The Honda Owners Club

Sent: 24 August 2008 17:02
To: gensec@hoc.org.uk; m.clargo@sky.co.uk
Subject: HOC Event Gaydon


I visited the above event and had a great time, very worthwhile.



Just thought I would let you know I have put the photographs I took at the event on a public shared album (http://www.photobox.co.uk/album/62905188) if you wish to have a look.



Please feel free to pass the link onto anyone you think may be interested. Just thought I would share.



There is no copyright on them so if you wish to use for anything please feel free.



Once again many thanks and all the best for next year.

This was posted to our General Secretary. Somone else who liked it.

smileymiley wrote:I would have thought that Honda would have pulled out all the strings to put on a good show with plenty of exhibits.. 2 minutes and you've been to all the stands! To anyone coming to see what Honda and HOC have to offer for the first time must have had a big shock.
It didn't seem to be that organised.
Miles

Sorry you didn't enjoy the show.

If you have any suggestions about how the event could have been improved, please feel free to air them.
Constructive critcism is always welcomed as it helps to improve things for the future.

If you don't want to do it on the forum, I'm sure that Mark would be happy to hear from you directly mega@hoc.org.uk

Well i really enjoyed my day at Gaydon,
I have never been before and had lots of fun,

I found the Stunt show breath taking, FAB

I watched many people go on the F1 simulator, it looked good.
I didn't have a go just incase I couldn't get out of the car (thats my excuse anyway)
My son had a go, he found it very exciting, "better than the PS2 games" he said

I have never been to the museum before and found it very interesting.
My son enjoyed looking over all the older cars, and most of all the Star Cars.

We stopped for lunch at the museum where I met Bob and some how managed to embarrassed myself so much over fitting on my Honda hat I had just brought, (but thats another story)

To end the day we went on the Go-Karting, well,,,,, I've never done it before and it was an experience, 'I didn't drive like a female, and i didn't crash hee hee'

live for today for tomorrow might not come,

It was great meeting lots of new people, and putting faces to some of the names on here.

Beverley

I took one or two photos at Gaydon ... and I've just loaded them onto photobox... here's the link (hope it works!)

http://www.photobox.co.uk/album/63215124

Oh, and just a thought, but my understanding of being a member of the HOC means that you are automatically a member of every single branch there is, so, wherever you are, if there is a branch already set up and running, and you are in the vicinity on a night/day they meet, then you are welcome to go along and say hello!

There are a number of what I would term as 'nomadic' members of the HOC who go to lots of events organised by different branches and consequently have greatly enriched their biking experience and social life too!

Great photos Shellshine.

I especially liked the ones of the big kids on the bouncy castle and my bike .

Regards

Chimpy

Hee hee... cheers Chimpy... your bike is sooooooo lush!! Hope she gets better very soon!

Constructive critcism is always welcomed as it helps to improve things for the future.

I 100% agree Stritchy and I don’t thing anyone should ever feel intimidated into not voicing their opinions. How often, someone says something innocuous and its a scramble to be defensive or worse, poor old smiley-miley will probably never post again! DONT BE PUT OFF! (You too Barry )

As ever, a hard-core of loyal, dedicated and committed HOC members gave their time and energy to organise and man the event totally free of charge, something very few are prepared to do, so of course they are entitled to feel disgruntled if criticism is voiced, but in all honesty, I think the event was a little over-hyped which may have overly raised some folks expectations, fairly understandable IMO.

Anyway, we had a nice ride there (all 5 of us) with the club, it was drizzling at bit at first, then the sun made an appearance and taking everything into consideration, a good day out!

Regards, Al

I can't believe the criticism fired in Marks direction. I can tell you that he was as disappointed as anyone else re the lack of interest by traders, they are generally not keen to support one day events. Nevertheless Mark worked hard along with a lot of volunteers, myself included.

I have offered Mark my full support in next years event and I will be personally contacting traders and hopefully putting my Sales background to good use.

Well done Mark, it was a brilliant day!!!

jimmyb wrote:I went, and I enjoyed it, maybe other supporting organisations could have been better, but in the end if you feel what was done was not enough by the unpaid volunteers, please feel free to help organise it next year

Well said jimmy

Great pics Jennie!

I too liked the ones of the big kids on the bouncing castle

Well I've read the replies to the post i put on this forum.. most interesting.

First, I am not knocking the people who put time & effort into organising the event.. this country would fall apart without them! And i speak from experience.. having been a Scout Leader for many years.
But if you are going to sell an event as a 'mega one'.. you need to make sure that the activities live up to that statement.
I presume that this event was being sorted soon after the previous year and if so, that gives ample time to organise events & stands.
But when you find that they are not going to be forthcoming the bar needs to be lowered & the advertising changed to fit.

It is after all a HOC (GB) event, and as has been stated in posts this is the biggest Honda owners club in Britain. To somebody who has never been to such an event before that says it is going to be well supported.

As far as Honda UK is concerned i would have thought that the publicity that they would gain from a well supported event would be worth their while. That is why i said that they should have pulled out all the stops for it.. conversely a badly attended event does exactly the opposite & for people like myself puts HOC (GB) & Honda UK in a bad light.

I must admit tho.. the Lings stunt riders were brilliant!


Thanks
Miles

Thanks for responding smileymiley and clarifying your position.
As Al-n-di says, please don't be put off stating your opinions.
It's the only way the Club will move forward.

Hi everyone. I am currently not a HOC member and have only been back into biking for 6 months after a break of 16 years, so it's good to be back and on a bike and going to events etc. My wife and I attended the mega event and we really enjoyed ourselves. Looking at some of the pics and reading other comments I think we were lucky with the weather, didn't get wet arriving leaving or on a test ride! I suppose the event was a little bit small but the bikes on display were excellent and being able to go on the test rides saved the day IMO (I loved the Pan, better get saving!).
We thought the Honda staff were very enthusiastic about the bikes. Also vg food in the museum. One small comment for Honda. I think they missed a marketing opportunity, e.g I was amazed by how easy the Pan European was to ride so they could have had brochures etc to give to enthusiastic and happy punters immediately after their test rides (Honda T shirts caps etc). All in all we enjoyed ourselves the stunt riders were excellent and the show had a good vibe,well done HOC, we will be back!

I too visited on the day with my son Max and we enjoyed it very much especially the stunt show, which we watched 3 times and was in ore at the brilliance of there skills the F1 simulator was fantastic too, Max enjoyed the free bouncy castle and I kicked myself silly for not bringing the documents needed for a test ride of either the Transalp or the new CB1000F. Maybe next time or I'll get in contact with my local Honda dealer.

I also read with much interest on the other comments made and I feel that maybe some of the crips were a little justified, although hats off to Erica, Mark and the rest of the Oxford bunch for all there hard work and the other willing helpers too, But this is a club for all to partisipate and so I challenge all to come forward with some ideas for next year. Lets not forget that within the Gaydon area there is 4 other branches, including our own newly formed Worcestershire branch, that could have taken a more active role to assist Oxford.

Gaydon is a good venue and I think that we should make good use of it for next years event, but am I not mistaken that the HOC is 50 next year and with this in mind lets make it a extra special one. How at this moment in time I can not say, but give me a few weeks in a darken room and a damp copy of the Radio Times and I'm quite sure I could think of a few good ideas, some will be realistic, but few maybe off the wall
Lets also put it on the agenda of the AGM too, lets have some constructive feedback and ideas to throw around the room.

Again well done for all the hard work at this years event it was a good day out

Hi Kwak..

The club is 50 in 2011 and there is a thread especially about ideas for events, celebrations etc , so, definitely get your thinking cap on and post your thoughts there!!

I'm so glad that you and Max enjoyed the day too... every branch can help at Gaydon the challenge is that it is the Bank Holiday weekend and , especially being the last one of the year, everyone has so much to do...

I'm certain that things (Gaydon, the 50th anniversary in 2011, support at events, etc etc will all be discussed at the AGM in October at Donington.)