J.a.e. - Reports

[Devil-ish]

To those of you who went to JAE please put your reports and thoughts on this years event in this thread

[Devil-ish]

Speaking for ourselves (me and Giddlepin!) we were pleasantly surprised. We had a superb weekend and will be posting up our full report tomorrow.

Thanks go to all the peeps who attended with us. :D

[Chris.S]

personally i think the jae atmosphere returned just like Billing used to be. for some reason east of england lacked certain things

ive posted up some pics, heres the link

http://toyotaownersclub.com/forums/index.p...c=86421&hl=

[Wild west Drifter]

See my post JAE earlier for link to my pics

Was nice to meet you all.

Mike

[jaxx]

Well i had a mixed reaction.

Im very grateful to Les (and Anne) for inviting me along and provding expert hospitality, for a change

Although the people who were there made it very interesting and enjoyable, it seriously lacked in numbers, YES i know the venue was an issue for some in terms of travelling and location, but i thought this show was about car enthusiasts... and surely the key element there is driving But anyway...

The Venue itself... I kind of liked it, it bought back memorys of Billing which was a wonderful place, and made a good change from the desolate and miserable East Of England site thats been used for the previous 3 years. it was nicely laid out aswell, didnt seem too overcrowded but was broken up nicely by the scenery (just as Billing was). Getting in and out down a half mile long single track road through a farm is a nightmare though!

The 'beach'... as far as im concerned that was a myth, and the pictures i saw of the beach were actually scans from the AirTours brochure, as it consisted of a scruffy pebbled area with old settees and other debris, lapped by the brown sea water with added broken glass, tyres and bits of twisted metal for good measure... big up South Of England

Fortunately, if you were the other side of the banking you couldnt see any of it, but could still here the waves :)

Trade areas seemed very poorly stocked, again probably due to the location, but there was plenty of entertainment on the go, even if i didnt personally experience it all. As i spent most of the time 'relaxing' with a Magners and getting baked by the sun B)

Facilitys were 'less than adequate' although some showers are there, its hardly enough to cater for the volume of folk that turn up.... even at this POOR turn out. Would have been a nightmare if numbers would have reached past expectations. These were only backed up with rather rank porta loos, which of course half way in smell and look disgusting!

The support staff were very good though, always on hand and efficient.

So i have a so-so reaction to it all. I assume Mersea will play host again next year, but im in no frame of mind to say 'CANT WAIT FOR 2009!!!'

[Blue84]

Yesterday we got to JAE, were originally on another stand and were just beginning to get a feel for things when I tried to open the locked glovebox on the MR2, but the key bent and ended up splitting so when we got it into the ignition we couldnt take it out and had to come home! So that was very annoying, but we were back today and it was really really good.

The layout of the place is a bit weird, it's like a square (kinda) and to me it seemed a bit sectioned. However, after arriving this morning & joining TOC stand it did feel like the good ol' JAE spirit was there! Everyone chats, you get to see a huge range of cars and altho the beach was small it's still a beach!

I do feel (and I know SJ will agree with me on this) that the event needs a lot more SIGNS. We're in Essex anyway yet we got lost on the way! There were no event signposts or anything from the A12 which is a very busy dual carriageway & when you dont have Sat Nav (which was inadvertantly stuck in the glovebox) you have to do things the old fashioned way. Having to be careful of the causeway times does make it like a mini adventure - get there too late and you're stuck either side. Oh and the Causeway is a tarmac road which is perfectly fine to drive on just can be a bit damp. When you get over the causeway & take the first exit you go up a road which doesnt have any signposts on it for JAE at all until you get pretty near to the right hand turn and you spot these really tiny, small signs which are ridiculous when it is a 40mph speed limit road.

The site does have showers - which apparently arent the best going, but then thats to be expected in a way as you are there to make do ('cos if you wanted really posh stuff then you would go to a Hotel surely) and loo's - some portaloo's and hte others are proper toilets. There were the usual catering stalls there, which did the usual burgers etc and a canteen which did a good fry up for £4. There were a LOT of clubs there, a lot of cleaning & polishing going on and the smell of BBQ's was heavenly.

And then chatting with everyone today just made it all sink into place, JAE is very much what you make it to be. You can sit there, not socialising much or taking in the sights & sounds etc but you just have to appreciate it, it's a huge huge meet with so many cars and people there. It's good to have PRIDE in your club and do the best you can (albeit LOC did seem to take over the pitch from what I heard ;)). Yesterday I did think that JAE was rubbish but then we just had a rubbish day really and that tainted my judgement. There is something special about JAE & it hasn't gone, it's just had to adjust a bit.

So how many would I give it out of 10? 11!

Thank you to Les, Anne, Steve (Red Yaris 54), Gaz, SJ, SteveL and for the brief time that they were there before they went - Chris, Rob & Tegan too :D for today.

[Tegan]

Im going to have to agree with rob ( have to at least once in my life :D) .......

might aswell start with the journey - we came from mansfield (which for those that dont know is in the east midlands), the drive down seemed to take forever, i really do think they had their head up their backside when they planned the location - well done for alienating the northerners and scots! (maybe that was the intention i dont know?) i know people came from much further away (like paul) but it was a long way even for us, if id drove for 11 hours like paul did i would probably be really unhappy because trying to find the island through a little housing estate was not ideal and the surrounding areas are a nightmare to drive round - can anybody tell me what the fascination with all the roundabouts is?? Ive never actually seen so many roundabouts in all my life - there were even five mini roundabouts around another larger roundabout

Anyway , all the fuss about getting onto the island was a little unfounded because its a proper road (not a little causeway as i had thought by all the drama over it) and the water just occasionally comes up onto the road, the tide wasnt in when we got there - so no salty water on the car etc etc

When we got to site -( after driving down a single track road with only a few passing places, through the middle of a working farm yard!) we got a nice feeling, it did feel more like billing with a nice atmosphere and 'cosy' feeling - however cosy usually means small and the site is considerably smaller than east of england , i think if the same amount of people showed up this year that did last year then the site would really struggle (as it was very full with the clubs that were there)- anne i know you said there was another field to open up but when we went round the site we couldnt find it, the 'beach' was not a beach at all - it was a pile of tyres, old sofas and rubbish - ill post a pic up in a moment, there was certainly no way i would have gone for a swim in the dirty water or laid on the beach - it was a shingle beach for a start. I think the organisers used a little artistic licence when they described and posted the pics of the beach!

I really enjoyed the company of the few members that did attend - and thats what normally makes jae so good for me - however i did really miss all the old school that didnt show up, i know they may not have showed even if the show was still at east of england but i still missed them regardless.

The facilities did seem quite lacking for the volume of people - but thats kind of a theme throughout the history of jae - the showers were manky and the second time i went down the water pressure was close to zero - i could have washed better with a bottle of water thats how bad it was!

I think in total there were 7 showers for the women - one being a disabled shower - that was in the main block - i didnt see any more so somebody please correct me if there were more. 7 showers for 200 or more women is quite frankly ridiculous - as everyone knows how vain we are :D

The toilets in the main block were clean but the porta loos were horrible - which is probably universal anyway!

There did seem to be quite a lot of activities to do - although like rob said we didnt partake in any of them - just chilled most of the weekend

Also - not trying to start a fight but the lexus lot did take over the 'joint' stand, with very little effort made to socialise with the TOC lot, it didnt suprise me as its always been the same, but i think there needs to be seperate stands next year as it just made me feel uncomfortable and unwanted.

Thanks to les and anne for the use of your barbeque and sorting everything out, and thanks to the toc lot i did have a giggle - sarah you are a tool thats why i think we got on so well - you remind me of me :P

Not sure if i will come again next year but if you do the other camping trip then im pretty sure i will go to that, it sounds like you had a really good time at CAE.

Will post some of my pics up later

T x

Edit: Heres the pics i took of the beach:

Pic of rob on the shingles

Can see the car interior and rubbish behind chris on this photo (this was where the site entered onto the beach)

Tyre :D There was one of these about every 50 yards in the sea - dont know if they were some sort of budget buoy or not?!

[JadeGTI]

I am thoroughly happy!!!

Apart from me making the journey and turning up with the right hump and not being able to bring my own car, i was greeted with a very very warm welcome and a very happy bunch of people and it immediatley cheered me up!

I had a fantastic time and i cant wait for the next event!

you lot are kinda lovely!! :D

xxxxxx

[Phoenix999]

Jade.... I am sorry that we did not get the chance to say hello.... I saw you but you were in conversation with other people. I hope we get to say 'hello' another time :)

[SJandMR2]

:lol2: I AM a tool! thanks teegs I love you to :P

I thought this one was great! :D but have no base for comparison as a JAE virgin and am easily pleased = field, tent, cars, nice people, sunshine, fireworks, sofa, vodka what else do you need? :lol2:

Nice venue, arrived and was handed a map from a steward saying its sh1te and wrong don’t read it, was very amusing yes prob could have done with a few more signs on the way there, but then my sat nav decided to take us the tractor only roads with scary grouse on them ..lol

Plenty of things to see and do and spend money if wanted but thanks to the gorgeous hot weather and wine I just mostly chilled out, I have a great tan! :P Was some very nice cars to look at, made me very jealous and promise not to post all three million pictures of some proper car porn that I have :P

Thought all the JAE Staff were fantastic laugh and not OTT on the marshalling – worst car search on the planet mind thank goodness :D and as for smelly portaloos well yeah there was but that just adds to the atmosphere lol and am sorry the promo girls were clearly from essex tho Oooh and the freebies...lol they were good to.

What made the weekend for me tho was the company and the antics such a larf you are all legends!! ;) and my throne!..lol best night sleep I ever had..lol

Have to agree with teegs aswell about lexus, probably cos they had such a better turn out but it did sort of feel as if we were pushed to the back, but that being the biggest disappointment for me was the poor turn out from toc but hey there is always next year or CAE

And no need to worry about the strood thing, was fine ...I did however forget to check the tide times for the A1 and aquaplaned most of the way home

Oh yeah and seriously what it with all the roundabouts??? No wonder people from Essex so dizzy

Will sort out all pics later but heres a couple that couldn’t wait..lol

ノーフォークnチャンス gaz turned samurai

And lesson to all, this is what happens when you bring French crap to a Jap show...its breaks and needs pushing

and of course the best cars there :D

Anyways was great see people again and meet new people to!! Great weekend

SJx

[JappyBeast]

Someone taking a wrong turn on the way to JAE??!!

Its the first time I havent gone in 5 years so I'm pretty gutted about it. I would have come if I could have got Friday off work but for me it's a bit too far, and if its too far for someone who lives in the Midlands, what about the population of Scotland?

JAE has always been about the people and not the cars, I just wish it was still in the middle of England!

[kangzy]

i went down on saturday for the day and to be fair i was really dissapointed!!!

talking from the corrolla section there were 3 corrolla... and 2 compressors and a tsport.. mine and carl's(really nice car mate btw) compressor and gaz's t sport!! couldnt believe there was no1 dere!

poor turnout and confusing venue! but really nice weather!

[Karma Supra]

I was really disappointed with it.... No big name trade stands, no car activities, (handling course, drift area 0-60 anything!) Everyone seemed to just go to bed on the Saturday night, all the other points such as getting there, facilities space etc have already been mentioned and I'm sure will be mentioned again..

Good to see some of the old faces again though and have a catch up! Thanks for the Sun block Teegs! I have gone an “interesting” colour today!

[Hoovie]

might aswell start with the journey - we came from mansfield (which for those that dont know is in the east midlands), the drive down seemed to take forever, i really do think they had their head up their backside when they planned the location - well done for alienating the northerners and scots! (maybe that was the intention i dont know?)

Don't forget about the Guys in Wales and the West Country!! I would probably have gone if this was somewhere a bit more location-friendly :(

[Tegan]

might aswell start with the journey - we came from mansfield (which for those that dont know is in the east midlands), the drive down seemed to take forever, i really do think they had their head up their backside when they planned the location - well done for alienating the northerners and scots! (maybe that was the intention i dont know?)

Don't forget about the Guys in Wales and the West Country!! I would probably have gone if this was somewhere a bit more location-friendly :(

Yes i agree it pretty much alienated anybody who isnt a londoner! I could !Removed! about that all day but i wont bore you with it

[Chris.S]

:lol2: I AM a tool! thanks teegs I love you to :P

I thought this one was great! :D but have no base for comparison as a JAE virgin and am easily pleased = field, tent, cars, nice people, sunshine, fireworks, sofa, vodka what else do you need? :lol2:

Nice venue, arrived and was handed a map from a steward saying its sh1te and wrong don’t read it, was very amusing yes prob could have done with a few more signs on the way there, but then my sat nav decided to take us the tractor only roads with scary grouse on them ..lol

Plenty of things to see and do and spend money if wanted but thanks to the gorgeous hot weather and wine I just mostly chilled out, I have a great tan! :P Was some very nice cars to look at, made me very jealous and promise not to post all three million pictures of some proper car !Removed! that I have :P

Thought all the JAE Staff were fantastic laugh and not OTT on the marshalling – worst car search on the planet mind thank goodness :D and as for smelly portaloos well yeah there was but that just adds to the atmosphere lol and am sorry the promo girls were clearly from essex tho Oooh and the freebies...lol they were good to.

What made the weekend for me tho was the company and the antics such a larf you are all legends!! ;) and my throne!..lol best night sleep I ever had..lol

Have to agree with teegs aswell about lexus, probably cos they had such a better turn out but it did sort of feel as if we were pushed to the back, but that being the biggest disappointment for me was the poor turn out from toc but hey there is always next year or CAE

And no need to worry about the strood thing, was fine ...I did however forget to check the tide times for the A1 and aquaplaned most of the way home

Oh yeah and seriously what it with all the roundabouts??? No wonder people from Essex so dizzy

Will sort out all pics later but heres a couple that couldn’t wait..lol

and of course the best cars there :D

Anyways was great see people again and meet new people to!! Great weekend

SJx

think i managed to grab a couple of pics of your aygo's

[Paul Gi]

Well i left JAE with a convoy of other Scots at precisely 12pm - didn't get back home til 9:40pm!! Anywho my thoughts on JAE 2008: -

Yes i will agree that the location was thought up by someone who clearly doesn't like Northerners! However the location WAS a good one, in my mind the distance meant it was no longer a trek it was a holiday! LoL

Also i would like to make a HUGE thank you to everyone who came down - i was initially a bit sceptical about introductions, especially with being a long way from home however (possibly with me just being a bit shy initially!) however once we got that out the way, everyone was really friendly and enjoyed all your company :D never thought i'd see the day where i do something "epic" (as Chris would've put it! LoL)

Fair enough there wasn't that much in the way of entertainment however the ridiculously hot weather took care of that - Chair, Beer, *****! lol

All in all i thoroughly enjoyed myself and would do it again but as discussed with Les before i embarked homeward bound i'd need to put more thought into the journey before commiting otherwise roll on JAE 2009!

[JustJJ]

Well Guys n Gals....

I guess it all depends on your perspective really.

Ok ok I wasnt with TOC this year... but we had a stand of over 50 cars... practically our own set of portaloos (which silly site management didnt tell us to leave a gap for the guy to come clean them.. so by Sunday they were a little ripe lol)...

There were more showers Teegs, in some portacabins further into the middle of the site, but I didnt end up trying these, only the ones in the main shower block and the bit with the vending machines... I only had to queue once... and even then was only 5mins max.. and I had a nice shower both times.

The drive to and from the venue was long yes (4-5 hours) but having walkie talkies helped... we even had guys come down from Dundee! And they still reckon it was well worth it.

Yes the beach wasnt all white sands and stunning, but it was still lovely to sit by and listen to the waves etc, watch the jetskis and even the RNLI who turned up on Sunday.

There are a number of stunning pics already flowing onto the OC... So feel free to mosey over and have a look!

It was lovely to pop across and see you all on the TOC stand and good to see peeps visiting us on the MR2OC stand too (Les, someone has a piccy of you taking a piccy of Skye lol)

All in all, I'll go again, most definately... the people were friendly and fun, it was good to see peeps again, the competitions (its a knockout etc) were good (Tho Mr Chris Turner.. I wanted to see you pull the car lol).

I think the venue was much better than what now feels like a cold and empty EoE showground.. the weather most certainly helped and I am sunburnt lol...

ttfn!

[Calisto]

I loved every minute of it :P I mingled with the Sera Club, TOC, Likwid Art, The Celica Club, and when I wanted time out I sat on the "beach" heh

The weather was great, the peeps were very friendly.

OK so the venue wasn't quite what I was expecting but I sure made the most of it.

Here are my piccies.

[Fizz]

Sounds like mixed feedback so far.

All in all i think im glad i was unable to attend this year as the last 3 years have been great.

If it moves to a more central location again its garaunteed to get a bigger turnout regardless of the venue setup.

[JustJJ]

I personally have to say.... those that didnt go, missed out... but I guess it depended where you were, what stand and who was around etc... *shrugs

I did feel a bit sorry for TOC as you guys seemed to have a few more midges/mozzies about that we did nearer the beach, but at least you didnt need a human wall to protect the cars from the football matches lol :P

[Norfolk n Chance]

Last year the site, although in a central location, wasn't without it's problems.

This year, although no longer central, the site still had problems.

But what actually makes a good event??

For me it's being with a good bunch of people, meeting other enthusiasts and having a laugh.

There is no such thing as a 'perfect' location.

For all those that didn't go, come to next years, you will be pleasantly surprised!

And to anybody that says "it's too far" Paul Gi came from Scotland!

So quit yer moaning and get driving!!!

[jaxx]

Paul GI actually gets my recommendation for 'Legend of JAE 08'

[JustJJ]

Well done that man!

We had a guy from Dundee :P but not many other Scottish lot came down :P

[MsB]

Feeling totally creamcrackered after a brilliant weekend ...to much beer & vodka & not enough sleep but it was definately worth it

Big thanks to all of you who came because without you all it would be nothing and I honestly think it was the best JAE so far and considering it was my 6th one thats not bad going, and especially to those who travelled long distances to get there.

Special thanks to Les & Anne who as always were in the thick of it all still smiling (even if Les did get the 'Mr Grumpy' award) well done to everyone who won a certificate or award - it was good to still see a lot of you there right up until the end. Massive thanks to Steve who brought up the Gazebo's & BBQ etc and hired the generator and without his back up it wouldn't even happen in the first place.

The causeway was not the big problem that it was made out to be by a lot of people beforehand. Facilities were a bit more primitive than E of E but apart from last thing at night & 1st thing in the morning the portaloos weren't as bad as they could have been. There were 3 shower blocks admittedly the pressure & the water temp could have been better but I guess thats what camping is all about. There were loads of things going on - Saturday was taken up with Show & Shine (hopefully yes they will split the categories next year), 5-a-side footy, its a knockout & the tug of war and sitting on the beach wall thingy eating lunch in the sun watching some loons in the sea (so guessing it wasn't quite as disgusting as some reports)

Think I managed to say hello to most peeps & sorry if I didn't get to you

I think my only disapointment is to see the 'them & us' comments...admittedly LOC had more cars/people but the Gazebo & BBQ was meant to be a central place where everyone could get together, especially with having a DJ Saturday night & music both Friday & Saturday for everyone. I posted the 'whats happening' thread so everyone knew what was going to be there and provided but sadly the 'sofa' took preference :( Contrary to popular belief just because someone drives a Lexus it doesn't mean that they come from a different planet