Autosport International 2016

[Advantage]

New Year begins with the annual trek to the NEC to stare at racing cars and shiny bits. Is this still a thing? Do people still go to this these days?

Doors open later this week. Autosport clicky

 

[Bibs]

I'll be there on Thursday with my press hat on to report for TLF  

[Advantage]

Will there be anything of note from Hethel to report?

[Bibs]

I don't think they even have a stand, which is a first for a while. CTL should have some lovely goodies though  

[Advantage]

I look forward to reading your report. Before midday, please. 

[OwenGT3]

11 hours ago, Bibs said:

I don't think they even have a stand, which is a first for a while. CTL should have some lovely goodies though  

CTL will have a one unique goody on the stand, my IndyGoGo500 dragon is on their stand! So if you want to see IndyGoGo in the flesh here's your chance. Something a bit different for people to see, I will be attending the show on the Friday.

 

Edited January 11, 2016 by OwenGT3

[red vtec]

I'm going as Trade tomorrow to have a look round, not been before.

[chipp]

I think the rozzers should be there with an Evora 400.

 

chipp

[Advantage]

On 10/01/2016 at 23:24, Bibs said:

I'll be there on Thursday with my press hat on to report for TLF  

[qwerty123]

NEC have it made charging the punters and the companies pitches and probably charging the Earth for them too. Which may well be why Lotus can't be arsed.

Been before I expected to pay around £20 considering it was far from a day out...

Edited January 16, 2016 by qwerty123

[The Pits]

Just got back from it today. Shame Lotus Motorsport weren't there, I guess the numbers don't work for them, I hope they're putting the budget to good use elsewhere. As a result the 311 looked a bit lonely on the LOT stand. Being frank it could have been better prepared. BAC Mono know how to prepare a show car. Tiny stand but not a hair out of place, the car was gleaming and was a lesson in attention to detail. Mind you the Mono starts £150k basic now, the one on the stand cost £180k!!! so it made the 311 look very reasonably priced. A mono wouldn't see where a 311 went.

In general the show wasn't as good as last year but I got some new race overalls at a discount price so got what I came for.

The CTL stand was terrific as usual.

[pete]

Was the zenos there?

[Bibs]

The E10S and E10R were on the Zenos stand. 

4 hours ago, qwerty123 said:

Been before I expected to pay around £20 considering it was far from a day out...

Tickets are now £36 coupled with a £12 parking charge. Too much. 

[The Pits]

Numbers of people interested in motorsports appeared down. Numbers of morbidly obese on mobility scooters appeared up. Maybe there's a new form of motorsport that I don't know about?

Long queues for the simulators and food, lots of people paid £36 for I'm not sure what.

[Andrew C]

My first rant for the year what a joke £36 to get in no wonder we from the north travel to Geneva for a real car show £12.00 entrance. £108.00 easyjet return from Edinburgh all day at car show. Or Drive to nec 5 hrs, see it all in 2 hrs back home 6hrs stop for comfort break deal with roadworks traffic jams and poor drivers who must have received their licence in a Christmas cracker.  Emm now what's our best option. 

A 

[qwerty123]

There you are, the most prestigious car show in the world charges £12. Grubby Birmingham NEC £36. Not at all like it's 3 times better really...

[21gg]

Went to Geneva for the first time last year, going again this year. Not bothered with a UK car show for years for exactly this reason! 

[red vtec]

I went as trade and have to agree that it was over priced, Also It seemed a hotch pot of exhibitors. Not good value.

[OwenGT3]

Hi, it was the first time for me going to the Autosport show, plus I was lucky enough to get tickets. I thought the show was good, mixture of everything, trade stalls and exhibitors. It's definitely a young persons show compared to the classic car show I attended in November, especially with all the young ladies in branded spandex suits, none of those ladies at the classic car show.

I think the number of halls was easier to get around than the classic show, you really do need two days to see everything at that show. Also I think the food facilities have greatly improved since the venue first opened in 1978, the first time I visited the place, no problem getting served, had lunch in wetherspoons and no more expensive than normal outlet. 

So pleased to see my dragon on the CTL stand and in a good spot. They informed me it has been very popular with visitors getting photographed a lot, some realising it was an interactive art sculpture, others some what bemused as to why a dragon is done up as a Jim Clark Lotus racing car until CTL explained why. On the trip there I had two extra passengers, Bob Dance and Jeremy from CTL, so the conversation was interesting.

Here are some photo's from my visit and a link to the others.

Autosport Show 2016

 

[Bibs]

Some of the Lotus cars on display at Autosport 2016

Posted by

The Lotus Forums

on 

Monday, 18 January 2016

[Chillidoggy]

£36 a ticket? Seriously?

Someone needs to have a long hard look at that.

[The Pits]

The price now includes the live arena show but having endured that two years running we didn't even bother this year. Think Noel's house party with cars and you'll understand why!

[Chillidoggy]

I can get the equivalent of the Live Arena in Margate on a Saturday night, which saves me going all the way to Brum.

[Bibs]

And you can pick up a Happy Meal while you're there

 

[Chillidoggy]

The Margate equivalent of haute cuisine.