Now Then, Peeps – seeing as 2019 is drawing to a close, I thoughtit’d be a good time for yet more Words of Wisdom (or whatever youwant to call them) from your Fave (OK, only) Chairman, and so… it’sa new Chairman’s (Xmas) Rant (with no Christmassy stuff in it)
Dunno that “rant” is actually the correct word, to be honest, costhings haven’t been particularly fraught or vexing of late, butthat’s what we started with, so that’s how we’ll continue….suppose it’s more of a brain dump than anything...Iknow, I know, “what brain”...
Where to start? Oh I know – that good old topic, values (yes, Iknow I’ve already done it to death, but there’s something to add, plus comment on the already-predicted changes in buyer profile).
I was thinking about the “new buyer” of our cars, and how they’re coming at buying a Stratos “replica”. See, us on here know all about the different kits that were available over the years, and each one’s strengths and failings, and the various options that could be specified; plus, we’re aware that the individualistic nature of their builders means it’s unlikely that any two will be alike. But those new buyers/speculators/collectors know nothing of any of this. They know they want a Stratos, they’ve got their heads round the fact that a replica doesn’t mean “inferior” any more, and they’re looking to buy in the same way they’d approach, say, a 911 Turbo or whatever. Which is to say, the basic car is always the same, and all that’s different are maybe one or two engine options, colours, trim, etc. etc. But you can’t buy a Stratos rep like that. For starters, you have to consider the engine fitted – twin cam, Alfa V6, Toyota, etc. And then there are all the different flavours of those. And that’s before you’ve started on stuff like brakes, trim, build quality, etc….I’m amazed they all end up looking vaguely alike, thinking about it.
So if it was one of us, we’d be asking all those questions and weighing it all up, but Those From Outside will just be making a decision based on what they can see – so if it’s shiny, clean, and has the right wheels and interior, they’ll have it. They likely won’t care who built it or what make of kit it is, and just go for it if it fits their idea of what a Stratos should be…. Or have I got this all wrong? Do you think these people are more clued up than I’m giving them credit for? For sale at the mo is a Corse on Car & Classic at £40K in a rather unflattering (to my eyes) rally livery, with a rather in-yer-face all-blue interior. It does have all the rallying kit though, plus an MSA certificate, which might make a difference if someone wants to do a bit of competition. And then, as a contrast, there’s Gordon Caro’s stunning red LB Stradale in the For Sale section of this very forum, at £69K, which I reckon is a steal – it’s nigh-on perfect and must be a bargain, especially considering the current wait for a turnkey car. In the middle is Tim Heath's lovely old Hawk at £55K. For me, the Corse is a bit too steep; the LB a bit too cheap; Tim's about right for a sorted car. But, the market will decide, and it’ll be interesting to see what happens…
Now, something else I’ve been mulling over – the AGM (gasps fromthe audience).
See, I’ve been having a think about upcoming (but probably not nextyear’s) AGMs, and when/where they should be. Apparently it’s upto the Chairman to set a date and location, but I thought I’d canvass your views/opinions and get a debate going, to inform any future decision.
So what am I on about, you’re asking – what’s wrong with the usual Stoneleigh venue? Well, nowt in and of itself, but there’ve been mutterings regarding the suitability and future of the place for a few years now. Fewer manufacturers, fewer car clubs, fewer attendees, all make for a general feeling of impending doom, plus it could be affected by the HS2 project at some point, which’ll pu tthe kibosh on it for sure! It’s all shaping up to mean we‘ll need to look at an alternative venue sooner or later, but with a couple of interesting things happening next year, maybe it’s a good time to begin ruminations.
First off, let me put your minds at ease and say that without some sort of overwhelming reason, I’m inclined to stick with Stoneleigh this time around. Despite any shortcomings, it’s a known quantity and about as central as you can get, and anyway people don’t like change – if nothing else, it can make a big hole in your pocket(loose change...pockets… ahh, forget it). But, we’ve got a couple of other kit car shows happening in 2020. There’s the second running of Kitfest at Santa Pod in June, and then the resurrection of the Newark show in July. Both of these are worth consideration going forward.
I went to Kitfest this year and to be honest, I wasn’t taken with it. Nice idea, great to see people using the Santa Pod strip, but what a godforsaken place. And there didn’t seem to be any organisation – there were scatterings of cars in the fields and unknown clumps of them on the hard standings near the strip. I hadn’t a clue who was who and what was going on. It took me the best part of 2 hours to find Carol and John in their motorhome, even with the SEC banners (didn’t help that there were no Strats there – the few that attended were near the strip). But I cut the organisers some slack as it was their first event – maybe the next one will be better, but good place for an AGM? Nah…not yet, anyway, and probably never… I dunno, the whole thing felt like a staging area for the next Mad Max film
Newark is an unknown. Although kit car shows have been held there in the past, no-one knows how this new iteration will pan out. I reckon there’ll be a reasonable number of the paying public going along, simply cos it’s another show to satisfy their self-build urges, but it all depends on how many manufacturers they can tempt along and what else is happening. AGM-suitable? Well, central location, close to major roads, right next to a town, got all the amenities too, so a definite maybe for 2021. Let’s see how the first event goes. What concerns me is that it might end up splitting the manufacturers – some might forsake Stoneleigh and go to Newark instead, rather than as well as, and with there not being that many manufacturers anyway compared to the Good Ole Days, it could end up with both shows being a bit sparse and peeps will stay away in droves.
All of which brings me to a new proposition. What with the rising status of our cars as desirable objects in their own right, the “kitcar” stigma they used to have has disappeared. Therefore, in line with that, maybe it’s time we moved away from kit car shows for our AGM? No reason we still can’t have a club stand at any of them, same as at Silverstone or wherever, but I’m thinking that for what it costs to hire the marquee etc. (about £570 + VAT this year), we could just as easily hold an AGM at a decent hotel somewhere…we’d have a proper room to hold the meeting in, with Regalia on sale/display either in the room or maybe the foyer, and obviously there’d be food and drink available on demand. We could even cater for people travelling a long way, with B&B if required, and that means we’re not necessarily stuck with holding it in the “central belt” of Britain. OK, I know there’d be no “show” to go and mooch round, and no cornucopia of good and bad cars to goggle/ogle at, but as I said, there’s no reason we still couldn’t have a club pitch at shows if people want that. And if we chose the right hotel, in the right location – say, Portmeirion, maybe? - that’d make for a good day out, surely?
Or, what about this – we run a joint AGM/Track Day? Could we jump in with some other track event and hire/use the briefing room for an hour or so for our AGM? Or even take the place over for our own use, if the price was right? (You wouldn’t have to come along in, or have to have, a Stratos to participate). Would anyone fancy coming along to that?
So what do we think? Pros? Cons? Do we stay with Stoneleigh this year, and investigate the hotel/track day idea for the future, or are we all committed to having the AGM at shows every time? Or, do we bite the bullet, and give an alternative a go in 2020?
Your views appreciated, ta!
One other thing before I go: the Northern Drive-Out for 2020. After last year’s superb bring-a-boat event, I said I’d re-run the same route again next year, so people might get a look at the scenery rather than the liquid stair-rods and small lakes in awkward places (I.e, the road) that made it so...err...wet.
However. After a bit of thought, I decided that staying at the same hotel 3 years on the trot was a bit much - so I’m going to try and put together a new route and location next time, and do the Kielder run again in 2021 or 22. If what I’m thinking of comes off, it’llbe a bit further north than before, and a bit shorter too, with more stop-off places, and a generally more relaxed air. Should still be spectacular, but I’m not saying anything else at this point cos I have to sort the hotel….but watch for news shortly!!
Right, let the multitudes speak…
….and oh, alright, to all SEC members around the world – Merry Happy New Christmas Year! (or whatever nomenclature does the biz for ya!)
Chairman Norm
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