None fords fair
04-08-2014, 07:24 PM
#41
I've found that life I needed.. It's HERE!!
I decided to go this year after I lost interest in the scene a few years back. This was the first time I had gone as a spectator with my family as previous years I've been on the concours and time away from the car was limited.
My first impression was as expected with joining the entrance queue from the A43 ( approx 10am ) and taking about 25 mins to get in the gates. To be honest though this added a little to the expectations as the kids loved car spotting in the queue and the high numbers builds the atmosphere to a big show.
Once in the show it was nice to have the time to wander around in the sun and take time to look at as many cars as possible. This is something I had previously not allocated enough time too as I was busy being a bufty before the judging.
As mentioned before I was amazed by the number of focus ST's, RS's and Fiestas ST, but this is the future of the brand and clearly shows their popularity. I did feel bad towards the end when I found myself walking buy great examples purely because I had seen enough Foci. Putting the cars in colour groups looks good but sadly means you walk past the whole group as they blend in as one. As an overall impression it did feel that at least 75% of the cars were one of these models. I'm sure this wasn't the case, but did feel that way.
I didn't particularly notice too many non fords and the ones I did see didn't ruin my viewing of the show.
The kids enjoyed the show and I must congratulate the show organisers for providing the free bouncy castles / slides. The kids loved the distraction between cars and to find something like that for free is a rarity.
As with all shows there were a couple of idiots driving around the show too fast and when you have kids this is quite worrying. On the roads is one thing, but some drivers were 'showing off' on the grass areas between club stands.
Overall a good show with a great selection of cars and track action. It will always be different for each person as we all are looking for different cars and areas of interest, but thats the fun of variety.
We left the grounds at 4 as we had to catch the IOW ferry and traffic again was busy, but nothing more than expected.
A good day out and yes it has brought back a little of the sparkle that I lost a few years ago
My first impression was as expected with joining the entrance queue from the A43 ( approx 10am ) and taking about 25 mins to get in the gates. To be honest though this added a little to the expectations as the kids loved car spotting in the queue and the high numbers builds the atmosphere to a big show.
Once in the show it was nice to have the time to wander around in the sun and take time to look at as many cars as possible. This is something I had previously not allocated enough time too as I was busy being a bufty before the judging.
As mentioned before I was amazed by the number of focus ST's, RS's and Fiestas ST, but this is the future of the brand and clearly shows their popularity. I did feel bad towards the end when I found myself walking buy great examples purely because I had seen enough Foci. Putting the cars in colour groups looks good but sadly means you walk past the whole group as they blend in as one. As an overall impression it did feel that at least 75% of the cars were one of these models. I'm sure this wasn't the case, but did feel that way.
I didn't particularly notice too many non fords and the ones I did see didn't ruin my viewing of the show.
The kids enjoyed the show and I must congratulate the show organisers for providing the free bouncy castles / slides. The kids loved the distraction between cars and to find something like that for free is a rarity.
As with all shows there were a couple of idiots driving around the show too fast and when you have kids this is quite worrying. On the roads is one thing, but some drivers were 'showing off' on the grass areas between club stands.
Overall a good show with a great selection of cars and track action. It will always be different for each person as we all are looking for different cars and areas of interest, but thats the fun of variety.
We left the grounds at 4 as we had to catch the IOW ferry and traffic again was busy, but nothing more than expected.
A good day out and yes it has brought back a little of the sparkle that I lost a few years ago
great post that mate, well said
04-08-2014, 07:27 PM
#42
i posted this in another thread
i hope you take it in the lighthearted way it's meant 
after being a bit down about it yesterday, today i can look back on a good show
it's going to be easy to say the queue to get in and out was someones fault, but to be perfectly honest, regardless of who you blame, the fact comes down to this:
everyone want to stop to get a picture taken as they arrive, even though they may not want it, it's taken
this causes the guy behind to slow down
this causes a bottleneck over the bridge
before the bridge there are 2 lanes filtering down into one so you have half the capacity
then there is the roundabout, because yesterday there was absolutely NO roundabout etiquette displayed by virtually anyone on the way in, i almost got taken out by a mk2 escort "following the racing line" when i had so much more stopping power than him i was still accelerating when he was braking and i don't think he had a clue how to drive his car (at the next roundabout he did realise that he'd been a twat and went round much more serenely as he actually looked in his mirrors before not cutting the lanes)
and before the roundabout there is the sharp left turn, which some people have to take wider which means the guys on the outside stop to let them through
and these 2 lanes are being fed by 4 lanes where they are checking your tickets
and these 4 lanes are being fed by 2 lanes from the main carriageway
and because it's such a long queue, the cheeky fuckers are cutting in right at the end AND PEOPLE ARE LETTING THEM IN!!!!!!!!!
no point in painting fancy lines to show you the way in when you need marshalls on the outside telling people to fuck off from queue jumping and send them round again to being cheeky fucking twats
so, in ending, yes, it's dans fault
everyone want to stop to get a picture taken as they arrive, even though they may not want it, it's taken
this causes the guy behind to slow down
this causes a bottleneck over the bridge
before the bridge there are 2 lanes filtering down into one so you have half the capacity
then there is the roundabout, because yesterday there was absolutely NO roundabout etiquette displayed by virtually anyone on the way in, i almost got taken out by a mk2 escort "following the racing line" when i had so much more stopping power than him i was still accelerating when he was braking and i don't think he had a clue how to drive his car (at the next roundabout he did realise that he'd been a twat and went round much more serenely as he actually looked in his mirrors before not cutting the lanes)
and before the roundabout there is the sharp left turn, which some people have to take wider which means the guys on the outside stop to let them through
and these 2 lanes are being fed by 4 lanes where they are checking your tickets
and these 4 lanes are being fed by 2 lanes from the main carriageway
and because it's such a long queue, the cheeky fuckers are cutting in right at the end AND PEOPLE ARE LETTING THEM IN!!!!!!!!!
no point in painting fancy lines to show you the way in when you need marshalls on the outside telling people to fuck off from queue jumping and send them round again to being cheeky fucking twats
so, in ending, yes, it's dans fault
after being a bit down about it yesterday, today i can look back on a good show
04-08-2014, 07:31 PM
#43
Moderator
iTrader: (11)
the stands that had non fords which had nothing to do with the blue oval in any way shape or form really did spoil it for the club stands they were on, as whoever booked them a space should be brought to task next year by the events team.
04-08-2014, 07:33 PM
#44
I've found that life I needed.. It's HERE!!
same thing spolied it for me last year dojj, an hour and a half in and an hour and a half out
i made an effort this year to get in early so got out of bed at 2am to leave the north east for 3am so arrived at 6:45. dunno if it made a difference going through the tunnel this year rather than the bridge like last year but we were straight in. bacon and egg sarnie as well before we started cleaning
i think the stand pass hanger on the mirror helped speed things up a bit as well as everyone could see where you needed to be on approach rather than waiting for a pass to be held up to see it.
had a bit of a queue when we came out but it was nothing like last year...
04-08-2014, 09:38 PM
#46
in the garage
No non fords on track? What about the evo that was running full slicks that were also not allowed. There was quite a few non fords out in the three sessions I did with my mate. I've always been under the impression if you've paid for your session then they don't really care if its a ford or not.
04-08-2014, 10:34 PM
#48
10K+ Poster!!
They are Silverstone's own cars, it could get quite awkward if you tried banning them from the track. I really enjoyed it, didn't really notice non fords, but if I spotted one it didn't really bother me, I mean there are like 3500-4000 cars at ford fair, you don't have to go too far before seeing another ford. Anyone know who had the imperial blue escort cos (think it had black wheels) with anti lag on the track? Sounded epic popping and banging as he/she went through the gears.
05-08-2014, 08:18 AM
#49
They are Silverstone's own cars, it could get quite awkward if you tried banning them from the track. I really enjoyed it, didn't really notice non fords, but if I spotted one it didn't really bother me, I mean there are like 3500-4000 cars at ford fair, you don't have to go too far before seeing another ford. Anyone know who had the imperial blue escort cos (think it had black wheels) with anti lag on the track? Sounded epic popping and banging as he/she went through the gears.
The Escos could have been Steve Punton's?
05-08-2014, 09:19 AM
#50
10K+ Poster!!
Cool, it was going around at a good pace! Quite surprised it was aloud to run the anti lag mind (although I don't think anyone would of complained) as those bangs get quite loud.
05-08-2014, 09:37 AM
#51
PassionFord Post Whore!!
05-08-2014, 09:47 AM
#52
PassionFord Post Whore!!
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: South of England
Posts: 6,728
Likes: 0
Received 561 Likes
on
523 Posts
I suppose people felt the same in the 80s/90s when there was rows of mk3/4 escorts and sierras, people prob thought the same about the new cars then
Last edited by gcfcos; 05-08-2014 at 05:40 PM.
05-08-2014, 10:35 AM
#57
PassionFord Post Whore!!
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: South of England
Posts: 6,728
Likes: 0
Received 561 Likes
on
523 Posts
Don't leave yourself logged in to passionford at work, this is what the parts man thinks is funny lol :-(
Last edited by gcfcos; 05-08-2014 at 05:43 PM.
05-08-2014, 12:35 PM
#59
Moderator
iTrader: (11)
I am really glad you mentioned this
, as I asked permission months back about possibly allowing this car onto our stand seeing as its had full cosworth running gear and I was told it was perfectly ok seeing as it was simply a mini shell with everything else Ford, wonder how many other club stand organisers asked permission first 
, my guess in none as they just showed a lack of respect for the show and events team.
, as I asked permission months back about possibly allowing this car onto our stand seeing as its had full cosworth running gear and I was told it was perfectly ok seeing as it was simply a mini shell with everything else Ford, wonder how many other club stand organisers asked permission first , my guess in none as they just showed a lack of respect for the show and events team.
05-08-2014, 02:40 PM
#60
PassionFord Post Whore!!
I am really glad you mentioned this, as I asked permission months back about possibly allowing this car onto our stand seeing as its had full cosworth running gear and I was told it was perfectly ok seeing as it was simply a mini shell with everything else Ford, wonder how many other club stand organisers asked permission first , my guess in none as they just showed a lack of respect for the show and events team.
, as I asked permission months back about possibly allowing this car onto our stand seeing as its had full cosworth running gear and I was told it was perfectly ok seeing as it was simply a mini shell with everything else Ford, wonder how many other club stand organisers asked permission first , my guess in none as they just showed a lack of respect for the show and events team.the P100 (shortened) next to it was also cool. are they owned by the same guy?
05-08-2014, 02:45 PM
#61
Moderator
iTrader: (11)
no mate Mark who owns the p100 is a fabricator and is a Pf regular at shows, andy the owner of that crazy mini had a crowd around it all day long and drew in bigger crowds than some of the official attractions as people loved it
05-08-2014, 02:45 PM
#62
PassionFord Post Whore!!
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: South of England
Posts: 6,728
Likes: 0
Received 561 Likes
on
523 Posts
I am really glad you mentioned this, as I asked permission months back about possibly allowing this car onto our stand seeing as its had full cosworth running gear and I was told it was perfectly ok seeing as it was simply a mini shell with everything else Ford, wonder how many other club stand organisers asked permission first , my guess in none as they just showed a lack of respect for the show and events team.
, as I asked permission months back about possibly allowing this car onto our stand seeing as its had full cosworth running gear and I was told it was perfectly ok seeing as it was simply a mini shell with everything else Ford, wonder how many other club stand organisers asked permission first , my guess in none as they just showed a lack of respect for the show and events team.
05-08-2014, 03:05 PM
#65
Lucifer II - 666
I noticed a couple of none Fords about, but didn't notice enough to piss me off.
I told all my members (SportingFords) in no circumstances were they to arrive in a none Ford, we were on the gravel area, and worried about as previous years it's been very rocky, but it was great!
The gravel was smooth and flat, great pitch and our stand looked great!
No none Fords anywhere near us, and stand was major busy too!
Loved the whole weekend.
Best Ford Fair I have had in years! bring on next year...
I told all my members (SportingFords) in no circumstances were they to arrive in a none Ford, we were on the gravel area, and worried about as previous years it's been very rocky, but it was great!
The gravel was smooth and flat, great pitch and our stand looked great!
No none Fords anywhere near us, and stand was major busy too!
Loved the whole weekend.
Best Ford Fair I have had in years! bring on next year...
05-08-2014, 06:25 PM
#67
Advanced PassionFord User
The mini I liked as cossie powered
but there was a civic on track at one point
I thought the show was great and worth the long drive . Left gatwick area at 5am and on stand by 8am , hardly no queuing either
Big up the organisers
but there was a civic on track at one point
I thought the show was great and worth the long drive . Left gatwick area at 5am and on stand by 8am , hardly no queuing either
Big up the organisers
05-08-2014, 07:06 PM
#68
10K+ Poster!!
I loved that little min, not fussed at all seeing it at the show.
05-08-2014, 07:37 PM
#69
Moderator
iTrader: (11)
thats the thing if it was a normal non ford car then it had no place at the show, but judging by how the organisers loved it and massive amounts of public were all looking around it all day long they made the right decision.
06-08-2014, 09:10 AM
#71
Yup. We wrongly assumed people would get the 'FORDS ONLY' statement plastered everywhere. As soon as the Honda was spotted the marshals/security were instructed to turn any non-Fords away from the track. So that would have been pretty much the only one (other than the Silverstone cars obviously).
Yeah, that would have been really embarrassing. And even more so if we gave him the track time as we assumed that a well known Ford parts supplier would take his Ford on track... 
06-08-2014, 10:06 AM
#72
Too many posts.. I need a life!!
Join Date: Jun 2004
Posts: 583
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Went to ford fair mainly to see the older stuff but was shocked at how many fiesta ST's were there. Which wasn't really a problem as I just walked past them. Overall had a great day out even the kids enjoyed themselves. The guy raging and smashing up his fiesta was a bit disturbing to watch. He ended up punching the rear screen in which lead him to cover the grass in broken glass. Him walking around looking for somewhere to wash his blood covered hand wasn't really a good look especially when there was young families around.
06-08-2014, 10:19 AM
#73
PassionFord Post Whore!!
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: South of England
Posts: 6,728
Likes: 0
Received 561 Likes
on
523 Posts
Went to ford fair mainly to see the older stuff but was shocked at how many fiesta ST's were there. Which wasn't really a problem as I just walked past them. Overall had a great day out even the kids enjoyed themselves. The guy raging and smashing up his fiesta was a bit disturbing to watch. He ended up punching the rear screen in which lead him to cover the grass in broken glass. Him walking around looking for somewhere to wash his blood covered hand wasn't really a good look especially when there was young families around.
06-08-2014, 11:09 AM
#74
Advanced PassionFord User
Went to ford fair mainly to see the older stuff but was shocked at how many fiesta ST's were there. Which wasn't really a problem as I just walked past them. Overall had a great day out even the kids enjoyed themselves. The guy raging and smashing up his fiesta was a bit disturbing to watch. He ended up punching the rear screen in which lead him to cover the grass in broken glass. Him walking around looking for somewhere to wash his blood covered hand wasn't really a good look especially when there was young families around.
06-08-2014, 11:25 AM
#76
Went to ford fair mainly to see the older stuff but was shocked at how many fiesta ST's were there. Which wasn't really a problem as I just walked past them. Overall had a great day out even the kids enjoyed themselves. The guy raging and smashing up his fiesta was a bit disturbing to watch. He ended up punching the rear screen in which lead him to cover the grass in broken glass. Him walking around looking for somewhere to wash his blood covered hand wasn't really a good look especially when there was young families around.
having had a few days to reflect on the show, and dan's hint at the chance i may still get a plaque has changed my mind about the whole thing in a positive way
next year the kids will have to get up earlier (i was up at 3 but i didn't think junior would welcome such an early start, even less so his mother
)the stand i was on, rsmaina, was tucked away in the corner BUT the atmosphere was fantastic (and we also had a GREAT view of the drifting bit at the end of the track
)it may have been a mistake to have done my leg workout on saturday with a hangover and worn new trainers on sunday so my aching legs are my fault entirely
and i also think reverting back to the shorter track was better for those who wanted to see what their cars could do on the track, but was also surprised at the apparent lack of 0-60 venue?
was it just me or was the show a bit smaller than last year too? me and junior walked MILES and did at least 4 circuits of the entire show
although i do think that both dan and jamie saw me walking towards them and then legged it
06-08-2014, 11:57 AM
#78
i left plenty of time to get in and still took 1.5 hrs
the track photo company are still living in the dark ages,no online photos to view?
if you have 20 minutes to spare after coming off track before the next session are you seriously gonna think about looking at the photos
the company ford fair used for photos 2 years ago was better
the track photo company are still living in the dark ages,no online photos to view?
if you have 20 minutes to spare after coming off track before the next session are you seriously gonna think about looking at the photos
the company ford fair used for photos 2 years ago was better
06-08-2014, 01:08 PM
#79
As for the 0-60 - Despite what people think, due to the change in circuit layout there is NO WHERE to host it other than down at the Stowe complex - and we'd have to pay a LOT to hire it just for the 0-60. Seeing as it's so far away from the show it's not that well supported, and to make it pay for itself would have meant charging all the entrants several hundred pounds each!! And it's not that popular an attraction to consider running it at a loss. So we made the decision to cancel it.
No idea who they are, I'll mention it to the events team!
06-08-2014, 06:25 PM
#80
The shorter track is miles better for spectators, and most drivers seem to prefer it, as they get more laps, and the full circuit can get a little dull unless you've got a lot of power.
As for the 0-60 - Despite what people think, due to the change in circuit layout there is NO WHERE to host it other than down at the Stowe complex - and we'd have to pay a LOT to hire it just for the 0-60. Seeing as it's so far away from the show it's not that well supported, and to make it pay for itself would have meant charging all the entrants several hundred pounds each!! And it's not that popular an attraction to consider running it at a loss. So we made the decision to cancel it.
As for the 0-60 - Despite what people think, due to the change in circuit layout there is NO WHERE to host it other than down at the Stowe complex - and we'd have to pay a LOT to hire it just for the 0-60. Seeing as it's so far away from the show it's not that well supported, and to make it pay for itself would have meant charging all the entrants several hundred pounds each!! And it's not that popular an attraction to consider running it at a loss. So we made the decision to cancel it.
also, we were parked ON the track as you come under the bridge, the bit where they had the 0-60 was the actual track on the shorter way around and the bit we were parked on would have been the longer track
overall i think the size of the layout this year was just about right, too big a show and you don't get to see everything, yet i can see you had to put stuff somewhere