Who is going to the National?

[Kevin]

Well 500+ and a good turnout will be 800+ although at Blenheim Palace for the 50th if I remember they lost count after 1500.
Unfortunatly there is not really an expected number as many just go on the day like most Rallies but the more the merrier as the club could do without another Breamore House held a couple of years ago in the New Forest as due to costs and lack of support (around 500 cars) it made a huge loss.

[bigginger]

Fantastic rally though

[aupickup]

must admit i enjoyed braemore house emmensley, thought it was one of the best.
and its in the south west, nice run for me
no M25 yippe

knebworth another good one.

donnington well enough said

[simmitc]

Now here's a problem: I agree that Breamore was easily the best of the more recent rallies, but it made a loss. I fully understand why the National is now pitched in the Midlands, but am already bored with the idea - only a few miles between this year and next. SOoooooo....... Do we all want to go to other places, but stamp up a bit more money for the privilege? More importantly, the NR team work hard and do a fantastic job, but really do need more help - who is willing to put themselves forward to help the club?

[JimK]

We're going, not sure which car. We'll be there both days and we're camping.

[Judge]

Now here's a problem: I agree that Breamore was easily the best of the more recent rallies, but it made a loss. I fully understand why the National is now pitched in the Midlands, but am already bored with the idea - only a few miles between this year and next. SOoooooo....... Do we all want to go to other places, but stamp up a bit more money for the privilege? More importantly, the NR team work hard and do a fantastic job, but really do need more help - who is willing to put themselves forward to help the club?

I think this really hits the nail fairly and firmly on the head.

[Judge]

Well 500+ and a good turnout will be 800+ although at Blenheim Palace for the 50th if I remember they lost count after 1500.
Unfortunatly there is not really an expected number as many just go on the day like most Rallies but the more the merrier as the club could do without another Breamore House held a couple of years ago in the New Forest as due to costs and lack of support (around 500 cars) it made a huge loss.

500 cars represents approximately 4% of the membership
800 cars represents approximately 6.5% of the membership

[philo]

we're coming from switzerland for saturday/sunday...in two hours we're starting with our minor 1000 traveller from switzerland and i hope we will be there in a week ;-)
best regards from sunny switzerland...

[Judge]

Well done that man. Puts comments like it's too far North, South, East, or West into perspective doesn't it

(exits stage left, running all the way )

[jonathon]

Simon, whilst I'm sure that the N.Rally organisers would appreciate more help, I do not see that this relates to attendance or location of a rally.
I believe the move to a central location is fundamental in making the Rally more accessable to more people, and do we really need to move it to all corners of the Kingdom.
I know that the distances required to attend a National of old, was and in some cases is, the reason that so few traders take part. Add in the cost of the rally, transport, accomodation and lost earnings in the days surrounding the rally and it becomes obvious that many traders will not even cover costs , even is they did good business over the days of the event.
The other issue about attendance as Bill vividly posts might reflect a general disinterest in what the Nationals have to offer, and might be a que to re think the format a little.Or is just the average take up on this sort of event. Comparisons with other marques would be interesting.
I beg to differ in the thinking that a National can loose money. Our subs,and income earned by the club amount to about £240,000 a year ( No I'm not being completely accurate but in 'near to' figures). Now to my mind part of these subs, pay in full for the National, so really when you say its run at a loss , you really mean that you have not recouped the cost, if so , what's the problem we have already paid for it. Its rather like asking the members to pay for the magazine, which is by far the major financial expence. Yet you do not say that the magazine runs at a loss. In effect a National could be free because in effect the club already has the money for it, up front. If the income one year falls short, then, I'm sure that the 'savings' that MMOC LTD have, could be used to cover the shortfall, or just simply do not put by the 8-10% of income, into a savings account and spend this as it would be a far greater sum than the National will cost (8-10% of £240K, 24K).

[Judge]

....... might reflect a general disinterest in what the Nationals have to offer

Good point, so what would you, and any other members like to see. I have previously suggested combining with other larger more varied shows in a similar way to the Southern Regional/White Horse Show. This not only gives those with no particular interest in cars something else to see, it also shows our cars to a wider, non Minor oriented, audience, perhaps even increasing the possibility of new members. What's the general concensous on this idea?

[alex_holden]

Jonathon, the difference is that everyone who pays their subs gets the magazine, but not every member is able to make it to the national show. If I was attending the national (hopefully next year) I would expect to pay a reasonable entry fee that covers the cost of running it without making a large profit or loss.

As for location, Kelmarsh looks sensible if your aim is for it to be in the centre of England rather than the centre of Britain.

[jonathon]

Alex, The National is already paid for, so there is no need to charge for admission. If you are unable or wish not to attend the National, the club does not suffer financially. I presume you are saying that those attending should bail out the costs because they have attended, and those who do not attend could ask for a refund. This argument would then apply to every aspect of the club, for instance ,how much does the website and messageboard cost, and if you do not take part in it ,should you get a refund, or should the club ask the members of the messageboard and website visitors to pay an additional premium on the subs to use this service.
I was under the impression that this was the MMOC as in 'club', but now as its a company, has the emphasis changed, from a service based organisation to a profit making one. I have been on the board of lots of 'clubs' where the income(subs) were only intended to cover costs and not make a profit, if for some reason the 'club 'made a profit then this was either carried over into the next financial year and the subs reduced accordingly, or every member went out for a meal to consume the excess.
Bill, I believe that the most important aspect to concentrate on are, the local branches and branch rallies, as this is the 'frontline' and first point of contact for many new or potential minor owners. This can also be said of the website.

[alex_holden]

I'm saying the rally should be paid for by those who attend it and the organisers should aim to break even or make a small profit that can be carried over to help fund next year's national. If a national fails to recoup its costs and has to be bailed out by central club funds, then some hard questions need to be answered as to what went wrong and how to prevent it happening again in the future.

[Judge]

Bill, I believe that the most important aspect to concentrate on are, the local branches and branch rallies, as this is the 'frontline' and first point of contact for many new or potential minor owners. This can also be said of the website.

As a committee member of the Oxon & Berks Branch I am already involved in the branch and branch rally, hence my comments about the Southern Regional. Equally I do not think I need to add more to the comments I have already made about the importance of the website, and this matter is, as you are aware, in hand.

However your comments refered to the possible disinterest in what the Nationals have to offer, hence my question.

[jonathon]

Alex, the National rally costs are almost the same from year to year. The income from the members more than pays for this expense, so why do you feel that it needs to be paid for again by those who attend. If you take your argument further so that the cost of the rally is met by attendies then you will no longer have a National. The whole idea in my opinion is that we all pay a small amount each, which funds the rally, very similar to your tax which pays for hospitals and education whether you use it or not.

[dunketh]

Where's the 'No, I cant afford the petrol' or the 'No, my wife's already made plans and I daren't cross her' options?

(mines option one sadly, I'm sure the misses would love it)

[Judge]

I suppose there's about 12,000 reasons why not, when you think about it

[chickenjohn]

The East Kent branch are talking about going en masse to the national next year- 60th anniversary of the Minor and all! and we may make a holiday of it if the area they hold the national in next year is good.

[Judge]

All joking aside, during last weekends website rally, Ray told me that about 4000 cars attended this years Trabbi Trefen in East Germany.