Rallies 2023?

[Pamphonica]

I'm sure that the McMichael Rally is on for this year, 16th July according to the website.
That one has a nice format - reasonable size car-boot sale plus rugby club bar and catering! Lots of space to sit and socialise.
And BVWS Biggleswade is definitely on for March 12th. Non-BVWS-members will be made very welcome! Nice spacious new indoor venue.
-Jeremy

[radioman]

The Braehead rally in Glasgow is returning this year on 14th May.
http://www.braeheadradiorally.com/
It's quite a small venue really and you have to walk through the entire shopping centre from the car park to get into it.
This has actually put me off from buying anything bulky !

Andy

[ortek_service]

Originally Posted by Sinewave

Most of the Rallies which I usually attend are not even listed as being on, or are and listed as cancelled. This includes Harwell which hasn't been on for three years now. Andover have also cancelled, I don't know why.

I can't even see Sonning as being listed, but it will be taking place, so maybe the listings are unusually behind?

There have been a few more recently added to: https://rsgb.org/main/news/rallies/
But there are some here, that aren't listed by RSGB yet: http://www.g4rga.org.uk/All.html
I also found this website, that whilst only links to above, it does have photos of many past-ones, to see what they were like if considering going for first time: https://www.hamhub.uk/content/rallies/

It often seems the case that many rally organisers don't inform the RSGB etc. particularly soon - even when the date is on their own website.
- So you have to find each of these / keep checking the main lists.

I believe the Harwell one is only temporary cancelled again for this year, due to personal circumstances of some of the organisers. But it may resume in 2024.

I did go to Andover in Sep'22, for first time since it had last been held, and there was only one trader left when I eventually got there (with unexpected A34 closure due to burst pipes, hold-ups). Although he told me only 12 traders had turned-up this time (But it did clash with Telford - which Sep one also had this year! before cancellation)

It seems Wythall has ceased rather-more permanently: https://www.wythallradioclub.co.uk/booking/
- Like Drayton Manor, Solihull/Kings Heath/Stockland Green, Kidderminster / Stourport & Elvaston ones had some time ago around the Midlands area

There is a new Black Country one on 30/7/23 near Walsall, but looks to be another fairly small one-hall indoor one, like ones of these near Tipton / one in Aldridge years ago. And on same date as Chippenham (that's not on list yet).


The date of the 'Sonning' (McMichael) one is usually announced by the organisers at the previous year's one (So about the earliest of all the organisers). And I'd already found this is planned for 16/7/23, even though it's yet to appear on the rally lists.

Some others that are also yet to make these lists:
- Foxton, S.Cambs on their website as 16/4/23
- The BVWS RetroTech (Previously the NVCF) on their website as 21/5/23. And now moved slightly to Ryton-on-Dunsmore, but still £10! (or £25!! for a bit earlier entrance) entrance for buyers, which I had thought this was mostly due to high venue charges (Although the BVWS Biggleswade event - not listed on RSGB list, but is on the G4RGA website which says admission is nearly as much at £8)
- Dunstable is always late to announce exact date in May (sometimes too late for Radcom print date), even know they must have to book the site with the Council a while in advance.
- Flight Refuelling in Dorset on 13th Aug
- The Newark National Hamfest, 6/7th Oct: https://www.nationalhamfest.org.uk/
- Princethorpe (Rugby) yet to announce, but usually the week before MK
- St Neots yet to announce, but usually the August Bank Holiday Monday

I've found the Dunstable, Newbury & McMichael and Princethorpe ones tend to be amongst the largest that are still around, being outdoor ones.
Although many rallies have rather shrunk in the number of traders over recent years / most now packed-up not long after mid-day (Compared to the days of Drayton Manor, still open until after 4pm)

[G6Tanuki]

One annoying thing I find is that in recent years quite a few of the remaining large traders have stopped attending rallies; in times past I would happily order something the week befor a rally, paying by cheque and saying "Can you take it to the Picketts Lock/Granby Halls/Belle Vue rally and I will pick it up there?".

The likes of Western Electronics, SMC, Stephens-James, Amateur Radio Exchange etc got several thousand quid out of me over the years, and I preferred an in-person collection rather than entrusting a £500 transceiver to a courier... [had bad experiences with Securicor!]

These days the big traders seem to stay at home. Sign of the times perhaps?

[1955APREN]

This Sunday 12th Feb Midcars is on Nanwitch cw5 5dc

[ortek_service]

Originally Posted by 1955APREN

This Sunday 12th Feb Midcars is on Nanwitch cw5 5dc

I have been considering going to this "Radioactive" one in Cheshire one day, if I'm staying not quite so far away that weekend, to see what it's like - Note: It seem the post code is actually CW5 5DG (with 10am start and £5 entrance), according to various lists it features on.

[ortek_service]

Originally Posted by G6Tanuki

One annoying thing I find is that in recent years quite a few of the remaining large traders have stopped attending rallies; in times past I would happily order something the week befor a rally, paying by cheque and saying "Can you take it to the Picketts Lock/Granby Halls/Belle Vue rally and I will pick it up there?".

The likes of Western Electronics, SMC, Stephens-James, Amateur Radio Exchange etc got several thousand quid out of me over the years, and I preferred an in-person collection rather than entrusting a £500 transceiver to a courier... [had bad experiences with Securicor!]

These days the big traders seem to stay at home. Sign of the times perhaps?

With the demise of Picketts Lock / ones in Hertfordshire & Kemptom / Epson, there doesn't really to be any large ones around London area any more, that the larger expensive new-equipment traders / manufacturers / Martin Lynch etc. would have often been at. I did go to Rainham & CATS ones once, a few years ago, but were rather-smaller than I'd expected.


The large 2-day Fri/Sat Leicester one at the Granby Halls, moved to Donnington and then even further North to Newark to become 'National Hamfest' there (kind of merging with a previous one, held at Newark).
- I had heard the indoor tables were rather-expensive for many traders, although maybe not so much of an issue for larger ones.

And there were still a few major manufacturers there, last time I went in 2019 - But maybe more Test Equipment ones like Rigol(UK) / Siglent & Vann Draper distributor of various makes.?
Although it seems that ML&S (as have Youtube video of it) & RadioWorld (as features on their website) were there back then. But not many seem to have a list of rallies they will be attending, any more.

[hamid_1]

These days a lot of the traders sell mostly online or by phone / mail order. They have to decide if the cost of attending a rally is worth the extra sales. Presumably some have decided it isn't. Luckily I'm more interested in things like components and vintage stuff. There still seems to be plenty of that.

Martin Lynch is a regular trader at the McMichael rally. That and the Dunstable Downs one in Luton are within an hour's drive from north / west London. I normally try to go to those - they're very good. The Harwell rally had a good selection of traders including Rigol and Mirfield Electronics but it looks like it's cancelled again this year.

Sadly some rallies have folded over the years, for various reasons. I remember going to one in Longleat and one at the National Motorcycle Museum in Birmingham more than 30 years ago. Those rallies may be long gone but at least there are others still running this year. Something to look forward to.

[Radio Wrangler]

Originally Posted by radioman

It's quite a small venue really and you have to walk through the entire shopping centre from the car park to get into it.
This has actually put me off from buying anything bulky !

But you do have a fair shot at getting a parking place reasonably close to an entrance IF you work out how the car park flow pattern works. There is also quite a decent selection of eateries in the shopping centre.

The having to carry a heavy item business does mean that even quite desirable boat anchors are likely to have their prices marked down a lot towards the end (after the raffle) as is usual at rallies. I confess to using this ploy to pick up bargains. However, the people in Glasgow are pretty generous. Ordinary shoppers have seen me lugging a hefty sig gen and offered to help! Two people, each with a hand on a side handle makes all the difference in the world.

David

[ortek_service]

Originally Posted by ortek_service

>>
There is a new Black Country one on 30/7/23 near Walsall, but looks to be another fairly small one-hall indoor one, like ones of these near Tipton / one in Aldridge years ago. And on same date as Chippenham (that's not on list yet).
>>
>>
Some others that are also yet to make these lists:
- Foxton, S.Cambs on their website as 16/4/23
- The BVWS RetroTech (Previously the NVCF) on their website as 21/5/23. And now moved slightly to Ryton-on-Dunsmore, but still £10! (£25 < 10:30)
- Dunstable is always late to announce exact date in May (sometimes too late for Radcom print date), even know they must have to book the site with the Council a while in advance.
- Flight Refuelling in Dorset on 13th Aug
- The Newark National Hamfest, 6/7th Oct: https://www.nationalhamfest.org.uk/
- Princethorpe (Rugby) yet to announce, but usually the week before MK
- St Neots yet to announce, but usually the August Bank Holiday Monday
>>

I've just found out there's already been more cancellations of some of these, not long after being announced !
- The New Black Country Rally is now shown as Cancelled on RSGB list / Central Radio Amateur Circle Facebook pages, but can't find why.
- The National Hamfest at Newark has also been cancelled for this year, due to venue / date problems. Although they have announced next year's date of 27/28th Sep 2024. See: https://rsgb.org/main/blog/front-pag...023-cancelled/


And the dates for these ones have now been announced / are on RSGB etc list.

- Dunstable date has finally been announced (a bit later than Jan/Feb they promise to announce it by): 21st May, which is around usual date for this but now clashes with the RetroTech! (that had been announced a while ago and is a week later than normal this year). As they're < 60miles apart, many traders and visitors (particularly those of us who live between them) normally often go to both. So not great planning! and will mean lower numbers.
Annoyingly, Bletchley Park's TNMoC is also holding an Acorn Computers Econet 'bring-your-own party' to create a large network on that date (but all weekend at least, so also on Sat 20th May).

- Princethorpe (Rugby): 20th Aug, a week before Bank Holiday, as usual

- St Neots: Mon 28th Aug (Bank Holiday, as usual)

Some others, not mentioned yet, that may be of interest (Although I've only been to Newbury & Telford ones) are:
- SNADARC Alferton Derbys DE55 7BD (J28) 100 tables 45 traders (Indoor): 11th Jun
- East Suffolk Wireless Rally (ESWR) (Ipswitch) IP10 0PW: 18th Jun
- Newbury: 25th Jun
- Barford (Norfolk): 2nd Jul
- Finningley Nr M180 J2 / Doncaster DN8 5SX: 23rd Jul
- Chippenham SW M4 J17: 30th Jul
- Telford Harper Adams Uni TF10 8NB 3rd Sep

[m0cemdave]

The Milton Keynes Rally is booked for August 27th.

This is at a new venue, due to unavailablity of the previous site.

Information here:
https://www.mkars.org.uk/index.php/rally/

entrance co-ordinates:
52.037502, -0.785077

[The General]

That last one is the next subdivision/estate over from me! Almost within walking distance. It's quite a nice venue, next to Lodge Lake.

[ortek_service]

Yes, I should have included the Milton Keynes one as well - I thought it had previously been mentioned, as they had already announced their date, before the others had confirmed theirs in August.

It will be interesting to see what the new site is like, as it's moved around quite a bit (mostly being around Bletchley area) since the Cranfield airfield days, but now more central to MK (like when at the college in Leadenhall).