Stoneleigh beginner's guide

[Peter (Monty)]

I'm finally able to attend Stoneleigh this year. Does anyone have any tips for how to get the most out of it? Is one of the two days better than the other? Do I need to bring cash for buying parts?

It'll be great to finally meet some of you in person!

[Yanto]

I would say Sunday is busier than Monday, cash is best, but most larger stalls have credit/debit card machines.

Really it's just a case of wandering about, there isn't anything organised as such that requires a specific allotted time, apart from the fantastic WSCC AGM and follow on activities 

[Dave Eastwood (Gadgetman) - Club Chairman]

Weather dependant, to an extent, but normally Sunday is the busier day as far as overall numbers of people go.

Cash is good, as Yanto said, bigger stands will usually have POS terminals for cards, and there are normally a few Cashpoints there, though never having used them, I couldn't say if they're the "hold you to ransom" type with charges.

Food and drinks aren't insanely dear, but are show type prices, though come to the club marquee for drinks at much more reasonable charges, (unless you're a helper, in which case they're incredibly reasonable, as they're free!)

There is also a drop off point in the club marquee where you can leave bags, coats, helmets, steering wheels etc while you do the show.

As for the "show", it really depends what you're interested in and what you want ant out of it! There are three/four big halls, usually two main, with the big manufacturers and suppliers along with three/four that have some more autojumble type stuff, plus tool suppliers, upholstery, materials - as in metal wholesalers, grp wholesalers etc. Plus books, tshirts, jackets and so on.

You've then got a load of outside stalls, with a similar mix, everything from tools and painting/body shop supplies to jewellery and clothing.

You could get round most of the bigger stalls and stands in a few hours if just "having a look", start chatting, asking technical questions or having a serious dig through the merchandise to find that elusive bracket/fixing/switch etc and time just flies by!

But then the show is about so much more than just the trade stands. It's the premier event now, in the U.K., where kit owners from all brands can get together as clubs, groups or just individuals and meet and socialise; many that visit every year barely do more than an hour or two in the halls, and instead spend most of the time outside wandering round all the club stands, catching up with the friends we see once a year at the show.

The club stands are a really big part of Stoneleigh, and of course, it's the club members and their cars that make the stands.

[Peter (Monty)]

Very helpful, thank you both! I'm looking forward to it

[Captain Colonial]

Make sure you first park on our outside stand, come into the big marquee, get a brew, and pick up your name badge and this year's show attendance free bribe, a free tool roll.