National Kit Car Show

[Lucky@LeMans]

I don't know, there appeared to be a low key vibe about the whole day, go back a few years and it was buzzing. I know things have changed but I remember the days when the showground was packed with kit cars filling the entire site. When I was an active member of the Robin Hood owners club we would get over 100 cars on our club stand. Whilst some of the kitcar marques such as Westfield and Marlin were well supported most were not.
I spoke to a couple of traders in the hall, they both said they wouldn't have come if they had known how quiet it was going to be, that was about 11am Saturday.
I don't know how much it costs to put on the show but I would be surprised if it is still viable from the organisers point of view.
I don't like to knock the show, I've been going there since the 1980's so I've seen the ups and downs, sadly this time was a low point for me !

[IanA]

I counted 5 Tribute cars in all and they were attracting interest. The main problem seems to be that the showground management weren't bothering to make the show viable. Presumably the high price of stands for traders and manufacturers is down to the fee charged to Grosvenor. Many manufs resorted to bringing their cars in and setting up on club pitches. The lack of camping facilities didn't help. Apparently Grosvenor were being charged £500 per water standpipe, that's just connecting one and turning on the valve. The showers and toilets around the site (ie not in the halls) are just embarrassing. Stoneleigh is now being touted as a business park and new or refurbished offices are all over it now.
Having said all that, I enjoyed the show and the wide variety of cars represented. You may be able to see pics and get specs from a website but there's no substitute for seeing the metal/plastic and talking to owners who are only too willing to share their build and drive experiences.
I hope it continues. My personal suggestion would be to DROP the outside trader stand prices to encourage their attendance. I'm not actually sure that the Stoneleigh Park management even wants that.
The deal for a show at the Newark Showground next year has already been signed.

[Lucky@LeMans]

The only hall being used is in the video below

This company were just off the centre of the hall.

The industry "showcase" event ? Judge for yourselves !

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2dVvZCTOIoQ

[Mitchelkitman]

Originally Posted by Lucky@LeMans

I spoke to a couple of traders in the hall, they both said they wouldn't have come if they had known how quiet it was going to be, that was about 11am Saturday.

Bit of an early judgement call? Things tend to (and did) get busy after midday.

[Lucky@LeMans]

I hope the traders had a satisfactory weekend in the end, there just appeared to be an air of despondency in the morning, which is a shame for what is meant to be the showcase event in the kitcar calendar.