This show is now one of the top annual Classic Car Show`s in Europe , up there with Paris Retromobile or Essen and once again CPUK will be exhibiting. We are in Hall 8,Stand 250 with several fantastic examples of our marque to see aswell as CPUK regalia to purchase! If you do attend please come and say hello!
I must admit that with the IPM taking so much of my time earlier in the year my normal routine for organising our NEC Stand fell behind by about two months! Having said that there was a delay in the NEC issuing stand space it played rather nicely into my hands! The stand allocation was 121 square metres which is about average and I felt that we would be able to fit seven cars for display. With Peugeot UK support we agreed the budget for the stand build and I then concentrated on arranging the display cars. We agreed with Peugeot that we would have a small 1 series theme so we had two Type 172 models (Janette Horton car being one) and a 108. I was determined to get Simon Pink`s fantastic 202 Estate which is so rare and I knew would cause a great deal of interest. Doug Whiffen agreed to bring his 304S Cabriolet out of winter hibernation. Dave Webber then agreed to bring his one off 205 Gti to the show. This is the only factory supplied Gti in Yellow which was sent over as a pre production car but was not taken up in the UK. Consequently the car is the “holy grail” of GtI buffs and was selected by Class Car Weekly as being in their top six of cars that they would take home! I tried to get the ex works 205 T16 rally car form Peugeot but it had a prior appointment in Chester with Ari Vatanen and the Rally Hall of Fame so I brought my T16 down. It was very clear from the Thursday set up day that the show was going to be massive with not one inch of space available in any of the halls. Over 250 Club stands were shoe horned in plus the trade stands and various theatres. Friday opened to the public at 10am and there was a steady build up of people all day visiting the stand with all the cars drawing admiring glances and great comments. Busy but not frantic is how I would describe it. Saturday was another matter. Manic all day is how I would describe that! It was almost uncomfortable for visitors to get around and we were busy right up until the 18.30 closing time. A group of us then meandered over to the Metropole Hotel for the Classic & Sportscar Awards Presentation as the IPM had been nominated in the category of “Best Club Event of the Year”. Suffice to say we did not win but it was an honour to be nominated (and all that!). To be honest I was gutted because the amount of effort we put into it was enormous but when you look at the winners and runners-up we cannot complain as some extraordinary events also took place. The last day, Sunday, was again steady with the busiest period being around lunch time. Overall a very satisfying show with a great CPUK stand displaying great cars and several new members being signed up over the weekend . The NEC Classic Car Show is, in my opinion, now in the top three shows in Europe and the Club Stand format is a very powerful one which creates a unique atmosphere. My thanks go to all the members who helped man the stand over the three days, Mick Huntley, Rob King, Ian Helme, Rob Exell, Doug Whiffen, Mike Lynch, Malcolm Gratton and Janette & John Horton. Until next year when we will be celebrating several very important anniversaries of the Marque. 
