Club Display...
Posted
#1116517
(In Topic #133559)
Old Timer
Club Display...
I'm sticking my neck out here, but I'll say what I have to say anyhow.
I thought the club display at Stamford Hall did very little to promote the club to potential members. For a start, why the hell was ther a mk2 golf and a splitty on the stand???
Secondly, the presentation of the cars left a bit to be desired, no one looked to have preped thier car to "show standard", a bit of tyre shine and back to black wouldn't have gone a miss 8O
I also found the lack of promotional flyers to be odd and the members on the stand were all sat in a big group and seemed unapproachable.
This is meant to be a constuctive, not a dig at anyone.
Also, before you all start to slate me for this post, I need to give you a bit of background. In the late 90's I had a pug 309 GTI and was group leader for the yorkshire group of the Peugeot Sport Club. There was always an internal show and shine within the club at shows and all the cars were as well presented as possible, many of them had a few menbership forms under the wiper/bonnet. This increased club membership.
As for the "show standard" I refer to, I also have a reasonable knowledge of this, the Pug was a in regular attendance at shows up and down the uk, resulting in a full on magazine feature in revs magazine in early 1998. A few years later my MK3 GTI won the standard/slightly modified class at the Elsecar Mega meet. Although It seems a bit exessive, all 3 of our cars are upto show standard on the out side, although the golf is still very rough at present.
I guess I'm just trying to say I'm a bit dissapointed with the club.
Sure I'll get a lot of flack for this, but, it needed to be said!
Projekt Frustration :
White 1991 Clipper. Lowered over polished zender rims, Single 40 dellorto on lynx manifold, kent cam, full stainless 'zorst / manifold, powerflex bushed and braced. Not the fastest car, but sounds super nice!
Still going after 12 years… never said it was a quick fix! Time is not my friend.
White 1991 Clipper. Lowered over polished zender rims, Single 40 dellorto on lynx manifold, kent cam, full stainless 'zorst / manifold, powerflex bushed and braced. Not the fastest car, but sounds super nice!
Still going after 12 years… never said it was a quick fix! Time is not my friend.
Posted
Events Manager
I suppose the 5 hours I spent cleaning my daily went to waste then.
I think you will find that it you actually join in and are part of the stand things are very different when you get to know everyone.
It is quite daunting approaching a big group of people that you don't know, but I went to the AGM on my own and have never looked back.
I had a fantastic time and everyone is very friendly. It was only my second time as part of a club display, first time at Stanford.
It's quite sad that you feel this way.
Posted
Local Hero
99% of members who attend the shows on club stands enjoy themselves and that is the reason I did them, my priority for a club stand has been to enjoy the day, whether or not anyone else outside the display thinks differently is secondary.
I do not expect cars on display to be of "show standard" it wouldn't be half the fun it has been over the years.
Normally I would have a bit of promotional stuff, but being as this is one of my last shows, I hadn't anything to put out.
Your entitled to your opinion, but it wont change how I do/did events…no regrets :wink:
Posted
Social Media Manager
i also spent hours on saturday cleaning my car, but car being black attracted loads of dust from the road in the middle :evil:
anyway pics of my car from the show
a few pictures from the show, we had loads of people coming on our stand
Posted
Old Timer
it is a good job the diesel didn't make it as that, is very tatty and rough
gammy has improved shows massively and they have grown to a point where he is having to ask other clubs if we can have there space as well
Posted
Local Hero
1) Everyone could spend hours at the show prepping there car (yes it can be done at home but will get dirty / dusty on the way) but everyone will be to busy to chat to the public to promote the club and push us forward.
2) Everyone can spend a little bit of time cleaning the cars to get them looking good, which leaves more time to chat to people and maybe get more members on here. That way the overall image of the club is a good one.
I would go for the 2nd option (just my opinion)
If it was a show and shine it would be different.
Posted
Settled In
1989 MK1 Golf Clipper
1999 Ford Cougar 2.5 v6 (soon the nightmare will be over and car gone)
1999 Ford Cougar 2.5 v6 (soon the nightmare will be over and car gone)
Posted
Old Timer
maybe these were the overflow from the stand that were kind enough to give us more space
i really can't see a problem with it
this club is a very friendly one and as a result the stand fill up very quick. there is no snobbery, everyone and there car are welcomed with open arms
the way it should be!!
Posted
Events Manager
Posted
Local Hero
I prefer to see a wide spectrum of MK1 types and in various conditions. If anything there were too many nice cars! At the NEC Classic shows a few years ago one of the biggest draws onto the stand was a beat up old S1 5 door that people were encouraged to get aboard and play with the switches etc. The BBQ is that sort of draw for open air events like Stanford.
It is 'people car' and some roped off highly polished garage ornaments wouldn't really feel right.
The cars I saw all looked like they had been cleaned and spruced up.
Shows are a social event for club members and must be fun and enjoyable, that's one of the main features of the MK1 Owners Club.
Areas for possible improvement;
Members attending taking it in turns to 'meet and greet' people that wander around showing an interest, just convert a few per show to signed up members and the benefit to the club will be immense .
Don't huddle together. You know each other and think it's OK but to outsiders may come across as a bit cliquey. I know this is difficult gathered around a BBQ/tent chatting but the above would resolve it.
Have some publicity material readily available so that even passersby that don't want to stop and chat have something to take away, a small calling card type thing would be fine.
1983 Mars Red 1.8 Golf GTI
1987 Alpine White 1.8 Clipper Cabriolet
The trouble with doing nothing is that you never know when you are finished.
1987 Alpine White 1.8 Clipper Cabriolet
The trouble with doing nothing is that you never know when you are finished.
Posted
Settled In
1989 MK1 Golf Clipper
1999 Ford Cougar 2.5 v6 (soon the nightmare will be over and car gone)
1999 Ford Cougar 2.5 v6 (soon the nightmare will be over and car gone)
Posted
Local Hero
If you approach anyone on a club stand about their MK1, they are all happy to tell you what they can, they are approachable people.
I've never set up a stand and then got a rota out and said to people, that I expect them to sit around generating memberships, it's cost them enough money to go for the day, my opinion is either people like what they see or they dont :dontknow:
You will always find the chairs in a circle, but how else can you talk to someone when your having a bbq or a brew, also those attending yesterday and other shows are forever answering questions or chatting to people about their cars or the club, there is only so much you can do before attending a club stand becomes a job rather than a day out 8)
Posted
Local Hero
Re: Club Display...
chris-h said
Hi Guys.
I'm sticking my neck out here, but I'll say what I have to say anyhow.
I thought the club display at Stamford Hall did very little to promote the club to potential members. For a start, why the hell was ther a mk2 golf and a splitty on the stand???
Secondly, the presentation of the cars left a bit to be desired, no one looked to have preped thier car to "show standard", a bit of tyre shine and back to black wouldn't have gone a miss 8O
I also found the lack of promotional flyers to be odd and the members on the stand were all sat in a big group and seemed unapproachable.
This is meant to be a constuctive, not a dig at anyone.
Also, before you all start to slate me for this post, I need to give you a bit of background. In the late 90's I had a pug 309 GTI and was group leader for the yorkshire group of the Peugeot Sport Club. There was always an internal show and shine within the club at shows and all the cars were as well presented as possible, many of them had a few menbership forms under the wiper/bonnet. This increased club membership.
As for the "show standard" I refer to, I also have a reasonable knowledge of this, the Pug was a in regular attendance at shows up and down the uk, resulting in a full on magazine feature in revs magazine in early 1998. A few years later my MK3 GTI won the standard/slightly modified class at the Elsecar Mega meet. Although It seems a bit exessive, all 3 of our cars are upto show standard on the out side, although the golf is still very rough at present.
I guess I'm just trying to say I'm a bit dissapointed with the club.
Sure I'll get a lot of flack for this, but, it needed to be said!
Firstly, thanks for having the balls to stand up for your opinion. Nobody should shoot you down for that even if they disagree.
You've made some interesting points here and I'd like to address one or two, nothing special but I think they deserve a response.
Yes you're right it can be off putting, seeing a bunch of people standing around chatting in a huddle. What we do about that is difficult to say though. I suppose it's your call to be a little less shy and just walk up.
Yes we could have Members patrolling the stand and we do at more formal shows such as the NEC in November. This however is less formal and it wouldn't be appropriate.
Basically people come to these shows to get together and have a chat and a laugh. What you probably saw was a group of people doing just that, having a laugh. Next time go up and introduce yourself mate. Ask about a car or blag a coffee!
The standard of cars we have is broad. This is a GOOD thing. In being open to all we encourage a more friendly atmosphere and make ourselves more approachable. This is what you're after isn't it? Yes again, some shows demand an exacting standard of car and for these we ask owners to respect the organisers wishes and only display concourse level cars. Again this was a less formal show so cars were prepared the day before then driven to the show and finally given a once over on arrival.
Information availability at shows is a good point. We used to have a merchandise and info available at shows and we have been less than proactive on this. We are recruiting a new Merchandise Manager though and I know with his hard work and enthusiasm this will change.
The shows we attend are many and varied. Events take place all over the country and organising them is time consuming and a labour of love. Warren has been at the head of this for over a year now and in my opinion he's done an amazing job. Thing's aren't always perfect but neither is he. He is however a top man and a hard working member of the Committee who goes about his club business without a moan or complaint. You'll never see him standing around with his thumb up his butt neither will you see him waiting for praise.
Like he says, he's stepping down and this is a massive shame. If however you think you have what it takes to fill his shoes and perhaps improve on his performance then please let us know. We are always in the market for new blood with fresh ideas. Trouble is when push comes to shove they tend to fade into the background.
Constructive criticism is great and I appreciate you're entitled to it and that's great, you even have one or two good points but help is where it counts, putting in the hours, calling around, posting up events and getting people interested. Turning up, stetting up, geeing people up on the day, making sure we have tea and coffee. All the thing that go to make a successful show.
Sorry, I'm rambling on, I'm not having a go at you or defending Warren. He's big enough to defend himself but I just don't thing the average Member (and as I don't know you I'll err on average, no offense) realises just what goes in to keeping this place going. It's easy or perhaps too easy to find fault but the act of doing is much, much harder.
Oh and as a side issue, we've won 'Best Stand' at more shows than I can remember so we must be doing something right.
Once again, sorry for going on……..
T :wink:
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Posted
Local Hero
Posted
Old Timer
Posted
Website Manager
Re: Club Display...
chris-h said
Secondly, the presentation of the cars left a bit to be desired, no one looked to have preped thier car to "show standard", a bit of tyre shine and back to black wouldn't have gone a miss
I think that you are missing the point of MK1 Golf Ownership and why most of us on here attend the various shows, it is for the love of the MK1 and to catch up with old friends and meet new people with the same fondness…
Posted
Settled In
Posted
Local Hero
GHIA said
Well i feel great now. Not. :cry:
Oh have another glass of wine.
T :mrgreen:
Call yourself a breast man? Donate to Breast Cancer Awareness.
Christian Cochrane is fundraising for Breast Cancer Campaign
http://www.vwgolfmk1.o…topic&t=108667&highlight=
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http://www.vwgolfmk1.o…topic&t=108667&highlight=
Posted
Settled In
Posted
Local Hero
GHIA said
R u buying????? Seriously though mega flowered off about critism of our cars. We try our best. :dontknow:
Your car looked lovely Hazel
If you'd not shot by like Nigel Mansell, this was my favourite photo, and just managed to get Daz's in the mirror :wink:
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