Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

[Rick]

Morning all,

We're not booked in for as many shows as we did last year, but we're still booked in for several and will attend quite a few more.

How many do you a) exhibit at b) wander along to as a spectator, in a typical year?

Do you prefer static events, or ones that involve - say - a road run too?

RJ
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[MikeEdwards]

I haven't booked many shows this year, or last, because I'm trying to finish my other car and a show generally takes out at least half of the weekend. Usually I'd do a selection of shows probably 2 weekends out of 4 through the main show season, though not always as conveniently spread out as that.

I do sometimes attend shows as a spectator, but these tend to be things like the NEC or Race Retro, not so much the more local ones unless I've a particular reason to. I don't want my car thinking I'm enjoying classic car shows without it.

My preference is static shows, though I do consider what I'll do all day, which is why I like to be on a static display at stuff like CPOP or the Gold Cup, so I haven't something to look at, or in a place where's a decent area to wander around or something nearby to go and look at. A poor show for me would be having to be there early, stay until tea-time, but in a small location with no autojumble, nothing to walk around and miles from anywhere.

I don't like slow cavalcades through the centre of a town "just in case", which is what puts me off Sandbach. And as I don't have a nagivator, a decent length of road run could be an issue. Following other entrants doesn't always have the desired results.

[kevin2306]

I only do 2 or 3, find them a little boring to be honest.
The Llangollen railway show is great as you get a ticket to take rides on the trains and busses which is quite good and a huge saving over their normal costings.
Id rather just go for a nice ride out and a stop for some lunch that sitting in the middle of a field.

Kev

[Riley Blue]

We're with Kev, static shows bore us to tears. Unless there's a driving involved we don't go. This Sunday we're on a hundred-mile charity drive around the Peak District with a hundred or so other classics. Fortunately we're first away so won't be held up but we need to be back in good time, we're handing out the cream teas at the finish!

I'd far rather take part in half a dozen events like this throughout the year than go to a static show every couple of weeks unless it's something like The Goodwood Revival which we're taking the Riley to for the first time this year.
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David

1963 Riley 1.5
1965 Riley 1.5

[Paul fairall]

Last night I went to a meet with classic cars, British and American and motorcycles. Last night there was a very loud v twin three wheeler. I was asked what shows I was doing this year and I said none tbh. I go to this local meet to chat with whoever wants a chat mostly. My pop is hardly in show condition but rather than it sitting in a garage for years until its pristine I prefer to use it and drive it to the meet. It seems to get plenty of attention mainly because old cars don't get seen much I guess. I agree static shows are boring and paying to take my car and pay expenses to get there, etc, while someone makes money is not on in my view.
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1957 ford popular

[BigJohn]

I do a mixture of classic shows and club runs with a few of my friends. I will hopefully be at Grasmere this Sunday, this means a drive up there Kendal, Windermere, Ambleside, Grasmere, and a drive back, we usually find a pub for a meal on the back run. A summers evening run through the Lake District and a meal, a static show to natter to old mates at, what's not to like?

A couple of weeks back we were at Hutton in the Forest show, an early morning blast through the best bit of the M6, Kendal to Penrith, with a run back over the old A6 Shap to Kendal, then on the back roads to Holme for an evening meal, Lancaster and home, a great day. I like static shows with a good route there and back.

[Minxy]

[alastairq]

I don't do 'shows'....I'm not keen on 'pretty'....although I don't decry it as such..each to their own?

But I do prefer to use my cars.....preferably for normal, day-to-day journeys.

I compete in some Classic Reliability Trials....and make use of my cars all year round.

But I don't 'do the rounds' of parking in a field, for show.

I admit to being keen to visit a local show next weekend...probably going in one or other of my oldies, [to see if I can get in free?]....

I don't think I'd like to simply obtain a 'challenge' [wreck?] and lock it away for years while I restore it to something like what it ought to be.....I much prefer the idea of 'rolling restorations'....then work becomes a matter of dealing with essentials....rather than getting bogged down.
[I'm of the 'Mike Worthington-Williams' school of thought?]

[gillberry]

We now only do the ones where we take the caravan as well and stay over as we class it as a mini break, strumpshaw steam rally, old buckenham airshow, north Norfolk railway vintage transport festival and a new one to us last year at Lowestoft.
There is a local monthly Sunday meet at a burger bar and it is lovely as so informal all types of vehicles and motorbikes there were not a lot of bonnet lifters but have noticed a few the last couple of times as word gets out about it 😀
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1968 Volvo Amazon estate (Gracie)
1967 Cheltenham Nyala caravan

[peppiB]

I no longer do shows. Both my classics are daily drivers and in use.

[norustplease]

A mixture really. We did a run of about 50 miles round on Drive it Day (used the Citroen this year) and generally do a couple of local shows in June/July/ August. However my own preference is the breakfast or morning event, of which there are a couple at which we are regulars locally. They are just long enough, you meet a lot of friends and have a chat, a coffee and maybe a bacon butty. Charming as some of the smaller local rural events can be, I have usually had enough by the time they close in the late afternoon and don't have the patience for a two day event. However, having said that, my pet hate is the exhibitor who comes for an hour or so and then just drives out. Frustrating for the organisers and disappointing for the public who pay good money to come and look at old cars. I always stick things out until closing time unless something drastic happens, such as the weather closing in seriously.
The larger shows such as Tatton, however, I steer clear of with my own classics. A fairly punishing drive in a 60 year old car through the motorway network and then a mega queue to get out at the end are not my idea of a Grand day Out.

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1953 Citroen Traction
1964 Volvo PV544
1957 Austin A55 Mk 1
Boring Tucson SUV

[Rootes75]

We don't do that many shows these days. When we first started attending 20 years back we used to go to a lot of shows, in our area there were a lot more shows to go to. I can think of 5 or 6 that have stopped for some reason or another, but there are now more village fete's etc that have a classic car contingent.

To be honest we prefer drives and runs rather than static these days, sometimes the commitment needed for weekend shows is too much when you work full time, many 2 day shows for us involve 4 days as we travel the day before and then the day after. When it is just a run, you enter, go for a nice drive, park up for food and a chat etc then you are free to go home.
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Various Rootes Vehicles.

[JohnDale]

Hi All, 10 shows through the season. Already been to Bridge of Alan(local 30 mins) Kingussie (280ish round trip), Thirlestane Castle(130 round trip), & this Sunday it's Moffat(125 round trip) & then July Corbridge (264 round trip) Who needs road runs? Cheers,JD.
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1958 Ford Zephyr Mk2 Convertible
1976 Ford Granada Ghia.

[Riley Blue]

Yesterday, not being static...

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David

1963 Riley 1.5
1965 Riley 1.5

[peter scott]

You were sightly more confident of keeping your carpets dry than I was.

Peter

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1939 SS Jaguar 2 1/2 litre saloon