Stoneleigh

[tim wood]

'evening all,

just thought I would note my thoughts on Stoneleigh this weekend. Having gone for several years I thought that this time the vendors were a bit thin and mabe some of the usuals were not present at all.
Having paid my entrance fee I went home with nowt despite a relatively modest "shopping list".

Maybe I'm expecting too much or maybe the internet is having such an impact that vendors prefer this route.

Still I expect I will be back next year!
Any thoughts

regards
Tim

[1954Etype]

Tim, I have been going for more years than I can remember. Agree with you - seems like more and more modern stuff or repro old. I think they way it is structured now drives the person who wants to empty his garage away. This is a shame because that was where I bought most of my bits over the years. Like you, I shall probably go in April 2012 but it has become more of a social event now.

[PeterCrespin]

Agree on lack of crowds. and loads of modern stuff.

It's ironic I had my most lucrative event despite not having a stall for the first time in probably 6-7 years, but that's what happens when you sell a car. Instead of sulking, the 2+2 ran better than ever ll the way home to await collection and is doing its best to worm its way intro my affections. The new owner is going to have almost a year of Series 1.5 driving for ?14,500 and can then decide what to improve.

It has been fun and definitely has grown on me. At least it's now vaguely respectable and I don't get embarrassed being seen in it like the first week or two. I think Stoneleigh makes sense for collecting/passing on stuff and the trip would have paid for itself anyhow on the basis of money saved for purchase and collection of the new covers and foams for the FHC seats. If you add the social dimension it still stacks up for me at least.

Found out yesterday John Salway has an OTS of his own.

Pete

[Dave K]

I bet Salway gets first pick at the best stuff thats why there's nothing left for us :D

Dave

[paulsco]

I think I have only missed one Spares Day in all the time it has been running, but over the last few years I have been getting more and more disillusioned.

The prices have rocketed even for remanufactured stuff.

I bought an E-Type door skin in April for ?70.00, which compared to any other make of car is expensive; this time I bought the other door and it was ?100.00, both from MR. I know they are more expensive retail, but just because the value of the E-Type is up, is not in my view a good reason for remanufactured parts to cost more. That sort of inflation is just greed.

I too only came home with a couple of items this time.

I am mostly looking for original parts though, so I expect these have more or less dried up now.


I will no doubt go back next year though :(

Paul

[christopher storey]

I agree with all the above comments. I think it has gone badly downhill since the Clubs gave up organising it , and I would be fascinated to know how this happened

[MarkE]

I think the decline is due to a combination of eBay and the E type being very well catered for with new parts and panels. On top of that there can't be too many E Types being broken for parts these days, and the number of cars that have been restored over the past 20 years must have absorbed much of the good second hand stock.

I started going to Jags parts fairs in Stoneleigh and Farnham 15 years ago or so, and must confess that I didn't find too many E Type bits back then. Most of the really nice original E Type bits I needed came from RJ Smith. Lots of good XJS stuff at the fairs though, and as I know from selling some of it on eBay, practically worthless now!