Onslow

[SimonT]

Much has been said, but I hope I might add a few words as a fair-paying punter:

The ticketting might be improved for having a look at it. I know there are (in theory) advance tickets, but assume such website funtionality is removed by common anti-spyware script blockers. Maybe a low tech solution to the website might improve advance ticket sales. Alternatively, a simple form that can be printed by post would work if it had to.

When there are very large queues outside, there is a need for more stewards there than inside. If that means nothing can move for an hour or so, I don't see a problem if it improves the welcoming face of the show. Given them money belts and they can at least sell programmes in advance. If the punters have something to fiddle with it's better than nothing.

The current system of paper tickets to walk 30 feet on entry slows the queues too much. Could there also be preferencial treatment for 'exact fares' to reduce the time fiddling with money and tickets?

We had a real emergency on the Monday, though thankfully not a serious one. The toilet door lock failed and the missus was left stuck in there whilst I called for assistance. Given that there was a risk of an expensive bill if a crow bar was applied to the aluminium doorframe, I wanted some official approval before breaking down the door. In addition to calming the missus, I had to keep a pair of autistic kids calm too. There is a real need for a clearer steward's uniform as it took a disconcerting amount of time to find a 'suitable someone' in a yellow jacket. Enginemen had them. Fairground folk had them. It seemed everyone had one. Something distinctive that can been seen from a few feet away would help reduce the confusion in a greater emergency than ours.

The problem with the exit gate lanes isn't signage. It's the application of said signage As we drove out on Monday, I saw a pile of yellow signs in the corner of the field. If they had been nailed to the posts the one-off visitors would have a fighting chance with interpreting the 3 lanes as having changed from 2-in and 1-out in the morning to 2-out and 1-in later in the day.

Finally, despite battling the Birmingham traffic on the M1 & M6, the Shrewsbury traffic, ticket queues, the loo issue and damp weather on Monday, we'll be back. It's a highlight of the year and we're looking forward to coming back in 2015 already.

Simon.

[Mine Explorer]

Originally Posted by SimonT

....We had a real emergency on the Monday, though thankfully not a serious one. The toilet door lock failed and the missus was left stuck in there whilst I called for assistance. Given that there was a risk of an expensive bill if a crow bar was applied to the aluminium doorframe, I wanted some official approval before breaking down the door. In addition to calming the missus, I had to keep a pair of autistic kids calm too. There is a real need for a clearer steward's uniform as it took a disconcerting amount of time to find a 'suitable someone' in a yellow jacket. Enginemen had them. Fairground folk had them. It seemed everyone had one. Something distinctive that can been seen from a few feet away would help reduce the confusion in a greater emergency than ours...

The rally office is the big white trailer positioned at the side of the arena alongside the commentator's booth - that's permanently manned during the rally open hours and someone there would have been able to call for assitance and arrange help. Alternatively if you're looking out for a roving steward then the best bet would have been one of those in a jacket with their name and rally job written on the back - they're likely to be carrying radios to be able to summon assistance. With one or two exceptions any other 'marshall' you might encounter would probably have to either direct you to one of the first two sources, or else have to volunteer to go themselves seeing as they don't all carry radios or toolkits to release locks.

Hopefully despite the problems of tracking down the right person, the problem got sorted and you were all reunited again before too long.

[SimonT]

We had no real problem, but it got me thinking about the number of official-looking non-officials on site. I headed towards the office and found folk before too long but was surprised how many hi-vis jackets I passed. I hadn't seen anything like as many at other rallies.

The lock needed more than just 'releasing' - there was a fair sized chunk missing from the door frame when the door opened...

Simon.

[Gaudin98]

All the ticket set up needs is a walk through ticket tent with 4 lanes. The present system is a complete balls up. 4 widows at the end of long queues. Tell me this, where do you expect the people who have paid in the inner two rows to go, just vanish into thin air ?. No they have to fight there way out in front of the people who are trying to pay, result big delays and a total grid lock. Compound this with a rather over enthusiastic steward hounding people into 4 lanes at the top of her voice then getting mad when the queues don't move ( well they wont if they cant get out when they have paid ). Come on this is simple stuff done at other rallies with very little fuss stop trying to reinvent the wheel.

[BrianM]

Really enjoyed the event.

I left with the engine just after 6.00pm on the Monday and got straight out...

As regards to the High Vis patrol. I went home on the Sunday (as the family came that day) to return on the Monday (wearing my writs band) to be told I could not take the car on the field (as I could not produce my caravan pass). After a short (friendly) discussion I was allowed on.

The only thing I did find strange was that nobody was allowed in the beer tent without a wristband????????????

Cheers,

Brian

[plateman]

Originally Posted by BrianM

Really enjoyed the event.

I left with the engine just after 6.00pm on the Monday and got straight out...

As regards to the High Vis patrol. I went home on the Sunday (as the family came that day) to return on the Monday (wearing my writs band) to be told I could not take the car on the field (as I could not produce my caravan pass). After a short (friendly) discussion I was allowed on.

The only thing I did find strange was that nobody was allowed in the beer tent without a wristband????????????

Cheers,

Brian

I believe that this may be to do with the licencing conditions, to protect local pubs.

[Mine Explorer]

Originally Posted by BrianM

...I went home on the Sunday (as the family came that day) to return on the Monday (wearing my writs band) to be told I could not take the car on the field (as I could not produce my caravan pass). After a short (friendly) discussion I was allowed on...

Interesting, my experience this year was the same as in the past - once the security contractors can see I've got a strap on my wrist they wave me straight through without caring about the remains of the car pass. Clearly requirements can differ, I don't know what the official policy is, but in the interests of avoiding queues the faster they can get stuff on the better IMHO.

The only thing I did find strange was that nobody was allowed in the beer tent without a wristband????????????

I believe that is only in the evening, and in the past understood it was only when purchasing from the bar in the evening - ie. there was nobody on the entrance checking wrists to go into the beer tent, only to make purchases.

The rally's evening entertainments are intended for the exhibitors, as the public have theoretically gone home by then. The bar usually closes for a couple of hours from around 5 'till I think about 7 (assume it did this year as well) which I guess is to encourage the public not to hang about drinking either.

The Malpas rally usually goes one stage further with security bouncers standing by the entrance in the evenings to ensure only people with exhibitor bands are allowed in...