ADI '07 dissapointing?

[Animal Mother]

I know I am a bit slow posting this, but, did anyone else find ADI a bit of a dissapointment?
Ok, the chance to have an Audi only track day was cool, and the TT autotest was good, but what else was there?
Apart from looking at the cars in the very cliquey clubs stands there wasn't anything else to do.
No demonstrations, no decent trade stands, an extremely poor autojumble, parts suppliers with no parts with them.
The whole thing had no atmosphere (apart from a negative one in the aformentioned cliques).
I can honestly say that the best thing about it was the attitude very jolly lady (of advanced years) working at the entrance gate!
Go on, bitch away!

[Laurel]

This was my first ADI - well actually, it was my first even for Cars, let alone Audis!! - I had always imagined these things to have an air of excitement about it.

I imagined racing music pumping out of massive speakers all around the stadium, multitudes of people crowded round the track, cheering the drivers on. Masses of Photographers flashing their cameras and catching every moment....I imagined a commentator, someone with a sense of humour, "Ooo that's gotta hurt..." or "That 1991 silver Coupe better move over or the massive banger behind will bulldozer over it and it'll become a flat mate!"

I imagined smiling faces, animated talk, cries of "Wow mate look at your car!" and proud smiles from owners as they display their precious rides which they spend so much time and money caring for.

I expected families, giggling children running around playing chase as the adults sit on picnic benches eating and drinking.

So I suppose I went with really high expectations. I thought that we'd all meet up as a group and be like "HEY!! You're from the forum! Oooh we're like FBI agents" (okay, maybe not) LOL.

When I got there, I was awe struck by the massive arch way in the shape of a tyre. The long line of shiny cars, looking slick and proud. The race track was massive and I heard the familiar noise of the cars racing around and zooming by. So that was all very cool. No disappointments there.

However, the air had no excitement in it. I had the impression that the whole thing was very chilled and laid back. I wouldn't say I was disappointed though, it was still nice. Just different to how I expected!!

Ross would keep saying to me, "It's not usually like this, it's usually much more upbeat" lol. I suppose that's so, but tbh I did like it being so mellow. Especially as I had no sleep the night before (as it was the day after getting engaged) and Ross and I were very very tired!!

I wanted to roll around on the floor at the fact that some guys were actually sour faced at losing the competitions. I mean, the prize was a pack of cleaning products!! Come on!!

[s2driveruk]

I think there is two things to consider here:

1) The event needs the trade, manufacturer support and independents to create an atmostphere. Its better than when it started a few years back but there is plenty of work to do still.
2) that although there are quite a few car clubs, they do tend to keep themselves to themselves. Apart from talking to other members, half of who you only know through their Forum ID there isnt much you can do apart from look, chat and sometimes do some fault finding/repairs etc.

We did have the option of an S2 forum track session at the event but interest was so minimal that we couldn't take advantage. Personally i think that is a real shame, there will probably be no safer place to get to play with your car on a track and you can guarantee space and respect from other likeminded people, there wont be stupid outbraking manouvers etc as we all value our cars.

Personally i like the track format as it stands along with the kids/family laps over the lunchtime break, it works really well and organisation is fine too.

I really think Audi could step up and run some performance driving demo over lunch, showing some heritage models and some modern stuff too - afterall many people at the event i am sure own more than one audi, and the other will be sub 5 yrs old. Even better they could get some of the quattro driving experience guys to help people get more out of their cars in some way at the event, which would drive some business into the proper day long experiences they run, could be skid control, using the quattro system in the best way etc etc
How about in this Audi specific atmostphere having a hero driver like Mikkola on hand to drive you in your car for a lap round coombe, i'd pay some serious money for that opportunity, or be taken out in an RS model by someone like that. People want to go away from an event with memories I think....certainly will ensure repeat visits and word of mouth evangelising of the event.

Concours is fine, the technical seminars I have never been to and I would expect that far more knowledge can be found on our forum than would normally be picked up in those???

I have to say i had great fun this year though but in part cos i made some of it for myself, went on the Rolling Road Andy organised, sorted a boost leak out with a fellow forum member, had the car out on track and met a few people i have only ever traded replies with on the forum.

To close, some of it you have to work for a bit yourself, some should be on a plate to savour when you get there...

David

[Fat Audi 80]

I have to be honest, it wasn't the greatest. Everyone from the S2Forum was as cool as mustard as usual, no issues there. But:

1.) Our Stand was in the "Carpark" so hardly anyone came over to it, even though we probably had the most cars out of all the clubs there!

2.) The concours area was not big enough for all the cars, one of the reasons I did not enter. At least it was on the hard standing though.

3.) There seemed to be even fewer traders and very little organisation this year.

4.) The October weather is ALWAYS damp dull and foggy, why do they put it on in that month?

5.) I swear between us we could do better. (But I haven't got time!)

The one to get organised next year is Billing and make it a really big family weekend with both events surrounding the cars and also events and games for the members and families too. I would be happy to contribute to the organisation, as I think Anna will come along camping with LittleFatAudi80 next time. A nice little holiday for us!

Cheers,

Steve

[s2driveruk]

if we get some constructive comments in here i will raise it with Autometrix guys but PLEASE if you moan about something (which is fine) say would you would like to see instead.
Cheers
David

[PeteRR]

Well I've always liked the ADI track day's. Nice and chilled out after Rallyday which is usually a few weeks before. This years event was bigger than ever, with the broadest spectrum of Audi's that I have seen there. Though the Autojumble was indeed lacking and the specialists could have brought a few more special items and/or cars, though there were one or two tasty little numbers present!

Personally I hope ADI doesn't get too big. It's always been a good event to meet up with a few folk, take an able around the track and check out what people have brought to run as well as checking them out taking their cars (or rather themselves!) to the limit out on the track.
It would lose some of it's appeal in for me if it were to become a really big event.

[martinjs]

The first one was the best, lots of trade stands etc, no TT auto test taking up loads of space and Audi ran the S1 on track.

[Fat Audi 80]

if we get some constructive comments in here i will raise it with Autometrix guys but PLEASE if you moan about something (which is fine) say would you would like to see instead.
Cheers
David

Did I do that?!

[dest]

It sounds like most of the car shows Ive been to over the last 5 years really!
Ive seen traders posting on Passionford in relation to people moaning about the lack of them, and their response is always the same: the pitches are too expensive, and people are under cutting them bigtime online, so people just dont buy stuff at shows anymore.
Sadly the days of the "show special price" got killed off by the internet, and people selling stuff dirt cheap out their garden sheds with no overheads

[Flat on my back]

Well...

The biggest problem with Audis is, the people who buy them. Mostly Old gits, and even the old gits with the quick ones are too scared to raz them on the track!

So old, no kids and not into loud music, coming to a track day then Sir?

Thats why the older cars, started by the q and kept going by the S2 + others are the only few keeping the 'scene' alive.

The show is laid back, but if it turns into a 'ricer show' that not one i would attend.

[Acidburn]

Well this was my second castle combe event and tbh I enjoyed it, I thought there was enough stuff to do there all day and found I was struggling to get around all the site.

I enjoyed the RR sessions that Andy_casey sorted and it was good to see what people could do and how there cars was running (and on a plus side they sorted the light above the Rollers)

I thought the help that forum members was giving others was brilliant, I saw bry and a few others helping fitzy check for boost leaks and there was a couple of other cars tested, I also helped david sort his Markh mod.

The stand could have been in a better postition and I feel this should be brought up with autometrix as we as others have mentioned have had some good turnouts.

The reason why there was not that many people selling stuff today is that they was charged £150-160ish JUST for the stand and thats before they sold anything which put quite a few people off including a mate of mine who was going to bring along quite a bit of stuff. If autometrix reduced the price you would have quite alot of stands and would help increase the crowd there. I know at silverstone when they have fast ford on there is a huge turn out of trade/private stalls/stands with a good selection of spares because they are cheaper for the stands. IF autometrix sorted that then they would get the revenue back from increased interest in the show as people would turn up for a deal or spares.

It was still a good day even tho it was a bit foggy and good to meet up with alot of people and tbh I enjoyed it and didn't think there was anything wrong with the day.

[s2driveruk]

^^^True enough, personally be the same if there was loud music too I want to hear the cars not piped music which usually sounds cr*p anyway

I think I AM old having said all that now

[curlyks2]

I would be tempted to attend at a different venue: I'd want a go on track, and Castle Combe is the only track in the country that Greenlight will not insure you for on a nice cheap basis. The last conversation I had with them essentially revealed that the underwriter had told them "if you delist Castle Combe, you can insure track days at every other track in the UK for £50 per day".

Ck.

[Rusty]

Rolling road session was fine but I ended up unning around all day, inbetween fixing a few cars and getting out on track... I did notice a lack of things to do but that was at about 4 when I finished and went home.

I like the Audi only track sessions as they really allow for us to go and have a good laugh with very little traffic and less knobbers than the action days held at CC. Chasing down P Diddy, mr. Muirt and Matt was great fun, provided some entertaining videos and photos and a few stories to take to the next meets.

We could turn the annual Billing meet into more of a track focussed event but it would require commitment from a fair number of people and might not be too cheap, or to everyone's taste. I'm sure you can book large sections of the normal track days such as the one at Donington in December to save organising with tracks etc. Perhaps we should look into this next year at somewhere a little more exciting than Combe... ?

[s2driveruk]

:mischeif: i have an idea i'm working on already......will pm you