CSS'14 peoples opinions and experience

[Dan@SJM]

Just thought I'd start a thread for people to relay their feelings/experiences of the show.

For me, ultimately it was a bit disappointing, and having spoken to a few people I think that was the general feeling too. It didn't seem to be well catered for (if you like pork and ice cream you're fine), but for my OH who doesn't like pork, we had to leave site to get some food for her. It felt a bit like we were closed in, couldn't really wander off to look around due to the gypsy fights that were brewing (and breaking out on our patch)

Maybe somewhere like Combe next (where you can hire the circuit too?) will attract a lot more people to the show I think. I certainly feel I made the wrong decision to go to CSS over origine RS.

 

[ben_r1]

They can hardly be held accountable for the pikeys invading CSS, how were they to know?

Agree with food comment, I tried the pork but it was horrible so binned that and didn't eat til the way home. As for the show I enjoyed it, being closed in to our own little community meant you had little choice but to be social all day and I met some great members for the first time and had a fantastic time.

Also I smashed the spider wall climb, bottom to top in under a minute

 

[Dan@SJM]

Another point to add, is the amount of drug use going on, do people really feel the need to do it out in public? I hate to think that some of those were probably drivers too.

 

[Dan@SJM]

They can hardly be held accountable for the pikeys invading CSS, how were they to know?

Agree with food comment, I tried the pork but it was horrible so binned that and didn't eat til the way home. As for the show I enjoyed it, being closed in to our own little community meant you had little choice but to be social all day and I met some great members for the first time and had a fantastic time.

Also I smashed the spider wall climb, bottom to top in under a minute

Read the trip advisor reviews

But, yes I agree they aren't accountable for the fight breaking out. But it was well handled by our resident copper

As a positive, the segways are cool.
Ahh, were you the guy with the recaro pram? Didn't get to talk but my gf was pointing it out lol.

 

[Ricardos]

My honest opinion, to drive a 100 miles to a park up on a plot of grass within a campsite...... Poor location

Activites, average, catered for people who have children fair enough but that's about it. There didn't seem to be as many Clios attending this year like at Duxford. At least Duxford you could see all the planes on site, have a good wander about between the hangers.

I'll say it again, why don't CS hire a track venue? I used to be in RTOC, a smaller club but still had a National Day that could hire Mallory Park track. THis location was big enough to cater for many cars that could either go on track or park up and show and shine. You could camp the Friday and Saturday then if you choose to you could stay the Sunday to watch the racing. It's fairly central in location, a track that isn't too technical for people wanting to go out on track as beginners , novices.

I appreciate the effort into organising the event itself, i feel the location let it down for me. A few of my mates went to Origine RS, i wish i went after seeing all the photos.

 

[Sunglasses_Ron]

Sorry if anyone was alarmed/pissed off by the presence of the travelling community yesterday . We obviously had no idea that we would have them rock up right next to the event.

The security here were pretty toothless but I don't see how 3 of them could of evicted our travelling friends on their own.

Apparently local police bottled it and didn't want to get involved with assisting security with getting them off the site.

I hope everyone that attended didn't have their day completely ruined by them?

I felt that apart from about an hour when they were causing problems in the afternoon it went quite well and people seemed to be enjoying it?

We will sit down today and discuss what happened and come up with a way of making sure it doesn't happen next year. The issues raised regarding catering will definitely be addressed.

We already have a few ideas of having a completely private site for CSS15 and I hope that you all won't be put off coming after yesterday's shenanigans.

RDR

 

[seb]

Feedback is allowed, but only certain feedback.

 

[VikkiB]

As Dan mentioned for me it was a little disappointing not having any other catering, and being 20wks pregnant I need my food, lol.

I felt let the entertainment such as segways and laser tag was a great idea, the DJ too all be it at times the music was so loud you couldn't hear others in your party.

I think the size of venue was incredible but this time not needed, and as other people from campsite could wonder around the cars too and unfortunately a lot of gypsy children on bikes very close to some very nice cars (without any cause for concern) I think they need somewhere that's a little more privatised, and possible vehicle based (beaulieu??). I think it was poorly planned being a bank holiday weekend, (some of the southwest group had a 9 hour journey due to the traffic) and then to be told that if they didn't arrive by 9 they weren't allowed in. So they'd have to find a layby or something to camp in.

I did have a good time, I thought the turnout was a little poor, even more so with people leaving by 2pm.

 

[Dan@SJM]

Sorry if anyone was alarmed/pissed off by the presence of the travelling community yesterday . We obviously had no idea that we would have them rock up right next to the event.

The security here were pretty toothless but I don't see how 3 of them could of evicted our travelling friends on their own.

Apparently local police bottled it and didn't want to get involved with assisting security with getting them off the site.

I hope everyone that attended didn't have their day completely ruined by them?

I felt that apart from about an hour when they were causing problems in the afternoon it went quite well and people seemed to be enjoying it?

We will sit down today and discuss what happened and come up with a way of making sure it doesn't happen next year. The issues raised regarding catering will definitely be addressed.

We already have a few ideas of having a completely private site for CSS15 and I hope that you all won't be put off coming after yesterday's shenanigans.

RDR

I wouldn't say it was ruined no, it was more of adding to the general feeling I think. I did have a good day socially, but I think I'd have enjoyed it more if it was in a different location, with some track action maybe.

 

[Sunglasses_Ron]

Chip, this is a thread entitled CSS'14 people's opinions and experiences. Your posts was about OrigineRS. You've already started a thread on that.

With all due respect you weren't at CSS so I fail to see how you can have an opinion on how it went?

You'll notice that people who were at CSS haven't had posts deleted.

Yes we know it didn't go quite to plan (out of our control) and I promise we will address all issues raised and it will be much better next year.

RDR

 

[Sunglasses_Ron]

Feedback is allowed, but only certain feedback.

We will accept all feedback about CSS as long as it's from people that were actually there

 

[Chip-mk1]

We will accept all feedback about CSS as long as it's from people that were actually there

So people who attend each year normally but didnt attend this year shouldnt mention why? You dont think its useful feedback to know why so many people didnt go?

 

[VikkiB]

I already knew there would be pikeys/gypsy on site as I was reading reviews in trip advisor, and about 4 of the first 6 I read mentioned this common factor. I was also concerned that a lot of the reviews also mentioned how if it rains the site flooded, some campers even evacuated during the night. So I'm pleased the weather held off.

I don't think I have been put off, and I'll certainly go again next year as it's good to see so many new faces and catch up with old ones.

I'm just glad Dan and I had booked a hotel nearby, as one of friends had such a bad night camping took off around 1pm on the Saturday.

 

[jon_r]

Chip, you've made your point now, but please, for the love of god, give it a rest.

 

[Sunglasses_Ron]

This thread is neither about OrigineRS or you Chip

Keep it on topic please mate and put your OrigineRS stuff in your thread

Cheers

 

[seb]

I reckon chip will probably post again. Just a hunch.

 

[Ianboom]

First of all, many thanks to those who organised the event. It must have taken a lot of time and effort.

I have a 9 year old who loved all the free stuff and spent most of the afternoon on them.

Food for me was fine, but I'm not a veggie or pregnant!

The venue was OK, but I cringed when some none cs members were leaning on the bonnet of Williams and trying the doors of the raider and V6. It also worried me with the kids on bikes, especially as I had a pedal type dent in my door from tesco's car park. My son wanted to bring his scooter but I wouldn't let him in case he got to close to anybody's car.

Can't believe the pikeys were allowed in the park, tossers (I'm biased in not liking them as I was knocked of my motorbike by one and left for dead on the middle of the road).

I liked the Gaydon CSS meets, but Duxford was my fave.

Mallory or similar would be fun as a venue??

Once again, thanks to those who organised it and hopefully see you in 2015!

Ian.

 

[Tim.]

I reckon chip will probably post again. Just a hunch.

That's a pretty childish bait, quite unnecessary in my opinion.

 

[Dan@SJM]

Another thing that was mentioned by a few members, was the lack of interaction from admin/staff/(directors ) to the members. RDR was making the effort to come over and have a chat, which was nice to see. But majority of them would walk past as if we weren't there. Even when I was leaving, I popped over to the admin tent to say good bye, and everyone bar RDR dispersed.. We are all paying members, and paid to attend (some more than others ) a little bit of interaction wouldn't go amiss.

Not trying to be negative, but constructive criticism

 

[Tom]

That's a pretty childish bait, quite unnecessary in my opinion.

Bait of a bait?

Anyway was going to come and had bought tickets. But had other things to deal with plus the fact id got a few messages about pikeys. But this is risk you take with billing.

 

[seb]

I'm waiting for xzibit to bait your bait within a bait.

 

[VikkiB]

I agree Ian it must've taken all a long time to organise and get set up, and I can only praise them but I feel it was a little bit a shambles on dates and location. Other than that like I said I had a good time.

 

[Gally]

Things that size aren't always perfect but I hope people realise CS had the best of intentions, location, size etc. Can't be easy. Duxford sounded really good tbf.

Any major reason for the change guys?

 

[AlexW]

I think I left around 3ish yesterday (Saturday) as I was bored, If it hadn't been for the people or the raffle/trophys I would have left earlier.

I camped Friday night after helping the admin set up, which I will say, is a crap job but its soemthing I've done for years with other forums, so didn't mind and was well cared for. I would have happily helped with packing up if I had stayed.

I didn't have a problem with the pikeys, just stayed away from them. I did laugh as one of them in a yellow shirt pretended to be billing staff or something and ask if we had tickets, and somebody mentioned somebody asked for their wristband so he could get food....

If I hadn't of been coming back from Wales, I probably would have avoided CSS entirely, and I only stayed due to friends.

A track would be brilliant, I know its expensive, but theres not a lot of entertainment that CS can put on, unless its already onsite like Duxford was.

 

[Owen92]

First of all, thank you to everyone that played a part in organising the event.

I thought it was a pretty good day out. But for me it was about spending the day with people I hadn't seen in a while.

The activities were ok, the best being the Segways and the laser tag. It's a shane the zip line never turned up because the replacement slide was ok but the zorbs definitely weren't designed for adults, as I proved by almost getting stuck getting out of one. The racing simulator was terrible though. 6 players on a game, what I believe was F1 2012, with full assists on, including automatic braking and racing line along with no collisions, is not a simulator at all and left me feeling extremely disappointed with that.

The layout itself was good, although the incident that has already been discussed highlights the need for the event to be segregated from non event goers. The food was nice and definitely makes a change from the overpriced food at previous shows and the big marquee was definitely a good idea.

 

[Gally]

Why the want for a track! It's a social event! I may be in the minority but I can't think of anything worse at CSS.

 

[sbridgey]

Why the want for a track! It's a social event! I may be in the minority but I can't think of anything worse at CSS.

Same, if you want a trackday go to one of the Burpspeed days.

 

[Dan@SJM]

Why the want for a track! It's a social event! I may be in the minority but I can't think of anything worse at CSS.

Have you been to a track day? As that's a social event too. A lot of us have track orientated cars, so why not have a track day with all clio's?

 

[Bluebeard]

Why the want for a track! It's a social event! I may be in the minority but I can't think of anything worse at CSS.

If there was a Friday/Saturday thing where people could do track time on a Friday, camp Friday night, socialise saturday, all go home Saturday night, then it would succeed massively.
£20 a ticket for the Saturday, £125 for Friday and Saturday incl track day.

Cheap track day, piss up, camping, socialising, it's all win win.

My apologies for commenting in this thread I know I wasn't there but I felt I had enough pictures and texts sent time last night I may as well have been! Lol.

 

[Sunglasses_Ron]

Dan@SJM

Was lovely to see you and VickiB again mate you're both really top people and I enjoyed having a natter

When you came over to say bye mate the other admins were really busy getting everything packed away.

It had been a really busy day and we had all been up since about half 6 so we were all cream crackered.

 

[Fletcher]

Have you been to a track day? As that's a social event too. A lot of us have track orientated cars, so why not have a track day with all clio's?

I agree. I think the annual CS event should be a track day, but can't ever see that happening personally.

 

[..Jack..]

If there was a Friday/Saturday thing where people could do track time on a Friday, camp Friday night, socialise saturday, all go home Saturday night, then it would succeed massively.
£20 a ticket for the Saturday, £125 for Friday and Saturday incl track day.

Cheap track day, piss up, camping, socialising, it's all win win.

My apologies for commenting in this thread I know I wasn't there but I felt I had enough pictures and texts sent time last night I may as well have been! Lol.

I know other clubs have used Blyton Park before and the track lot go off to the track then a show and shine is parked up on the grass with a few bits like how fast can you change a car then everyone else parks up on another section of grass! Sorry for commenting as I wasn't there but it's just an idea

 

[Sunglasses_Ron]

There's no issues with people that didn't go responding in here ffs lol

Chips comments were deleted because he went off on an OrigineRS tangent. There's already a thread for that.

All comments in here will be raised at our debrief today.

All options will be looked at for CSS'15

RDR

 

[Addicted]

I think for me the first thing that was a little frustrating were the tiny sign posts on the way in - we had a convoy coming in, so my focus was on the car in front - we all naturally got lost and ended up somewhere in the park far far away, and eventually found CSS after about 15min (I also got lost getting out too, but that was because some pikeys were standing in front of the Way Out sign which I realised the second time around when they'd moved).

The next thing - obviously the pikeys - for me it's a shame, but it only echos that we need an event location away from the gen pop because they don't share the same passion for cars we do. I'm glad they didn't kick off, it would have been easy for them to take it out on a car - and as RDR says the police/staff at the park were not man enough to eject them, so that could have been real bad.

I didn't go to last year, but went to both years at Gaydon and I think having something else to do (in this case a Museum) was pretty good. Granted, there were attractions at CSS such as the segways and laser tag etc, but that's more for the younger audience or peoples' kids. I think what didn't help too is that the attractions also had prices for non-CSS members - which is why we had the pikeys in the event in the first place. If it was purely CSS people only then we wouldn't have had the pikeys come in tbh.

Overall it was pretty good, but lacked in some areas.


I wanted the pikeys to kick off when they were speaking to RDR, and him to then floor one of them but sadly this didn't happen - they certainly picked the wrong person to talk to though lol!

 

[Fletcher]

There's no issues with people that didn't go responding in here ffs lol

Chips comments were deleted because he went off on an OrigineRS tangent. There's already a thread for that.

All comments in here will be raised at our debrief today.

All options will be looked at for CSS'15

RDR

I didn't go off on a OrigineRS tangent, yet my posts were deleted from this thread?

 

[.GAZ.]

Why the want for a track! It's a social event! I may be in the minority but I can't think of anything worse at CSS.

Spoken by someone that's never done a trackday in their life lol. If it was a track scenario, I'd probably attend tbh. We do Knockhill all the time and there's always plenty of interaction.

 

[jon_r]

I didn't go off a OrigineRS tangent, yet my posts were deleted from this thread?

My bad:

... but regardless of dates wouldn't have gone to CSS this year. I had no interest driving all the way to Leisure park in Northampton and look at some 1*2s parked in a field surrounded by pikeys.

Really was a great contribution to a thread asking for feedback.

 

[TimR26]

We will accept all feedback about CSS as long as it's from people that were actually there

So you don't care about the opinions of members that didn't attend?

Great way of finding out how you can change CSS so more members attend next year.

To encourage feedback I'd set up a SurveyMonkey that everyone can complete and maybe offer a prize draw as an incentive.

 

[Darius]

Overall id say I enjoyed my first CSS and would go again. It was great to meet some new people and catch up with some other people I hadnt seen in a while! I also enjoyed the convoy up, which i suppose is nothing to do with CSS but never-the-less still enjoyed it. Activities were good and when you're paying £7 a ticket and getting a sand which for that I don't think it was too bad. The food for me was fine - but I'm not fussy lol.

A pikey came and asked me for my wristband to get some food and Loz H also lol! But this isn't CS' fault at all!

I agree with Addicted about getting lost due to the tiny sized sign! A convoy also started following our convoy so 30 odd clios driving round billing was quite funny!

I think the admin stayed in their tent quite a bit rather than getting out and saying hi

And the location was a bit meh but it's only 45 min drive for me so not fussed people who have driven hours may be of a different opinion? I didn't go last year but something like that with all the planes etc I think would be much better! As you can only stand and talk about clios for so long imo and that's not a whole day

But I and most of the people I went with enjoyed it I think

Edit: raffle was also good, won prize wooo!

 

[MarkCup]

A car meet is not a car meet in my opinion unless you can smell burnt tyres and brakes which adds to the ambience. Track action also generates interaction between members as evidenced at the Llandow day on Wednesday.

If there was track activity of some sort I'd be there.