National Rally 2007 - how it went...

[chickenjohn]

Anyone got any nice suggestions as to how we could organise it so we could actually meet ppl without walking up to complete strangers and saying "hi i'm steve4063 who are you?"

-snip-.

Next year if we make it to the National (I'd like to!) I will likely be in the East Kent club area and have a toy chicken left on the bonnet of the car as identification. Or is that idea just too fowl?

[Kevin]

Shame they dont do a '12k daily driver' concours or maybe an 'un-concourse' for those of us who only wash the car when the lights can't be seen under a film of flies and mud...

Sounds like you would be in for a prize at the `Chertsey Concours` competition.

[Judge]

[Lou]

It's fast approaching (Monday August 13th) - start not polishing your cars now!

[myminor1969]

The 1st national I attended was in 1993 at Harewood House. Over the years it seems that the rally becomes smaller, less enterants, less traders. We even had live bands playing on the Saturday evening. Are people not supporting the National now as much as they used to? Is there perhaps less things to entice people to attend. I have always found everyone friendly and spoke to quite a few 1st timers this year.

[theminorsite]

The 1st national I attended was in 1993 at Harewood House. Over the years it seems that the rally becomes smaller, less enterants, less traders. We even had live bands playing on the Saturday evening. Are people not supporting the National now as much as they used to? Is there perhaps less things to entice people to attend. I have always found everyone friendly and spoke to quite a few 1st timers this year.

My first was 5 years after you, and yes I too have noticed smaller numbers over those years. I genuinely think (which means I'm probably wrong ) that the poor facilities have a lot to do with that - theres people from my local branch who vowed never to come again after the loo fiasco at Donington (a single tap in the [unlit] loo block for ALL the male campers).

[wibble_puppy]

I have always found everyone friendly

Yeah, that's the great thing about the rallies isn't it

[Jay-Minor]

I'm pleased to see the pics of our panda cars came out well Jay! I'm just about to download my photos, I'll put a link on here soon ish.

Dad and I went on the Sunday and had a lovely day, though I do agree with the points about the toilets - they were pretty unpleasant! My other comment would be about the distance from the hall itself... the last couple of years it's been quite a trek to get to the hall and this year we didn't have time to get there. Any reason why the cars are put in a remote field instead of somewhere more prominent? I'm sure general visitors to the hall would have come for a look if we'd been closer, instead of just the MMOC people wandering round.

hi lynda glad you liked them, i looked at your too and they are good.

whilst i'm here i would also like to point out that there seems to be a lot of negitive feedback ref the national, as it was my 1st and for my input i would like to say that yes the loos were bad but apart from that it was a great event and well done to all those who took the time and effort in putting it on, a lot of hard work must have gone into it to make it the event it was, going back to the loos, they were better on sunday morning.
the only other comment would be, it would have been nice to have showers as you always feel grubby when camping, but hey perhaps the organizers can learn from this thread and hopefully next year when i turn up it will be even better. i for one really enjoyed it and "I WILL BE BACK" as Arnie would say.

[jon1739]

This was my first National in a good few years and only managed the Saturday due to work commitments but was very impressed with the number of cars on show. Thought it was a shame so many parked theirs with their tents/caravans but I suppose it kept me fit wandering all round the field! I did think the facilities were a little limited and was dissapointed that there was only one food outlet, always nice to have a choice and most shows I attend, even the ones smaller than this have at least two to chose from.
It was great to meet so many readers and I took around 300 photos, many of which will go in the next issue of Minor Monthly as I have allocated 5-pages to this prestigious show.
My head is still a little tender, note to self, must remember sun hat or cream next time!

[Kevin]

This was my first National in a good few yea

New ID then Jon what happened to your old one.

[theminorsite]

This was my first National in a good few yea

New ID then Jon what happened to your old one.

I think he got a sunburned head on Saturday - could have affected his memory

[Judge]

[aupickup]

i would not accept for one moment that the facilities were adequate, they were not.
no showers again so organisers please take note, we are in 2007 not 1907.

i do feel the rallies are falling off a bit from a members point of veiw.

that is not to say that the organisers did not do a bad job, they did a good job, but perhaps a bit more thought could have gone into it.

as for helping to organise , well as i live generally 200 plus miles from most if not all the rallies lately then this is not viable for me, so sorry about that.

if they were closer to london i would certainly help out.

maybe the venues are getting a bit samish for some members, i dont know.
they are for me, i wpould like to see a rally where there is a bit more to do than just visit an old house.

perhaps places like buelieu, longleat, norfolk broads maybe, at least would be more to do for the more family orientated.
maybe a place where there is a steam rally as well going on
just a few suggestions there

again i would still like to say good job done by organisers who must find it a difficult task

and again i for one will not be attending any more rallies based on this and previous few years.

[dp]

I have no cpmplaints about the Rally; it was my first so can't compare to previous ones. I get the impression the volunteers did a lot of work to make this happen. I was poking around the skip by the entrance (come on we all do it!:) and the lady at the entrance said I could help myself to any bits that I could use. Not understanding, it was explained that one of the big white tents had been ripped apart by the wind the previous day (Thursday). Hence all the metal poles and white tarp material

Anyhow it was nice to put names to faces - I wish I could have hung round a bit more but family commitmentss and a sneaky non-website camper kept me up the other end.

Bargain of the rally for me (which I resisted so they may still be out there!) was a pair of 4" widened rear arches for a tenner. One had a teardrop tail light still fitted. I saw them on the first day and was convinced they would be gone in half an hour but as I was taking apart my tent on Sunday, I could still see them across the field.

[theminorsite]

i would not accept for one moment that the facilities were adequate, they were not.
no showers again so organisers please take note, we are in 2007 not 1907.

More annoying was that we were promised showers beforehand!

i do feel the rallies are falling off a bit from a members point of veiw.

that is not to say that the organisers did not do a bad job, they did a good job, but perhaps a bit more thought could have gone into it.

I get the idea it wasn't more thought that they needed, it was approval to spend more money

as for helping to organise , well as i live generally 200 plus miles from most if not all the rallies lately then this is not viable for me, so sorry about that.

if they were closer to london i would certainly help out.

maybe the venues are getting a bit samish for some members, i dont know.
they are for me, i wpould like to see a rally where there is a bit more to do than just visit an old house.

I imagine the policy for setting National rallies usually in the Midlands is to appeal to the widest possible amount of Minors. We do seem to have a heavy concentration in the middle of the country

perhaps places like buelieu, longleat, norfolk broads maybe, at least would be more to do for the more family orientated.
maybe a place where there is a steam rally as well going on
just a few suggestions there

Couldn't agree more - and some good venues suggested there

again i would still like to say good job done by organisers who must find it a difficult task

and again i for one will not be attending any more rallies based on this and previous few years.

[RussLCV]

Hello all

I must say that us at the Minor LCV register had a great 2 days, really was good fun but like both 'austinpick-up' & 'Mike at the Minorsite' I agree totally with thier comments on the facilities.

The facilities for the campers were dire......................17 toilets in the middle of the field (not even cleaned till Sunday 07.00am).................does anyone know what happened to the showers?

I know the hassle in orgainising events I have done a few, however the basics MUST be right to start with. I can not believe that campers were charged.............what did they get for thier money.

That said the weather was good it was nice to meet & greet and as I said a good few day was had by us at the Minor LCV Register and lastly many thanks to teh MMOC for the invite

[Matt]

We got poorer ;) and out own little spot on the field :s

[bigginger]

My sixpence worth - fantastic rally, and many thanks to all for it. I'm sure whoever booked the toilets was a tad embarrased that each had a large sticker inside explaining that they were designed to cope with 5 people for a 40 hour working week. They were fetid, and rather worse than any I've ever seen at a festival. Anyhow, here's a pic of Roger Rust and his prize

[jon1739]

This was my first National in a good few yea

New ID then Jon what happened to your old one.

Hi there, not sure what happened really but every time I tried to post it blocked me so I couldn't make a post or access my messages This seems to work OK, for now

[Judge]

Welcome back Jon