RIAC National Classic Car show

Blue850

I was there today, some super stuff inside, but needs more space.





















More photos here

w124man

Aha .... the Landcruiser that was restored down in Ferns by Mister Hynes

JP 1800

I went to the show today and I did enjoy the selection of cars on view but the event organisation was piss poor, many people could not find the venue in the first place with poor signage to the hall for those who do not know the RDS and many people asking grumpy staff for directions. The hall was too small for that type of event and more parts suppliers would be welcome, I go to these shows to firstly view the cars and secondly to buy bit and pieces. The bike shows are a better format, lets hope the next one is an improvement.

Agricola

Went yesterday for a couple of hours. Didnt feel the ticket prices were warranted for the size of the show, on the steep side. It felt very cramped for the amount of stuff packed in there, you were always tripping over people as you moved around. Just glad I didnt have to fork out more for parking too. That said, some very rare and impressive stuff on display you wont see in any rain sodden field this summer!

carchaeologist

I went yesterday, heres my view.
*The best collection of Irish cars under one roof ever assembled.
*Yes, it was small, but being its first year im sure they were playing it safe. Crowd numbers seemed very high yesterday.
*The entry price wasnt particularly expensive for the quality of the cars on display IMO. The hall was extremely expensive to hire for the duration of the show.
*The food selection there was extremely poor.
*The Guiness was very tasty..
*Autojuble/trade stands were poor too, but its just not an Irish thing to have decent stands at shows.
*The 250 free spaces outside seemed quite undersubscribed yesterday at least, though what was there was quite interesting. Was it buisier on the Sunday?
*Parking and coach parking seemed adequate.

Anyone else spot the abysmal registration ruining this DS convertible...;)
(its Blue850s pic)

okistag

WDB123 wrote: »

some come clean you are something to do with the show,you make it sound great which its not,its OK at best at a €5

WDB123, "SOME COME CLEAN" I dont like what your suggesting at all..

I had nothing to do with the show at all..

A person asked a question about were there 60 / 70 / 80's cars there all i did was reply to them as I had been there on all the days! hows does that make me have any to do with the show!! It doesnt. How ever I wished I did!!

Besides what is said by a very small few on here, just talking to alot of people I know, whom I met at the show all loved it and hope its repeated.

Really what your saying is cost!! well maybe that will change over the years as the show gains support. This I am sure it will.

I attend many shows here and the UK some further away. Often I cover them on photographic and video, this is for me as many will have seen over the years as I have posted them on here.

The RIAC and its sponsors put on an excellent 1st show, a huge well done and thank you from me and I am sure many others.

To me it was a show with some class, and an amazing collection of cars on show also a show that will grow over the years and something we Irish can be very proud of.

I will post some photos tomorrow and maybe a short video clip.

Wow you would make one scared to any answer a question on the forum!!

Well done to all involved and thank you.

hi5

carchaeologist wrote: »

Anyone else spot the abysmal registration ruining this DS convertible...;)
(its Blue850s pic)

I think it kind of suits it in that case, being french and all.

911s

Price of parking at RDS on top of entry price has always been an issue. A lot of
expensive metal on view, well worth entry fee. Show seems to be aimed at the
general public ( to increase revenue) as opposed to die hard vintage fans hence
absence of trade stands etc.
Agree with a previous poster about narrow isles/lack of space. This
was not helped by Mr's Connolly, Cameron & VW displaying some of their current
modern stocklist at what was supposed to be a classic & vintage show. If I feel the
need to buy modern 911 or Aston Martin I will visit their showrooms, will not have
to pay entry fee or parking and let them supply the overpriced coffee!!

carchaeologist

Agreed about the modern stuff, it annoys me to see cars i can see in any showroom at a show i have paid money to go into..
Unless there was a sponsorship deal on its a bit silly.

steveone

I enjoyed the show I have to say, some absolutely perfect motors there..fast fords. gull wing mercs and even an integrale. the barber quartet annoyed me slightly. as did the vw stand, flogging the new golf and scirrocco..but other than that I'll go next year..
I was a bit surprised at the lack of services on display, ie works equip etc..I thought there'd be more. as far as the car park is concerned every show I've ever been to in this country the car park was nearly better than the main area...its a credit to lads keeping cars.

WDB123

"Wow you would make one scared to any answer a question on the forum!!"

you asked me Why i thought it was expensive,I told you and you keep it going,you must scare easy, its conversation
by the way you kept saying how great it was I thought you were part of the show,my mistake
I apoligise

If you thought it was good,good for you,if some people didnt,theres no big deal,
its a forum and people express their opinions i can understand all points of view
I still stand by my opinions (and I to have travelled to many countries in europe to attend shows)
I still feel there is massive room for improvement

PyeContinental

I find myself simultaneously agreeing with both points of view expressed so far about the quality of the exhibition. I was there today with my dad. As you might expect, he is better able to appreciate the cars from the 40s, 50s and 60s than I would. For me, I'd be more interested in stuff from the 70s, 80s and 90s. So, you would think that the range as listed by Okistag would mean that there would be plenty for both of us to be interested in, but we both felt somehow underwhelmed a bit by the exhibition.

There was the issue of not enough space for some exhibits and too much floor space wasted for seating in the centre and for the BMW, Bentley and Porsche exhibits, and certain choke points where the pathway was too small at the area near the Fiat X1/9s and minis. I also didn't understand why there were modern Porsches, Bentleys, a Golf, and a Fiesta rally car, and didn't feel they had any business being there.

It might sound strange, but I also think that part of my problem could be that I prefer to see cars under natural light. Under artificial light, the cars lose something of their appeal to me. and I'm not quite sure why. However, that's obviously going to be the same for any indoor exhibition.

Perhaps the weather had something to do with my feeling of disappointment, as we were looking forward to checking out the car park to see what the enthusiasts out there had come along in. I had a feeling that I might see cars that would interest me more out there. It's might sound funny to say, but this Fiat 131 I saw just before I went in was probably the car that I was most pleased to see today:


The rain was so heavy though that we would have been drenched if we had gone around the car park for a look, so we missed out on what else might have been there.

By the way, I think that the very same Lancia Trevi which was on display indoors today was driving home on the N11 in front of me this evening. Consistent with my theory about cars indoors versus out in the wild (roaming free!), it gave me a huge thrill to drive behind it for a while



PS - I agree that the range of food wasn't great, and it was a bit over priced (9 quid for a pork sandwich and a coke). I suppose for a captive audience, that's probably to be expected anywhere.

okistag

All I was saying, classic car show held in a venue like the RDS was a brave move, due to the actual cost of putting an event like it together. Hats off to the RIAC.

In time as is grows who knows maybe it will become as big a show as the NEC and they may get the international support that the UK shows get now that they have been established so long.

When we are negative towards the show as a whole (due to the finer details which will be ironed out I would guess over time) its not good. As negative press spreads faster than the good as we all know.

I also agree a classic and vintage show should not have the latest models on display unless, a stand is showing the first and latest theme maybe. Again also cost issue who knows maybe the garages who were in attendance helped great in making it happened at the RDS.. who knows I don't for sure.

Give it a chance guys that's all I am saying.

SilverBullet

I was at the show both days, loved it, I think the fact it was indoors helped bring out the rarer stuff. I would agree that €15 was a little pricey, but hopefully next year it will be bigger and better value.

PS to say that the DS Decapotable is "ruined" by the number plate is a little harsh!! Appreciate the car not the number.

Ed

conor2469

I was at this yesterday. I really enjoyed it. There was a great selection of cars on display. Whilst I felt the 15 euro entrance fee was a bit expensive at first, I soon forgot about that when I saw the calibre of cars being displayed.

I agree with everyones opinions regarding the modern cars on display, if I wanted to look at a 131 TDi Golf I would've stood out on the side of the N11.

brucky

I attended on Saturday so got the good weather. Some nice rare cars on display. The hall was small but I expected that. Some of the modern exhibits didn’t really fit, however they filled in the space. The display of owners cars in the car park was good but slightly down on numbers. I would have thought that free parking and half price entry for all pre 1980 cars would encourage more owners.

okistag

Here are a few photos taken over the weekend, also the balance of photos can be found on my facebook page have a look in albums RIAC
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Jack-Epstein-Productions-Video-Photography/252414211540319

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I wonder why the photos are not showing up the thread aahhh!!

okistag

Silvera

I went to the show yesterday. My observations -

- Signage!
Where was it???
What is with Irish shows (general Irish mentality?) when it comes to signage? i.e. usually no signage put up at all?! Organisers seem to think 'ah sure dont people know where the rds is'. Yes, maybe, but people need to know which entrance to go to, to know if parking is available through that entrance? where to pay (at the gate or upon entering the building)? etc etc etc.
Surely the AA could have supplied signs along all major routes, and near the RDS?

- Cars on display
Great cars on display - but more needed. (IMO, the 1909 'Silver Stream' was the most interesting vehicle there - and should have been given its own stand/display area with blueprints etc on display boards alongside. It was built in Ireland, it's the ONLY one of its kind in the world, and displays County Kildare's first ever registration number - 'IO 1')
Hopefully more vehicles will be on display next year, perhaps two halls can be used - one for vehicles and one for trade stands?

- Outside Display
Great idea, but not enough vehicles.
Perhaps the weather went against the organisers on Sunday as there was a small selection of cars on display when I was leaving around 1.30pm. A few banners and flags would also work wonders to highlight the outdoors display area.

- Trade Stands / Autojumble
More needed as it adds interest to such shows.

- Price
The entry price was fair. (Though I didnt expect the €6 parking fee).
Hopefully the price can stay (nearly) the same next year for a larger event?!

Overall IMHO it was a very good show which just needs expanding/fine tuning to make it a great event next year. Well done to all involved!