Club Lotus Parts Fair - 9th October, Malvern - NOW CANCELLED

[maz_r]

Hi [b][/b]All,

Are we going to have the stand at this years Autumn Parts Fair?

Appreciate it wasn't the greatest event last year, but it is always good to meet up and put faces to names.

Nige: Have we had an invitation from Club Lotus?

[speed-demon]

It was a junk yard!
Best part was the sweet stand...

[Nige]

It was a junk yard!
Best part was the sweet stand...

Something for everybody then .

We probably have had an invite from Club Lotus but as I've not been home since June I don't know, I'll find out in a week or so. I would plan on us having a stand but that's not in my possession at present so we'll see.

[theelanman]

Im not going...
wasnt over impressed with the accomodation aspect when we went in april....in that it had us all over the place
its ok if there are only a couple of us but...........
ah well

[dapinky]

The camping was good - and food at the pub was excellent!

As it's only a 1-day event, may just go for the day, but if others are staying over, i could be persuaded........

[Gee0]

As its only down the road, and my little girl wont not let me go, (and no its not he car) I guess I will be there

G

Oh and of course ya a LiST

1, gee0

[theelanman]

I do hope that the contract with malvern isnt too long and that we can get back to donington........

[Gee0]

I do hope that the contract with malvern isnt too long and that we can get back to donington........

[Dave Eds]

'cept the parts fair was always at Stone(cold)leigh G and GeeO!


Know what you mean though!


The other consideration will be if Donington need to recoup their cash outlay at CL's expense, cos that ain't gonna happen without Alan putting up a fight

[kenich]

I will try an pop up for this providing no other commitments turn up.

[Rambo]

Im not going...
wasnt over impressed with the accomodation aspect when we went in april....in that it had us all over the place
its ok if there are only a couple of us but...........
ah well

The camping was good - and food at the pub was excellent!

I'd agree with Dave - a campsite with a pub next to the tents - you can't ask for more. Only downside I could see was the pub singer on the Sat. night

[Dave Eds]

Cancelled!


viewtopic.php?f=28&t=17998

[theelanman]

AN INTERESTING EMAIL FROM ALAN AT CLUB LOTUS.......
READ THE LAST PARAGRAPH....

Hi,

We were forced to cancel the Parts Fair simply because of a lack of support all round.

We only had 10 autojumble stands booked last week and no Lotus traders at all. We phoned all potential exhibitors and it became clear we would be lucky to get to 15 stands in total which does not make a show. To be fair to everyone the only honourable thing to do was make an early decision to cancel and apologise to all those who would be disappointed.

It’s fair to say the Parts Fair attendance was slightly disappointing last year. The success of any show is driven by the number and quality of visitors and if they decline the show declines. It starts to become a vicious circle...

We can only run a show if the trade will support us and it’s apparent they’re not very keen on Malvern. It's not that the traders are anti Club Lotus or anti shows - they've made that very clear - just anti Malvern. Therefore we’ve decided not to run any future shows there.

Now it’s worth emphasising here that I’m not laying any blame on anyone, just reviewing a situation. Anyway, it’s not so much about what’s happened in the past but how we can progress.

Shows exist for a number of reasons, both business and social. Our responsibility to both traders and visitors is to create a successful and enjoyable event. If the show fails to meet their expectations it will die and maybe that’s what’s happening to the Parts Fair. Having said that I’ve spoken to other show organisers and all have said 2010 has been their worst year in living memory. Money is tight at the moment so perhaps there is a future, who knows?

One thing it isn’t about is making a profit but any show has to cover its costs, which can be surprisingly high. If profit was our sole criteria we’d have dropped the Parts Fair years ago.

A quick word about Donington: You are absolutely correct regarding the planned refurbishment. However there is considerable work to do and at the moment it’s impossible to guarantee a completion date. I’ve been in regular contact with the new management and have a meeting with them next week to discuss things in more detail. One option may be moving to a later date for 2011. Any thoughts on this are very welcome.

Alan

it was stated that...." the main hall at Donington is being refurbished which would make it unavailable for the main Club Lotus Show in April but that will have been completed in time for the Parts Fair."

I think that was what triggered Alans reply...

[AlanM]

Hi,

Regarding our 2011 Show next Spring, I've just been up to Donington for a meeting with the circuit management.

There's certainly a lot of work to be done to get the hall back into shape. The cafe and bar have been completely removed, the office suites and foyer/cash desk are in a bad way and a vandal has smashed the toilets. The hall lighting has also been severely damaged and all the wiring and heating systems will need major renovation as well. One roller shutter door is missing and the others have had their lift mechanisms removed. The roof gulleys have failed in several plavces resulting in pools of rainwater on the floor. But at least it's still standing!

The circuit management are very keen to have us back and is currently investigating the feasaibility of carrying out refurbishment work over this winter. There's also the matter of cost as we're talking about a significant 6 figure sum.

I'll update again as soon as I have some more news.

Best wishes,

Alan

[Dave Eds]

Thanks for the update Alan.

Lets hope it can be sorted!

[theelanman]

sounds in a bad way.....
but if theyve managed to do it to the track Im sure they'll make a good job of a 'refurb'

[nicowalker1]

Im not going...
wasnt over impressed with the accomodation aspect when we went in april....in that it had us all over the place
its ok if there are only a couple of us but...........
ah well

The camping was good - and food at the pub was excellent!

I'd agree with Dave - a campsite with a pub next to the tents - you can't ask for more. Only downside I could see was the pub singer on the Sat. night

He certainly was 'entertaining!'

[theelanman]

some further info

I'd agree that Stoneleigh would be a very good option but I may have a better one - return to Donington!

It now seems certain the exhibition centre will be refurbished over this coming winter. There's a hell of a lot of work to be done but Donington have assured me it will be completed by late Spring.

Now a lot of factors beyond anyone's control could influence the final completion date therefore I'm reluctant to say we'll organise the Show for early in 2011. The Elise Trophy is scheduled to race at Donington over the weekend of 20-21 August and the hall is free that weekend. I'm now thinking of a big summer gathering with a trackday on Friday and camping over the whole weekend with perhaps a bbq/entertainment on Saturday night.

Any thoughts?

Alan

[chris.t]

some further info

I'd agree that Stoneleigh would be a very good option but I may have a better one - return to Donington!

It now seems certain the exhibition centre will be refurbished over this coming winter. There's a hell of a lot of work to be done but Donington have assured me it will be completed by late Spring.

Now a lot of factors beyond anyone's control could influence the final completion date therefore I'm reluctant to say we'll organise the Show for early in 2011. The Elise Trophy is scheduled to race at Donington over the weekend of 20-21 August and the hall is free that weekend. I'm now thinking of a big summer gathering with a trackday on Friday and camping over the whole weekend with perhaps a bbq/entertainment on Saturday night.

Any thoughts?

Alan

my thoughts - fandabbydozy! Sounds like a great idea

[rip]

my thoughts - fandabbydozy! Sounds like a great idea