NEC Classic Car Show 2007

 

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Oh well another one done, “Thank God for that” calls a voice from the kitchen. Yet again the Bears have shown the classic car fraternity what they can achieve whilst still having fun. “Who was having fun” says the voice again. Despite the various twists and changes, requiring many adjustments to plans it would seem that the efforts everyone had put into the event had been rewarded by yet another record sum raised. So what was the story of this year’s event?

All the usual meetings/contacts with the show organisers had taken place in the preceding 12 months. Everything that could be done to avoid last minute problems or changes was done. Despite this they still occurred the chief one being the need to change the hall in which we were located. If you think that caused problems for the Bears you should have seen the fuss it created for the show organisers. Why did this happen you might ask? Whilst the good news was that the organisers had persuaded BP to sponsor the event the bad news was that they could not have their sponsored feature right next door to the MPH show sponsored by one of their rivals. The result was that I found myself at a site meeting with the show management selecting the best of the alternative available places for the rides to operate. This with only weeks to go before the event.

As in previous years the drivers seem to take a perverse delight in raising my levels of anxiety by not sending in their driver registration forms until the last minute. Mind you that’s nothing to the pressure on Kim who has to complete the necessary booking in procedure each day of the show. Despite all the worries, come the days of the show the cars turned up outside the correct door ready for Steve to try and shoehorn them into the available space. In fact over the three days 129 cars arrived and took part in the Rides, another record set. On the Sat and the Sunday we had over 80 cars for the public to chose from and yes that also is a record. But let’s start at the beginning.

 

Thursday was the usual build up day and needless to say the stand line-up, that had been planed some time ago, bore no resemblance to that which we ended up with. Whilst the Mini Cooper S and the Stingray made their promised appearance the Gumphert Apollo and Lotus 11/2 didn’t. Luckily Mat Wisher’s employers stepped into the breach and offered both a Lambo Gallardo Soft top and a Bentley Continental GT convertible for static display. The fact that they were both the correct colour was a massive bonus. Steve did his usual amazing job of creating more spaces in the garage than anyone thought possible whilst Pete assisted him by keeping count.

I know there’s a show somewhere!

 

we’re ready, where’s the punters?

 

 As the day progressed more Bears appeared and thus the stand and rides area gradually took shape. By the end of the day everything was prepared except for the arrival and placement of the two cars that Matt was bringing for the stand but as they were not expected until late, no worries.

bleary eyed ready and willing to greet the expected rush of cars for the Dream Rides. (“Speak for yourself”, says that voice again) The Bentley and the Lambo were in place on the stand completing the line up which made an interesting display.

 

Whilst Steve and the Garage Gang parked and organised the cars, Jane and Rita set up the Passenger reception area ready for the expected rush. Boo and Sheila completed the organisation of the Money grabbers desks and the display wall and Michelle and Richard ably assisted by Emily (attending her second NEC event) prepared the regalia tables. Bob from Acorns and two ladies from Rainbows organised the charity display area and prepared for a day’s raffle ticket selling. Kim was meanwhile working her way though the paperwork with the drivers, desperately trying to be finished before the show opened. Brian and Kathy meanwhile set up their photographic studio and prepared to start snapping.

 

Fame at last!

 
 

It’s a tough job, but someone has to drive these cars!

 Come the magic 10 am the doors opened and we all eagerly awaited our first customers (“oh God here we go again”). Within minutes we were in action and a pattern for the day was established with a steady stream of eager passengers making donations and taking rides. And so the day progressed. Fridays are historically the quietest days of the event and this year was no exception. Despite this fact we had a reasonable day and ended up with around £6,000 in the kitty by the end. Bob and Co had sold about £300 worth of raffle tickets and the regalia tables had fewer bears at the end of the day. We even managed to get Paddy, the security steward on the door, working with us to ensure an easy flow of cars in and out the hall.
 

Sat started exactly the same although much busier. It seemed that within minutes the Rides area was the focus of many peoples attention. Even with several regular Bears helping in all sections of activity we were soon fully occupied. All day the cars were on the move and perceptions that we had been really busy were confirmed when the provisional total for the day was found to be a Saturday record of £14,000.

And so to the last day. (“Yippee, you mean we never have to do this again”). With around £20,000 in the bank already, we looked set to beat last year’s record for the hall “Rides” of £26,000. (Last years total of £36,000 included the £10,000 raised by booking Paul’s brilliant Enzo Carrera rides due to take place at Silverstone at a later date).

Once again the cars started to arrive and just kept coming until, as Saturday, we had over 80 on offer for the public to choose from. It soon became apparent that unusually the attendance on Sun was lower than Sat. The combination of the local Birmingham/Villa football Derby and the various Remembrances Sunday activities were suggested as reasons for the change this year. Despite this, interest and take up of the rides was high and everyone was kept busy. The Bear tombolla that had been tried on Sat had proved so successful that it was decided to repeat it on Sunday. Bob continued to astonish everyone by his ability to sell raffle tickets and Janet’s cries of delight at signing up yet another new member were a regular feature of the day. By the close of the show we had set yet another record.

Another £12,000 brought the total up to £32,000 topping last years total by £6,000. And there may be more. Thanks to Boo’s efforts as treasurer we were able to modify the passenger forms to accommodate a provision for those wishing to gift aid their donation. This means that there is a possibility that the 4 hospices, who will receive the money raised at the event, may be able to claim another 28% on some of it. Although our system is as yet untried and tested there is every reason to believe that Gift Aid can be claimed on around £20,000 of the money donated and this would add another £6,000 to the total the charities receive. Fingers crossed everything works, and well done Boo for making it even possible.

So another NEC done and dusted. The show organisers were pleased with the show and enjoyed a record crowed of 70,000, considerably up on last year. Next years show is already booked and planning started. (“I’ll never get my bathroom done at this rate”) Thanks are due to everyone who helped in any way. You can all take great pleasure and pride in what you have achieved. The cheques will soon be going out to the 4 hospices who I suspect will be pleasantly surprised by the size of their share of the final total.

For those of you interested in statistics, we had 129 cars on offer over the weekend. We provided

1,007 Rides. As a result of the show Acorns Hospice Walsall, Rainbows Hospice Loughborough, Demelza House Kent and CHAS in Scotland will each receive a cheque for at least £8,000 and may be able to claim back around £1,500 in additional gift aid.

Finally my personal thanks to you all from those who just contributed kind words to those who worked their socks off. This is your success and you should feel proud.

THANKS. Mick “Can I have my bathroom decorated now please”? “Yes as soon as I have done this form for the stand at Ally Pally.” “Oh hell, here we go again.”

We think it is fair to say that there is considerable appreciation within the club to the efforts and sacrifices that Mick and Diane make into shows at the NEC and elsewhere in the UK. This also applies to the support team that give Mick the guarantee that he will be able to meet the promises that he makes to the show organisers. Finally the drivers need a big thanks as well - without the cars........ (Eds comment)