ace01 wrote:I think both Marks have summed up this situation well.
I have organised the show for the past three years and a couple of times before that. I never cease to be amazed by the number of people who think that it could have been done better or differently. Where were you when help was needed? You just sit back at your keyboards and come out with a complete lack of understanding of what it takes.
I have not enjoyed the last three years of Beaulieu, I dread the weeks leading upto the event and especially the day itself, partially because of the absolute rubbish that gets bandied around afterwards and partly because of some of the idiots who create problems before and on the day. The lack of response to requests for cars, and manpower is depressing and then to hear some of the 'experts' views after the event...well.
For the record, James Martin is an undoubted attraction, the evidence being the number of people who come into the arena to hear him being interviewed. That is a simple fact and a product of the modern world. The fact that he is an enthusiast of our cars is a bonus and he has taken his time to come to our show.
As for the BMW MINIs, like or not they have been a fixture for the last 12 or 13 years and will not go away. The number of classic minis is decreasing by the day, at the very least having the BMW MINI at our show helps pay some of the cost. Many of those owners also go on to buy classics.
I will say no more on the subject as it just adds to the feeling of why did I bother.
well said on all points
at the end of the day, jm is a celebrity, and to many people in this day and age, probably more interesting than paddy hopkirk (certainly to younger mini owners who have no interest in the old stuff, i also bet more wives and girlfriends got excited by him been there than 'some old rally bloke'), and its only right that he is treated as such by the mcr - he gave his own time to bring his collection of cars - and for people to suggest that they 'should be on 'q' plates, or in the case of the Ferrari, should be parked in the normal car park, just underlines the petty envy mentality that seems to be on the rise in the classic mini world, and has shown up in this thread.
the guy has decided to put him money where is heart is and buy a couple of really nice minis and use them, not hide them away in a private collection - he should be applauded for this.
i don't know the guy, or really have any concept of how famous he is (don't watch t.v...), but was parked next to him at brands next year and watched how he was mithered none stop all day by people wanting to have pictures taken, talk to him, touch him - he never got a second to himself, yet remained in good spirits all day.
i cannot believe that people are still crying on about bmw minis, get over it, they have been making them for long enough. they don't interest me one bit, but instead wittering on, i just walk past them, just like i do with mini clubmans, or mpis
as for minisport charging for hopkirk signatures, at the end of they day, they have entered into an agreement with paddy hopkirk to market his branded stuff, so he must be happy with the arrangement - he is an asset to them and they will be looking to get a return, and he is probably happy with the payments he gets, at the end of the day, it costs a large business like minisport a lot of money to do a show, so they will need to maximise profit to cover the costs of going to a show like this.
im afraid to say that the valueless moaning from some on this thread just underlines why my interest in minis has taken such a nose dive in the last 12 months - currently, for the first time in nearly 20 years i don't even have a mini with an mot........
please note, these are my own, individual sales, nothing whatsoever to do with my employer, minispares
although i think that next year, the tent will have to go in favour of a nice warm room! 
