Very Many THANKS, to All who came from far and wide and in particular our Scottish friends from over the border.

Appologies for the jams getting down to the Display areas, unless one can get rid of a single car width bottleneck--it will be a prob.

Some very tasty cars in all displays, credit to everyone.Hope those that did the track laps enjoyed their drive.

Many +++ Thanks to ALL the Helpers who gave their time--WE appreciate YOU.   Your comments invited.

Perhaps the club could pressure some more of the dealers or indeed bmw uk to put back something into the club, we members spend a lot of money with the dealer network one way or another,  if they each contributed to a slush fund that could be used to prepay for some stands which the smaller companies could enter into a draw for then it may help.

If you go to a ford fair theres loads of smaller stands because the big fairs are officially recognised by ford. 

Either that or a change of venue to avoid the crippling costs, goodwood anyone?

I personally enjoyed gaydon this year as i have done for the last 3 that i have been too.

I did also note that there was not as many traders there as i would of liked but understand the problems and reasons for them not going.

Mind you i still managed too spend a few ££'s without much trouble.

I have been to "other" bmw shows not run by the club and they are nowhere near as well organised or give the variety of vehicles or quality of vehicle's on display.(the scottish region did the club proud,what a stunning display of car's you have!)

The gaydon show is THE bmw show of the year and to have support from BMW uk would be fantastic as they could give so much more to the day as we support them so they should return the favour,after all we are the one's flying the BMW flag!!!

All the region's provided good display's of various vehicles and every type of BMW was represented including some superb alpina's and some beautiful classic's right up to the magnificent new V10 M5.

Great day, thanks to all concerned! Great turn out, and some awesome cars! Couldn't have asked for better weather either!

Only thing that got to me was the que, we had to drive through the mud car park, waited there for half an hour, only for people who came in after to be let straight in

I understand the reason though to keep the cars off the road, but in that case, everyone should have been diverted through the car park until the que through the car park was no more.

Because of the above, I was late parking my car up, so only spent about 15 mins on the gate handing out E30 passes then I ran out, so wish I could have been more help!

With regards to traders, I'm venturing into car lighting and styling products, and enquired about a stand at Gaydon, and was shocked to learn that there was a price, I really thought the BMWCC would do it for free to get more traders to attend, as much as I'd love to offer a service, business is business at the end of the day, and it would have been totally pointless setting up a stand.

Simon325i sport wrote: Only thing that got to me was the que, we had to drive through the mud car park, waited there for half an hour, only for people who came in after to be let straight in Because of the above, I was late parking my car up, so only spent about 15 mins on the gate handing out E30 passes then I ran out, so wish I could have been more help!

Totally agree with that, I spent most of Saturday cleaning car, only to get to Gaydon and be parking in a dust bowl for 45 mins or so. All that cleaning wasted.

When the cars were sent down anyone marshalling had a nightmare trying to get the cars parked in the correct spots, as there were so many all at once.

Maybe someone could also answer a question, I was under the impression that this years Gaydon show was an M Power theme. That being the case WHY was it all M Cars without a number on the display ticket, (those that weren’t in the special M display at the front of the museum) were sent to the rear of the museum? This may have been the main entrance but it was so out of the way no one went round there apart from those going to the test track, on they day there were a lot of upset and one or two angry M owners who had spent a lot of time and effort cleaning their vehicles only to be parked in a very obscure and remote “display”. We missed out on a good display of M Power cars because most just drove back round and parked in the general parking area.

When I booked my ticket I asked if I could display on the central region stand and was told there wasn’t one but I could display on the “M Power” area, on the day there was a central stand by the “special” M Power display area, so I was somewhat disgruntled to be parked round the back of the museum.

Some constructive criticism on the track event (which I understand was probably outwith the control of BMWCCGB?):

I turned up at the BMWCCGB stand and bought my ticket. There was no mention of maximum number of passengers, or minimum ages of those passengers. I returned to our stand and we agreed to take 2 other adults plus 2 kids (who were really excited about going out on track!). I arrived at the registration point, signed in 5 names, handed in 5 mobile phones(!) and then on the way back to the car I was stopped by a marshall who informed me that kids under 16 were not allowed on track. To say they were disappointed was an understatement, I think this fact should have been mentioned when we bought the ticket.

To be fair the marshall was very pleasant and even gave the kids free off road tickets (which their father took them out on later on).

The 3 remaining adults then attended the briefing to be told only 2 people allowed in the car! So yet again 1 more disappointed individual. However, when we drove in the convoy to the track the car in front of us had 4 people inside and yet was allowed to proceed! (No names, eh Tim? )

On the track all cars were lined up in each of the 4 lanes and then followed the pace car. However, this to me was more dangerous than a convoy, because cars ended up overtaking/undertaking, and then bunched up together at the corners. I felt safer at the Nurburgring

To sum up, and I appreciate BMWCCGB may have no control over this, I feel there was no valid reason for not allowing full cars onto the track, and allowing under 16s.

The rest of the show was great however, weather superb, good company and food was spot on

Nigel Marston wrote: Simon325 The trade stands at Gaydon are realistically priced I think when compared to stands at some other car shows. Stand space at any decent show/exhibition of any sort is never cheap. My wife has a wedding related business and stands at a national show cost £4500!!!!! Nigel

Well it wasn't realistic to me, hence me not participating, and I'm not the only one that thinks so either.

As I'm only just starting out in, I'm finding the costs quite difficult, and if I had have paid up for a stand, I doubt I would have made my money back.

 Thanks for constructive comments-------

Nigel--Said realistic Trade  Plot -Prices, this IS Very important, the price is Gaydons--NOT the Clubs.The club wants as many traders as there is space for them--BUT again--the club cannot tell punters to spend the ££££££ss---only attractive prices do that.

The problem of Access down to the Main area is a Major prob, I also thought why not use all one way IN routes--ala Gary---while I was following Instructions, in the middle of watching the Gridlock--we Must also consider that Gaydon has a daily Public visitor intake, so you cannot behave as if WE are the Only Cash inflow for ONE day.Steve ---- Agree, Age limits Should Have been stated at point of purchase/advice in Club Mag.Did the pre planning meetings ask this ??? and get discussed??.WE had to do follow ALL instructions given by Gaydon Staff on People Moving--So if they said " direct cars into the Carpark to clear Gridlocks" WE had to do as requested.

Mick--Sorry !!!!! you were NOT on Main "M" area--Mail to Richard B, and ask "Why".

The only way WE can improve the day and Future events is --YOUR positive feedback-----Thankyou.

Great day, but i was another M Power Car, asked to move to the back/front display area when first arrived.

Did move car later in the morning....

Aston Martin test track was well worth the £7.50 especially seening the  new "baby" Aston parked up. One question how/where car we buy pictures taken on the test track.

Craig

1990 M3 Sport Evo

2002 330d Sport Touring

This was our first Gaydon event, thoroughly enjoyed it, but for me the best bit was driving around the test track. THIS is what these cars are all about, having come off the track I ran to the club stand to see if I could buy another ticket, but they were sold out. I agree with the comments about the organisation of the test track drive - it was almost non existant. The briefing was "follow me, don't overtake me and don't be silly". So when the event car stopped in the middle of the track and then took off, the cars immediately behind thought it was a drag race and went for it, almost to smash into the back of the stationary event car (E30 M3 and ZM roadster you know who you are!). There was also much confusion over whether we should line up with the lane markings or cones initially. A few words of explanation from the marshal beforehand would have avoided this. 

In all, lets have more use of tracks at these events, so we can get in our cars and DRIVE them! Someone else has asked if there will be any use of the track at Donnington, but so far no answers. Please Please can we have more track/driving stuff at the events, I like looking at cars and buying bits but driving off our over policed roads is best of all!!!  

I really enjoyed it again. I'd like to know why cars had to wait until 8:30 to get in though? Would have made things much easier to just go straight in.

I liked the track after not expecting much. Had no idea what i was meant to be doing or not doing though

evosport wrote: Aston Martin test track was well worth the £7.50 especially seening the  new "baby" Aston parked up. One question how/where car we buy pictures taken on the test track.

The photo's are on the link below

http://www.4x4navigation.com/sportevent2.html - http://www.4x4navigation.com/sportevent2.html

Mick

The photo's are on the link below http://www.4x4navigation.com/sportevent2.html - http://www.4x4navigation.com/sportevent2.html Mick

Can't see them there.

jezza wrote: The photo's are on the link below http://www.4x4navigation.com/sportevent2.html - http://www.4x4navigation.com/sportevent2.html Mick Can't see them there.

Follow the link towards the bottom of the page or click below

http://www.4x4navigation.com/1al.html - http://www.4x4navigation.com/1al.html

That was one off the thinks for me how do you get a pass to park my make ie for me the 7's,in that area. had tickets but no car pass

Yes the Wessex region is pretty poor but we are trying to beef it up a bit me and some others but as you said it is more Hants/Dorset. So I am Hoping to hold a reg Sussex pub/meet NR Hicstead to try and beef things up and for thoses more SE side off things. but it is finding the time as I am shoer you all know 

Was my first visit to Gaydon with the BMWCC. I ran the coupe stand which effectiverly made me a glorified parking attendant. On the whole it was a good day although a couple of people swore at me for not allowing them to park next to their friends which left a sour tast in my mouth as i gave up my whole day to marshall. I ended up spending about 30 mins seeing the other cars and visited about 2 traders. Saying this i did enjoy myself.

Went on the test track and agree with the comment above. Could not go in my car and had to get towed home due to a petrol leak. Test track was brilliant, but dangerous if you stayed with the pack. We hung back and allowed everybody to go off and then had the track to our selves.

A convoy following a sedate racing line would have been better.

More helpers would have made my life easier as i parked 75 cars in a small area, had to keep acess routes clear and told cars where to go for the whole day.

I didn't have to pay for my ticket and i don't think any helpers had to, but i have to say that certainly in my area which was a funny shape if no one was parking and organising the cars then cars would have been parked everywhere and far fewer cars would have been catered for and no one would be able to move when they wanted to. 

My thoughts for next year with regards to the coupe area would be to have a more organised area where cars where parked by model type. This would cause other problems as cars would have to arrive at an earlier time, but would look a lot better.

The problem is certainly with the coupes is that very few people In my exsperience let you know that they will be comming to an event making it difficult to plan for numbers. E.G. You plan for ten e24's and five turn up or conversely you plan for 10 E31's and twenty turn up. I suspect this is the case with most regions and areas.

In some ways it's a lot easier organising a smaller selection of cars.

For example i could organise a smashing line up of different sixes and another could line up a smashing selection of CS coupes folowed by another person getting a line up of E31's and so on.  I think  if more people got involved and worked together this would run smoother and actually everyone would have less work to do on the day.

Please take these coments as positive. I am a bit of a perfectionist and always want to strive to take things a little further.

I thought the Gaydon event was very good, met plenty of  people and what better weather could have been ordered?

The specific comments concerning M power made me smile/wince if only because do some people never read their journals? I'll excuse any new members of the last six months but for virtually a whole year we have been asking for particular models to be volunteered for the 'M display' last year it was for the 'E30's display. So to say there are M car commoners and elite class or words to that effect is rather sad!

The display was to show pretty much in year order each M car produced and to enable such a complete display to be formed (bar an E39 M5 which failed to turn up) just shows the capacity of the Club.  I thought we had some great cars there in a good range of colours. But due to the room this display took up we had less room (than we have taken in the past) for the 'non display' M cars.

Some cars were routed to the main museum entrance but as I mentioned to the few people who came to talk to me about it, there we're still some spaces next to the circular display so find one and bring your car down.

The track stories fill me with angst for this is just the situation that causes silly things to happen - why not come along to one of the Clubs properly organised track days and drive in a far safer environment? and better value too if you consider the cost per lap.......

The comments concerning no's of people allowed to ride in the car usually relate to the number of doors. So you could find 4 up in a four door saloon but only two in a two door so that it is easier to pull people out in the eventuality of a crashed vehicle. 

Richard Baxter

as a member of the Scottish clan i had a great weekend i personally travelled from Stonehaven in east coast Scotland to gaydon all the people who i met up with on the way down were very welcoming towards me.

for it being my first gaydon i  enjoyed it immensely and will be coming back again especially to see if Penny Malory will be bending over johns car like she was.

even for the distance travelled approx 1000 mile round trip for me.

i had a damm good weekend apart from the homeward journey when wee were about to cross the boarder it started  raining and but that still did not put the dampers on.

We had a great day, some fantastic cars and seemed really well organised. Hopefully next year I can make it down earlier with the rest of the North East guys....

Thanks to all the organisers

As the organiser for the North East stand, and my first trip to Gaydon, it was a bit "made it up as I went along"!! I have read all of the above comments with interest, and I have to say that it was a great day.  Yes there where queues, but I was on site at 0815 and there was no queue then!

The test track did have an element of "Wacky Races" to it, but that just made all the more interesting!

We could of done with more space for our stand, but again, we where all limited by the total space available.  I learnt a lot form this year and am looking forward to next already. 

The guys (& Girl) in the office, special mention for Gerry, where a great help.

I did expect more trade stands, and did expect BMW to have a stand there, but in hindsight, that would have meant less space for the rest of us.

Thanks to all the guys that came.  The Scottish guys for keeping us entertained (as always). And to the organisers as a whole.  It might have been a bit dis-jointed at times, but it was a great day enjoyed by all!

IF the committee are looking at any other venues, may I suggest something a little better placed for everyone in general, perhaps in the North West/East ?

Sheffield is about Central Great Britain, and as this is the main club event, it would seem a little fairer to all members.

I say this as someone who is very nicely placed for Gaydon, but we have a large and very active Scottish mob, and Northern England too.

Just a thought.

IF the committee are looking at any other venues, may I suggest something a little better placed for everyone in general, perhaps in the North West/East ?