[Ian B]

I went along to Gaydon and had a great time, met loads of people who also really enjoyed themselves. The post-meet atmosphere on this forum was really great, the vast majority of people who attended deemed it to be a great success and would go again.

That said I have picked up on a few negative comments, I hate negative criticism, I really do, nine times out of ten if I see something on here that I don't like, I avoid it rather than reply, it's just so much easier. However in this instance there could be something positive to be gained out of the negative. This was the first event of this type to have been staged a Gaydon and there are always lessons to be learned.

So I'm looking to see if there is anything you think of which could be improved upon if there was going to be a Gaydon II. At this moment in time I don't know if there will be a Gaydon II or should I say a similar event for 2012(though I hope there will be).

Please only answer in this thread "If" you actually attended the event. If you have something to say that is actually practicable and could genuinely be achieved in the limited amount of time and space provided, within the restrictions set on the organisers, vendors, exhibitors by the Museum itself. I will put these to the organisers. Let's see if there is a rerun we can improve on what appears to have been one of the best Slot meets in a long time, lets get this on the slotcar map as an annual event.

Things I already know:

I know that there was a long queue to get into the museum (so why didn't people pre-book?)

Also know the swap meet was a little over crowded, (we could reduce the number of stalls to make more room.)

From the Battle of the Manufacturers, a drivers podium would be a good idea.

Things I'd like to know about:

The car parking facilities - did visitors use the main car parks at the front of the museum or did they use overspill car parking?

What did they think of Museum facilities such as the staff, toilets, cafe areas etc?

 

[slotnik]

I arrived at 12:15 and found a parking space in the main car park.
There were two people in the queue in front of me and two till positions were open so absolutely no problems there.

I agree that the swap meet was overcrowded however I don't think that there should be less stalls but perhaps more room assigned.

On the battle of the manufacturers the commentary added greatly. Even for me though, who has been hanging around these parts for some time, it was not easy to identify which manufacturer had which car.

The best thing about the show was the large number of tracks that were open for the visitors to use. It was especially good to see visitors on the BSCRA track.

Absolutely no problems with the facilities provided.

A slotforum stand where I could pay up without the dreaded paypal would have been nice.

I haven't seen any feedback documented from the venue yet. Were they happy with the footfall?

No one recognised me even though I was wearing that very loud shirt.

 

[loosesalute]

Good shout Bleep.
I reckon the facilities of the museum & staff were spot on.
There was loads of room for the different displays which allowed people to flow in & out of the rooms no bother.
However,the swapmeet room was definitely too crammed.
I think that there was such a crowd developing to get in because the staff were asking people to sign off the tax(?)to charity which did slow down entry, but it certainly wasn`t cold out there.
Cheers,
Kev

 

[astro]

I felt the event went brilliantly and I loved the organisation, professional feel of the event, and the fact the event had been so well promoted to get people to come. I also felt that things that could have been better at previous events were better at this one - in particular - it looked like the casual visitors were enthralled and excited to spectate the organised races on the big tracks.

Overcrowded Swap

I would describe the swap-meet part as very overcrowded, I heard people complaining about being uncomfortable too. At the same time, other parts of the exhibition were very uncrowded, so I don't think this is an issue of 'too many stalls' as 'not enough space for the stalls, and too much space for the rest of things'. Perhaps the whole of the hall sed for swap + manufacturers would have been better spent just for the swap.

Undercrowded HO and NSCC

I got the strong impression that many people just did not find the NSCC and HO halls, they were a lot less crowded than the rest of the place. I sent a few people over there, and bumped into them later and they still hadn't managed to find the areas - and these were people looking for it! I heard other people describe the museum as 'a maze'. Were people given maps of the place? Even if they were - big signs pointing directions between the areas would have been really useful.

Compare or DJ still needed

As the other events - someone announcing at regular intervals what was going on, highlighting features that people hadn't found and weren't very busy. My talk was in what seemed like a fairly hidden lecture room and was very well attended - I am not quite sure how the people found it though! Perhaps some people missed my workshop and Slot Track Scenics because they didn't know when or where they were? Again some tannoy announcements may have helped. (There was a PA system there - I heard it announce 'the show is now open' and 'the show is closed' - but I didn't notice other general announcements)

Venue

For me the location was just as easy as Brooklands. I liked the indoor aspect - which was surely a safer bet for the organisers too. The space available was great - and with better navigation the layout was good too. As I mentioned in another thread - it is not easy to get to by public transport - nearest train station is 8 miles and no bus service on a Sunday it appeared the bus service wasn't up to much at the best of times), and I heard the taxi from the station one way was £25. I don't know if this is a big deal or put anyone off coming, I found out when a friend was trying to organise his trip.

 

[John Parr]

Hi, I took part in the battle of the manufactures so had limited time to look around. But in the time i had i found it hard to navigate around and never found the HO track. Others i have spoken to had similer problems. The Pioneer stand was hard to find for some although i found that. The food was good but not cheap. But my biggest gripe would be the location, Hard to get to compared to Donington and Brooklands from the East. I hope we have another one next year but a rotation of venues would be better as i would,nt want to return to Gaydon so soon.

 

[vfr750]

The swapmeet was ridiculously crowded, it was too difficult to see what was on the tables and certainly stretched the patience of wives and girlfriends. I felt sorry for anyone with kids.

The map we were given at the entrance was to small with no detail of what was where. Signs were needed inside the building.

On a personal note I would have liked to see a race meeting for scratchbuilt retro cars but that has been discussed elsewhere.

The facilities were good as was access with some great biking roads and there was interesting stuff in the museum. The staff were helpful and friendly. We had both thought the other had picked up the advanced tickets but thankfully they had a list and were inside really quickly despite arriving just after 10am.

Would I go again, maybe if the swapmeet is given more room.

Finally thanks to all those involved for your hard work, it's a good basis to build on.

Cheers

John

 

[montoya1]

Obviously I had my head down running the HO event, so did not really pick up on some of the things mentioned here, but it does sound as if a better map would of been handy.

 

[Gareth]

I had two wanders around the event during breaks in the HO racing and I somehow managed a kind of circuit back to the HO Zone without really knowing where I was! THe HO Zone was only a corridor away from the Battle of the Manufacturers track out of the doors at the other end of the room past the wooden routed track. Which looked awesome by the way. Sad I didn't get a chance to drive on it.

I would agree that a map of the event showing where everything was would be a massive help to everyone and yep, the swapmeet is going to need a bigger room! That was a very busy area.

I've not had the good fortune to attend the previous Brooklands or Donington events but I would say that this was an absolutely first class, top rate show and my thanks do go to everyone involved. It was superb but like Bleep says, lessons can be learned and improvements can be made for next year (please, please let there be a next year) which will only make it even better and hopefully establish the event as a nationally marked event. A real date in the diary even for the casual fan.

I don't know how feasible this is but what about a shuttle bus between venue and station a couple of times in the morning and afternoon for those reliant on public transport?

Cheers

Gareth

 

[abbo]

I totally missed the HO track, mainly because of being involved in the battle of manufacturers... which also meant I missed this business about it being too crowded. The few times I did manage to get out and about it was just busy and each stall/track was easy to get too. Also, when I visited the two café's I was served very quickly, so I must have been very lucky by what everyone else is saying.

With regard to the race I was in - yes a raised area for the drivers would be good but also better lane markings (it wasn't just me that put cars back in the wrong slot - it happened quite a few times). Colour coding is better and also marked on the track itself, although keep the numbers too, as I'm sure other people prefer that system. Maybe a bit of a hassle because it's loose-laid, but it is doable.

Apart from that, I'm happy with it all.

ABBO

 

[Julian_Boolean]

An event map and signs around the venue would have been useful, apart from that a nice venue, just a bit of a lottery which route to pick to get there from East Anglia, 3 1/2 hours getting there via Bedford and Northampton, 2 1/2 on the way back via Rugby, the M6 and A14.

 

[TeezRacer]

The Swapmeet was very crowded, unfoutunatly i was with some friends who arnt quite as into it and were very reluctant to have a good search around the swapmeet because of this. So i can understand how difficult it would have been for those who brought theier wives, girlfriends or children to have a really good look. Also i wanted the limited edition MSC 6R4 but gave up eventually with cueing, hopefully theirs some left somewere.

And i agree with you on the talks astro, i never came across any of them.

I never went to previous events so have nothing to compare to, luckily i only live close to Gaydon (20 miles) so transport was not an issue for me.

Also with regard to the gift aid thing whitch held up the cue, Many did not understand what this implied. So maybe that could have been sped up by having a sign explaining the process.

I was also dissapointed to not see more scratchbuilt cars. (they may have been their but i never found them)

Also i dont know what the closeest club is to Gaydon, but it would have been nice to see them represented. (again, they may have been their but i never found them)

Teez.

 

[MPJBud]

It was a good day, plenty of places for me to leave my wife sat down whilst I battled with the swap meet.

There were no problems parking, although I did have trouble finding the way out because the signs seemed to be on the ground and they had parked cars across some of them, but I got out so not a major issue.

I did contemplate pre-booking tickets but the incentive wasn't significant, now I know what the queue is like I may reconsider for next year.

The Gift Aid questions slowed some people up because they seemed unable to remember their name and post code. I am sure everyone knows whether they are able to gift aid or not. perhaps a cash only no gift aid till would have speeded things up a little bit.

The map was useful, although the instruction that "everything is upstairs" was not that useful when the only set of stairs visible takes you to a gallery with no access to anything other than a display of Morris cars or somesuch, which I left my wife watching whilst I went to find another set of stairs, some signs would have been useful.

As others have mentioned the Swapmeet was far too crowded, I made about 5 or 6 trips round and I'm still sure I didn't visit all of the stalls, because I gave up. Perhaps a one way system would have made life easier.

But there was also a lot of space that was wasted, and who did the NSCC offend to get put where they did, it took me an age to find them, even with the map, and then when I tried to find them again I still struggled.

Given that the Museum host events throughout the year, I was a little surprised with their lack of organisation, let's hope they learn from this year.

Martin

 

[Pete-slot]

there were links to a map on here, and so,e were given out at the entrance.. so there should have been no problems.

The donation thing at the entrance did slow initial entrants down a lot.

The swap meet was a scrum, i was racing and didnt have the time to get through the scrum, do agree with a previous post .... more room for the swap meet as thats why most people went to this event.

great event overall and none of this would discourage me from going again even if nothing changed.

 

[Dick Smith]

I thought the venue was excellent, with plenty of room available. I made two visits to most things and in the early afternoon the Traders Room was less crowded.

I sort of awarded an unofficial personnal prize to the "Spectator Friendliness" of the of the main tracks ( Race of Manufacturers, BSCRA , HOGP and Drap Strip) present and it went to BRSCA simply because they had a lap/race display that could be read from the opposite side of the track by all spectators, but they did need a banner saying who they were.

They all needed such banners and the Manufacturers race could have benefited from one for each Manufacturer so the non Slot Form addicts knew who they were looking at. It would have been better if the pits had been behind the track not seperating most of the potential viewing area from the track. The commentary was good but not loud enough, but it is important to remember that people drop by and stop for about 5-10 minutes and then go away and come back if their interest has been prompted so the commentator must bore the racers to death by repeating himself giving basic information at frequent intervals.

Given due notice and assuming that I am not competing I would be happy to be involved in helping run such a race should it happen again

 

[PJF]

It took 4 hours to get to Gaydon, but well worth it. I agree the sales area was to small but I just kept going around, probably more than ten times

. So I think next time more room should be allocated to sales. I still managed to spend a small fortune but I hate having to duck & dive to get at a stall.

I never knew that there was a HO track or the NSCC stand

.

My only complaint was the cafe, us northerners are used to paying £3 for a bacon sarnie & coffee, not £8.

Would it not work out better to have the event over two days, race's on the saturdays & selling on the sunday ?.

However still a cracking day.

Cheers Paul.

 

[abbo]

QUOTE My only complaint was the cafe, us northerners are used to paying £3 for a bacon sarnie & coffee, not £8.

You missed the small eating area upstairs then... unless they under charged me, I had a fabulous bacon and sausage roll (three rashers and two sausages) and my coffee - for under £4.00. This didn't last long though - next time I went up they were gone. Plus once again, there were no queues... once again, I must have been really lucky.

Marc

 

[loosesalute]

PJFs only moaning about the cost of food cos a Tynesiders staple diet is a Greggs pasty at 84p each..

.
Cheers,
Kev

PS. Did anyone else think that Ortmann tyres had the best pitch? Slap bang in between the escalators!

 

[John Parr]

Would have been a good idea to have given a map to the competiters of the manufacturers race. Might have found more then.

 

[AAWSCC]

QUOTE (jonnynobber @ 25 May 2011, 20:05) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Hi, I took part in the battle of the manufactures so had limited time to look around. But in the time i had i found it hard to navigate around and never found the HO track. Others i have spoken to had similer problems. The Pioneer stand was hard to find for some although i found that. The food was good but not cheap. But my biggest gripe would be the location, Hard to get to compared to Donington and Brooklands from the East. I hope we have another one next year but a rotation of venues would be better as i would,nt want to return to Gaydon so soon.

Sorry to hijack the thread a little, but just thought that this should be made clear.
There was not a Pioneer stand.
The track and cars for sale were supplied by Circuits to Scale. An idependant retailer.
They are a new outlet and at the moment only stock Pioneer which is why he cars a promoted on thier track. Other manufacturers will be represented in the future.

As a stall holder I was very happy with the facilities, and the venue.
I would like to say a big thankyou to all involved in organising such an event.
If you have ever been involved with this kind of thing you will appreciate just how much there is to do.
Let's hope it happens again next year.

Access to the venue was fine from the south as it was just off the M40
My bit done!

 

[montoya1]

More and more, it does sound as if better maps/signs are the big fix for 2012, along with more room for the traders. I thought the HO Zone was busy most of the time, but it does sound as if we might of missed out on significant foot traffic along with the NSCC stuff next door.