Vanfest 2011 - What did you reckon?

[Clem]

Great show for me. Weather was manageable although Saturday night was a washout. It was, or seemed quieter this year ... that was a good thing though, getting around and browsing was much better.
I thought there were plenty of good vw parts around to be had ... lots of good used early bay stuff around, and some bargains too.

Entertainment needs sorting out. Empty halls whilst people are kicking around outside is a shame, and I dont think folk care if its Right Said Fred or Slade over it being any random covers band which would cost a fraction to book ...

The lower shed with its well travelled transported display need a refresh too, imo. The action Syncro display area this year was superb however.

Bins and bogs?? All good from what I saw.

Big thanks to Chris Daniel, the club camping manager, for his hard work btw!

So, what did those others that went think??

 

[Graham L]

Decided not to trade this year and went for the day on Saturday, thought it was OK but do think it was quieter than last year and as you say easier to get around.

Thought the Syncro display in the arena area was really good as well, never seen so many of the things in all guises.

Lots more 'tat' stands than last year and worry that the shows will be taken over with them, Ron and I had the same conversation on site about less 'dirty bits' stands this year.

Personally I think they've got the pricing wrong and what they are charging for 2 people in a camper is too much at £90, you can stay in a bloody good campsite with excellent facilities for less than that, yet its a field with poor facilities :?: :?: . The entertainment has always been a crush and haven't bothered to pay for it since they started charging, usually plenty of us camping together to make our own entertainment :lol: :lol:

For me if Camperjam could attract the bigger traders then it would knock spots off Vanfest,

 

[creationblue]

We had a good time i must say, facilities were great, food an absolute rip! but I knew that anyway. Huge marquees looked impressive but we never paid the extra so didnt go in, but as we were sited just behind I heard most of it and wasnt impressed :lol: Company was great (thanks guys).

Just

 

[creationblue]

For me if Camperjam could attract the bigger traders then it would knock spots off Vanfest,

Its horses for courses really, i too enjoyed CamperJam this year and will be booking for next,but, if it get too big then that will turn lots of people off. Vanfest is what it is, like it or not. I agree the prices are steep, but then again if you grab a bargin ar two (of which there are a few about from the sheer number of traders) then your likely to save in the long run..........but there has to be a ceiling on price and I think they must be pretty damn near......

Just

 

[Valentine Won]

My first festival camping away so really enjoyed it met people i have only spoke to on EB Deano(gadget) Mike(clem) and sparkywig breifly, also had a few ciders with just(creationblue) on friday night but got rained off for the saturday
when read on the vanfest site about the entertainment wasn`t impressed but my 11yr old girl wanted to see diva fever so got a tkt for the friday and really enjoyed it, right said fred i thought was excellent but even bucks fizz was a little to much for me so left before they came on.
spent most of the daytime looking around the stalls so did not see much of the arena
did go to the show and shine and saw clydes bus very nice 8) and also some one called erve from EB with a south african westy also very nice.
Price wise if the wife went then i propably would not have gone but for me and my girl then it was easier to swallow :?
All in all company was good stalls were good and entertainment enjoyable would go again as long as the wife doen`t go :lol:
cheers shaun

 

[Valentine Won]

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

 

[Ali]

On the whole it was good but it was so much quieter than I've ever seen it!

We normally arrive about 9:30-10pm and are just about squeezed in to the second overflow field(to the left as you enter the yellow gate), but this year we got there at a similar time and there was bags of room in the general camping to the right. It didn't get any busier either. There were three and a half fields empty. Fields that had been marked out, with bins and toilets provided. The rest of the camping areas didn't look too rammed either...

We were just about to head out on Saturday when the rain hit! We stayed at the van instead, I don't feel like we missed much.

Getting around was a bit easier and I managed to get a couple of good deals so that was a bonus, but it just didn't feel right seeing empty space.

It just left me wondering if they've finally priced themselves out of the running...?

 

[faux]

I arrived at 8 am on Friday to work on Northgate for Neil (sausage fingers). I enjoyed a chat with the German guys helping out and parking up over 200 campers into well marked out 6m x 6m plots. I even got sunburnt.

I parked up opposite the forsale section under a tree and chilled out, the vibe was really friendly. I always love the shows for it's social side and this was no exception. I couldn't walk 10 yards without bumping into a friendly face.

I think the pricing is over the top, we all undestand inflation but this will put people off in the long run. However it is well organised and hosts a lot more than most shows. Maybe they could scale things down to keep the costs more reasonable.

All in all I wouldn't miss it, and it is still one of my favourite shows. If Camper jam can match the facilities and traders it will catch up but 3 counties is designed to cater for the numbers so time will tell.

 

[Clem]

I see in the programme they've set a date for next year, but no venue mentioned ...

 

[clyde]

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

Moi.

 

[adamski]

We had a great time at the show. The traders seemed great, but it would be nice if they were organised in their layout, as there doesn't seem to be a specific swap meet area. I got a good set of brakes for the van (944 front and rear - going to add 996 callipers)!

I think it was much quieter than before (even the show and shine areas seemed quiet).

We haven't ever gone for the entertainment, so I don't know how busy the tents were.

Thanks very much to Clem for arranging the EB camping. Now looking forward to Big Bang 2012, which will be the next show for us.

->Adam

 

[rockandrollcamper]

Pretty much agree with what everyone else is saying.

First time camping for 3 years and the toilets and bins seemed much better than I remembered.
I didnt get there till 8 on the friday so was at the bottom of the general camping which was fine but as a few people have said ....... pretty empty.

the show itself was as good as Ive ever seen it and with the numbers maybe slightly down I actually got the chance to have a good look around and chat with some traders.

Entertainment was my big GRIPE. It was just me and my girlfriend so felt obliged to get the passes so we could guarantee somewhere to go if the weather was naff. In the end we ended up watching a band in the tavern on the Friday night (free) and after about 10 minutes of slade eneded up back there on the Saturday.

Right said fred, diva fever and bucks fizz...... I can see a novelty factor (all be it an expensive one) but Seriously, who wants to see a fake michael jackson. Kids dont know who he is, older people think hes a nonce. Slade??? Slade (2) say no more.......

In my oppinion all they need to do is scale the tavern up and have cover bands etc on and most people would be happy. At the end of the day, people are all there for the love of VW's and the craic. All you need is somewhere big and dry for everyone to be able to meet up and take some beers.

Well Done Clyde

Nigel

 

[creationblue]

Great job on your van Clyde, had a quick looksie thru the crowd that was surrounding it, but my kids were fed up of wandering about by then and moaning :roll:

Just

 

[sharman]

Lacked atmosphere Didn't have a buzz about it. More of a market than festival.

 

[clyde]

Cheers folks.


Havent been to VF since 2008 as i was voting with my feet about the price increase. Friends come every year from Holland and i havent seen them since 2009 so thought i would go along to the show. We had a small camping plot in Club camping with 7 vans and a Puck. There was a large area next to us that was empty all weekend which could have had over 20 vans on it. Didnt get around the other camping areas but everyone i spoke too said numbers where down.
Toilets and Showers did seem better than i remembered and the bin men where on a non stop round.

Everyone i spoke too mentioned the price and the entertainment being pretty crap for the price etc. I doute the Vanfest organizers will care as they have had your money. Did it really sell out in which case alot of people wasted their money by not turning up.

Lots of people mentioned that VF needs another show on the same weekend to shake them up...........sorry folks it wont happen. Think about it. Alan Schofield etc will make 25K over the weekend thats before the other sales they make from handing out 100s of parts books, so its worth the traders to come to VF. Any other show trying to get traders to turn up for there show against that are on a loser straight away.
No traders mean the show will get a slating and will fail in year 2 (thats if it even gets off the ground)

Im affraid the only way VF will fail is if the organizers destroy it themselves which it seems to be doing, so its just a matter of time. (i heard a rumour it will be going up again next year)

Found my ticket for 2008......£30 all in (same show, camping and entertainment this year £65) Cant think of anything that has basically remained exactly the same but more than doubled in price.

 

[sharman]

Sold out Welland site wasn't even half full on Friday, thought alot would come for Saturday night, but it didn't happen.

 

[poptop2]

There's a bit of debate going on over on tlb about vanfest .

i never went for the first time in years but only because of work commitments , it appears its as they are saying on thelatebay site , prices are pushing some away .

shame really vanfest has done so much to help boost our vans popularity , for me it has always been THE show, i enjoyed camperjam best this year probably because of the weather .

 

[Clem]

I think its really interesting - is Vanfest now 'mangeable' for the organisers? Its been through a few years of absolute explosion when the site, surrounding fields and entertainement areas have been rammed to the point where many were concerned from a safety perspective .. the show/trade was also almost impossible to negotiate on a Saturday due to the crowds.

With the price increases and pre booking systems, coupled with a tight financial climate, attendees have dropped off when camping is comfortable, browsing is stress free and the organisers can be certain of crowd safety. Maybe theyve sorted it? From an organisational perspective ...

Is it sustainable though? Will the reduced attendees put off traders in the future? If prices remain yet crowds dwindle where will it end? Ive no idea :lol: but having seen BVF go from a leading event to a poorly attended flea market then who knows??

Maybe next year a smaller attendance will mean less infrastructure, particularly off-site, leading to lower prices?? :shock:

One thing - as far as Im aware, any tickets putchased 'second hand' were all honoured and it was possible to pay on the gate

 

[shaggyXO]

Once the rain came down,there was nowhere to go for cover unless you paid extra ,for the big marquee,how about next time ,stick the open air bandstand and a bar in the cow shed ,free music ,beer and dry customers .Apart from that all was good ,won't mention the scampi n chips mushy peas for £8.00

 

[dodge6x6]

hiya
only got there for a day trip on the sat with my partner, so cant realy comment on prices, but as we were going in a old couple were at the gate and when they found out the day ticket price and no oap concetion they turned round and walked off.
We have been to a totaly differant show last two years up at newark showground called Americana international, that costs for camping from thursday to monday morning per couple in a american or vintage vehicle £170 for the weekend but in our view its worth it as there are 2 main music stages and evening indoor music as well, with aproximatly 40+ groups and bands, both rock and roll and country and western, all included in price, this year we noticed the attendance was down on previous but the show ground was still full,
did try to find early bay parking area to say hello but must have walked staight past
cheers Peter and Gail