Vanfest 2011 - What did you reckon?

[AGC]

First of all, thanks to Clem for organising EB camping.... me and Angie enjoyed ourselves (and the dogs enjoyed the attention)! So all in all a good weekend for us. We managed to set up in the dry and take down the awning dry so that was a bonus. Cheers Andy

 

[PIE]

I have been to every Vanfest since it started and to most of the BVF's, I think this is a show in the decline, I remember the atmosphere in the main hall when in the early years, they would have a glorified 70s /80s disco, it was great and the kids loved it. that has all gone now with the paying to get in everything and the battle of the bands is no good for kids, our intention was to go to the sheep shed entertainment but the weather put paid to that. I was in the trade area, I reckon that our eggs will be going into the camperjam basket next year.

 

[Valentine Won]

sorry about the 2 posts.Do we know who won the show and shine on baywindow line up :?:

Moi.

Well desevered mate lovely bus 8)

 

[Gadget Boy]

I went this year and i took the missus, It was her first weekend away show . Id Like to Thank Clem for the Camping, Valentine Von, Creative Blue and Sparky Wig for all your help taking down my awning so it didnt go into orbit

Ive got to say I think that Vanfest has become a Fucking Rip off , When I started attending this show many years ago ,The entertainment was FREE , Yes Vanfest organisers it was FREE a word You now dont USE ...........

It was also the time that people would all sit and listen to a cover band and make towers and vw badges out of empty beer cans

I think that charging someone 90 quid for the weekend is pushing it and of the 17 of us that have attended VF for the last 3 years together, only 7 of us actually attended this year as the others were disgusted at the high prices.

After talking to a trader who wasnt attending, and he sells mainly camping equipment ,He has attended the last 4 years and traded, he is in fact attending the caravan show at the NEC in October and the stand at the NEC is cheaper and 3 times the size of the stand at Vanfest :shock: :shock: :shock:

After speaking to several Traders at VF one said, '' Have the organisers finally Killed the Golden Goose ......''

After turning up and being asked to pay another 20 quid for entertainment , Quite frankly you can stick Right said fred, Bucks fucking Fizz , and some shite Micheal jackson impersonator who just went '' Ei Heee '' all the way through up Your fucking arse Vanfest ....

While I apprieciate that You have to make a profit, Spa, Le Bug Show rents the entire circuit and its a F 1 race track an free entertainment for 4 days etc and its 33 GBP for the driver and 12 quid for each passenger ....

The security staff were a major improvement over last years and less heavy handed and the toilets have been improved too

Finally Whoever books the '' Entertainment '' at Vanfest Your idea of bands and artists that people want to see, is set back in 1989 ........

I look forward to a response from a VF organiser on here as Your comments would be apprieciated BUT I doubt we will get one....

 

[67panel]

well paid 15 quid to get in sunday,walked down to ealybay camping---deserted :roll: so did the trade stands and got the bits i wanted .the special display was anything but(but did like 6 cyl scuby engine in t25!!)checked out show and shine.to many fake patina splits for me :msn4: not enough earlys.got back home in time to watch F1 and also euro finals from pod on web cam.rather have paid 15 to watch that.

 

[Pete B]

I went 3 years ago (I think) for the first time, when it really chucked it down with rain and I ran into the back of another EB in the stupidly long queue to get in ops For the last two years have bought tickets in advance but had to sell on due to work comitments. Looked at the prices for this year and thought 'Are they having a laugh, not a chance at that money.' Would appear that that was a wise movement. Shame, an iconic event like this needs promotion, not negative feedback such as mine.

 

[Clem]

walked down to ealybay camping---deserted :roll:

15 vans there when you showed up Pete ... you shouldnt get there before anyones awake!

 

[Shorty]

Didn't go.. and won't going the future due to the price..

I simply cannot justify a weekend camping that costs £90 (just think about that for a second, if it doesn't sound completely absurd then you really ought to go and visit some people in white coats!)

Going by the general feel of the feedback, it's a show that has nothing to even warrant that kind of money. Sorry VF, you are off my calendar until you can sort out the pricing

 

[Clem]

Didn't go.. and won't going the future due to the price..

I simply cannot justify a weekend camping that costs £90 (just think about that for a second, if it doesn't sound completely absurd then you really ought to go and visit some people in white coats!)

Going by the general feel of the feedback, it's a show that has nothing to even warrant that kind of money. Sorry VF, you are off my calendar until you can sort out the pricing

To be fair, you cant say that Vanfest is merely a weekends camping. That is part of the weekend, but added with that is the show itself - the traders, the swapmeeters, the displays, the (whats left) free entertainment, the displays and the show and shine etc. Breaking it down at £45 per adult for the weekend that works out at £15 per day ... then suddenly it doesnt actually seem as bad?
You may still feel that that is too much for what you want from a show/event and that is absolutely fair and your choice, but its only fair to look at the complete picture.

I do agree, btw, that the costs are out of line with what might normally be expected, and that a £5 per head price head, therefore £40 for the weekend, would have been a sweeter pill to swallow.

I think the entertainment charging is a more complex issue as its about crowd control as much as the revenue, but certainly wider feeback suggests its very wrong as things stand.

 

[petegee56]

I did not go to Vanfest this year due to the price. For me what i want to do in my bus is drive somewhere, park up with a few mates, drink some beer and then drive home, If i get to look at a few other nice VW whilst there then all the better. Now I can do that anywhere really without having to pay 90 quid for the pleasure.

The best VW show i have ever been to was Ninove this year. The reason ninove was so good is because it is exactly what is described as above, drive across europe, get smashed, look at some awesome vws and drive back, simple.

I understand the argument that you get lots of traders at vanfest and alike but i have never found the traders prices at the shows vastly reduced against the prices they have online, and as already mentioned alot of shows now are selling more crap with campers printed on or hats with ears than anything else.

The entertainment that has been put on a Vanfest the last few years has been a waste of time, I would rather pay 20 quid to cut my ears off than go listen to what they have put on, Im sure you could find a decent band which plays some covers for alot less than some X factor failures. Maybe im wrong but i think the vast percentage of people that are into VWs do not want to see the entertainment that was on this time round.

Maybe it is to try to make it all more family friendly and trying to put off people like me, if so it has worked.

Roll on Ninove 2012

Pete

 

[rustydiver]

Went for the day on Saturday and was quite pleased I didn't have to pay for the children. But still had to pay £15 per adult to get in.
Thought it was a bit quiet and far too much hippie, clothes, nic nack tat for sale.
Prices for some stuff was stoooopid and the attitude of some of the traders quite arrogant, tried to buy a roof rack from one of the big ones and it was a cash only deal with it didn't say on the sign was £260 and only had 230 in my pocket wouldn't accecpt that and 30 on the card.. Told me there was a cash machine in the Avon hall, so I said no chance it's your loss.

Went a different way there this year and drove past a nice lookin small campsite a few miles down the road, so may stay there next yr.

I've got mates that's been going for as long as they can remember and he reckons this will be his last one prices just gone silly.

Just ordered a 3 bow westy rack from KK, now how can I hide it from the missus :msn4:

 

[AndyO]

I had a good Vanfest, my first and not my last. The event was well run, the cleaners out in force and toilets etc clean. Food from the vendors was expensive (and crap - always is) but the beer was not toooo dear - have paid more.

Entertainment was crap mostly, the Michael Jackson cover was OK in fact and I even got into Slade (a bit). Really not my bag though and as Gadget has mentioned whoever books them needs to get a grip and cater for more tastes.

Expensive - yes, I guess, I was sharing the cost with some mates - If I had to pay for my family inc. fuel I might have a different opinion.

Good to have a chat with Andrew, Clem and Gadget and a nice couple from up North (are on here can't remember the username) - no one else though as I'm just too slack. I did want to check out the blue bay across from me (Adam?) as there seemed to be some serious hardware underneath that bus....

Early bay beers next year round mine - if any of you are going that is......

 

[ib-bus]

I couldn't make it this year but I plan on going next year as there is nothing even close to this event here in California , it is not a cheap event to attend but well worth it in my opinion. I'm there to talk to people and have a few beers and crazy good cider and there is plenty of that at Vanfest , I can see tough why people that have been there many times are getting sick of climbing prices.
In the future tought I would like to try other events , maybe Volks World or drive to Euro Bug in , Ninove or Spa.

 

[clyde]

We moan about prices and Juan comes all the way from the states for the show. Definitly try something else if you can arrange it fella. Maybe a vintage meet in europe, tied in with possibly some racing and Brewery visits.............

 

[crede999]

I didn't go this year or the last two years before that, mainly because i feel its lost its vibe (way)I did the previous five ,I'd rather save my money for my euro roadtrips , by the time you've got in had food etc bought mindless crap your into the 200 plus squid mark , (plus fuel ) and the weather is almost guaranteed in France etc Unlike the uk

Also if you live down southish you could probably do ninove for the cost of vf which in my opinion is a far better way to see a Vw show , a great drive with other like minded vdubbers , treated fab by the hosts , with plenty of very cool cars/buses and some very rare stuff too

I personally think European shows are where it's at they have the right mix and hey there different !

I do quite fancy doing camperjam though next year as I'm hearing great things about it :mrgreen:

Chris

 

[Clem]

Chris

After South of France prices I think EVERYTHING is cheap right now! :lol:

 

[crede999]

Chris

After South of France prices I think EVERYTHING is cheap right now! :lol:

i hear you mike :lol: worth it though :msn4: you can't buy memories

chris

 

[Grazzer]

Didn't go this year, mainly because of price.....

Agree with others though, particularly Gadget! Camper Jam was the best show of the year for us!