nakamichi
15-11-2010, 06:18 PM
I stupidly decided to go to the Classic Car show/Top Gear Live at the NEC yesterday.
I had never been to the NEC before so was a bit surprised to find I had to park about 3 miles (ish) away from the venue and pay £8 for the privilege.
They do lay on a "free" shuttle bus but as there were about 300 people trying to get onto one bus it seemed prudent to just hike up the arena with all the other sheep.
Once there I was relieved of £20 to enter the Classic Car show.
Now,this was pretty good in terms of the amount of cars on display and the numerous stalls,however the experience was somewhat marred by the hordes of people milling around like headless chickens which meant it was almost impossible to get anywhere at any sort of speed.Frequently,it was easier to turn around and "go with the flow".
It was very difficult to actually stand still and look at anything without being in someones way.After a couple of hours I thought I would go and have a look at the MPH stands and Top Gear Live.
Another £25 please sir.
This is where it got really soul destroying.
The whole Top Gear mission was to extract as much money as possible through the merchandise stands.
£45 for a Top Gear hoodie? I wouldn't want one anyway,or an "I am the Stig" T-Shirt but that is not the point.
Now,45 minutes before the Top Gear show started we were tannoyed to make our way to the show.Everyone decided they need the toilet beforehand.I have not seen queues like it since the bread queues during the height of the communist regime in Moscow.I do not exaggerate when I say there were about 200 people queuing,and the womens queue was even longer.
Anyway,after being "herded" (and I use that word because it was exactly what it felt like) into the show and taking up my seat with about as much legroom as the rear seats of a 200sx,I found myself sitting next to a fat scouser that had decided to bring all his shopping in with him and balance it on his knees.
Waiting for the show to start (20 mins) the screens showed the advert for Clarksons new DVD no less that 5 times along with Hammonds online quiz app.
I wont bore you with the details of the actual show,suffice to say that once you have seen one car driving around a stage the size of half a football pitch,you have seen them all.
The show was alright but you ain't missing much if you haven't seen it.All the usual Top Gear stuff like cool wall,car football,stupid cars made of household appliances and stunt drivers and about 10 mins of Clarkson,Hammond and May shoved in between.
After the show (75 mins) I made my way back into the main hall and attempted to have a look round.Unfortunately,every stand was mobbed by chavs drooling over Evos,Imprezas etc.
I decided to take my leave and beat the lemmings out of the car park.
After being relieved of £1.80 for a bottle of luke warm Pepsi I yomped back to the car.
In all honesty,the drive to and from the event was infinitely more enjoyable than the event itself.Top Gear have gone right down in my estimation.Just a massive marketing activity designed to make as much cash as possible.Clarkson must be close to being a millionaire for christ sake.Does he really need to prostitute himself like this?
I went on my own but a family of 4 would have easily found themselves about £200 down for the day.
It just isn't worth it in my opinion.
Needless to say,I will be sticking to the local,low key car shows in future,where there are real enthusiasts and it costs sod all to go.
Rant over:)
I had never been to the NEC before so was a bit surprised to find I had to park about 3 miles (ish) away from the venue and pay £8 for the privilege.
They do lay on a "free" shuttle bus but as there were about 300 people trying to get onto one bus it seemed prudent to just hike up the arena with all the other sheep.
Once there I was relieved of £20 to enter the Classic Car show.
Now,this was pretty good in terms of the amount of cars on display and the numerous stalls,however the experience was somewhat marred by the hordes of people milling around like headless chickens which meant it was almost impossible to get anywhere at any sort of speed.Frequently,it was easier to turn around and "go with the flow".
It was very difficult to actually stand still and look at anything without being in someones way.After a couple of hours I thought I would go and have a look at the MPH stands and Top Gear Live.
Another £25 please sir.
This is where it got really soul destroying.
The whole Top Gear mission was to extract as much money as possible through the merchandise stands.
£45 for a Top Gear hoodie? I wouldn't want one anyway,or an "I am the Stig" T-Shirt but that is not the point.
Now,45 minutes before the Top Gear show started we were tannoyed to make our way to the show.Everyone decided they need the toilet beforehand.I have not seen queues like it since the bread queues during the height of the communist regime in Moscow.I do not exaggerate when I say there were about 200 people queuing,and the womens queue was even longer.
Anyway,after being "herded" (and I use that word because it was exactly what it felt like) into the show and taking up my seat with about as much legroom as the rear seats of a 200sx,I found myself sitting next to a fat scouser that had decided to bring all his shopping in with him and balance it on his knees.
Waiting for the show to start (20 mins) the screens showed the advert for Clarksons new DVD no less that 5 times along with Hammonds online quiz app.
I wont bore you with the details of the actual show,suffice to say that once you have seen one car driving around a stage the size of half a football pitch,you have seen them all.
The show was alright but you ain't missing much if you haven't seen it.All the usual Top Gear stuff like cool wall,car football,stupid cars made of household appliances and stunt drivers and about 10 mins of Clarkson,Hammond and May shoved in between.
After the show (75 mins) I made my way back into the main hall and attempted to have a look round.Unfortunately,every stand was mobbed by chavs drooling over Evos,Imprezas etc.
I decided to take my leave and beat the lemmings out of the car park.
After being relieved of £1.80 for a bottle of luke warm Pepsi I yomped back to the car.
In all honesty,the drive to and from the event was infinitely more enjoyable than the event itself.Top Gear have gone right down in my estimation.Just a massive marketing activity designed to make as much cash as possible.Clarkson must be close to being a millionaire for christ sake.Does he really need to prostitute himself like this?
I went on my own but a family of 4 would have easily found themselves about £200 down for the day.
It just isn't worth it in my opinion.
Needless to say,I will be sticking to the local,low key car shows in future,where there are real enthusiasts and it costs sod all to go.
Rant over:)