or just read about our cars or others 24 hours a day 365 days a year. Is this why we are disappointed with good old fashioned shows and swap meets that don't come up to expected standards? On the internet we can look at another site if the one we are looking at doesn't come up to snuff we can search and look for another that does. Perhaps some of the companies that didn't turn up this year have realised this?

If the show is on for 2014, I will be there to give my support as always.

Regards
Kindest regards

Alan Thomas
User avatar
Spyder fan
Coveted Fifth Gear
Coveted Fifth Gear
 
Posts: 2843
Joined: 11 Jun 2009

PostPost by: GrUmPyBoDgEr » Tue Oct 29, 2013 1:29 pm

Oh yes, of course I will attend the 2014 show even at a different venue or time of year; try keeping me away!

Cheers
John
Beware of the Illuminati


Editor: On Sunday morning, February 8th 2015, Derek "John" Pelly AKA GrumpyBodger passed away genuinely peacefully at Weston Hospicecare, Weston Super Mare. He will be missed.
User avatar
GrUmPyBoDgEr
Coveted Fifth Gear
Coveted Fifth Gear
 
Posts: 3062
Joined: 29 Oct 2004

PostPost by: theelanman » Tue Oct 29, 2013 1:44 pm

don't know about the 2014 show...but I think the fact that it keeps moving both in location and date over the past few years have not helped.......
the enthusiast and stall holders used to be able to guess the date within a week or so of when the show at Donington would be.....
nows its a game of pot luck......might be March...could be April...maybe August.....
could be at Donington...or Malvern.....or a new location.....
I think the more variables the more confusion......mmmm

:?
User avatar
theelanman
Coveted Fifth Gear
Coveted Fifth Gear
 
Posts: 1434
Joined: 17 Sep 2003

PostPost by: john.p.clegg » Tue Oct 29, 2013 2:15 pm

I like the location.....Donington...handy for me...nice roads.
I like the set-up at Malvern....linked with an autojumble.
Didn't like the "Lotus only parking" last year.
I'll be there.

John :wink:
User avatar
john.p.clegg
Coveted Fifth Gear
Coveted Fifth Gear
 
Posts: 5744
Joined: 21 Sep 2003

PostPost by: GrUmPyBoDgEr » Fri Nov 01, 2013 9:28 am

I can't believe that only 4 people have an opinion to express here.
We're talking about possible major changes to a (an Inter-) "National Institution" in the Lotus World. :roll:

Cheers
John
Beware of the Illuminati


Editor: On Sunday morning, February 8th 2015, Derek "John" Pelly AKA GrumpyBodger passed away genuinely peacefully at Weston Hospicecare, Weston Super Mare. He will be missed.
User avatar
GrUmPyBoDgEr
Coveted Fifth Gear
Coveted Fifth Gear
 
Posts: 3062
Joined: 29 Oct 2004

PostPost by: AndrewP » Fri Nov 01, 2013 9:34 am

Not great news if you have already booked flights from Aust on the premise of same weekend in 2014.

Any other suggestions for alternate Lotus or historic racing events in April?

:(
AndrewP
72 Elan Sprint FHC
AndrewP
New-tral
 
Posts: 8
Joined: 05 Sep 2013

PostPost by: Maulden7 » Fri Nov 01, 2013 11:02 am

From a different angle can I echo the comment about uncertainty making things difficult for diary planning purposes.

I've been attending this show (& the previous equivalent events at Stoneleigh etc) since the late 80's, both as a private owner / exhibitor, & also as a representative of The Sunbeam Lotus Owners' Club with the Club display.

The Club "show diary" for 2014 will need to be finalised very soon (don't forget that a two day public show is a three day commitment for traders & clubs - don't talk to me about the three day NEC show!!) & so volunteers have to arrange holidays from work etc, owners have to be found who will bring their cars on the Friday afternoon & collect them on the Sunday after show closure & so on.

For us I would guess that the end of 2013 might well be the cut off time, so ...... Alan ...... we need some firm info soon, otherwise there might be another "regular" missing.

Dave M.
Maulden7
Third Gear
Third Gear
 
Posts: 271
Joined: 10 Aug 2004

PostPost by: PeterK » Fri Nov 01, 2013 11:10 am

Well you did ask John - my 2 (inset currency of choice)......

2013 was my first visit and given the combination of traffic hold-ups (it took longer to get from the motorway to the car park than it did from Hampshire to Donington) and lack of supplier presence, unless something changes, I'm not sure that I will bother again.

Castle Combe was a much better day out for me in terms of looking at cars and chatting to owners. The NEC Classic Car Show had equally bad traffic but made up for it inside and the Restoration Car Show gives access to a range of suppliers selling all those things I didn't realise that I absolutely needed :lol: .

Maybe my expectations, based on accounts of previous events, were too high last year. I will wait for date and location to be announced but mainly, I will wait on details of who / what is going to be there.

Peter
User avatar
PeterK
Third Gear
Third Gear
 
Posts: 314
Joined: 03 Jul 2012

PostPost by: GrUmPyBoDgEr » Fri Nov 01, 2013 12:01 pm

Hi Dave & Peter,

I share your feelings totally & I know others that do also.
I would not want to put my car in at the NEC, the cost of keeping me for 3 or 4 nights is too much.
Suppliers closing their normal business in order to attend must need some serious show turnover to make it worthwhile.

On the other hand, by not being at their normal business addresses for the duration would not affect their normal daily internet business would it?

Cheers
John
Beware of the Illuminati


Editor: On Sunday morning, February 8th 2015, Derek "John" Pelly AKA GrumpyBodger passed away genuinely peacefully at Weston Hospicecare, Weston Super Mare. He will be missed.
User avatar
GrUmPyBoDgEr
Coveted Fifth Gear
Coveted Fifth Gear
 
Posts: 3062
Joined: 29 Oct 2004

PostPost by: el-saturn » Fri Nov 01, 2013 2:54 pm

i'll contribute: .............shit, why ain't donington just up the road: or in other words: we're way too far away to think of donington. last time i was there was maybe 1985 (??) for a F3 race - eddie jordan's team was also present! cheers sandy
el-saturn
Coveted Fifth Gear
Coveted Fifth Gear
 
Posts: 1374
Joined: 27 Jun 2012

PostPost by: richardcox_lotus » Fri Nov 01, 2013 8:22 pm

I have gone infrequently - being a southerner - so there has to be a good line up to warrant the journey.

I think the car park situation - if organised properly - is a big factor.

I do not want to spend hours in a traffic jam caused by incompetence.

But a decent car park to wander round is half the fun !

So not convinced about 2014 yet.

Regards
Richard
Richard
'72 Sprint
richardcox_lotus
Coveted Fifth Gear
Coveted Fifth Gear
 
Posts: 1357
Joined: 11 Jul 2004

PostPost by: William2 » Sat Nov 02, 2013 9:14 am

Being a southerner I think it would be great if a new venue could be chosen a bit further south. I was disappointed last year to see that Paul Matty didn't bother coming to support the show. I personally ended up buying quite a lot of new and secondhand parts from Susan Miller, etc.
William2
Fourth Gear
Fourth Gear
 
Posts: 983
Joined: 20 Jan 2013

PostPost by: elansprint71 » Sat Nov 02, 2013 11:27 am

Donington IS in the South.
User avatar
elansprint71
Coveted Fifth Gear
Coveted Fifth Gear
 
Posts: 4435
Joined: 16 Sep 2003

PostPost by: theelanman » Sat Nov 02, 2013 2:25 pm

William2 wrote:Being a southerner I think it would be great if a new venue could be chosen a bit further south.


I'm sure our Scottish brethen will love that

Donington was chosen for it's central location iirc
User avatar
theelanman
Coveted Fifth Gear
Coveted Fifth Gear
 
Posts: 1434
Joined: 17 Sep 2003
Next

Total Online:

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 21 guests

cron