What do you want at the national next year?

Post by **pgc520** » Sat Aug 04, 2007 10:05 pm

All, many thanks for the constructive points that you have raised, I am in the process of drafting a reply to cover the issues that you have identified. My reply needs to be agreed by the committee before posting, which I am hoping do do in the next few weeks.

What I can assure you is that I have already written to the RAF about the Lancaster etc and waiting for a reply if they will fly over on one of the two days. This communication was started back in Feb 07. We have also been in contact with the B17 crew at Duxford and are looking if that is possible but lots of monies are involved for this!

The other areas of entertainment and ring events will be notified at the AGM. All I will say is that we are trying to find someting for everyone to do across all age groups.

Andrew
National Rally Team leader.

Post by **jonathon** » Sat Aug 04, 2007 10:15 pm

Good luck Andrew and thanks for the update. Looking forward to next year

Post by **wibble_puppy** » Sat Aug 04, 2007 10:15 pm

nice one andrew! thanks for joining in this conversation and whetting our appetites for next year's National - I'm really looking forward to it

Post by **aupickup** » Sun Aug 05, 2007 11:39 am

everyday use
brooklands
national
FOT eastbourne
hooe classic car show
dorset steam fair
various southern group rallies
fetes

we generally critising the lack of amenities at the shows, and not just the last one
there have been many without proper amenities, ie showers etc, and even when there were no FLOODS
we need interest at these shows, to keep the members coming, especially new ones, i feel this is not happening at these rallies in the last few years
i attend smaller rallies throughout the year, and there is something for everyone to do.
why do we have to have rallies at these large houses, where generally all there is is a house to visit.
why cant we try somewhere different, where there are other attractions within the places of interest

Post by **Judge** » Sun Aug 05, 2007 11:52 am

Have you booked into our Southern Regional Rally, which covers most of what has been requested on here, and has something for everyone to do?

Post by **aupickup** » Sun Aug 05, 2007 11:54 am

i am attending another classic show at that time

Post by **Judge** » Sun Aug 05, 2007 11:59 am

Which one's that? Ours might have more of what you are asking for. There's still time to book, and you have two days to choose from. Why not attend both?

Post by **Judge** » Sun Aug 05, 2007 12:22 pm

Silly me

it must be the LCV Midlands event on the 26th. But why not camp over at the Southern on the Sunday night, and then you've got all Monday to enjoy the show. We would be pleased to see you

I'll even buy you a beer

Post by **aupickup** » Sun Aug 05, 2007 1:10 pm

hmm wish i could but the one i go to is fairly local, it is a steam engine event, i go every year.
but will try the southern next year if it doesnt clash
it is unfortunate that i live right on the south coast really.
i really do not enjoy the M25, and most of the time with the club events it does mean going on there
coming up this year to the national we were stuck on it for 3 hours !!!!
just wish there were more mmoc events this side of the M25 or south west, bristol, birmingham etc for examples
the midlands is not good for us southerners

Post by **Lou** » Sun Aug 05, 2007 4:49 pm

Sorry, Bill, didn't mean to offend. Was more referring to the number of Minors at the AGM. Speaking of moggies, Victoria's becoming rather attached to the little ones here...

Post by **Judge** » Mon Aug 06, 2007 8:31 am

No offence taken Lou

In my personal opinion one of the best ways to achieve the Club's aim to 'Promote the Preservation and use of the Postwar Morris Minor' is to use it, and be seen to be using it

Post by **IaininTenbury** » Tue Aug 07, 2007 12:08 am

Hi folks,
Just discovered this thread, and thought I'd pile in...

Having been to every National since 1989, I've had a fair few experiences.
Personal favorites - Knebworth always good. Billing (having a rally on a proper campsite seemed a pretty good idea: No complaints about the loos that year!). Sandringham (Combining the event with another rally on the same site seemed to work well. Added a fair bit of interest anyway). Hawkstone Park (I know there wasnt enough room, but a nice atmosphere and surroundings Proper loos too!)

I like the idea of a road run, say on the Sat aft. It worked very well at the 2003 Avoncroft LCV do. (Another cracking venue, sadly not big enough for a National).

Layout on site: Branch Avenue seemed way out on the periphery. As branches are supposed to be the heart of the MMOC this should be a central feature, say between the autojumble and the camping area this year so everyone goes past? Concours, likewise seemed away from it all. Consequently I got to see neither very much, though being tied to a stall these days restricts the walking about looking time...

Activities: I didnt notice any branch challenges this year, though again I could have missed it. Probably the best ever was the soapbox racing at Donnington - certainly got people motivated to enter. I also enjoyed the blindfolded driving challenge at Billing, not just because I came 2nd, but it involved the cars.

On the technical side, I was touched to get a mention early in this thread:

[quote="jon1739"]
The workshop idea is a great one, there were people like Fairmile at the show who make panels, perhaps a demo at certain times during the day, as well as other practical demos from the other traders in attendance

I'd be happy to do some sort of panel making, repairing restoring display and could bring along a rusty Minor (wouldnt be the first time, but I mean one to show various repairs and demonstrations on, not my daily runner)!
I've done similar at the Cumbria Steam Fair, building up a pickup rear body over the weekend one year.

I like the idea, of a mobile Crypton tuning guy / drive in clinic. There must be someone in the club who can do this.

With regards to 'non Minor' entertainments, such as bouncy castles, falconry etc., this is heading towards organising a general rally/show. If we combined a large site with another rally such as Sandringham, all this would be laid on. Even hovercraft rides on that weekend. Though I agree we do need some light relief from Minors if we're on our own.

A camping observation. Anyone noticed the increasing prevalence of more large caravans and campers? These events used to be a sea of tents with the 'odd' small caravan being a Minor. (At Hawkstone, the camping was so tight, we pitched the tent by tying the ropes to the next two tents and so on down the line..). Are we getting soft? Wealthy? or just making provision for the expected dodgy loos.

I hadn't heard that more loos and showers had been booked this year and never turned up. Explains a lot. Someone must have been taking the p....Sorry!

Post by **dunketh** » Tue Aug 07, 2007 2:27 pm

I'd be happy to do some sort of panel making, repairing restoring display and could bring along a rusty Minor (wouldnt be the first time, but I mean one to show various repairs and demonstrations on, not my daily runner)!

Save yourself the bother - I'll 'volunteer' my Minor to anyone on the day who feels like improving it for demonstration purposes.

Trust me, I won't be offended should you wish to repair any rust, fit a bigger engine, re-trim it..... etc.....

Anyone noticed the increasing prevalence of more large caravans and campers? These events used to be a sea of tents with the 'odd' small caravan being a Minor.

I don't like big vans but they're surely a necessary evil for those who are maybe a little less 'hardy' than others.

Any idea where next years Rally is being held yet? Is there a shortlist?

Post by **HarryMango** » Tue Aug 07, 2007 7:53 pm

dunketh wrote:Any idea where next years Rally is being held yet? Is there a shortlist?

Have you been on the planet Zog ?

2008 - 60th anniversary Rally is at Stanford Hall in glorious Leicestershire.

Rog

Post by **aupickup** » Tue Aug 07, 2007 9:22 pm

well of course went without saying it would be beyond the M25

Post by **IaininTenbury** » Tue Aug 07, 2007 10:47 pm

dunketh wrote:
I'd be happy to do some sort of panel making, repairing restoring display and could bring along a rusty Minor (wouldnt be the first time, but I mean one to show various repairs and demonstrations on, not my daily runner)!
Save yourself the bother - I'll 'volunteer' my Minor to anyone on the day who feels like improving it for demonstration purposes.

Trust me, I won't be offended should you wish to repair any rust, fit a bigger engine, re-trim it..... etc.....

Somehow, I feel a queue may be forming here!

Think I might be able to find a needy candidate myself, being a sucker for saving basket cases. Just got to look round in the back of the shed...

I don't like big vans but they're surely a necessary evil for those who are maybe a little less 'hardy' than others.

Yeah, I cant criticise. Must be getting soft. In a tent at Breamore, a small camper at Normanby and finally a caravan this year. Next year? Might even have running water and the gas lights restored and working!
A long way from an early Harewood National when I forgot the tent pegs for the old ridge tent and had to improvise with twigs, a nearby tree, and the towbar on the minor to keep it up. Now that was camping!

Post by **dunketh** » Wed Aug 08, 2007 10:33 am

Have you been on the planet Zog ?

2008 - 60th anniversary Rally is at Stanford Hall in glorious Leicestershire.

Im the one on the left.

Stanford Hall looks good, lots of stuff to see. 200 mile trip to get there but then thats nothing compared to what folk from Scotland and the south west will have to do!

Post by **Welung666** » Wed Aug 08, 2007 11:19 am

dunketh wrote:thats nothing compared to what folk from Scotland and the south west will have to do!

Or what the usual collective of Dutch & other europeans do every year to attend the national.

Post by **chickenjohn** » Wed Aug 08, 2007 11:40 am

IaininTenbury wrote:-snip-
jon1739 wrote: The workshop idea is a great one, there were people like Fairmile at the show who make panels, perhaps a demo at certain times during the day, as well as other practical demos from the other traders in attendance

I'd be happy to do some sort of panel making, repairing restoring display and could bring along a rusty Minor (wouldnt be the first time, but I mean one to show various repairs and demonstrations on, not my daily runner)!
I've done similar at the Cumbria Steam Fair, building up a pickup rear body over the weekend one year.

-snip-:)

This is a fantastic idea! I for one would spend as much time over the weekend watching you and (if allowed, health and safety etc) having a go/ helping/ myself. I've been on a resto course for two years now and am very keen to learn more from a skilled professional! I think that anything that educates the amateur restorer as to the proper way of body restoration has to be a great idea.

Post by **IaininTenbury** » Sat Aug 11, 2007 7:37 pm

Thats great, might be worth doing something then. The pickup rear body build was all done with a cordless drill and self tappers as no power or welding was possible then, (When I got back i just replaced the self tappers with weld, and painted it), but it made a good demo and got loads of interest.

Btw, which resto course are you doing? That was how I got into doing it full time....