Alexandra Palace Classic Car Show 2008
February was just around the corner and the London Classic Car Show at Alexandra Palace is drawing near. Still awaiting confirmation from the organizers of a stand and ever hopeful it would be larger than last year it was time to set the wheels in motion. Jim Dempster was already on the case doing a marvelous job building a counter, display boxes and posts with the club’s logo on. So that left me to sort the necessaries to make our stand look the business. I decided early on to set myself the task of covering the entire area of the stand with carpet tiles to give it that professional finished look. Would it be a 6 x 6 or 12 x 12?? I was hoping for the latter so you can imagine my disappointment when the letter confirming our place at the show came saying 6x6 but not to be deterred I was on the phone and on being told there had been a huge demand for stands it was unlikely to change. But being the first to ring we were top of the list if someone cancelled, and would be given the option a larger stand. In the mean time I started to research a source for supply of carpet tiles still not knowing 144 or 288!!. Having heard nothing from the organizers I decided that maybe I should ring, which I did, again!! and again!! A few phone calls later and after a long discussion I managed to secure a double stand so 288 tiles it was - no mean task I can assure you. But obtain we did thanks to my ever obliging brother. But the extra size meant extra cars so following the line that we should involve our new members I rang and asked Martyn Ryan if he would display his J72. Martyn agreed to show his superb J72 as did Julian Chen with his Deville Saloon, Bryan Daw with his well polished Kallista, Lynne Knappe and her cherished Lima and of course Ray’s ever popular Deville Convertible. So a good selection of cars and I must at this point say thank you to all those members who volunteered to stand in with their cars should we have any last minute breakdowns. With the display cars, carpet tiles, artificial plants chairs & furniture sorted Roger agreed to meet me half way on the A14/ M6 junction to collect his stand display boards. The thoughts of a new banner for the club had been mentioned but not finalized so I was soon visiting our local company and asking about the possibility of making us a new one. "Green Graphics" came up trumps and I am grateful to them for their generosity when costing the banner. So with just the finishing details to attend to everything was going well.
Friday the 22nd arrives and we are up at the crack of dawn Ray driving the Deville and me the Lima we leave early to avoid the traffic and be there for our allotted 10.00am set up. On arrival we were checked out by the Fire brigade for fuel levels and after stalling and getting the Brigade to push start!!!! we were soon saying hi to everyone and getting stuck into the task of setting the scene. Martyn turned out to be the expert in laying tiles, couldn’t believe after all the trouble sourcing some tiles Martyn tells me he has a warehouse full of them (Next time Martyn!!). Margaret under the direction of Jim was hard at work keeping them flowing, the stand took shape in no time Mick Laplain a dab hand at putting the back boards together and Tony, Jim, Ray, Margaret, Ben and myself busy cleaning assembling and doing the necessary to make the club stand top class the scene was soon set. After some discussions the cars were positioned and everything was looking great. After a long day, some set off on their way home while those not so local went off to the hotel for a well earned drink and dinner we had booked for the weekend.
The morning of the show and with our excellent location of one of the first stands as visitors entered the Great Hall we were very well received. Visitors seemed more aware and knowledgeable about Panthers and the words “Kit Car” seem a thing of the past. With sales literature available we were all soon busy answering questions and informing visitors to the show how privileged we were to own a Panther. South Quay Travel, the organizers of the Euro Disney trip, had made us some great 5´x 2´ pop ups of Cruella Devil in her Deville to go on the stand but more to the point so taken was Steve Moore, Director of the Company, with our cars that he is now a proud owner of a Kallista. “Welcome to the Club Steve”. Over the weekend we had many visitors to the stand and I must mention the support from our club members was phenomenal. One in particular, Karl Jenson, had traveled all the way from Sweden and at one time over the weekend I counted 27 members and family actually on our stand together, at the same time - Amazing.
During the weekend the commentator was going around interviewing people on individual stands and not to be deterred I decided it must be a good opportunity for us to promote ourselves so if he had thoughts of passing I had other ideas and so took him by the hand and lead him to our stand which did create a smile or two!!!! But we did get a long interview and if you had not heard of Panthers when you arrived you certainly had when you left. To round off the weekend Ray’s Deville got runner up in the Sports and Convertible section and it felt good to know that out of all the clubs exhibiting a Panther had been recognized as one of the best. In all we had a very successful weekend, well supported by many in the club and worth all the effort put in. Special mention must go to Bryan and Margaret who traveled all the way up from Cornwall, Jim for his work on the stand furniture. Mick Laplain, Tony Ansell, Martyn Ryan, Lynne Knappe for either displaying, or assisting with set up and manning the stand, and Ray for putting up with me during the weeks leading up to the show!!!! Julian and his friends and family for supporting and displaying once again and my brother for all his help in not only supplying but picking up storing and being available for Jim to pick up everything for the show. Last but not least our very talented artist Sharon Nash for the fine Panther logo she produced for the show.
I certainly enjoyed the weekend only marred by the absence of George Ansell who actually joined the club at this very venue 2years earlier but was unwell and unable to attend but I understand is now well on the mend. The club’s success and recognition at the show proves that we continue to go from strength to strength and will look forward to the next show and who knows maybe I will be given the privilege !!!!!!! of organizing it.
Val Bridges
