Beltring 2003

[Pete Ashby]

Geoff

can't find the original thread so posted here:

The Oxford CMP crew arrived home from Beltring safely after six hours on the road, no problems no mishaps with either the C30 11 cab of Steve Stone the F15A 11 cab of Luke Stone or my C15A 12 cab.
I read your post Geoff asking for comments but have waited until now to give time for reflection to enable me to give you a reasoned balanced response.
So here goes these are my own thoughts based on being on site from 1230hr 13/07/03 to 21/07/03 0930hrs

Positive comments first:

 The booking in was fast and efficient
 There were a number of designated fire points with two plastic buckets per point filled with water in the camping areas
 The helicopter landing zone was clearly fenced off and marked with keep out signs, however the coppers still fly the full length of the America field to land and take off
 There were noticeably less under age quad riders, although there were still some who seemed to escape the ban
 Track vehicle movement was much better controlled, all that I saw moving had people walking in front
 The overall number of vehicle movements around the site seemed much reduced

Less positive comments:

 There was an anomaly on the booking in forms at reception where both I, Steve and a number of others found vehicles listed on the form that we had not entered this year and in a number of cases had sold a number of years ago, this could not be adequately explained by the person who booked us in so we crossed them off.
 The number of WW2 vehicles on display was significantly reduced this year
 There was no clear guidance on where to camp despite being told that this would be the case, not a problem for us we know the score anyway.
 The number of truck related stalls was down this year
 The one way system worked fine until it joined at the booking in point with exhibitors trying to get in on what is really a single carriage way road, the result was unnecessary congestion.
 The security on the gate was very 'visible', this is a positive in terms of keeping out undesirables, but had the overall effect for us of making us feel that we were in a prison camp only allowed out as trustees.
 Prices on the stalls were high

Real downers:

 The mobile toilets were as awful as always, my impression was that there were less than in previous years
 The main toilets were the same condition as always
 The showers were the same condition as always
 Pedestrians and vehicles were as mixed up as always, particuly going through the trees into the bottom 'America' field, this is a real Health and Safety issue that a not addressed at all
 The dust was a bad as always
 Traffic control to and from the 'America' field was at best patchy and most of the time that I was using this route non-existent

In conclusion:

 The overall atmosphere that was Beltring seemed lacking this year, this may have been just us, but I have to say a number of other regulars commented likewise to us without any prompting.
 At £25 it is still a cheap holiday for two adults and two kids
 There was a hard commercial edge to the show this year that made me feel that I was part of a larger profit making machine, and I have to be honest left me feeling uneasy about the whole thing
 Will we be going next year ?……. no,…. we will go to Arnhem in September where we will not be made to feel like a POW on parole
 There is a form included in the booking in pack that asks for comments on this years show, I will included a copy of this for return to War and Peace

There you go Geoff, sorry it's not as upbeat as previous years, it just left the Oxford CMP crew feeling uneasy about the whole concept.

Regards

Pete