Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

[Rich5ltr]

I went to an annual show called the Littlewick Green Show today, been going for over 25 years. It seems to me to be losing it's attraction with fewer horticultural displays and shows of farming type stuff but the car show seems as popular as ever. I love this show because being a local Berkshire event it seems to attract a very eclectic mix of cars from all the local motor clubs; Austin Sevens, Bristols, Alvis, Hillman, Fords old Vauxhalls, Rolls & Bentleys, big Americasn jobs you name it you might see it! My car of the day was a wonderful Alfa Romeo 1900C from 1954 with coachwork by Touring of Milan. It was absolutely splendid. Anyway the point of my post is to ask why people leave so early? Having got there early we walked home at around 2:30 but the public were still streaming in yet we saw many of the display cars leaving the show ground. I just think it's wrong, if someone has committed to display their car they should stay to at least until 4 o'clock. As it's a fiver to get in some people coming for the afternoon will only get to see half the display.

[P3steve]

Totally agree with you on that one

[Phil - Nottingham]

I disagree - we get there early and sometimes before 10.00. If we have to travel a fair way then I do not want to home late as I have to get up early to go to work the next day. We leave aroinf 3.30-4.00

Some show organisers are imposing more and rules which limits choices - those that have retired may have more time so let them stay.

Leaving before 3.00pm if weather is good is probably too early but each to their own - and it reduces traffic jams getting out.

Some of these shows are being far to micro-managed obviously by teh asme persons who are doing the same in our daily lives. Its supposed to be a relaxing event not a whole rule book of what can and cannot be done.

Next it will be banning cars coming in traliers or those that are not used enough or too much
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Rover P2
Rover P4
Rover P5 & P5B
Land Rover S2 & S3
Morris Mini Traveller Mk2

[Nic Jarman]

I agree with Rich, If people start to leave at 4pm and steadily till 5pm even large shows can get everyone out in a controlled fashion. Lavenham had over 550 cars this year.
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1936 Morris 8 Series 1
1973 MGB roadster
1977 MG Midget 1500
Dax Rush

[Fluffle-Valve]

I do a lot of Steam Rallies around Northamptonshire and Bedfordshire. At most of the rallies, one gets a plaque of sorts for attending for the whole weekend. But come the last day, normally the Sunday or a Monday if a bank holiday, people are itching to get away early. The show organisers are now ruling that if you go before the end of the show finish time, you won’t get your plaque and you will be black-listed for the next year’s show and won’t be invited. They say that the public have paid to see a full show for the day and not watch it driving out the gate as you walk in.
I for one have always stayed till the end, as I totally agree with the organisers and that if you are showing your “whatever” and getting free entry, you should stay for the sake of the public. That is why you go, isn’t it, to show your “whatever” for the day?
If you have, as some do, a good reason for leaving early and have prearranged to leave early with the organisers, then so be it. But I have seen so many people with poor excuse’s to get out of the gate a go early. If you can’t except that you have been invited and got a free entry for the day to show your “whatever” to the public for the whole day, then don’t go...
So what, if you live 200 miles away and have to get up early for work! I used to work nights and my week started on a Sunday night. I still would pack up and leave when the show ended for the day, go home and eat and have a short sleep and be at work for 10pm!
If your going to show something, then do just that!
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Series 3 1972 LWB Truck Cab Pick Up. My daily drive.

[gresham flyer]

My first question is,why were you walking home? Do you not show your car at this event.?

We were at the Greenwoods classic car show at Knebworth House today,we arrived at 9.30am and left at 5.30pm after the crowds and traffic build up had gone.

The event is 50 miles each way,we were home by 6.40pm,the weather was nice on the way home,why rush back,winter is round the corner,you can be at home for 6 months then.

Walking round the show at 2.30pm we noticed people leaving in their classic cars.

Sunday we attended the Stamford Classic Car Show,held in the centre of town on the meadows,GREAT A good buzzy event.

We arrived at about 9.30am and departed at about 6.00pm.We like to stand and chat at the end of the event, and see the vehicles leave,commenting on our likes and dislikes etc.

We know so many people at these events and can strike up a conversation with most attendees,that we have to stay till the bitter end to get to talk to everyone,are the early leavers not sociable people

Anyone tiring of the show can walk around this lovely georgian town which is only yards away.My wife and some of our other female friends find this very enjoyable,leaving the petrol heads to get on with their interests.
Perhaps organisers might choose better locations for their events,because I am sure the wife sitting in the back of the car looking totally bored and reading a magazine might sway hubby to leave early and get her home.

If I ran a show I would lock the exit gate till 5.00pm.so there

Gresham.

[Riley Blue]

Though I only attend three or four static shows a year, I'm with the majority - staying until the end shows courtesy to the organisers and the paying public, leaving before the end is simply discourteous. If, for any reason, it's not possible to stay until the end, don't go!

Having to wait until the end and perhaps queue a while to get out isn't too much of a sacrifice to make, is it?

[Salopian]

I fully agree with Riley here to the extent I don't do any static shows for that very reason (feeling obliged to stay all day) never mind being expected to pay for the privilege of providing the exhibit at some shows.
Usually I go to any shows as a member of the public look at what I am interested in and leave. I'd rather do this than be trapped on a field all day when I could be doing things.
I have to say some of the shows mentioned here seem to have a much wider and more interesting selection than those local to me - the last of those I attended a week ago was but a shadow of its former self. Seemed to be more stationary engines pumping coloured water than anything else. Rather boring each to their own of course but why do they need so much space?
Reading the above I realise I must be a member of the awkward squad - did not go to the County of Salop Onslow Park do this year as could not be bothered with the traffic jam on the Shrewsbury bypass or the trouble and traffic getting in and out on my last visit.
Buzzy and Rick seem to have enjoyed it though from reading lower down!
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Jonathan Butler
Alvis SD 12/50 1928 MG TD 1950

[clascar]

Having attended many shows I use the system where if I am not charged to enter and receive a plaque I stay until the end. If I pay to enter and receive no Plaque etc. I leave when I want. If I had a choice I prefer to pay. A lot of shows don't allow vehicle movement during the show due to safety issues. I respect that.
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When I exhibit a car I get the Shudders. People queue up to tell me.
You should have done that, you should have done this. Ray

[clascar]

duplication
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When I exhibit a car I get the Shudders. People queue up to tell me.
You should have done that, you should have done this. Ray

[Gaz]

I agree with what has been said already, if you want to go home early, whay go at all? Winter is long enough, so just enjoy being outdoors with your exibit. Quite often, we get to a show very early, 9am ish, and don't leave until after 4pm, or at least after the prize giving.

I think the problem is, there are a lot of sheep out there, so when someone sees a car leaving, the sheep follow.

I'm with Gresham, lock the gate.
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Web links:1972 2000 SC P6
1969 Bedford CA Dormobile

[Scotty]

I never leave early as I've "agreed" to display my car at a public event for my enjoyment, the public's entertainment and most importantly, helping the local organising club with much needed funds.

What I will not do is go to shows run by commercial, profit making enterprises or ones that charge ME money to attend with my car. I've spent a small fortune getting it to look and run well, why should I pay more - its almost another stealth tax.

With regard to driving out early through the crowds of spectators - its only a matter of time before somebody gets seriously injured at an event by being hit by an exhibitors car leaving the event, if some of us think the rules are onerous now, wait 'till that happens.

[Keith D]

Wow! This is certainly a hot topic!

I am always amused when some organiser expects me to pay to show my car. No Way in the world! Without our cars there is no show! End of story. Plaques are certainly NOT given to exhibitors in Western Australia. Very few shows try to charge exhibitors to display their vehicles over here. I drove over 150 miles to display one of my cars because I was especially asked to. On arrival I was informed that I must pay a "donation" of ten dollars to display my car! At a show that was charging admittance to the great unwashed. So I had a very pleasant, but immediate drive home. It was me that did the blacklisting, not the show organisers!

I have been attending organised shows for over forty years and to spend eight or so hours in hot weather bores me silly! When I want to leave, I leave. Exactly like the spectators do! As far as the safety aspect goes, cars in Western Australia have compulsury third party insurance included in the licence. This protects spectators!

Keith

[Scotty]

Keith - may I ask please, the compulsory third party insurance you mention, am I correct in assuming then that covers you for both "highway" use AND "private land" use?

The reason I ask, and this will probably come up for further discussion in this thread, is an issue over here where highway insurance doesn't provide cover for us to drive on private land. Some form of indemnity insurance must be provided by the show organisers or our own insurers must agree to provide combined on / off-road cover. The latter insurance type has been a real can of worms for a lot of people over here.

Guys - if I've got this wrong please don't hesitate to say so, to be honest the last time I tried to understand where I can drive and where I can't drive and at the same time be covered by an insurance I lost the will to live!

[Rich5ltr]