Festival of the Unexceptional first-timer

[The Vicar]

Evening all,

FOTU has always interested me but I've never been able to attend, mainly because getting there and back to Ireland in one day is a huge faff. This summer however I'll be working in the in Crewe and so want to make the effort to attend. 

I'm not 100% sure I'll be able to attend however (work commitments) and I won't know until much closer to the date, so my question is: would I be leaving it too late if I were to buy a ticket around the beginning of July? Or should I just buy one now and take the potential loss should I not be able to attend?

Thanks!

[wesacosa]

Hi. They usually sell out quickly, especially for a classic/unexecptional car so wouldn't leave it too late.  Could always sell the ticket if you cant make it as last year there were plenty who missed out and looked to buy one

that said the price has gone up an awful lot over last few years so I guess it may be a slight chance it doesn't sell out, but I'd be surprised 

[Matty]

  On 11/02/2024 at 19:21, The Vicar said:

Evening all,

FOTU has always interested me but I've never been able to attend, mainly because getting there and back to Ireland in one day is a huge faff. This summer however I'll be working in the in Crewe and so want to make the effort to attend. 

I'm not 100% sure I'll be able to attend however (work commitments) and I won't know until much closer to the date, so my question is: would I be leaving it too late if I were to buy a ticket around the beginning of July? Or should I just buy one now and take the potential loss should I not be able to attend?

Thanks!

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Go for it. As @wesacosa said, if for whatever reason you can't attend, you won't struggle to sell the ticket. Well jell. Bet its a mint day out

[The Vicar]

Last year I was in Wales for two months, again for work, and brought this over, which was great fun, but I don't think I'll be able to this year so will just go with a normal car ticket.

Cheers chaps for the advice, will get a ticket bought tomorrow I think. 

[JJ0063]

I went once with my old E30, haven’t bothered again.

It was OK, nice selection of cars, too many exceptional cars though IMO.

Also got a bit boring having to dodge the million wannabe YouTubers/bloggers filming and thinking they’re influencer famous…

[SEATMad]

I'll also be a first timer this year and I'm very much looking forward to it, I'm taking my Ibiza this year. Hoping there'll be more than just me in a Mk1 Ibiza so I can make a friend 😂. 

To anyone who has been before, what's the crack with the concourse? I'm thinking of applying to get a concourse spot however its not 100% perfect. I'd say its around 90%. What do they look for? 

[Schaefft]

Concours really is for cars that are close to factory fresh against all the odds, with there only being space for a relatively small number of cars it really needs to be special.

In general tickets do sell out but theres always a chance of someone having to sell theirs on relatively short notice.

[coachie]

The car should be presentable, but it does not need to be perfect by any means. 

Back in 2022, there was a totally mint red Ford Ka that the  boys even spent hours on the day polishing, detailing , tyre shine etc and put mirrors on the grass so you could see the underside.  I believe it may have been trailered there too.

(Could have been another car, my memory is not great)

 

I think you stand more chance of winning with a good, heartwarming back story to the car, so get writing  if you have only recently bought a deceased spec octagenarian shopping trolley like I did.

 

Despite that,  I still managed to smuggle a Porsche badged (engineered) car onto the FoTU lawn!

 

[Dick Cheeseburger]

I need to go one day. 2017 looked a particularly good vintage. 

[wesacosa]

No harm in applying for the concourse @SEATMadif your car is nice, original and rare even if its not concourse in the traditional sense. At worst you will get a rejection and can buy a normal ticket at a discounted rate

[mat_the_cat]

  On 11/02/2024 at 21:20, Dick Longbridge said:

I need to go one day. 2017 looked a particularly good vintage. 

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That was the year of the Hyundai Stellar! Completely by chance an unplanned, I spotted another on the end of a row when I arrived so parked next to it. Then @RayMK did the same!

[quicksilver]

  On 11/02/2024 at 22:15, mat_the_cat said:

That was the year of the Hyundai Stellar! Completely by chance an unplanned, I spotted another on the end of a row when I arrived so parked next to it. Then @RayMK did the same!

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That was a memorable moment when you arrived behind that TR7. Everyone thought the V8 burble was coming from that, then it drove away and they could still hear it. Cue much confusion.

[Dick Cheeseburger]

  On 11/02/2024 at 22:15, mat_the_cat said:

That was the year of the Hyundai Stellar! Completely by chance an unplanned, I spotted another on the end of a row when I arrived so parked next to it. Then @RayMK did the same!

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I bet you were chuffed to bits!

Which one is @RayMKs Stellar? I didn't realise there was another on the forum. 

That must be a fair % of the UKs roadworthy Stellars parked there, surely?! 

[wuvvum]

Was that the year when some woman turned up in a Ferrari 328 and then left in a huff because nobody was looking at it?

[RayMK]

  On 11/02/2024 at 22:35, Dick Longbridge said:

I bet you were chuffed to bits!

Which one is @RayMKs Stellar? I didn't realise there was another on the forum. 

That must be a fair % of the UKs roadworthy Stellars parked there, surely?! 

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E591BRM was mine.  It passed through three other forum members after I relinquished ownership later that year.  It has not resurfaced for a few years now so its rusty bits will probably make it beyond saving if it is not owned by an enthusiast who can keep up with the welding.  I enjoyed my 7 years with it but the engine in my previous Stellar (D401MTM) was much nicer during its 101K miles with me. 

[beko1987]

I'm going this year, as a spectator though and with my dad so will be in his modern. 

[Dobloseven]

Was wondering about taking the Renault 25.Its always clashed with our annual family get together in Wales,but we're having it a week later this year so could be a possibility.Only in Leicester so not a huge trek.

[BorniteIdentity]

@The Vicar - I would get a ticket now personally.  They will always exchange hands nearer the time if it turns out that you can't go.  The other thing to do is see if you can cadge a lift with another visitor to the show.  

It's a decent day out.  I really liked it back in 2016 when it was in Northants (Whittlebury) and just a low-key, chilled out thing.  It was unrecognisable from the queues and hoards of people it now attracts.  

I would encourage anyone to go if they've got something 70s-90s.  It's a nice crowd and your addition will always be welcomed by someone.  

[alcyonecorporation]

  On 11/02/2024 at 22:46, RayMK said:

E591BRM was mine.  It passed through three other forum members after I relinquished ownership later that year.  It has not resurfaced for a few years now so its rusty bits will probably make it beyond saving if it is not owned by an enthusiast who can keep up with the welding.  I enjoyed my 7 years with it but the engine in my previous Stellar (D401MTM) was much nicer during its 101K miles with me. 

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Hey, I enjoyed my time with it. 

[I nearly demolished a structure at RAF Upwood with it, mind you]. 

 

[catsinthewelder]

It's a cracking day out, due to an FTP last year I ended up meeting a few of the organisers and they were lovely.

I would recommend taking food with you as there generally aren't enough catering vans.  Queues have been a problem the last few years but will hopefully be solved to some extent this year as the gates are opening much earlier.

[LoftyvRS]

  On 11/02/2024 at 22:45, wuvvum said:

Was that the year when some woman turned up in a Ferrari 328 and then left in a huff because nobody was looking at it?

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I'm sure that was 2017 yes. 

That was a lovely location for the event as well, beautiful part of the world and the grounds were stunning also.

[wesacosa]

  On 11/02/2024 at 22:46, RayMK said:

E591BRM was mine.  It passed through three other forum members after I relinquished ownership later that year.  It has not resurfaced for a few years now so its rusty bits will probably make it beyond saving if it is not owned by an enthusiast who can keep up with the welding.  I enjoyed my 7 years with it but the engine in my previous Stellar (D401MTM) was much nicer during its 101K miles with me. 

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was that the Gold Medal special edition? It was last up for sale between lockdown 1 and 2 I think, I really fancied it but Fife to SE London in COVID times wasn't really feasible 

[RayMK]

  On 12/02/2024 at 11:55, wesacosa said:

was that the Gold Medal special edition? It was last up for sale between lockdown 1 and 2 I think, I really fancied it but Fife to SE London in COVID times wasn't really feasible 

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Yes, although someone had removed the replica gold medal/coin sized embellishment which Hyundai stuck on the dashboard.  Apart from that, 'special alloys' and some external graphics it was just a GSL.  

I did consider going to the FOTU this year but my '94 Tipo has been stuck in a garage since its FTP last July and has so far defeated attempts to diagnose the problem. Its future is looking uncertain.  I'm not going to attempt a long journey in my Reliant either.  The car might manage it but I'm not sure I would!

[Dick Cheeseburger]

  On 12/02/2024 at 11:55, wesacosa said:

was that the Gold Medal special edition? It was last up for sale between lockdown 1 and 2 I think, I really fancied it but Fife to SE London in COVID times wasn't really feasible 

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  On 12/02/2024 at 12:08, RayMK said:

Yes, although someone had removed the replica gold medal/coin sized embellishment which Hyundai stuck on the dashboard.  Apart from that, 'special alloys' and some external graphics it was just a GSL.  

I did consider going to the FOTU this year but my '94 Tipo has been stuck in a garage since its FTP last July and has so far defeated attempts to diagnose the problem. Its future is looking uncertain.  I'm not going to attempt a long journey in my Reliant either.  The car might manage it but I'm not sure I would!

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I think this was @alcyonecorporation's heads up for it a while back. Shame if it's not survived.

 

[alcyonecorporation]

@alcyonecorporation and 'BlacktopMagazin' are the same person, yes. 

Note to the internet: not wanting a banger racer to banger race a car is not 'racist'. 

[SEATMad]

  On 11/02/2024 at 22:09, wesacosa said:

No harm in applying for the concourse @SEATMadif your car is nice, original and rare even if its not concourse in the traditional sense. At worst you will get a rejection and can buy a normal ticket at a discounted rate

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Yeah that's my thinking, give it a bash and see where I end up!

[The Vicar]

Decided to invite my dad along to this in the end. Ferry Dublin to Holyhead for him, two hours to me in Crewe, spend the night, and then another two hours to the show the following morning. 

Regular car ticket but something half interesting at least, a 180k mile Boxster S:

[sierraman]

I’d love to go to this but is it full of bearded wankers walking about giving a running commentary of ‘facts’ to a go-pro? 

[Erebus]

  On 14/02/2024 at 19:00, sierraman said:

I’d love to go to this but is it full of bearded wankers walking about giving a running commentary of ‘facts’ to a go-pro? 

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No, they don't all have beards!

Seriously though, I've not noticed anything like that

[beko1987]

  On 14/02/2024 at 19:00, sierraman said:

I’d love to go to this but is it full of bearded wankers walking about giving a running commentary of ‘facts’ to a go-pro? 

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I'll probably still have a beard by then, yea. Won't have a go pro though