Event Festival of the Unexceptional on Saturday 14th July 2018

[Ghosty]

As a car change has occurred I'm glad I didn't book in the Prelude.

 

My new car is also 1990 and as a distinctly 90s car launched in 1990 I'm not sure how welcome it might be?

[dollywobbler]

Early nineties stuff will be no problem for the classic parking. I'll ask about the Dacia.

[Mr_Bo11ox]

Spectator tickets for this are seemingly sold out now! FFS.

[dollywobbler]

Spectator tickets for this are seemingly sold out now! FFS.

 

Yeah, a lot of people seem upset about that. Especially as last year, you didn't need a spectator ticket. Word on the street is that they're going to revisit the numbers next week, so I'd keep a close eye on the Facebook event page. I guess the size of the event has been steadily growing, but Stowe House probably has a limit on numbers.

 

Alternatively, there are still classic spots left, so get something choddy on the road!

[RayMK]

I was hoping to attend again this year, having enjoyed the event at Whittlebury Hall and last year at Stowe.  While I understand that there may be administrative reasons for ending the 'free for all' of previous years, I am disappointed that booking for entries is now necessary, including those headed for the general non-concours parking.  True, I could book - it's still free - but I'm more inclined to give it a miss and find somewhere else to go, maybe settling for a visit to fellow AS who are staying locally.  I have developed a dislike for red tape.

[flat4alfa]

There's loads of space for spectator parking!  Last year they had more grass space than cars for that.  Must be politiks.

 

[bramz7]

I've booked in a car I no longer own...oh well! I'll just say it broke down.

[brownnova]

As it's 2 years too new for the classic parking and moderns is sold out does that mean it can't come anyway?

Mine's technically 7 years too new.... but I booked it in anyway. No problems.

[wuvvum]

Aye, I've booked in my 1994 205 with no quibbles.

[flat4alfa]

Spectator tickets for this are seemingly sold out now! FFS.

 

Surely the Pony is going to be booked in the classics section?

[mat_the_cat]

The classics section was fully booked last year, so I went along fully expecting to park in the moderns/spectators car park. Nobody checked any details, and I was just waved straight through into the classics area!

[SierraMikeHotel]

Oh crikey.  Has anyone else had their emails from Tim?
 

It seems that the moped has been accepted into the Concours de l'Ordinaire.  Not expecting it to win anything but it will be a laugh.

 

So... Talbot... can I borrow that trailer?

[gigglepin]

i've not had an email..christine was moaning about cost of getting his fiesta on the road for the event [it's booked in] then he mentioned that the car i won in the roffle [that i'm picking up saturday] the mighty v6 omega has a tow bar..so my suggestion would be that we go up together and i'll tow his fiesta there 

[Tadhg Tiogar]

 

Oh crikey.  Has anyone else had their emails from Tim?

 

It seems that the moped has been accepted into the Concours de l'Ordinaire.  Not expecting it to win anything but it will be a laugh.

 

So... Talbot... can I borrow that trailer?

 

i've not had an email..christine was moaning about cost of getting his fiesta on the road for the event [it's booked in] then he mentioned that the car i won in the roffle [that i'm picking up saturday] the mighty v6 omega has a tow bar..so my suggestion would be that we go up together and i'll tow his fiesta there

 

I'm just after getting the following e-mail:

 

"Modest congratulations are in order!

 

Your unexceptional car has been accepted into Hagerty’s Festival of the Unexceptional, a Concours de l’Ordinaire. Start polishing your vinyl seats and brush the lint off your polyester trousers and join us Saturday 14^th July from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm.  Please can you ensure that you arrive no later than 11:00 am, which is when the judging will commence. The event will close at 3:00 pm after prize giving at 2.00 pm.  

 

In addition to the cars, we are also offering a prize for the most unexceptional picnic that is bought to the event.  We hope to see a decent spread that may include scotch eggs, pickled onions, Curly Wurly bars and some Battenberg Cake!  Finally, don’t forget there is also the Best Dressed prize up for grabs.

 

Food and drink will be available for purchase throughout the duration of the Festival. 

 

Details will be confirmed about two weeks before the event, but do let us know if you have any questions in the meantime.

 

The car details and photos you supplied with your entry will be used in the event program and some pre event publicity, if you would like to update this information or photos please do so by reply to this email

 

Location: Stowe House, Buckingham, Bucks, MK18 5EH ....."

 

Best book the CX into Brodie Engineering now and get all those minor* flaws sorted.

[Angrydicky]

All I'm going to say on the matter, is that Hagerty Insurance are a shower of lying cunts, and I won't ever darken their show again.

[Christine]

i've not had an email..christine was moaning about cost of getting his fiesta on the road for the event [it's booked in] then he mentioned that the car i won in the roffle [that i'm picking up saturday] the mighty v6 omega has a tow bar..so my suggestion would be that we go up together and i'll tow his fiesta there 

Do I ever moan ? 

[gigglepin]

other than about the cost of the tyres.insurance and one one or two other bits...no

[Christine]

4 Tyres £150 , insurance £100ish   Paint £100, Mot £50, Tax  , dunno ?    Forgot the battery ... that'll  be another £50 ...    Engine mounts arrived though   only £6 for 2 

[BorniteIdentity]

All I'm going to say on the matter, is that Hagerty Insurance are a shower of lying cunts, and I won't ever darken their show again.

What happened dude? Obvs saw the thread on FB but wondering if they have made a boo boo here.

[beko1987]

I'm intrigued now... Not seen fb

[Tadhg Tiogar]

I'm intrigued now... Not seen fb

Not on Farcebook (there are better things to waste time on, like AS for instance) but my car is going to bring the Concours into disrepute if it's the last thing I do...

 

 

*evil echoing laughter*

[flat4alfa]

What's all this upset about Hagerty then?

 

I don't know what a FB is.

[rantingYoof]

There are people who are irate because they are only just finding out that they cannot just turn up on the day like last year and need a (free spectator non-shite) ticket to park and get in. I can semi-sympathise with this as I think it could have been made a little clearer, maybe through repeated Facebook posts about it (unless I missed these). But ho-hum, I think the show is having to work around the venue in this instance and its hands are tied, so to speak.

 

Then there are also people who have lost their shit about not being picked for concourse. I'm personally a little less sympathetic on this front because I interpret it as a light-hearted car show for unexceptional nostalgic tat and not seriously anal competition about which car has the most original mirror-adjustment switches (or whatever concourse means [/philistine]) and think the 'concourse' cars that are chosen are generally the best unexceptional examples of a large number which could all probably be concoursed in a different show.

[BorniteIdentity]

the show is having to work around the venue .

I reckon when the tail starts to wag the dog, it’s time to move on.

 

Come to think of it, it’s an unusual venue for such an unexceptional event. It should be held somewhere shit. It’s a shame they demolished the old bus depot in Northampton. What about Mosside or anywhere in Milton Keynes?

[beko1987]

I reckon when the tail starts to wag the dog, it’s time to move on.

 

Come to think of it, it’s an unusual venue for such an unexceptional event. It should be held somewhere shit. It’s a shame they demolished the old bus depot in Northampton. What about Mosside or anywhere in Milton Keynes?

I went to a car boot sale at some bowl place in Milton Keynes once, was frigging huge! I marched quickly around the place as it still took me nearly 2 hours to get round! Would be ace for a car show

[Tadhg Tiogar]

.... it’s an unusual venue for such an unexceptional event. It should be held somewhere shit. ...

Tesco car park, Brent Cross? Or next door's car park that used to be Toys 'R Us?

[Slowsilver]

I reckon when the tail starts to wag the dog, it’s time to move on.

 

Come to think of it, it’s an unusual venue for such an unexceptional event. It should be held somewhere shit. It’s a shame they demolished the old bus depot in Northampton. What about Mosside or anywhere in Milton Keynes?

 

Hagerty is not the dog and Stowe is certainly not the tail. I think it is a superb setting and the irony of loads of old chod in a venue where you would expect to see supercars is an added bonus.

Hagerty have done well to get permission to use this place for ths purpose and, after its previous popularity, I am not surprised that Stowe have imposed some restrictions.

The necessity to apply for (free) tickets for the public parking was made clear at the outset and was the first thing I noticed when applying this year.

I think too many people just assumed it would be the same as last year and didn't bother to check the conditions.

Frankly I am really disappointed to see the amount of whingeing on here about this event.

A free show in a great location, and people still complain. All events need some rules and the more popular they get the more of a logistical nightmare they become. I am glad I am not one of the Hagerty people who are trying to organise this.

Milton Keynes Bowl is certainly a large venue, and has previously been used for big events, such as concerts and classic car shows, but is now not a particularly nice place to be and only seems to hold grotty car auctions and boot sales.

Thank god Northampton Bus Station has gone. I can't think of a more depressing place to be.

[Tadhg Tiogar]

....A free show in a great location, and people still complain. All events need some rules and the more popular they get the more of a logistical nightmare they become.....

See also Harpenden's annual Classics On The Common which has evolved into a proper nightmare.

[mat_the_cat]

Come to think of it, it’s an unusual venue for such an unexceptional event.

 

I take your point, but I quite liked seeing the contrast between the mundane cars and the surroundings!

[Mr_Bo11ox]

I see the grand total of spectator tickets available for this event is an Ed Sheeran-rivalling 200!!!! yes 200. I think thats car passes rather than people numbers. What a fucking palaver, I was well up for this, but its just not happening now. How were the tickets even sold? Theres was nowt on the facebook page about it, except to say that they were all gone now.