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My comments will probably mostly cover what has already been said, but these are my thoughts and opnions.
Firstly - Yes a massive thanks and well done to the admins and staff for organising, despite varying things, I can say it has been a good weekend out!
Positives
Event site - Yes a large campsite has its benefits, good size pitch site, had all the facilities (ok with high usuage they aint the best and cleanist in the world, and you had to select your cubicle correctly, otherwise you got caught short!) But still you are sharing a toilet / shower block with 500+ other people + families.
Entertainment - Yes the lasertag segways and things were a nice touch, was fun, but yeh they can only be done a couple of times before you've been there done that. DJ was a nice touch. Food, I like a hog roast, but yeh it was abit short of choice.
Public visitors - Honestly I don't (to some degree) mind public people coming and having a look around cars. It opens the club up on a public front and also gives them something to look at. I think the entertainment providers profited nicely from the other campers.
Camping - Despite being cold, it was fine, was just with a group of memebers I know well already, as friends it was a good laugh! It was also nice to have drinks and a few chats with some of the other memebers who were staying, pleasure meeting all of you!
Location - Being fairly centeral, with decent enough motoway links means it's a doable distance (it would have to be more worthwhile to travel further)
Negatives
Unfortunaly there are a few!
Yes the gypsie travellers dont make it a particauly pleasent environment, and yes their deminar did bring a downer to the day, and a knockon to the camping as people were deterred from staying, but staying 2 nights and keeping ourselves to ourselves we didnt have any issue. That was out of anyones hands, and should be laid to rest there. Honeslty any camping area will probably have them, unless people want to pay full whack!
Due to the openess of the event it did allow public visitors to wonder around the display. As mentioned previously I do try and see this is a positive, but yes there is always the risk of damage and the kids on bikes, member of the public walking between them, risk or scratching etc. Again this is a thing that can only be minimised, and that is down to public around, most decent respectable people keep there distance but do look and admire the cars. There are the same issues at things like FCS.
Food- Lack of variety and portion sizes, for campers and people willing to travel long distances there was a poor selection and on a long day good food always goes down well!
Entertainment - Driving simualtor was dissapointed, if I had to pay to use it and then got that experince I would feel ripped off. Passed some time but the one at CSS'13 was better!
Date - Something that needs to be planned in, but clashing with another event, and a bank holiday weekend means commitments / traffic will easily put people off. It did feel smaller this year, and these are factors that influenced things.
I hate to put this one here, I dont want to get peoples backs up and things, I appreiacte what it takes to put on an event like this, to organise and do things throughout the day, but I found the Admin group disappointing. Even when sitting down to eat, several walked past a large group of us but didnt take 5 mins, even 1 minute to have chat, engage with the group of us. The only exception is Sunglasses_Ron, very nice to meet and chat to you and a worthy admin on here. But I cant say that for anyone else, why? Well, (yes I appreciate people were busy) but no one else seemed to want to chat or make an effort, even when we left, the only one to finish round, thank us for coming, shake our hands was Sunglasses_Ron, yes it has been a busy weekend, but that sort of thing a little goes a long way. But engaging with your members is the whole point of this event is it not? Just some food for thought.
I dont want the above to be a negative/ belittleing to the admins and the work they do, maybe I have a wrong opnion/image of what the admis on here should do, but that is something that has stood out for me, and for others.
Improvements
Dj - Honestly, an ipod on shuffle with a couple of largish speakers would probably suffice for some background music / a CS member that as a hobby likes to do abit of DJing
Names - Yes it is hard to walk up to some random strangers, who in some way you may know and try and talk to them, so a form of naming is required. Maybe not badgers but equally a T-shirt is included as part of the ticket price, with a couple of blank spaces with a marker pen for people to be able to write some info about themselves, name, forum name, location etc, so its easier to spark up a converstaion. Yes that is an increased cost, but if its included the steps to introduce and socialise people by the CS staff has been done, then its up to the members to do the rest. Also you can distinguish much easier who is a visitor and who is a member.
Public access - If it is in a public area, all you can do is tape areas off where the cars are, unfortaunly this does look like segregation and does ruin the opportunity for good photos. Or hire security to patrol the area etc, but thats gonna cost!
Food - A couple of extra vans to give some variety
Entertainment - I appreciate it is diffiuclt to try and find things that will entertain a variety of ages, from kids to adults. It also depends on the area where the event is held as to comapnies with equipement.
For event staff / admins - Make yourselves time slots to walk around, talk, engage with the members. Perhaps after some provisonal details for next year are there, ask if people would help out
On a personal note - I do find static shows, and especailly something like CSS can be very samey. Where you have a blend of action and static usually works well - ie FCS, etc. There doesn't have to be an obligation of going on track, but having that ability is no negative. Yes there is a cost implication, but there is certainly no harm in looking.
I reiterate again that these are my feelings and opnions! I have tried to be constructive and suggest some ways that perphas things can be improved or thought about.
Thanks again for organising
Cheers
Ed
