NEC 2011 by Mash

[Mash]

Hi folks, here are my efforts from the NEC on Sunday, came out a lot better than previous years (I took 315 photos - thank goodness for digital cameras!!). Only saw Dollywobbler from the AS crew but had an ace day and came back loaded with brochures, mags and press photos as usual. Forgot exactly where we parked so spent a little while trying to find a silver Astra in a dark car park full of modern cars...

 

Some you've seen, some maybe not. Cars of the show? Lancia Aprilia, Arna, Renault 12, blue Strada and Boobydoo's Alpine

 

Bikes first:

 

[pompei]

GR9 spots there, Mash! Too hard to pic a fave, but nice to see a Hull reg Saab

[TagoraSX]

Very nice.

 

Were there any Audi's on display?

[michiel]

One of each plz! That mustard Moskvitch is just superb.

[boobydoo]

Excellent pics, Mash. So much better than mine!!

 

I'd forgotten the Austin Atlantic display with the Dinky Toys box. It really was well done.

[DSdriver]

I love the idea of the cars in the Dinky boxes, wonderful presentation. I am a bit baffled by that A35 police van colour scheme - surely not in real life. The Morris Minor police panda cars just had white doors didn't they, not the white up over the roof. And It was good to see one car in the photos that was not in concourse condition - the consul classic.

I will however be resisting the temptation to put old suitcases on the integrated roof rack on my DS Safari just to be scene.

Thanks for all the photos, I will be looking more thoroughly later.

[Skizzer]

Great photos, that's made my morning

 

The winch bumper on the Rancho made me chuckle and I went 'oof' out loud at the brown Gamma, super-early L-plate Allegro, Chrysler Sunbeam, R16 and the yellow Alpine. But as Errol Brown so wisely put it, every one's a WINNAH baby (that's the truth).

[Mash]

I love the idea of the cars in the Dinky boxes, wonderful presentation. I am a bit baffled by that A35 police van colour scheme - surely not in real life. The Morris Minor police panda cars just had white doors didn't they, not the white up over the roof. And It was good to see one car in the photos that was not in concourse condition - the consul classic.

I will however be resisting the temptation to put old suitcases on the integrated roof rack on my DS Safari just to be scene.

Thanks for all the photos, I will be looking more thoroughly later.

 

The A35 van is from Wiltshire Constabulary I seem to remember, they did try this colour scheme briefly in more rural areas for some reason. I'm not sure the Minor Panda was a Met car so may have been authentic - a lot of forces did the blue and white scheme differently.

 

Very nice.

 

Were there any Audi's on display?

 

I didn't see any early ones apart from quattros but I may have missed something in the corner behind the Golf stand.

[dollywobbler]

There was a whole rack of modern-ish Audis in the corner of Hall 6. Can't say I paid them any attention... (same for the modified Vauxhalls sadly - just not my cup of tea).

[Lord Sterling]

Brilliant spots there Mash. Couldnt really make it due to lack of work and therefore cash for petrol and parking prices, I also seemingly lacked any 'bothered' to go to be honest. Seems like I should have made an effort seeing the pics.

[boobydoo]

The Audi stand was a joke. Nothing older than 2001. There's supposed to be a waiting list for clubs to get floor space and they let modern crap like that on.

 

I also thought there were far too many Rover P6's. There must be two separate clubs as I counted 14 cars on two separate stands. 14 cars all virtually the same .... what's the point? This valuable space could have been given to four other clubs to add more variety. I didn't see any 60s Vauxhalls, or Farinas, or Dafs......

 

But 14 friggin P6s. It actually boiled my piss a bit.

[dollywobbler]

Farinas were certainly a notable absence. There are indeed two Rover P6 clubs, and they're not friends.

[RobT]

The Audi stand was a joke. Nothing older than 2001. There's supposed to be a waiting list for clubs to get floor space and they let modern crap like that on.

 

 

That's what I thought. I'm all for modern classics and it's 'what you perceive as a classic etc' but a 2004 A3 was pushing the boundaries somewhat. I'm surprised the NEC let them display.

[Tayne]

The Audi stand was a joke. Nothing older than 2001. There's supposed to be a waiting list for clubs to get floor space and they let modern crap like that on.

 

 

That's what I thought. I'm all for modern classics and it's 'what you perceive as a classic etc' but a 2004 A3 was pushing the boundaries somewhat. I'm surprised the NEC let them display.

 

Ace!

 

I'll see if I can get my '98 A3 (complete with rusty door, peeling lacquer and arseprint on the bonnet) displayed next year.

[trigger]

GR8 photos Mash, I got asked this year if i wanted to display my Kadett at the show by the VBOA, I was tempted but it seemed like a lot of hassle taking time of work, driving up there, staying in a B&B for a few nights and having the worry of someone scratching my car.

 

I kinda wish i had done it though just for the experience.

[CIH]

Alfa Arna (or whatever) actually looks like a tidy little motor. Bet it's not half bad with the Alfa mota. I use to hate those Fiat Stradas back in the day - I thought they were ugly but lol I had no idea oif what was to come so now I reckon they're alright.

[boobydoo]

GR8 photos Mash, I got asked this year if i wanted to display my Kadett at the show by the VBOA, I was tempted but it seemed like a lot of hassle taking time of work, driving up there, staying in a B&B for a few nights and having the worry of someone scratching my car.

 

I kinda wish i had done it though just for the experience.

 

I think your Opel would have been a big hit at the show.

 

99.9% of people are very respectful towards the cars on display...I've done it for three years now and not had a mark put on the cars. One guy did sit in the Alpine this year without asking..... which is just bad manners..... but he was careful.

 

It can be an expensive weekend....I suppose it cost me about £250 including hotel, petrol, meals etc....and by the Sunday it's got a tad tedious, but I suppose the reward is meeting people who are pleased to see cars that bring back nice memories for them.

[Sam Glover]

One of each plz! That mustard Moskvitch is just superb.

 

I think you'll find that's an Izh...

[dollywobbler]

I was going to correct him Sam, but I have real trouble remembering those letters! I'd certainly not seen one before. I was particularly taken by the Mk1 Capri-esque rear lights!

[Cheggers]

One of each plz! That mustard Moskvitch is just superb.

 

I think you'll find that's an Izh...

 

That explains the scratches

 

 

 

 

 

I'll get me coat...

[michiel]

^ ^

 

Izh? Learn something every day! I think the sedans were only sold as 'Scaldia' over here.

[pompei]

If you display a car at the NEC do you get travel/accommodation expenses etc?

[dollywobbler]

If you display a car at the NEC do you get travel/accommodation expenses etc?

 

Depends very much on the club. Generally, the 2CV club doesn't pay travel (unless we've requested a car from Devon like we did for last year's all-Slough line-up) but we do cover accommodation for those helping on the stand. We've tended to hire a self-catering cottage as it's cheaper than hotels...

 

I doubt smaller clubs can afford to cover the costs of those who attend, where as the really big clubs probably cover absolutely everything.

[pompei]

Thanks DW. Do the show organisers not make any contribution? After all, no cars or volunteers = no show. I s'pose it must be like the Classic Car Big Society

 

PS GR9 avatar!

[dollywobbler]

No, the organisers let the clubs display for free. It's up to the clubs to fund themselves. You can tell which clubs have manufacturer support by how fancy the stand is generally!

 

As well as meeting folk with happy memories, or those considering a 2CV, it's a chance for us to sell the club. I can't see the club ever considering not taking part.

 

Thanks on the avatar. I thought it was fitting! (well, until the Rover's sold anyway!)