Smallwood Vintage Rally

[plateman]

It is still possible for genuine enthusiasts to put on an excellent show with top attractions (BBMF Hurricane Flypast + Dancing JCB's) and still only charge £5 a head with all children free.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/Smal...rally/?fref=ts

[jaz4928]

It was a cracking venue and everyone worked so hard to make everything go like clock work. Will be bringing my steam roller and Foden wagon again next year


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[plateman]

I think that this is worth a read...............

Quick review: To all our exhibitors, traders, visitors and guests...the Smallwood Team put on the show....but all of YOU made it the HUGE success that it was. We had a really big gate on the Saturday..then a massive crowd on the Sunday, it was heaving...overwhelming the car park, caterers and beer tent who all struggled to keep up.....yet, despite the same entertainment, Monday was our "calmest" day of the 3 but still good crowds.... this was the complete reverse of 2015, when the Sunday was our "calmer" day. So we've now learnt that this is totally unpredictable!!
We have been offered more acreage for 2017, which will ease the camping area and we will look at relocating the tractor pulling, they were delighted that so many low loaders full of vehicles arrived to pull, including tractors & the "monster van" .... this is now a huge established part of our rally, they need more space and a dedicated parking area and hopefully we will be floodlit night pulling in 2017. Pulling with the steam engine was just inspirational and amazing.....another first for Smallwood!!
The exhibitor entries in the military & 4x4 section quadrupled this year & they had a ball in their "play pen".... The Land Rover clubs intend to expand their sections in 2017.
The motorbikes & vintage caravans now need bringing more into the centre of events.
Our aim was to provide a show for families, with something for everyone..not just vintage vehicle enthusiasts. It was a huge success and the feedback received has been a total joy. Thank you so very much 😘👌👍👏👏👏👏👏👏
The sand pit was an inspiration and the Flypast and Dancing Diggers were amazing, supported by Audley Brass Band and the Birds of Prey.
The fire engine rides hugely popular and a great addition to our event, invited back for 2017 👍👍..... & the water bucket challenge goes from strength to strength!! The donkeys were having 2 weeks of rest after our show!
We have also had letters of appreciation from many local residents in Sandbach & Elworth about the road run...another huge success...and this will become another established part of our 2017 event, enjoyed thoroughly by those taking part & by the spectators along the route.
I heard no bad reports about any of the food on offer (except the queues on Sunday!) I certainly sampled much of it myself ....lol ....we had a nice variety available. Certainly the alcoholic iced cocktails were a big hit!!
As the show grows, I will look at fairly revising the price structure for trade pitches, more in line with other events and the actual frontage occupied, with a separate rate for Autojumblers selling 2nd hand goods...we had a fab Autojumble section and a super variety of trade stands who have all expressed their wishes to return in 2017.
Our biggest complaint last year were toilets. We took this on board immediately & I hope in 2016 everyone found them available and satisfactory, we had more of them and a dedicated cleaning team, certainly if any loo problem was brought to a stewards attention, the Andiloo boys (who were on site all weekend) went immediately to rectify it. We do need more Elsan points in 2017 & I have this noted.
Little Groan points (!!):
Showground movement: despite it being on all the paperwork and having clear signs on the show ground stating "no vehicle movement between 10am and 4pm" I was still somewhat frustrated by the number of requests. At 2pm, on a packed Sunday afternoon, we simply cannot allow you to drive through the crowds because you need to go to work!! Out of respect for our event, PLEASE park on the public car park in future, if you need to get in or out during show hours. No vehicle movement (except emergency vehicles or the stewards buggy), will be enforced in 2017 to protect the future of our event and the safety and comfort of our guests.
Exhibitor camping: the one pitch per exhibit guideline was somewhat flouted by a small minority, "4 big tents for 1 tractor exhibit" was unfair to other guests and giving the volunteer stewards abuse when this was pointed out, will not be tolerated under any circumstances. Also, if the stewards ask you to camp in a different location than in previous years, giving them a tirade of f's and abuse because of it, will also no longer be tolerated. These were small isolated incidents amongst the hundreds of " campers" but enough to cause distress to our stewards who volunteer their time & were there to help you have a good weekend!! So camping is high on our revision list for next year.
Exhibitor Wristbands; worn and happily accepted with no problem by the vast majority of our exhibitors, which was so very greatly appreciated 👏👏 by our security & helpers but we also noted the few who abused the system 😕 so we may revise this again.
2 day exhibitors: please note we are an established 3 day event. Nothing is more disheartening to organisers and unfair on our paying guests, than exhibitor gaps on the 3rd day, especially in perfect weather. We will be discussing this at future meetings.
To the campers who relocated to allow the tractor pulling more space....A BIG THANK YOU 👍
Just small points but important for the future of the event.
The Rally was a MASSIVE success, thousands of happy visitors, beautiful weather and a brilliant 3 days of entertainment. To everyone who took part in anyway...small or large...thank you so very much.... We do this for you...it's your show....we cannot ever guarantee the same weather ..☀️😍 but the work starts now for our 2017 event. I have plans 👍👍👍👍👍 in hand and am already emailing various people. Anyone who wishes to private message me with any suggestions is most welcome to do so. If you see anything at another rally that you'd like to see at Smallwood ask them for contact details or a business card and email/message me, I'm here to help. Onwards and upwards towards 2017....have a great rally season...I'm sure I'll see most of you somewhere between now and The Great Dorset !! 🚚🚜👍