My opinion is that the MMOC have a formula that they believe is giving a risk free National Rally.
On average £12-£16K is spent on the National, and most break even, or make a slight loss.
The weather can play havoc with profit margins, if its bad and no one attends , and on the other hand, good weather will see plenty of attendees and higher profits.
So to be sure that you do not loose too much money one can see that facilities, loos and showers, are top of the 'we don't need these' list, as has shown to be the case ever since Donnington.
This approach is fine if one is concerned about saving money, but it is I feel, falling very short of what other clubs offer their members, and indeed short changing members of the MMOC.
I have suggested to Andrew, that ,as the MMOC have now won awards for the NEC show and the Magazine, that they now turn their attention to producing an award winning National Rally. The gamble can be taken for 3 years by which time, if the Rallies prove successful, attendance will have grown as will profits. If this doesn't happen and attendace is the same or less then either the formula needs to be adjusted, or we go back to the village fete scenario.
Several folk on here have said how good the National is, and indeed for meeting fellow enthusiasts it is good, but this could take place down the pub or at branch meetings, the National is a representative event for our enthusiasm and dedication to the Minor, as well as a meeting place of international members to chat, drink etc.
I have also suggested to Andrew that the basic ammenities of the Rally are given over to a Professional Event Organiser who will arrange appropriate , bands, groups, food outlets and other entertainment. This will minimise the need for the vast amount of time that the volunteers need to spend on non Minor organisation. They then simply need to populate the rally with Minor specific functions.
From a trade perspective, the effort required to show at the national now outweighs the benefits of attending, even the likes of Bully seldom take much more than and ordinary work day, and as such a lot of traders have pulled out of attending, C Ware, ESM, B'Ham MMC and many others including ourselves have pulled out of the National, except for the 60th meeting.
The majority of trade now is second hand parts , not a good and vibrant advert for new members to latch onto , when it could be so much better.
To change the attitude of the MMOC from within will never happen, and to simply attend a village fete will never attract new members nor I fear inspire current members to attend future events.
3/10 must try much harder MMOC, the membership deserve better.
