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The last Brooklands

Posted: Tue Sep 17, 2019 3:06 pm
by Jasonmarie
So spotted on last nights face paint feed that Calvin has stepped down from the Surrey Capri club as vice chairman and kris is holding fault for somebody to join him . It must’ve very stressful to Hold a big event , as I struggle with my pants in the morning :lol: , but Brooklands caused a lot of stress to the Surrey Capri club and they don’t think we will be able to return .
I have sent a message of thanks and we will always support them .
So was that the last ?

Re: The last Brooklands

Posted: Tue Sep 17, 2019 4:13 pm
by andyd
Organising events can be stressful, even booking a stand can be a pain at times.

Re Brooklands;
I won't miss travelling there again :sleepy: :lol: They really messed up by not opening the gates earlier to help with the arrival of cars, but you can't convince some people they got it wrong! The organisers cannot control this either!

Hopefully someone somewhere comes up with a plan for the 55th anniversary.

There are other locations around the country for Capri events, maybe CCI Headquarters or Haynes Museum?

No matter where you hold it, some will always have furthur to travel than others.

Re: The last Brooklands

Posted: Tue Sep 17, 2019 4:37 pm
by Jasonmarie
Totally agree it’s not easy . I do enjoy the CCI meet yes it’s a 5.30 start but a good day , also I have been lucky with the weather as I only got caught out with the guys going to Whitstable .
Yes I will keep a eye on me nuts and tyre pressure . She booked in for her MOT in October so hope I get it back before then :lol:

Re: The last Brooklands

Posted: Tue Sep 17, 2019 5:39 pm
by Cosmicbike
Having been a Chairman and Treasurer in a previous 'hobby', it's a surprisingly stressful role even without being involved in organising such a huge event. It's a shame there seemed to be a lack of understanding from Brooklands, you'd have thought they would be familiar with large car shows really...
I really hope SCC find the will to do a 55th, the 50th was a great day out, and maybe in 5 years time mine won't be one of the rougher Capris in attendance.

Re: The last Brooklands

Posted: Tue Sep 17, 2019 5:48 pm
by Steve Saxty
Having worked with Kris and Calvin on the 50th I can honestly say they did a fab job, as others agree, despite the Brooklands staff. I can compare the Brooklands team to that of Gaydon and the former were a shambles. They seemed to want to screw every penny out of SCC, they wouldn't let me in early which was dumb as I had books to unload. But that's my point, the bigger one was that they were generally ungracious considering they made a considerable amount of money from the event.

The Gaydon crew are probably paid vs volunteers. Their professionalism was in a whole different league to those small-minded folk at Brooklands.

Three cheers for Kris and Calvin and the SCCC, one hiss for Brooklands

Re: The last Brooklands

Posted: Tue Sep 17, 2019 6:30 pm
by 2litreScapri
Thanks guys, and thanks Steve, your words can be echoed re sentiments of Brooklands. I can't really begin to explain how this has all come about, but Brooklands have 2 sides - very stuck in their ways, and the new part of corporate & money. In 2014 both me & Calvin were "fresh" to event organising & they let us do quite a few things, but I always knew in the back of my mind that we needed to be more astute & business like. But it got worse clearly when they appointed a new CEO in 2018. So we have been up against the wall, and we battled through and gave everybody a good time. We have been told that we can't return, but I see this as no barrier.

However, because of the way we have been treated, and the response about Brooklands as a venue from those who attended, even I think there are many places to choose from where we would be more welcome. Brooklands as a venue is iconic, but we have had 3 great events there in total, so maybe the 55th has to move on to somewhere new. It's already on my agenda & see what we can come with, and also maybe collaborate with others.

On Calvin stepping down, it's a shame but we have had differences for a while now. There's far too much to really say about this but he is still a club member & can have as much input as every other club member.

Onwards & upwards, and everything about Brooklands was such an amazing spectacle maybe never to be repeated!

Kris

Re: The last Brooklands

Posted: Tue Sep 17, 2019 6:43 pm
by Andrew 2.8i
The 50th anniversary at Brooklands was a terrific event. Everyone I spoke to there recognised that the Surrey Club had done a great job organising it, but it was the Brooklands staff side of things that had left the side down.
Sure, Brooklands is an iconic venue, but to be honest, I would have enjoyed myself just as much if the event had been held in a Tesco car park!

Organising events and meets must be stressful. I wouldn't like to do it, but I'm very thankful for the people that do organise shows through the summer. Where would we be without them?

Andrew.

Re: The last Brooklands

Posted: Tue Sep 17, 2019 7:18 pm
by tejb1
Can I add my thanks to the organisers. I have been involved in organising events for a number of years and know just how much work is involved, and the expectations just increase (insurance, h&s etc before you even get into logistics!). So a big thanks to those who do it, for nothing, for everyone's benefit.
Because of other commitments and possible changes in life, I couldn't commit to very much in advance for fear of overcommitting and letting people down, but if you need extra help on the day or in the immediate run up, please do let me know.

I'm not wholly up on the politics surrounding Brooklands, but it is a great shame. Unfortunately many places are going more commercially focussed...

Re: The last Brooklands

Posted: Wed Sep 18, 2019 8:29 pm
by Fordoholic Nick
I want to echo everything said re the SCC and want to thank Kris and Co again from SCC for all their proper hard work and dedication in getting this show organised for us. I have already shown my deep appreciation of their work on fb Great job indeed especially when they were coming up against so many obstacles. As much as I really like Brooklands as a venue being the historic place it is , especially The Banking eh Jason :wave: :lol: its not just the venue that makes it such a success but more all of us great capri folk and our cars that turned up all made possible only as said by the good folk at SCC for organising. I really enjoyed my day at Brooklands after getting settled in :lol: :lol: Did not even look around the museum as was too busy chatting and having a great laugh with friends both old and new.

So shame Brooklands fucked things up both on the day by keeping almost 300 Capris waiting outside till gone 10am but also for the constant obstacles that SCC seem to have to deal with. So a massive massive thanks to Kris and Co at SCC for making this day possible for us in the first place as said I for one had a fabulous day and met loads of lovely folk, oh and got an Oil Painting too :)

And how great is it to already hear Kris talking about the possibility of a 55th at ??? Very exciting already :lol:

Re Calvin stepping down at SCC , I am sure Kris and Co will go from strength to strength and sounds like Calvin will still be"involved" anyway in some way or other :lol:

So.....if this was the very last Brooklands Capris event looks like me and Jason got onto the Banking just in time :lol: :lol: :lol:

Re: The last Brooklands

Posted: Thu Sep 19, 2019 6:10 pm
by Wideboy
Has previously stated...Had a great time a Brooklands for all 3 of the previous shows and its thanks to the hard work and commitment that people like Kris and Calvin put into arranging and staging events that makes them the success they are. But if a 55th at Brooklands is a no go its their loss not ours has there are plenty of venues out there which I'm sure would be happy to welcome us...Its not like we are p*ss takers wheel spinning and tearing around the venue.
Been to classic car events at
Duxford. Great venue..Loads of parking..Just off the M11..War Museum..active airfield.
Brands Hatch when they had the Classic Touring cars on..Loads of parking..Not a million miles off the Motorway..Classic Cars ripping around the short circuit.
Little Grandsen on Airshow day...Loads of Parking and an Airshow.(Bit like Dunton locked down till 16.00)
Or as someone else said I'd be happy in a Big Tesco Car Park if there was 300 Capri's to admired and I could get a £3 Meal Deal
So I would like to say a big "Thank You" to all those involved in making Brooklands the success it was over the last Ten Years and hopefully it is onwards and upwards for a 55th venue.