GAIL HILL invites you to Oulton Park - Sat. 20th September

[dhdove]

Hi Pop

Maybe you're right, I guess times move on and I've been doing this for a few years now. Owners and cars change and also their preferences.
That's cool.
Maybe time for a change all round.
Best
TonyS

[dhdove]

OK

So as I see it now we have......

Self and Libby
Pops Jag
Stenatko

Have I missed anyone?

There's still a couple of months to go but once again, turnout is low.

I fully take your point Paul that we could advertise this event in the XJS Forum pages of the magazine. However, I have always set these events up as a way of giving Bulletin Board members who chat online an opportunity to meet face to face.
They have always been an online event, specifically for that purpose.

It may well be that this style of event has run it's course. If that is the case then I'm sorry, but all good things come to an end.

If the Forum organisers wish to organise events via the magazine then I wish them the very best and I hope I will be able to attend them. My reason for doing this was slightly different.

As you all know I haven't owned a Jag for four years and I've been very happy to receive your indulgence at XJS events when I turned up in my Mercedes skateboard. Thank you for that.

I think that unless we get an influx of takers for this event at Oulton Park then it too will be cancelled.
If that is the case then I am sorry to say that I think that I will not be arranging anymore XJS Bulletin Board events.

It's been a really fun time whilst it lasted and I thank all of you who have supported these events over the last nine? years
Libby and I have so many happy memories of places visited and friends made, it seems like the end of an era. But hey, life moves on.
With potential changes in the website imminent this may be an opportune time to sign off.

Of course if there is a sudden rush of enthusiasm from XJS Bulletin Board members to attend events then I will be very happy to arrange them for you.
However, I am not holding my breath.

Very best Wishes
TonyS

[Popsjag]

Hi Tony,

I'm still on for Oulton Park - what time you aiming to meet up?

I see your point entirely. I've tried the same thing on the X300 Forum and it gets disheartening because you start to wander if your ideas are c**p - and if they are, why don't other parties come forward and let you know what they would like to do

We don't have a crystal ball, but if it carries on this way (in my opinion) all the forum co-ordinators are going to say enough's enough - let someone else have the agro, I'm out of here.

WE PUT IN OUR OWN FREE TIME TO ORGANISE THESE GET-TOGETHERS. I've arranged 4 different meet-ups for this year (which I will attend) and if I don't get any decent turnout I will be tempted to return to just being an 'ordinary' member.

Sorry if I've rambled on a bit!!

Steve.

[BigCatXJS]

If I was free that weekend I would have jumped at the chance to go. I attended a JEC racing event at Silverstone a few years back - all good fun.

In terms of low turnout for BB events, I think that there are a few reasons for (just my humble opinion);
- There seems to be a "catchment area" comprising South Midlands or thereabouts. Previous events held at locations such as Coventry, Gaydon, Marlborough, and Avebury have attracted a reasonable if not large pride of XJS and their owners. Is it because the Midlands are "blessed" with motorways, Jaguar heritage, or just that the area is central?
- Special interest events such as the visit to KWE (XJS specialists) in Newbury seem to appeal. Special interest has to be XJS and the event not normally available to the general public - that seems to drive interest and folks were/are more willing to travel greater distances?
- A number of folks (myself included) are members of other car/charity clubs. This means that we can be spoilt for event choice and they can often clash
- Those of us with young families will never get a blanket "disco" pass to attend all the events available due to other commitments. Work-wise, this can also involve working shifts / anti-social hours at the weekend

I would echo what others have said in that it takes effort (and patience!) to organise these events. I've attended a number of excellent events organised by Tony over the years and it is a shame that recent offerings have not been so widely supported by XJS owners in the Club.

Rich.

[dhdove]

Rich

Thanks for your kind comments! Much appreciated.

I agree with your points, more central events are better supported but I have had requests over the years from those further up north for more local events so I tried to organise these, unfortunately they have not been supported.
I think that more local events may be the way to go. Brake Buster has started a new Jag/XJS breakfast club at Kemble which I think will be increasingly popular. These more local events have been run by other car clubs for a number of years now, Pistonheads organises several breakfast meets locally to us, including one at Kemble and the XK Owners Club do one too, also at Kemble. Being local you don't have to plan too much to attend and the weather isn't such a factor......I know no-one wants to drive a hundred miles to stand around in the pouring rain!
BTW If I attend all three breakfast meets that's three massive Kemble breakfasts a month! Oh dear........

When I started these events the uptake was rapid and enthusiastic, now it seems I have to pursue members for support. But at the time the BB was a new thing and none of us knew each other. Nearly ten years on most of the regular supporters of the BB have met at previous events and are good friends. I think that may just be an indication that time has moved on and maybe we should move on with it? Perhaps those that have previously attended feel they've been there, seen it and got the T-shirt and maybe it doesn't appeal to newer members?
Of course, this assumes that new members of the Club ACTUALLY visit the Bulletin Boards, which is a large assumption.

If the website is due a revision and the Bulletin board format may change accordingly then Lets see how that pans out and let's see where we go in the future.

I know for certain that a lot of fun has been had over the years at our meets and and some long lasting friendships made........but all good things come to an end. I would like to say that I have had huge fun organising these get togethers and both Libby and I have made lots of new friends over the years. So thank you all for that.

For my own part I'm now organising SLK shows for the SLK World Forum, so
Plus ca change, plus c'est le meme chose !

With regard to Oulton Park specifically, if more support is not forthcoming soon I will be contacting Gail and thanking her for her kind offer but telling her that we will not be able to take advantage of her most kind offer.

TonyS

[dhdove]

BUMP

OK guys, five weeks to go and no interest for waaaaaay too long. I think it's a dead duck.

I will cancel this meet soon if there is not a very significant increase in participants, which would be a shame but it's a long drive for us to Oulton Park to meet one other member who lives locally ( not counting you James, you have to drive as far as we do!)

Pops Jag, you're comments are noted, thanks, it's a shame isn't it?

TBH I think that this will be the end of my organising events for the XJS Bulletin board. It's been great fun, we've had some fab days out and people who would otherwise never have met have made new friends. But with two out of three events this year non starters maybe the time has come to call it a day. I think after six years we've had a pretty good run haven't we?

Thanks to all of you who have attended over the years, I appreciate it very much and it has been an absolute pleasure to organise our days out. We've had some fun and great to make new friends, who are now old friends!

For the future, I'll leave it up to you.

TonyS

[dhdove]

my last XJS BB Events post as Events Organiser

So I guess that's it, all good things come to an end. I'll be emailing Gail shortly to tell her not to worry about showing us around the paddock, but relaying our thanks anyway.
edit I have spoken to Gail and given her our thanks for her kind offer and cancelled this event........

Thanks to everyone for all the fun we've had along the way, I've enjoyed it.
I hope those of you that have taken part over the years have enjoyed it too

I hope the new local meets are successful and fill a gap

TonyS