Who is going to the National?

[Onne]

that is a lot.. think of all the smoke

[Judge]

Trust you Onne

[Onne]

Someone had to say it!

[Kevin]

Alex, the National rally costs are almost the same from year to year

Sorry to disagree Jonathon but thats not quite true as venue hire costs do vary and so does facility hire, and in the case of Breamore House the losses were rather large in the region of £9,000 if I remember correctly so that area wont be chosen for a National again and last years Rally in Scunthorpe also made a loss, which is why central areas are more likely to be used to hopefully draw more members and to keep costs to a realistic level, and if more members attend the traders should also benefit from better sales and turnover.

[rayofleamington]

that is a lot.. think of all the smoke

Don't worry Onne - most of them smoked less than your car, so it wasn't that bad ;-)

The income from the members more than pays for this expense

This was only true for one year - subs were increased £1 to cover the cost of the national rally, and entry was free to members. This may or may not have been successful, but certainly not popular enough to be repeated. If the members felt strongly that it should be done like that permanently, then it would get raised at the AGM and repeated - it didn't.
The costs of a national rally are significant to a small club like the MMOC, and I think they do a fair job to make it interesting.
I've just been on a 'non Minor' international rally and it was more expensive and offered a lot less, was no where near as well organised as the MMOC events. Despite being 4 times the size of the MMOC national rally, there were no road signs, massive queues to get in on Friday (due to poor organisation), no variety of entertainment (music on the saturday but not much else), prizes awarded were to 'best club stand' and nothing for individuals etc... etc...

This certainly gave a reminder to how well run the MMOC events have been - and these are done by unpaid volunteers doing the event with the aim of making it work well, not making a profit. Long may they continue!

[jonathon]

Kevin, I did say almost, I think the organisers might allow a built in inflation and location factor.
Again the Rally did not loose £9000, as it had already been paid for in the subs. What can be said is that the rally did not raise much money. Why do we seem to have to pay back the cost of the rally, its a bizarre thought, and as I said before its like asking everyone to pay for the mag as its cost £85K or whatever.

[Judge]

....., there were no road signs, massive queues to get in on Friday (due to poor organisation), no variety of entertainment (music on the saturday but not much else), prizes awarded were to 'best club stand' and nothing for individuals etc... etc...

.........and 4000 cars turned up?????????????????????? Where is the MMOC going wrong

[jonathon]

Maybe ought to have the National rally in Germany!

[Judge]

I think that you have misunderstood my meaning Jonathon. As a club, we listen to all ideas and suggestions from the membership, and I am therefore asking what we have to do to make our rallies more attractive to the members. I hope this clarifies the situation.

[jonathon]

Note, Bill

[aupickup]

well of course traders are an attraction, as i am sure a few minor owners save up to spend at the national.

what do we want from a national rally

well traders, good entertainment, good food areas these seem to be catered for quite well.

i would say one thing, and that is, a SHOWER place would be first on my list of priorities that i have not seen

venues

well to be honest i think that houses of interest are ok, but once you seen you seen them all in my mind.

i would like somewhere lets say like woburn abbey, the families can then go round and take the kids, not sure if kids like the houses.
so i think we need venues that have more than a house and gardens
this is just my own personal veiw, and o f course i support the rally team as they do a great job

[aupickup]

did not realise that the club had to make a profit from the rallies.

[Innovator]

I would like sunny weather at the National Rally and a non muddy field.............

[jonathon]

seconded

[8009STEVE]

Anybody near the site? If so, can they check it out for soggyness etc.

[dp]

You beat me to the question Steve. I'm about to send an e-mail to my non-camping cousin about how camping in bad weather can actually be an adventure for her boys.

On the other hand though if the cars are going to sink in mud up to the axles - will there the National be called off and will an alert go out here?

I'm going to start another thread now on preparing for camping in bad weather. Not that I'm a pessimist or anything

[dave1949]

Anybody near the site? If so, can they check it out for soggyness etc.

hi steve i'm 15 mins away,will try and check out tomorrow if i can get in? let u know

[RogerRust]

Thursday Friday and Saturday are forcasted as dry so far. So the ground should dry out. Sunday may improve.

"We must weather the weather what ever the weather whether we like it or not"

http://www.metcheck.com/V40/UK/FREE/14days.asp

[crossword]

Friday & Saturday night camping .Two of my brothers will be attending Sat & Sun but planning to stay elsewhere . Hope they can tind somewhereas it's close to Silverstone

[8009STEVE]

Thanks for the reminder. That means that the A43 will be closed past Silverstone. We will now have to find another route.