2013 national Saturday :((((

[lambrettalad]

ok Mike in answer to your post

I'm sure people worked very hard but sometimes it's better to work smarter .


I was bitterly disappointed in the arrangements ,having worked hard to convince the Mrs to attend and booked an hotel room nearby.To make a great weekend to it .....Food and drinks are important..it's not just cars !!!!!!!!!!!!!

An hour to get in because of poor organisation ! and the long wait for food ..........etc hardly any time to see the cars !!!!!

I'm glad Sunday was better

but FOR ME Saturday was a shambles

and yes I will give the time for next year to help as needed ,but I will be open to constructive comments

[POMMReg]

What became of the Static Parrotts display.

Expect they were of the Norwegian Blue variety?!

[charlie_morris_minor]

I would like to thank the organising team for putting in a lot of hard work to put the show on.

My 7 year old daughter loved the entertainment as did the other little girl she meet on the campsite. Audrey1955 not sure which national you went to that had a tiger moth display, I do not recall a dog display last year or marching band or clowns and clown school. Yes Punch and Judy were there again... and yes my daughter laughed again!

My wife and I thought the toilets were incredible

I loved all the other cars especially the marina TC convertible, it wasn't until i got home did i realise that i had not looked at the other moggies

lambrettalad.. well done for putting your hand up to help next year

[Trafalgar blue]

Also my first event didn't arrive until 4pm on the Saturday due to break down. There was no marshals there, we didn't know where to park, after a stressful journey down my wife and I got a little snappy towards each other and ended up parking anywhere. A night away and back again on Sunday, yes there was a bit of traffic to get in but we expected that and they were all minors toilets were the best I'd come across for an outdoor event.

[theminorsite]

ok Mike in answer to your post

I'm sure people worked very hard but sometimes it's better to work smarter .


I was bitterly disappointed in the arrangements ,having worked hard to convince the Mrs to attend and booked an hotel room nearby.To make a great weekend to it .....Food and drinks are important..it's not just cars !!!!!!!!!!!!!

An hour to get in because of poor organisation ! and the long wait for food ..........etc hardly any time to see the cars !!!!!

I'm glad Sunday was better

but FOR ME Saturday was a shambles

Thanks lambrettalad
If you (and Matt who volunteered earlier in the thread) would care to drop me a pm with your contact details I'll make sure they get to Andrew who leads the various teams. I've explained several times before that the booked caterer let us down at the last minute and Andrew was lucky to source a replacement so near the date despite his crap food, and that then the replacement himself screwed up by running out of food and beating a retreat. I think it was a miracle to get a replacement for the replacement with less than a day's notice regardless of what prices they charged, but hey ho!

and yes I will give the time for next year to help as needed ,but I will be open to constructive comments

Hopefully I'm misreading that, which looks like you're suggesting I'm not
Feedback, both good and bad, is the only way we learn what's worked and what hasn't. We WANT feedback. I'm not so sure that feedback from Audrey is very useful, given that long before he got to the event he had already decided it would be rubbish and the 'same old same old' in a thread where he rather spectacularly imploded about the issue with dogs http://mmoc.org.uk/viewtopic.php?t=49182. See, if you think something is going to be cr*p, the odds are you'll find something to back up your theory and it will be cr*p.

The issue for me is that there are posters here (remember that MMOC membership isn't a requirement to post here) and on what is euphemistically called 'the dark side' who are just gagging for an excuse to have a pop at the club, and ergo those who work with it. It doesn't matter how successful something is, they're watching from the wings for the MMOC to fall on its face. "Yeah yeah, you got 10,000 cars to attend your event, but did you notice that one of the bog handles didn't flush? Outrageous, it is. Complete shambles. The old guard should step aside, etc etc etc". Personally I run all comments through my own filter of hidden agendas, and having done that I've found that the vast majority were happy.

What went wrong was:
Catering - done that to death now, not sure what can be done to guarantee people don't let us down last minute, but yes, catering went badly wrong.
Entry on Saturday - system wasn't robust enough to deal with massive influx in very short time period, everyone wanted to arrive at 9.30. System rapidly changed, and far more streamlined process got cars through much quicker (though the sheer volume of cars still took some time to clear). New system worked much better on Sunday, but its a recorded fact that at the start of Saturday it went wrong for a while. Mea culpa.
Dogs - this is an older problem that's been dealt with previously, but it bears repeating that it genuinely didn't occur to anyone to specifically ask whether dogs would be allowed. It had never been a problem before, and we just took it for granted. As has previously been said, "can we bring dogs" will for all time now be one of the first questions asked of a potential host!
I think thats it, isn't it?

[pgc520]

All,

As an event organiser you can never please everyone but you try really hard to do so!

The MMOC team who put this event on worked tirelessly from Tuesday to Tuesday, the over whelming feedback is that this was a great event! Have a look at this weeks Classic Car weekly cover for an independent view or maybe you went to a different event! (Then can I suggest Specsavers! )

Yes we were let down by by the caterers, in that the team we booked 18months ago pulled out 4 weeks ago, the replacement caterers decided to pack up on Saturday without any consultation. We were fortunate to find a replacement at very short notice to work along side the Coffee shop and Cheese Company who worked hard to meet our needs.

Entry on Saturday was difficult for about an hour, while we changed the entry system to make it more effective, as seen on Sunday where very small delays were experienced.

In terms of Numbers and scale
16 different Clubs
Over 1800 cars attended over two days which equates to about 3500 people on site
6 Coaches
50 Traders
Many of the Morris Clubs had the highest turnout for a number of years ( Morris Register 100 cars)
International visitors

Entertainment, we try to put on a diverse range of things for people and invested in a top quality PA so people could view the events in the arena. But you cant please everyone!

If you want to help please let me know and you are more than welcome to join the team.

Regards
Andrew

[63V8]

I only went on the Sunday and had a good day out apart from the weather, which was a shame as I spent less time looking around the cars.
The toilets were the best I have ever seen at any out door event
I thought the catering was first class because I went to the shops before going to the rally and bought my own food and drink, it's not hard you may like to try it next time you go to an event.

Has next years venue been booked yet, or any clues to where it may be.

.

[theminorsite]

Oops, quick addition, forgot one.
Bins - we didn't really want the ruddy great skips out in the middle so they were shoved behind the marquee. Would have been smart to have put a sign or two up pointing to them though. You can put that one down to me having a blonde moment!

[chesney]

What a silly comment to make. I doubt you actually have a car older than the 1940s? Well because there were cars there from the 20s, some earlier. These cars are VERY old now, and someone we got speaking to had to go bumper to bumper for a couple of hours on the Saturday in their Bullnose. It overheated. Guess what. It was very well maintained, but those cars were not built for that sort of driving and are now very old to be stuck waiting to get on a field.
Yes, Morris Minors shouldn't really have that issue, but having a pre war car myself, they are more prone to overheating, despite being well maintained. Those engines are old, so are all the components.

I do as it happens drive several cars from the 40's (if you see my picture below there is a 1942 Ford GPW...), sometimes they overheat, yes, but I hardly think you can blame that on the organisers! Personally I think f you are going to drive a car from the 20's etc, you should be prepared for every eventuality, they are not new cars and, as you say, certain components are past their best.I personally really enjoyed the event, and I got a warm shower too so must have got there at just the right time
I can see the criticisms about the catering, although I didn't really use them as I was camping.

To defend those Morris's, particularly the Bullnose, have you any idea how hard they are to drive? Put it this way. A morris minor feels futuristic to one.

I don't debate that they are more difficult to drive either, however if you want a real challenge come behind the wheel of our Diamond T for a bit That WILL put things into perspective!

[Humphreysmum]

Yes, it's well done to the organizers,because the positives outnumbered the negatives for me. If you are into classic vehicles,you had a lot to look at. The Aircraft display, at the end, was worth the rally fee alone. Shame about the showers though,another weekend of minging armpits. Looking forward to next years event.

Good god man !... Have you heard of deodorant !

Ah, that's what it's called ! To be honest, If I had used deodorant, it would have been like putting under-seal on a mInor that has driven in all weathers for twenty plus years. I would have just been sealing the crap in. Had many cold showers in the Army,and I was tempted to do the same once more. But at 55+ I bottled it.

Good god man !!!!
You havnt had a shower in twenty years ?
Stinky !!!

[mollygail]

Why were the marshalls so spread out and why did the cars have to stop at every one?
Given the space coming in there should have been at least 4 lanes marked of where cars could be stopped rather than all backed up.
I drove on to the field from the campsite and did not have a problem until I got to the edge of the field, I knew where our branch spot was and should have gone straight up but was sent over to where the general parking was then directed to where I knew I was going.
Surely in future regarding catering the club takes a non refundable deposit from the company or take a deposit and say it will be given back after the rally and after the club has taken a commission.
I thought the rally on a whole was pretty good apart from the long grass in the camp field.
I do know the organisation that goes into rallies all be it on a smaller scale and there will always be blips.
Just another thought why not have the campsite registration tent on the same side as the drivers window?

[mbo145]

Well I had a great time!
As for Audrey1955, I am not surprised at what she had to say, reading the harsh and rude comments before the event, which were later removed, her latest comments are to be expected.
Well done to all the unpaid volunteers who gave up so much of their time, and thank you again to the Northern Ireland branch, who have taken me under their wing over the last 3 nationals!

[dalebrignall]

i think it was a great event , i only wish i could have got the time off and camped ,makes the national much more fun .the people who organise this do it in there own free time ,amd i think people forget this .very impressive having 2 tigermoths land on site ,and the approch to the landing strip must have been tricky because of the trees in the way and the trees producing eddies which makes the aircraft hard to control a slow speeds .as for the catering the chap steped in at the last minute and got the club out of a hole .

[Audrey1955]

Well I had a great time!
As for Audrey1955, I am not surprised at what she had to say, reading the harsh and rude comments before the event, which were later removed, her latest comments are to be expected.
Well done to all the unpaid volunteers who gave up so much of their time, and thank you again to the Northern Ireland branch, who have taken me under their wing over the last 3 nationals!

Whatever Mbo. If you have noticed, others here have brought up exactly the same issues as myself. Here we go again. 'thankyou thankyou thankyou volunteers'. Yes we all know, (everyones keeps mentioning) how much effort they put in. Im not disputing that.
Yes, sometimes I come across strong and outspoken, but im not that good at communicating over the computer to be honest. I come across wrong most of the time.

However, just because your're always busy, doesn't mean its time well spent. I love the morris minor, yet must say that I don't really care for the owners that much. Some are lovely, they really are, the rest, stuck in their ways and bizarrely some even stuck up. Don't know why when Moggie Minors are ten a penny.
Ive found the same with the local branch. Of which one I wont mention. Im so pleased I have a vintage Morris, because I must say the people in the Morris register are so much friendlier.

In fact, I love my pre war morris so much I want another, hence Im selling the Minor. Yeahhhhhh I hear you say. Audrey wont be on here anymore. Well I love the Minor but find socially, those with the vintage cars nicer.

So I say stick with your student run-around car, and cheerio.

PS. I will be coming back here to see your pity dismal selves. I know a few who haven't re joined the club because of the fact that if you are critical you just get shot down.

[theminorsite]

I come across wrong most of the time.

Ummm... you're not doing any better

[mbo145]

Oh dear!
Let's hope the Morris register responds better to your views, funny really, I have been a member since 1985 and have made many good friends, even when I went to the national 3 years ago, and didn't know anyone, the Northern Ireland branch and the Yorkshire branch looked after me! I wish you well Audrey, at least you like and look after the cars and you have pleasure doing that.

[Matt]

I do as it happens drive several cars from the 40's (if you see my picture below there is a 1942 Ford GPW...), sometimes they overheat, yes, but I hardly think you can blame that on the organisers! Personally I think f you are going to drive a car from the 20's etc, you should be prepared for every eventuality, they are not new cars and, as you say, certain components are past their best.

Its nothing to do with "past their best" Chesney, they were designed when the traffic jam was never seen. I have driven cars from the 1900s and commercials from the 1910s/20s. (1926 Morris T Type/Tonner - which shares a number of components with the Bullnose Morris). The development that happened between the 20s and 40s is significant and should not be discounted. I generally drove those vehicles in central London - often in the rush hour.

Lets consider a car from 1972 and a car from 1992, a minor traveller and a 1992 ford escort. They both occupied similar parts of the market but are worlds apart. The developments that took place between the 20s and 40s were collosal in comparison.

Audrey - if you have the money vintage is great, but you can't use them every day like you can with the minor. Having said that... if I could afford one I would have a Morris T Type over a minor any day!

And as for not having enough time... it doesn't matter how little time you give, it could be as little as writing a letter with suggestions? It seems you had enough time to write down your complaints... If you didn't feel the need to contribute beforehand its a bit much being so negative (Like not voting in the general elections and then running a campaign against the government!)

Just to give you an idea... I work my 40 hours a week (away from home, so can't do a lot in hotel rooms in the evenings) with 20hours commute a week, volunteer on a steam railway, I have been doing a part time degree, part way through moving house, trying to get other peoples (and my own) vehicles ready for events, acting as a moderator on this forum, and others as well plus day to day life... but im still happy to give up some more of my time... When im not asleep i'm more or less flat out! It makes me think of the old expression... if you want something doing ask the busy person!