(31 Aug 2014, 8:18 pm)aureolin wrote Do shareI rarely use Facebook, so I'm not part of any of these groups, so don't see anything.
I can't see what organisers have to lose by not advertising on here if I'm honest, although they may not like some of the feedback. All feedback is better than no feedback though I guess?
Quite a long conversation which stemmed from a link to my photos which I had took at Seaburn, hopefully this is the one Dan was referring to.
Duncan Robinson I see I did not miss much.
August 27 at 7:00pm · Like
North East Transport Photos Not at all, I thought it wasn't that great to be honest
August 27 at 8:16pm · Like
George William Stewart I thought this year was one of the best ive been to
August 28 at 9:52am · Like · 1
Kevin Brass Nice to see the faithful regulars in attendance, however there does not appear to be anything that we have not seen before, many times over.
August 28 at 10:06am · Like · 1
Duncan Robinson I think it is fair to say if they advertised it more may come.
Far to many rallies using the tired old argument that "its the same weekend every year" A long list of former rallies proves that does not work.
August 28 at 12:54pm · Like
George William Stewart well its in buses so you cant do any better than that
August 28 at 3:36pm · Like
Duncan Robinson Really? That depends on if you class a free diary entry as advertising. Paid for adverts get noticed. Diary entries do not. They are the tightfisted answer to not advertising at all.
August 28 at 3:44pm · Edited · Like
Kevin Brass Duncan, it is like talking to a brick wall when dealing with the N.E.B.P.T. trustees, they are stuck in their ways and do not take notice of what others who are enthusiast for progress suggest, that is why myself and four other members packed the events committee in three years ago.
August 28 at 4:52pm · Like · 1
North East Transport Photos Something does need to be changed with the Rallies up here, as there is far to many of them, and they all seem have the Vehicles every time, I suggested to another Enthusiast that I know, about Perhaps merging Whitley Bay/Seaburn and Tyne Tees Run Together, and Furthermore expanding so that Vehicles from Yorkshire and the Scottish Borders could be Involved.
August 28 at 4:58pm · Like · 1
Duncan Robinson I fully understand that. I do not enjoy watching rallies going down the pan like this. I saw it with sandtoft, meadowhall, crich, and several others. Then when you speak out you are made out to be the bad guy or a stirrer. The fact that you just care is not on the radar. I will support any rally that makes an effort. The rest can go whistle. They will get what's coming in the end.
August 28 at 5:03pm · Like · 1
Ian Wilson How is it going down the pan? George said it was one of the best he'd been to and the general consensus was that attendances were up. Just because it didn't appeal to you doesn't mean the same applies to everyone. No doubt you were aggrieved that a certain 'friend' of yours put in an appearance.
August 28 at 5:40pm · Like
Ian Wilson It wasn't perfect.They had run out of programmes early on in the day, and the timetable could have shown more than one bus every half hour, but it was obviously worth the £3 to those that had to pay to get in.
August 28 at 5:42pm · Like
Duncan Robinson Ian Wilson,,Firstly, I do not care who did or did not attend this rally. My decisions when deciding what rallies I attend are based on a number of factors like 1) is it well advertised? - in this case no, 2) is it in a good location? again no as I have 2 stalls destroyed by wind at this event in the past. 3) is there any other events on that day that would warrant my support? In this case a very loud YES. The event at Wythall is on the same day, is well run and well attended and a very friendly welcome is assured from the team there. 4) have there been any events in that area in the past couple of weeks? In this case its hard to tell, as there was allegedly an event at the washington air museum but the publicity was decidedly patchy so I am not even sure if it happened. Also please read some of the above comments like those from North East Transport Photos and Kevin Brass. These are local people who attended and I for one would be listening to what they have to say. The attending vehicles are stagnant, no new entries are received as most vehicle owners from outside the area do not know the rallies are even on, a diary entry in buses mag is one thing, but only really works when followed up with the cursed paid for adverts. I have loyally supported one event in the North East for 5 years now and have seen it decline as there is an insistence on it being run in the middle of a 4 week period that sees 4 rallies or bus related events in the area. It was kindly suggested by your good self that maybe I would like to consider not attending it in the future, a decision I had already taken. I have seen it go from a good event to - lets be honest - a rather poor one with promises that only heritage vehicles would be run, yet on the day at least 3 modern coaches were used as there were not sufficient heritage vehicles present, stall holders have dropped right off for the same reason. I then passed on comments overheard by a visitor who had attended for the first time about a vehicle and was shot down for doing so. I do not have a problem with that, there are plenty good rallies out there and I for one will be happy to keep giving them money for my stall and in some cases sponsoring them, it is not that I dont want to pay, I am happy to pay for any event where I stand a chance of making just a modest return. Currently there are no such rallies in the North East. When I first set up the idea of the Metrocentre rally I was very proud of what was achieved there, we proved it could be done. Now I do not want to be reminded of it, the embarrassment is too great.
August 28 at 7:16pm · Like
Ian Wilson I didnt see publicity saying only heritage vehicles would be run. The current operators were invited at the outset not just because there were 'insufficient heritage vehicles available'. The modern vehicles are appeciated by many and a good advert for coach travel. I'm not aware of 4 local events in 4 weeks. Only Kirkby Stephen comes to mind and that is hardly 'local'.
August 28 at 8:04pm · Edited · Like
Duncan Robinson I saw it referred to on here. Assurances were given.
August 28 at 8:07pm · Like
Graeme Scarlett I for one enjoyed the day and it is a bit unfair to criticise when people are just trying their best. I have organised rallies myself and know just what work goes into them, I agree that some rallies are seeming to be hijacked by the large companies The Metro Centre rally and Go North East springs to mind, but there are others too, sadly I know that some venue's which are council owned such as Durham Park and Ride and I presume Seaburn Recreation Ground the council insist now on there being a 'low flow' option for a large proportion of 'the run arounds', I know in 2007 when I organised a Rally on the car park next to the side of the old OK Motor Services Ltd site, Wear Valley District council were a right pain in the arse. I have been involved in other non transport related events where they have fizzled out, and are now sadly missed, all I would say is please don't let this happen in the world of classic bus rallies, we want more not less, so please continue to support these events WHOEVER organises them.
August 29 at 10:32am · Edited · Like · 2
Duncan Robinson Comments were made on here that only heritage buses would be used. Look at catchment areas. Kirkby Steven one week, next is Teesside, then south shields model bus exhibition and metrocentre all within 4 weeks. Wonder why people do not attend? You may not have heard the comments but believe me I did, people were not impressed. I have persevered with the event but enough is enough. I will have to do what loads of other stallholders gave done and give it a miss.
August 29 at 10:33am · Like
Graeme Scarlett Well that's a shame Duncan, I agree that this year a lot of events seem to have come together, of course The Kirkby Stephen event is flexible depending when Easter falls, this year it happened to be a late Easter hence it being the week before the Tee...See More
August 29 at 10:39am · Edited · Like
Duncan Robinson Graeme Scarlett The Metrocentre rally was set up from day one with Go North east as sponsors. Without their help the rally would never have taken place. The date was set by looking at rally dates within 100 miles and 4 weeks as vehicle owners and the public do travel to attend shows. There now seems to be an attitude that if there is nothing within 1/2 a mile on that day then lets do it and we will cut as many corners as possible with advertising. To be fair Teesside was fairly well advertised but it still falls in a 3 or 4 event period depending on Kirkby Steven. I would be happy to continue supporting it, as the majority of the team organising it are friendly and welcoming but if they are to continue with the same date then its not going to happen. NEBPT just do not advertise (paid for) and as a result only get repeat customers and buses and HCVS never have advertised. I would urge all the organisers to take a fresh look at next year and try to avoid all these clashes. There are so many potentially good rallies being let go by poor planning and poor advertising. Come on guys SORT IT OUT. PLEASE
August 29 at 11:02am · Like · 1