Silverstone Experience event, 22nd May

[Chrishazle]

Agreed it was a good day, and mucho credit to the Porsche Centre staff who were without fail courteous, helpful, everything that is so often missing from so many places (from Tescos to MB showrooms, read the posts on MBOA!!). Special praise to the young lady thoughtful enough to remember my wife and get her to try the Cayenne off road experience - which made her day!

However, for the second time in just 2 PCGB national events that I've attended, the cars that were supposed to be the central theme were scattered all over hells half acre instead of being concentrated near the centre of attention. I felt sorry for those 911 (don't ask me which variety!) owners who were parked halfway round the upper route from the centre to the kick plate hill - only found the cars by chance! Even sorrier for members from our area who volunteered to marshall, set off at stupid o'clock to arrive early then waited an hour or more for the organisers to arrive! The front engine brigade were mostly well away from centre again - which jars when a non-member 928 owner had driven from Devizes to be there! How do I convince him the club is worthwhile when that is done?

I thoroughly enjoy our Region meetings and events, and will continue to support them. However, my experience of national events does not encourage me to continue any support for them - and I'll be damned if I'll drive 150+ miles each way to park 200+ yards from the centre of attention in a field of horse sh*t again, despite enjoying watching the polo!

As for the support from the 968 register - non existent! OK, Paul was probably away racing, but given the support other registers garner, where are the 968 owners - have they all given up on PCGB and moved to Porsche968uk and TIPEC??

 

[pauljmcnulty]

he cars that were supposed to be the central theme were scattered all over hells half acre instead of being concentrated near the centre of attention

It is really difficult. Whilst I was on the gate we sent cars around and let them park themselves, so if some cars were far away it was their choice to park there.

As there were about 5 944s between the board and the volunteers, we just parked up in a line a short way from the entrance, and expected everyone to line up following us around. The idea, of course, was that the "post Classic" cars grouped up, it being a "post Classic" event. Beyond that anyone could go where they wanted. I don't know why it all became spread out, you can't park every car yourself so it's up to the owners. Very strange why they all tried to find open space rather than grouping up though. [8|]

It's always tricky when you have a large area with parking around the outside; the same happens at Porsche and Polo. Perhaps we do need valet parking, so every car just joins the line-up rather than disappearing off over the other side!

 

[Chrishazle]

ORIGINAL: pauljmcnulty

he cars that were supposed to be the central theme were scattered all over hells half acre instead of being concentrated near the centre of attention

It is really difficult. Whilst I was on the gate we sent cars around and let them park themselves, so if some cars were far away it was their choice to park there.

As there were about 5 944s between the board and the volunteers, we just parked up in a line a short way from the entrance, and expected everyone to line up following us around. The idea, of course, was that the "post Classic" cars grouped up, it being a "post Classic" event. Beyond that anyone could go where they wanted. I don't know why it all became spread out, you can't park every car yourself so it's up to the owners. Very strange why they all tried to find open space rather than grouping up though. [8|]

It's always tricky when you have a large area with parking around the outside; the same happens at Porsche and Polo. Perhaps we do need valet parking, so every car just joins the line-up rather than disappearing off over the other side!

Paul, I agree in many ways with what you have said - I think we convoyed the last part to P&P 2 years ago when you had 2 weimeranas in the back! Impressive in a 944!

For Silverstone, PCGB knew a week ahead of time how many cars had booked, and could have made a far better fist of arranging parking (and briefing marshalls of who goes where) so the "post classic" cars were close to the central area.

I'm not suggesting valet parking - I'd not be happy at giving the keys to someone I did not know to park my baby! However, I think the initial planning is the downfall - both at P&P 2 years ago and yesterday. PCGB know in advance who is coming and what car they are bringing. That's where the 6P's principle comes in - P**s poor planning prevents proper presentation. Or is it a case that if you happen to be front engined and water cooled, you get sidelined? Also if you're not part of the regional or national concourse (for P&P, not Silverstone).

P&P 2 years ago was my first national event, I put a lot of work into my coupe as it was part of the "central display", so I was bloody annoyed to find myself miles away from the centre of attention instead of close to said point in case someone wanted to talk 968's. The poor sods in 964's etc the other side of the polo field must have felt real outcasts! I ignored P&P last year - was not about to have a repeat - but went for Silverstone. Lots easier for wife to walk on tarmac instead of grass dodging horse sh*t. To find the same problem was more than annoying. If Geoff thinks I'll bring a 968 to P&P this year, he can think again!

By the way - the line up of 944's was quite a way to the leftt of the 911's (?964's) in front of the entrance, so maybe members of this register feel the same. I know I was embarrassed trying to persuade a non-member who had driven his 928 all the way from Devizes, Wiltshire, that joining PCGB was worthwhile! My attempt to convince him was based purely on regional meetings, not national!

 

[pauljmcnulty]

By the way - the line up of 944's was quite a way to the leftt of the 911's (?964's) in front of the entrance, so maybe members of this register feel the same

It was the IT Director, the ex-communications Director (and now official photographer and video-ist), and the 944 Register Secretary who parked the 944s where they were, before the show even opened. The idea was that we could send the first Boxster, for example, around and he could pick a spot, then the other Boxsters could join him if they wanted, and the same with all the other Registers. We had to start a bit away from the 993s, as there was the narrow entry to the track and we needed to be a few metres clear of cars joining.

It's a shame that the other cars drove halfway around and stopped, I agree. The idea was either to follow on from us, or to go all the way around to where the other cars were parked. I don't know if people wanted their own quiet spot, or didn't understand the instructions? Your 968 and the 928s had no problem all parking on the same bit of track as the 944s [&:]. We didn't have Register flags, and they'd have blown away anyway, and there's no reason why the later cars couldn't have just mixed in. You're right that we knew numbers of each model to some extent, but cars arrive at different times, park badly, and many paid on the day, so it's actually almost impossible to lay out parking for each register in advance and it not look awful, remember the long rows of empty spaces at Blenheim?


P&P has certain restrictions based around the venue. You can't run the much-loved Porsche v Pony race unless there is a big empty bit of field, for example, and cars have to be clear of the playing pitch so sited at the opposite end. Again, I totally agree with you that cars shouldn't be parked in small groups around the perimeter, but just join in with the cars already parked. Can't do much about the horse droppings at a Polo field, though; the dogs do love to clear it up. [&o]