Hi folks,

I know a few of us have chatted about JapFest recently. I wanted to put up a thread so we can get all comments in one place.

My feeling is that I personally do not get an awful lot out of JapFest as there are too many boy racer-ish cars present.

Main points I would make is:

1) Too many boy racer cars
2) Not enough interesting metal for me
3) They always put us right in the back of beyond
4) The queues to get in can be horrendous for members (I understand the queues this year were insane, the forums and facebook are full of complaints)

5) For me I really enjoy it for the social occasion but little else.

The Club will go with what ever the consensus is but what I would propose is an alternative DC event at around the same time (possibly not the exact same weekend to allow those who do want to attend JapFest to do so). I was thinking of something like a camping trip tied in with a visit to Haynes motor museum or Beaulie or anything else.

Post up your thoughts and comments!

Cheers,

Mike

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GT4DC Events Co-ordinator
1996 ST205 UK

My thoughts are pretty much the same. Particlurly irritated by the massive sea of scoobys round the centre and all the rare stuff stuck out in corners. Should be called scoobyfest. For me it's a venue for a social get together, although it's nice to see one or two of the very old ones and remember my childhood.

Rallycross at Lydden last year was excellent, although being Easter weekend would put off many.

Maybe look at an alternative race meeting at Lydden or Brands, or maybe a round of the National rally championship ?

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If at first you don't suck seed, try drier grain.

Mike, the reasons you have mentioned are the exact same reasons that I did not attend.
Also the idiots on track put me off as well.
Suffice to say that, IMO, it's turned into Chav Fest!

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Vice Chairman
1990 White UK Celica ST185 - Project DTM
1997 Cream BMW R1200C (as seen in James Bond "Tomorrow Never Dies")
2005 Jaguar X-type 3.0 Sovereign AWD Automatic
Blood Bikes - https://www.freewheelers.org.uk/

As you all know I go purely for the social side (heck, I don't normally even leave the stand!) but it isn't JUST the DC members that I enjoy catching up with.

I agree it is becoming more like Scooby-fest year on year but I think it would be a shame to withdraw the club from the event entirely.

However, I am happy to go with the majority on this one, although it is one of the (normally) guaranteed events the old girl gets to go to!

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Loosey
Loosey@gt4dc.co.uk
Storm Blue JDM ST205
Super White JDM ST205
http://www.gtfours.co.uk

Some people are like a Slinky .. Not really good for anything, but they make you smile when you shove them down the stairs!

I would agree with you on all points mike, although this was only my 2nd year, 1st with you guys, the event has changed dramatically in just one year, scooby fest indeed!
Allthough I may be a sight hypocrite via the idiots, as do like a little play in the field on way out! I think a gtg somewhere, with a camping overnight and possibly a few good roads to have a drive could be a good way to go.
I did mention retro at santapod, more mature, not chavy, less busy and 20 for weekend including camping is good price. It is further away and not till june or july, maybe worth a look as has alot of classics and I've never seen a gt4 there!

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1998 ford st24, 186hp 2.5 v6- sold
1997 bmw e36 318ti, mint hellrot red- sold
1992 celica gt4 st185- td04 340hp/330lbs
1998 mercedes E280- sold
1998 pug 1.9 td- mile muncher!
1993 rx7 542hp savage monster!!
2007 BMW 335i- in the shop gettin built!!

Good points from all, keep them coming.

Lucey - I agree with your points regarding others, all I would say is that I knew no-one from the OC at all. I did however catch up with some folks on the ADL stand which was nice.

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GT4DC Events Co-ordinator
1996 ST205 UK

I love / hate Japfest

love the social , the cider and the DC BBQ and maxxis girls and the fact that it is quite local to me.

dislike the chavs and the repetitiveness of some cars... but will still keep going whenever i can

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ST165 turbo 4WD
ST185 GT-FOUR RC Carlos Sainz Limited Edition 825•5000
ST185 turbo 4WD Carlos Sainz Limited Edition 2541•5000

i love the social aspect when i used to go to shows and also the track time that i used to go out for. (not been to a show in a long time though)

I agree with the above about the ladies. haha

but i agree above, the problem with shows are that the common cars that they know chavs will love and pull in the crowds will always get the centre stage where cars like ours that people dont actually understand what they are will always be pushed to one side.

Subarus and Evos will always be more popular to the local chav than the GTFour, they are far more known unfortunately

Some of us elderly members have been attending for around 10 years now and the show has changed little. Most of the displays are the same and the cars on track are the same. TBH I think the quality of track driving has improved as there seems to be fewer crashes nowadays. (maybe this coincided with me stopping tracking my car )

Personally I only go for the social side as well. It is nice to catch up with some old faces that no longer own gt-fours or are on other club stands.

It does however kill the day for me now that we are stuck in a field away from any passers by/action and BBQs are banned.

I didn't go partly due to family commitments and partly because I wasn't bothered if I missed this event.

I think if the concensus is to not go we do need an alternative event to visit.

Retro, JAE, Rallycross or rally events with a bit of camping & mead would be spot on - oh & don't forget the BBQ and good company.

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JP
GT4DC Treasurer

Grey St185 RC
Silver BMW E46 M3
Multicolour yawn Honda VFR400
Silver Honda Civic Type-R

i would like to come to a show one time with you guys, been on here and an owner for the last 7 years and never attended a show.. thats poor going on my part!

Whilst i was still over on the OC i was thinking of a weekend driving / camping around the evo triangle in wales - maybe we could do that??

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Life is a *bleep*..............then you marry one

JapFest for me is just same old same old - same cars as last year, same events, same queues...

The Social side is much more pleasant though, so I'd support some sort of Social event, especially if Mike gets the beers in

A trip to somewhere, (doesn't have to be car related), might be an idea? After all if it's not car related, we would still do the obligatory car park meet/inspection at the beginning and probably at the end?

2p... ker-plink

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Kris
95 ST205 - slept for 10 years, now waking up...
Avensis
http://www.gtfours.co.uk
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Turbocharging - the replacement for displacement

i am attending japshow at santa pod june 16-17 top show and not just boy racers and scoobys good show been going for a few years and always enjoy it and to be fair not many celicas there

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sketch

Add me to the not too fussed brigade

Something more substantial in its place would be a welcome break. I guess race retro might be a candidate but it's sadly much earlier and further away so possibly much less attractive

After attending more than 10 years of JapFest I wouldn't mind a change of event myself.

It would be nice to keep a social/race/rally motorsport theme. There are a few venues and events which could be options so I'll have a dig around and post them up for comment.

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Don
GT4DC Chairman
1994 Toyota Celica GT-Four ST205WRC JDM 269bhp @ 0.9bar
1994 Toyota Celica GT-Four Special GT 590bhp @ 1.8bar
1989 Van Diemen RF88/89 Formula Ford 1600
2008 Nissan Patrol GU 3.0L ZD30DDTi 154bhp