There was a VBOA reps meeting at Luton this morning.

All car clubs using Billing were told last Tuesday that there would be no car based events there from now on, so, after 34 years at Billing the journey has ended.

Having been told that, with 29 of the 31 VBOA clubs represented, the meeting turned into a little like herding cats! As you can imagine there were many different views. However, after an hour or so going round in circles a compromise was found and decisions taken.

The VBOA committee are now starting on checking out alternatives. The first thing to take on board is that there is no Billing equivalent out there. Compromises are going to have to be made. One of the biggest to us operationally as a Club is that we are going to have to predict attendance more accurately (for pitch size) and almost certainly collect ticket money ourselves.

The sites that will be checked out, against an agreed set of requirements, are, in no particular order, Peterborough Show Ground, Luton Hoo, Bicester Heritage, West Midlands Show Ground Shrewsbury, Newark Show Ground. Availability being checked for the first two weekends in July.

Us reps will be consulted but a decision should be reached by the Committee this month and I will update this post as soon as I know anything.

Feel free to make comments.

John

Thanks for the info John. 

To be honest I think us collecting the ticket money ourselves would be a good idea, it would put an end to the flakey "I might turn up" nonsense we saw this year where we had very little idea of how many were going to turn up.

 

Does anyone have any knowledge of the possible alternatives?

Bicester heritage ( 500yrds from my front door) hold top end shows not chavs in corsas and who will do the catering Jamie Oliver or  vinneys?

Shame, but the gathering is more about the people and the cars than the place so it'll be alright where ever ;¬)

Even if the VBOA didn't do a show I would like to think we would still meet up somewhere for a weekend camping and drinking 

23 hours ago, Paul said:

Even if the VBOA didn't do a show I would like to think we would still meet up somewhere for a weekend camping and drinking 

This pains me but I have to agree with the pooh brown mk2 owner, but I do.  Maybe we should steal a bank holiday for mk2 ownership somewhere?  We could actually all stay at billing.....now that would be funny.

Edited October 4, 201610 yr by Greg

OMG.

Not rebelling, but call it "Re-Billing!!" and rock up as a bunch of old Vauxhalls anyway! 

"REBILLING" Rebelling... rage against the machine and all that. We should totally do that for shits and giggles.

Good idea then

ring ring

picks up *hello, this billing aquadrome camping, when would you like to book,"

Greg *ummm May bank holiday please

Caller *ok, for how many

Greg *48 people, 36 tents, with 36 cars, can we get a discount for a large booking please?

Caller *let me discuss this with my manager.....

lol

To be honest, if we all booked separately into the largest field, what is stopping us camp together?  Certainly would be under the radar.  This could be hilarious.......be interesting to get Johns take.

that would be almost worth phoning next year to see their reaction

Mmmmm, interesting, a pop-up meet!

There is a group from a Club I am in here who do just that. I will ask this evening what their arrangements are. The answer may be delayed as I leave on holiday 04.30 in the morning!

We have an extraordinary VBOA meeting on the 20th Nov. There will be an update after that.

interesting to see what happens then

 

Just a quick update to say that the VBOA 2017 event will be at the Market Harborough Showground on the weekend of the 8th/9th July. Charges will be as Billing this year.

More details to follow later today.

This thread is now locked as it has been overtaken by the others on the subject.