Classic Car Show NEC

[doubleboost]

Is anyone going this year .
I will be there with R Tech and Xtreme Plasma .
I am sure if they reduced the parking and entrance fee , they would get a lot more traffic .
The cost of food and drink is unbelievable .
Saying that if you are a "petrol head" this is the one to go to .

 

[Kayos]

I went to to trade event, £20 to park and rip off food

Captive audience

 

[Greeves246]

With fuel, parking, and traffic it’s easier to go on the train.

 

[caprinut]

On the train one stop down from the NEC cheap fare, free parking and no fooling with traffic on closing time.

 

[marlinspike]

I'd like to but the cost is too much. Having said that I've been to a few outside classic car events this year and those have been expensive (£12 plus) and the turn out of exhibitors has been disappointing. You're probably guaranteed a much bigger turn out of cars and stalls at the Nec.

Nec price this year is £37.50 for a day ticket pre booked. Probably some discount codes around. Post them if you see them, it might help someone.

 

[Robotstar5]

On the train one stop down from the NEC cheap fare, free parking and no fooling with traffic on closing time.

I haven't been to the NEC for many years, but would park for free at my local station and get a combined travel & entry ticket.
The trade shows I went to were free parking & entry.
I used to be on the organising team for an annual show so got got free inner area (right next to the hall) parking.
Just realised I've never paid for parking at the NEC

 

[Olderisbetter]

I wish I could go but I am in no fit state, I hope next year we can display there

 

[Gragson]

but would park for free at my local station

Surprised to hear about free parking at any train station these days, certainly none near me are free.

Yes, if the entry and parking were cheaper a lot more would be attracted.
Used to go to the security & safety event a lot, which then moved to ExCel in London, exhibitors said they cost for a stand was eyewatering - probably the same problem for exhibitors at the NEC

 

[CompoSimmonite]

My experience from last year is there are very few places to sit down so you can end up on your feet for many hours.

 

[Cato]

I used to go to a few such shows, but I rarely bother with anything at or above the size of the Classic Bike Show in Stafford. Too expensive, after a few visits you realise 90% is the same as last year, in recent years walking around has become like navigating a row of restaurants on holiday or the perfume section in a department store with muppets jumping out at you (to the point I came very close to lamping one lad who took me by surprise) and an ever increasing number of 'tat' stalls selling phone covers, crap cheap consumables, fudge and the like.

 

[BrokenBiker]

Just checked pricing , £100 for me, father and son...almost 140 if my Mrs and daughter wanted to come...just seems a bit much if I'm honest

 

[bert]

Im not going, caravan show had free parking last weekend and £12 to get in.

A car i have in the workshop at the moment is going, not one I've restored but im just painting the roof on it so best get cracking.

 

[RWD3M]

I've been doing the NEC (either CCS or Resto show) every 18 months for many, many years now and have lately started doing the train from Berkswell to avoid the ridiculous cost and aggravation of parking on site. Ticket prices have got ridiculous too.

 

[Blobber]

Long time since ive been but again its the price and logistics of getting to the place now we are in the arsendofnowhere

Do a bit of googling the pitch prices would make your eyes water!

 

[dobbslc]

I haven't been to a show like this for years due to the stupid costs involved.
I used to go to the Whitewebbs museum shows and autojumbles and The Ace Cafe but Chairman Khan's ULEZ stifled that

 

[Stuartg1]

Is anyone going this year .
I will be there with R Tech and Xtreme Plasma .
I am sure if they reduced the parking and entrance fee , they would get a lot more traffic .
The cost of food and drink is unbelievable .
Saying that if you are a "petrol head" this is the one to go to .

We went to the caravan show... don't ask!!!
3 quid for a small bottle of water, 7 for a sandwich....none if the restaurants and mist of the fast foods were shut.

 

[droopsnoot]

I'm going, nice to catch up with some of the club members that I haven't seen for a while or only "talk" to online, and have a look around the autojumble. As I'm going on my own I'll go on the train as I did last year, far easier and I think it works out a bit cheaper when you can't share the fuel and parking costs.

I hear a lot of people complaining about the price, and I'm not a fan of the food prices, but I bet it'll be packed like it was last year.

 

[Nomad]

For comparison, I’m just back from a 3 day classic car race event in Portugal.
£45 for a 3 day vip ticket including paddock pass and premium vantage points, no crowds so very chilled atmosphere, a pint of ok beer in a cememorative plastic glass for £5.50, free parking … and sunburn weather most of the time.

Edit: location was the Autódromo Internacional do Algarve, in Portimão (the same circuit held the Portuguese F1 rounds about 4 years ago)

 

[dobbslc]

Nice, where was that?

 

[Nomad]

Nice, where was that?

Forgot to add that info, it was Algarve Portugal, full circuit title :
Autódromo Internacional do Algarve, in Portimão.