Inter-Club International - June 28/30th - 2024

[Michaeltr6]

Roger, i live in the northwest, and atended both Harrogate events and enjoyed them, 

[RogerH]

Dave, Alan, Richard,

my silly statement was quite a generalisation.   

Lots of  members from all over didn't bother to venture to Harrogate.

 

Roger

[Rod1883]

I must say that we did go to Harrogate - all the way from West Sussex. We went in the Stag though, the TR2 with aeroscreens would have been just a bit too hardcore.

Edited August 17, 2023 by Rod1883

[Dave McDonald]

37 minutes ago, RogerH said:

Dave, Alan, Richard,

my silly statement was quite a generalisation.   

Lots of  members from all over didn't bother to venture to Harrogate.

 

Roger

Thank you Roger. 
Dave McD

[ianc]

It was the first IWE at Harrogate, held in 1989, which was not well-attended by those up north.

I can't say whether (or not) it was similar in 2011 as I was rather busy with the TR4@50 celebrations.

Ian Cornish

[Mick Forey]

The survey clearly showed that Malvern was the favourite location for the 1,800 members and others who took part. So we can all hope that a good number of us will support the show, whatever the weather.

Mick

[John Morrison]

Hotel Booked 

John

[Paul Hogan]

Having been to every IWE apart from one year  at Peterborough where it rained all weekend and the infamous one at Malvern when the police wouldn't let me go any further.  ( I'm not counting last years debacle which wasn't an IWE in any shape or form) the fact of the matter is that the majority of TR owners do live in the southern part of the UK. if you couple that with our members age profile,  we now have many 70 year olds who are now reluctant to drive more than a couple of hours in their TR so having an IWE back up at Harrogate or anywhere near there just isn't going to be viable.   Financially, it might even pay the TRR to find a place in the South East so that more of our continental friends could join in and make it a truly International TR Weekend. 

A few years ago I floated the idea of having some one day regional events  in different parts of the country but that idea wasn't supported by the board.  Pity because it could have solved the problem of people feeling left out and having to travel 300-400 miles or more to a TRR meeting. 

Now the club has committed itself to go back to Malvern next year which is I think a good thing.  Sadly I won't be attending as I am already booked to go to the USA that week.  ( sighs of relief all round I hear!)  Now the membership survey has clearly given the management team a clear indication that they want a three day event. Last weekend's event at Shepton Mallet was in my, and some others opinion, a complete waste of time.   Nothing was planned for the Friday. very little happened on the Saturday and the Sunday was more of the same.  Most people were packing up by midday and heading off home.  The catering offer was pretty poor with just three vendors I think. Why no fish and chip van or curry offering? You see  loads of these different catering people at other events so why not at Shepton? We had them at Stratford.  

I think the reason for this is two fold. First of all I don't think the MT really wanted to offer  us a proper IWE weekend because they had nailed their colours to the MG weekend at Silverstone. It was only  the members who made them rethink things  and so we got a thrown together TR@70.    Secondly, many traders were noticeably absent from Shepton because they had already allocated their marketing budget on going to Silverstone.   

Friday has traditionally been the day you arrive and meet up with old friends. Saturday is THE day when all the action should be on site  and Sunday should be about the prize giving and getting your last minute bargains  Why anyone would want to go on a scenic drive having just driven 150- 200 miles down to the showground beats me  or am I missing something?  

As for costs,  well I understand that Shepton may well have broken even which is a good thing for the club after last years fiasco.  Hopefully, the MT will ensure there is a decent enough budget to put on a first class IWE at Malvern with some extra attractions thrown into the mix.  For example, why not invite  some of the traction engines  that are based less than five miles away at the Welland Steam fair or even the Ferguson T70 tractor brigade? Surely the Morgan MC  would be up for joining in as Malvern is also their spiritual home and many of them use TR engines.  And if there isn't enough money in the kitty then why not cancel going to the one of the NEC or other car shows next year?   I know they are a showcase for the club but we need to look after our existing members first  and if we want to encourage people to join, why not offer a really big discounted offer only available at Malvern.? 

Just a thought........

Hoges. 

[stuart]

I did Harrogate both times including the one in the rain, its a fair shlep from down here. Also Lincoln twice, again a fair shlep. Even Shepton was 150 mls So you just have to be prepared to do it.

Stuart.

 

[Chris Hubball]

Lets hope the MT offer large incentives to persuade the major traders to return to Malvern

Chris

[SuzanneH]

4 hours ago, Paul Hogan said:

Having been to every IWE apart from one year  at Peterborough where it rained all weekend and the infamous one at Malvern when the police wouldn't let me go any further.  ( I'm not counting last years debacle which wasn't an IWE in any shape or form) the fact of the matter is that the majority of TR owners do live in the southern part of the UK. if you couple that with our members age profile,  we now have many 70 year olds who are now reluctant to drive more than a couple of hours in their TR so having an IWE back up at Harrogate or anywhere near there just isn't going to be viable.   Financially, it might even pay the TRR to find a place in the South East so that more of our continental friends could join in and make it a truly International TR Weekend. 

A few years ago I floated the idea of having some one day regional events  in different parts of the country but that idea wasn't supported by the board.  Pity because it could have solved the problem of people feeling left out and having to travel 300-400 miles or more to a TRR meeting. 

Now the club has committed itself to go back to Malvern next year which is I think a good thing.  Sadly I won't be attending as I am already booked to go to the USA that week.  ( sighs of relief all round I hear!)  Now the membership survey has clearly given the management team a clear indication that they want a three day event. Last weekend's event at Shepton Mallet was in my, and some others opinion, a complete waste of time.   Nothing was planned for the Friday. very little happened on the Saturday and the Sunday was more of the same.  Most people were packing up by midday and heading off home.  The catering offer was pretty poor with just three vendors I think. Why no fish and chip van or curry offering? You see  loads of these different catering people at other events so why not at Shepton? We had them at Stratford.  

I think the reason for this is two fold. First of all I don't think the MT really wanted to offer  us a proper IWE weekend because they had nailed their colours to the MG weekend at Silverstone. It was only  the members who made them rethink things  and so we got a thrown together TR@70.    Secondly, many traders were noticeably absent from Shepton because they had already allocated their marketing budget on going to Silverstone.   

Friday has traditionally been the day you arrive and meet up with old friends. Saturday is THE day when all the action should be on site  and Sunday should be about the prize giving and getting your last minute bargains  Why anyone would want to go on a scenic drive having just driven 150- 200 miles down to the showground beats me  or am I missing something?  

As for costs,  well I understand that Shepton may well have broken even which is a good thing for the club after last years fiasco.  Hopefully, the MT will ensure there is a decent enough budget to put on a first class IWE at Malvern with some extra attractions thrown into the mix.  For example, why not invite  some of the traction engines  that are based less than five miles away at the Welland Steam fair or even the Ferguson T70 tractor brigade? Surely the Morgan MC  would be up for joining in as Malvern is also their spiritual home and many of them use TR engines.  And if there isn't enough money in the kitty then why not cancel going to the one of the NEC or other car shows next year?   I know they are a showcase for the club but we need to look after our existing members first  and if we want to encourage people to join, why not offer a really big discounted offer only available at Malvern.? 

Just a thought........

Hoges. 

I heartily agree with you Hoges, there wasn’t even an Ice Cream Van…….!

On several occasions re the International Week end in the last few years it has been said there will be plenty of food stalls but there hasn’t been and they have been totally inadequate. 
aAs I said in my post earlier only one of the three food vans this year was doing drinks and I had to queue for half an hour to get a cup of tea, not good enough by far.

[stuart]

29 minutes ago, SuzanneH said:

I heartily agree with you Hoges, there wasn’t even an Ice Cream Van…….!

On several occasions re the International Week end in the last few years it has been said there will be plenty of food stalls but there hasn’t been and they have been totally inadequate. 
aAs I said in my post earlier only one of the three food vans this year was doing drinks and I had to queue for half an hour to get a cup of tea, not good enough by far.

There was an Ice cream van on Friday Sue.

Stuart.

[cp25616]

5 hours ago, Paul Hogan said:

  Nothing was planned for the Friday. very little happened on the Saturday and the Sunday was more of the same.  Most people were packing up by midday and heading off home.  The catering offer was pretty poor with just three vendors I think. Why no fish and chip van or curry offering? You see  loads of these different catering people at other events so why not at Shepton? We had them at Stratford.  

I think the reason for this is two fold. First of all I don't think the MT really wanted to offer  us a proper IWE weekend because they had nailed their colours to the MG weekend at Silverstone. It was only  the members who made them rethink things  and so we got a thrown together TR@70.    Secondly, many traders were noticeably absent from Shepton because they had already allocated their marketing budget on going to Silverstone.   

 

Hoges. 

I think you are correct Paul with most of your points. Its about time the MT actually made it an old fashioned International TR weekend rather than having to rely on invitee clubs and all the hassle that involves ie last years make do event at Ambergate due to all three clubs "running scared". That was ridiculous. A semi-ITRWE at Shepton this year was ok but not brilliant. We, as a club are not hard up and if the main event of the year makes a loss then so what, the money is there!

Suzanne a most excellent ice cream van was there but only on the Friday for some reason. So yes MT your report card would read "Lacks true commitment, average to good but must try harder"

Having said that I am genuinely looking forward to Malvern again, very good venue.

Alan G

[SuzanneH]

42 minutes ago, stuart said:

There was an Ice cream van on Friday Sue.

Stuart.

 

36 minutes ago, cp25616 said:

I think you are correct Paul with most of your points. Its about time the MT actually made it an old fashioned International TR weekend rather than having to rely on invitee clubs and all the hassle that involves ie last years make do event at Ambergate due to all three clubs "running scared". That was ridiculous. A semi-ITRWE at Shepton this year was ok but not brilliant. We, as a club are not hard up and if the main event of the year makes a loss then so what, the money is there!

Suzanne a most excellent ice cream van was there but only on the Friday for some reason. So yes MT your report card would read "Lacks true commitment, average to good but must try harder"

Having said that I am genuinely looking forward to Malvern again, very good venue.

Alan G

Thanks, but no good to me as I wasn’t there on the Friday.

I expect he didn’t have enough trade on Friday and didn’t bother to be there on the Saturday, better trade elsewhere.

[Rod1883]

Probably a weather related decision too on the ice cream sellers part - Saturday was not really an ice cream sort of day

[SuzanneH]

1 minute ago, Rod1883 said:

Probably a weather related decision too on the ice cream sellers part - Saturday was not really an ice cream sort of day

It was if you had to queue for half an hour for a cup of tea,  after leaving home at 6 am all you want is some sort of refreshment upon arrival. 
Because we all know each other too, it was difficult to walk a couple of paces without meeting and chatting to friends which causes a very dry throat..

[Rod1883]

Yes, after 3 and 1/4 hrs on the gate welcoming and directing I had a very dry throat too - took one look at the one tea and coffee queue and went to make one back at the tent. There was a specialist coffee vendor advertised on the programme/brochure - I assume they just didn't show up either.

[Drewmotty]

We had nice tea/coffee and quick service in the restaurant. 

[Mick Forey]

47 minutes ago, Rod1883 said:

There was a specialist coffee vendor advertised on the programme/brochure - I assume they just didn't show up either.

Correct. It, the ice cream van (Saturday and Sunday) and a number of other items are on the list of things promised by the showground that did not materialise. We are going to have a wash-up meeting with them and present them with the list. If they want us to come back again in the future then......

We have had some fantastic feedback from people who really enjoyed the weekend and what they liked best. For some that made it over to watch the MCC trial on Saturday it was considered a highlight of the weekend. Sadly many people did not go there, or knew what it was about, so missed out on a treat. Equally we have a list of things that did not go according to plan or did not work as well as they should have. All this goes on the lessons learned checklist for Malvern and Shepton Mallet (if we go back again). We have a lot more recent experience of events at Malvern and know what works well and what does not.

Mick

[ianc]

Restaurant not open Friday or Saturday, so choice for drinks was the burger stall until Sunday.

Despite 4VC's very rapid acceleration and Maddy looking to the left, I found the exit onto the A37 to be pretty hairy, with fast-flowing traffic in both directions (especially from the right, where they were coming down the hill) and very limited visibility.

The weekend was a rather a pale shadow of past IWEs, but meeting so many friends, members whom I had never met before, and - especially - TR enthusiasts from the Continent and Ireland, made it an enjoyable, even if occasionally rather damp experience.

Ian Cornish

[dblenk]

i went to all the Harrogate ones including 1989

happy to go wherever its the main show of the year

David

[Misfit]

In answer to a post above, I can’t say it was a waste of time for me, I enjoyed my self immensely, some might say meeting up with you Paul H alone was worth the entry costs. 

For me Friday is setting up, if camping then getting accustomed to surroundings  mixing with others and having a drink and food in the evening. 

Saturday this year the MCC trial tests, checking out stalls, traders bring and buy, then picking up ordered parts, followed by viewing all the cars in Hall and meeting up with those old faces.  Including forum meeting this year. Perhaps a trip to a local town for some or maybe a drive out or walkabout locally which as far as I’m aware always been arranged wherever we go.

Sunday more of the same and listen to Wayne in the arena before packing up and making your way home. Maybe some left early because they had to travel further. 

Like stated elsewhere where you have losses exceeding 25% of members subscriptions in a single year, as the MT you have to take that into consideration when planning events.  As my old Grandma use to say, have a £1 and spend £0.99 pennies on ecstasy spend £1 and a penny misery, you need to cut you garment  according to your cloth. 

The ice cream on Friday was really good, I had two and There was tea and coffee available free at the the TR stand. 

No it seemed much the same perhaps a little low-key but I wouldn’t want to have missed it.

I was in Harrogate from Devon I had a great time there too.

 

Edited August 19, 2023 by Misfit

[Ian Vincent]

17 hours ago, Mick Forey said:

For some that made it over to watch the MCC trial on Saturday it was considered a highlight of the weekend. Sadly many people did not go there, or knew what it was about, so missed out on a treat.

Mick

I was one of the people who (sadly) missed out on the MCC Trial.  Clearly events like that need to be better advertised / announced.  In the past when I have been to things like County Shows there have been the occasional announcement on the tannoy of  "Such and such event just starting over in the main arena ...etc."  If there was an announcement, I missed it.

Rgds Ian

[ianc]

I've been digging through the notebook in which I record what I have done to, attended and generally enjoyed with 4VC since it went back on the road at the 1993 International at Shepton Mallet.

I see that what I still call the International Weekend) IWE was held as follows:

Shepton Mallet: 93, 96, 97, 98, 23.

Stafford: 94, 95.

Harrogate: 11, 14.

Lincoln: 16, 18.

Stratford on Avon: 19, (20 killed by COVID).

Ambergate: 22 (but not an IWE).

Malvern: 99, 00, 01. 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07 (washed out), 08, 09, 10, 12, 13, 15, 17, 21, 24.

Ian Cornish

 

[Paul Hogan]

I know your log refers to 4VC attendance at IWE but you shouldn't forget the two initial events held at Donington Park Ian. I know the first one wasn't called an IWE back then, in fact it was really only a day trip  but the second one which Alec Pringle and I helped to organise was an international event  as there were a number of cars from the continent on show. If my memory serves me well the winning concours TR2/3 had been involved in a road accident on the way to Donington but it was still head and shoulders above anything else we Brits had on display at the time.  I think that particular car also had a union jack painted under the bonnet  which we all thought was rather neat at the time but it wouldn't cut any ice with the concours people these days.