Show stoppers
Are shows and events becoming a rip- off?
Ihave just done the 55-mile Tour of Cambridgeshire bicycle ride on my classic 1986 Raleigh racing bike. It still has all the original components and downtube shifters. No carbon frame or disc brakes for me. In fact, my bike is 12 years older than my 20-year old Defender 110, which is what I used to carry myself, my London family and a couple of bikes to the event. You can fit loads into the back of a 110.
The start and finish of the ride was at the East Of England Arena and Events Centre, home of the Peterborough Land Rover Show. I had happily paid over £50 for the privilege of riding through the local countryside on closed roads so you can imagine my shock when they wanted to charge me £20 just to park on the site. Even the young lady asking for the fee seemed a little embarrassed by the overthe-top amount. I did not want to kick up a fuss in front of my family and so I paid the fee and parked up. But I did send the organisers an email of complaint the next day and vowed never again to do one of their events. I would like to use this welcome note to appeal to all of those involved with shows and events this summer. I know you all want to make a pound or two but please charge a fair price for your goods and services. Don’t hold punters to ransom with ridiculous prices for a burger, can of fizzy pop or parking. If you do, people will just bring along their own drinks or else throw a few extra sausages and burgers on the evening BBQ.
Imagine if Live Promotions charged us £20 to park at the Peterborough Land Rover Show, enthusiasts would definitely be up in arms. The organiser would be about £200,000 richer and probably be driving around in a top-of-the-range G-wagon. I love going to shows and events but if the organisers are going to be charging 20 quid to park up then they definitely won’t see me again.