Aircooled VW South Africa

Hi all,

As I'm part of the Cars in the Park, Pretoria Organising Committee, I would like to know from all that attended visitors or exhibitors or even vendors, what your experience of the day was. Please positive comments and negative comments, where we went well or where we can improve.

I am aware of the one problem that all VW members have, and that is that all the VW clubs should be parked together, we will definitely address that for next year.

Do you guys think the venue is suitable for this event or should we move it to a place like Pretoria Show Grounds??

Hey Korn
I like the fact that its at the track and that also give people a "natural" path as everyone just stroles around the track all day i love that about the place, i think that there was more than enouge toilets and food stalls and did not "want" anything in that department, i for one would think moving to a place like the show ground would not do it for me personally.
The only thing i would change in a perfect world is having a dedicated entrance/exit for cars on "show" we got stuck on our way in and out due to the volume of traffic and the older cars not having the best cooling for the traffic but like i said perfect world-
good job guys thank you !

Hey there,

I agree, having it at the track is a good choice, as Splitfan said, it gives a nice flow to things. It being my first time as an exhibitor, I really did enjoy it!

Thanks to all for a great day!

Neil

I love CITP at Zwartkops. I echo what everyone else has said. Great event!

The only thing you could do to improve it next year is order better weather.

My only suggestion for making better is move it to Cape Town so I can go as sounds like it was great!

At the risk of hijacking this thread, I humbly apologise in advance, I think Dutch is right. If Bloemfontein has one as well, why not Cape Town? I am going away now to start a thread about that because I got telling off for hijacking... Sorry BAB... but it wasn't just me...

Just so this isn't a complete hijack, from the hype before to the feedback after CIP, it sounds like the organisers are doing a great job!!

I missed the last two events due to work and are realy sorry.
But the show is great and its the right venue . Coming in and leaving was a problem-- dont know what it was like this time--
Maybe a bit more parking dicipline for the public. We were park in and had to leave much later then planned (200km pothole trip home).
Maybe some car toy things for the kids. Kids interest can only be kept for a short while then they need something else .
I see there were an old truck or two ---maybe bring in the old trucks and tractors for the farm boys.
But its the best car thing on the calender and we all wish to thank the organisers for it.
cheers
Baron

Venue must not be changed, better access for the Oldies (Aircooled VW's, not people) would be nice! Regarding kids getting bored, we bought our Daughter a couple of push scooters with handlebar brakes a few months ago, and she and her friend had a ball riding around with their own camera taking photos of their favorites! Well done Guys!

It was a great event.

On my Buggy I have a fire extinguisher and the hand held unit to program the Microtech management system. I kept an eye on it the whole time expecting someone to take a cheap shot at removing the items. Nothing happened.

Your idea of the food / beer stalls / toilets at the top and bottom part of the track is also great. Saves travel time.

My only complaint: driving my Buggy out of the grounds I got stuck in the traffic for about 45 minutes to get to the main road. Quite tricky in an aircooled Buggy with a ClutchNet clutch working like an on/off switch. Eventually I gave up and hauled out the A-frame and towed the buggy out.

But in general it is a great event. Well done!!!

I too love the venue - the show has grown since moving there.
I'd just like to see more classics at the classic racing events.....

Last year, we found exiting easier - this time it took ages to get out, also as there was not (yet) a pointsman on duty then.

Regarding the market section - possibly I'm the only one thinking this way, but personally I would group together all the food vendors in one area, and the other stalls together. I remember selling T-shirts & things at an event once, & close by there was a candy floss stall.... needless to say, some of the stock got sticky. On Sunday I found myself munching while trying to buy stickers & cloth patches - I hope not too many greasy fingerprints were left on their stock.

Well we love it there
Our bus even took us right up to the Drive through Beer table in the pits area
What is nice about the track the guys can drive around andshow off their cars aswell
The Staggerd barriers was one Hell of a good Idea for speedsters Like myself sometimes but then we just take other people in consideration and it is great to go on a BOOZE CROOZE and checkking out the other cars aswell parked around the track

Thanks
And Keep up the Great work that has gone in

I also think that If the Acsess to and from the Track can be simpliefyd for Particepants there will def be more Atendees at the show

No way of getting acsess from the back roads to the track for Visiters

When the R55 is eventually upgraded in 2011, then access to the track will be so much better.

I have to drive on that POS road every single day!!!!

The rear Erasmia entrance was also open on the day, much less traffic through there.

I agree that the track is a good venue...but one complaint is that the organisers should be stricter on what cars are on display...its a classic car event and I dont think the likes of a 'warm Nissan champ etc' is needed at this show.

Great event, but hey whats the difference between a 1972 Bug with a rotary engine in it and a 1972 Datsun 1200 (Nissan Champ) with a rotary engine in it? Give them some space in the sun, the Champ is a South African icon.

Thank you for the replies so far,

I can answer some questions for you guys;

1. Weather seems to catch us every second year,

2. With regards to traffic;
1) We hired people to organise the traffic inside Zwartkops (Not on the race track, marshalls did that), it was their first time there so not use to what to do, but it helped a lot,
2) Points man on the R55 is out of our hands, it's a national road and only the COPS are allowed to do with the traffic there what they want, we have tried every year to organise the speedcops there, maar hulle vee hulle gatte aan ons af.
3)The Erasmia exit is open every year, but people seem to be to afraid to travel 200m dirt road with their vehicles.
REGARDS TO TRAFFIC - WE HAVE TRIED EVERYTHING IN OUR POWER TO MAKE IT WORK

3. The reason why we are possible looking at a new venue:
1)The upgrade of the R55 in the next two years, (infront of zwartkops) is gonna make traffic just worse, if not impossible.
2)This year there wasn't any dust, but if there is you should hear the guys complain about the dust on their polished cars.
3)When all the exhibitors start leaving a few stay behind and think that the track is a racetrack all of a sudden, and then try and get those people off the track, it's impossible!!!! I personally have been threatened, vloeked and almost bliksemed. Not a nice feeling for a marshall after a hard day's work. I'm just waiting for the day some speedster hits a pedestrian....
4)We need a bigger work force for the day, out of Pretoria Old Motor Club (300 odd members), 30 signed up to help and out of that 15 pitched to help the day, quite amazing of 15 guys to keep the masses in order if u ask us.

4. In regards to the mods on the track, every year we try and keep them off, but ones again, you dare tell a guy with a classic that his wife that's behind him with the mod may not enter, and the sea won't be able to wash you clean.

5. In regards to vendor stalls, we give out of good faith, the vendors stalls to PMC (Pretoria Motor Club), not the same club as POMC (Pretoria OLD Motor Club), they handle the stalls and every year there is a balls up with that. Out of our hands.

6. With regards to classic cars exhibiting, we invite every club on the pamphlet, it's up to them if they want to come and enjoy the day with us. We can't do anything if the clubs don't pitch, due to weather or politics or whatever.


We had approximately 9000 visitors through the gates!
And approximately 2000 classic vehicles.