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Apr 12, 2015 18:11:38 GMT
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Hi all, Today we were having lunch and Mrs Generallee casually dropped into conversation "Why don't you look into going to the steam fair in Dorset this year?" Whoppee! I have wanted to go for ages, and hopefully we will have our camper fixed up by then. Looking into tickets, we came up with a dilemma- we could go on Wednesday and come away Friday or Saturday, or go on Thurs and leave Sunday evening or Monday morning. Would we miss much if we weren't there for the weekend? Or are most exhibitors there by Wednesday, so we could see everything but beat the worst of the weekend crowds? Just looking advice from anyone who has been, going for the whole week is pushing it a bit- while Mrs Generallee likes tractors, doesn't mind steam engines and will humour me with my old lorry fetish, a week of me in my anorak guzzling ale would be a bit much. Thanks in advance...
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Apr 12, 2015 19:25:11 GMT
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As long as it isnt p'ing it down, itll be great spending a few days there, I wouldnt go on the weds tho, I know a couple of people who show tractors etc and they don't even head down until weds night/ thurs, And they have alot to set up, So wouldnt be fully up and together until friday. I also see a fair few steam traction engines etc travelling down there (I'm in the new forest so not far) and still see them heading there on thurs/ friday.
I go on the weekend myself, The crowds arnt too bad, its worse getting in (traffic wise) than it is in the venue. People are quite spread out inside. Be aware though, If its a dry sunny weekend, The place turns into a huge dustbowl. Its in a valley and the sun can be pretty damn bad, drys everything out, that coupled with loads of hot coal everywhere and can be silly hot.
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Apr 12, 2015 19:58:20 GMT
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I was afraid of leaving before it really got going, it sounds like the weekend is best. I guess a delay getting in isn't too bad if we have 3 days to explore.
Thanks very much, I will book up directly.
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PHUQ
Part of things
Posts: 861
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Apr 12, 2015 20:15:55 GMT
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Having spent a week there (exhibiting) most of the interesting stuff was there by the start of play on Wednesday. Certainly pretty much everything is there by Friday so you wouldn't miss much by leaving late Friday- at most a few tractors and lorries, and there's plenty . I certainly wouldn't hang around 'till Sunday night, everything comes down in drips and drabs but tries to leave en masse Sunday night, so you'll be stuck in a very long vintage traffic jam!
Pay attention to the weather forecast too- when we went it was fairly hot, and dry- it wasn't too bad. When it's really hot it's properly scorching (the "dustbowl" description above is accurate!) and when it's wet it turns into a proper quagmire, with so many vehicle movements just to get stuff on site it gets rather churned up.
We were tenting, and shower facilities were a little lacking, and expensive (on the campsite the bogs were fine, as most people were in caravans so they didn't get too abused), something to consider depending on how your camper is kitted out. Pretty standard steam rally stuff (and I would guess a lot better than most festivals) but I know my young lady was getting a little miffed with it by the end of the week- that said IIRC we did Monday- Monday.
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Apr 12, 2015 20:57:44 GMT
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Having exhibited there for 9 years & visited just once since, I'd suggest definitely staying for the Saturday, the atmosphere in the fair is immense & most of the showmans engines are still generating at midnight.
Go into the real ale tent & watch Dr Busker when you're there, usually Friday night. Thoroughly entertaining
Wouldn't bother staying all day on Sunday, a lot of exhibits leave by lunchtime on the Sunday so there won't be as much to see & the queues to exit the site can be huge! Stay for the Saturday night, get up on Sunday morning & leave then.
If it rains it is a mudbath so take your wellies, you WILL need them!, if it's sunny (Very rarely that the sun shines every day at Dorset, think it's only happened just once or twice in 47 years!) then it gets really dusty!
Watch out for the flint that gets kicked up with all of the movement on the site, they can be sore if you go over on your ankle!
Watch out for thieving pricks! Sadly it is a common problem at Dorset, could tell you several horror stories about thefts over the years.
You'll enjoy it, you'll not see everything in one day put it that way!
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PHUQ
Part of things
Posts: 861
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Apr 12, 2015 21:04:46 GMT
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Probably is worth staying for Friday night if the fair is your thing- couldn't see much difference between the Friday night and the Saturday night in terms of activity but Saturday was busier with people. Didn't rain until Sunday night the year I went! Must admit I'm a bit meh about lines of Showmans engines, and even more meh about big crowds of drunk people, I'm much more into the stuff in the playpen so I'm probably a bit biased and others might have a different opinion. Any which way we can agree that there's no point staying for Sunday! Have a totally uninteresting picture of my Land Rover in the show to make up for the slight negativity there
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Last Edit: Apr 12, 2015 21:05:25 GMT by PHUQ
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Apr 12, 2015 21:22:10 GMT
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Thanks chaps, top advice there. I'm really looking forward to it now. It is the playpen I really want to see, but I love fairs and fairground rides (and lorries), I love real ale tents, I love lines of showmans' engines. Our van is kitted out with bog and shower, as long as we have water we are all good.
We had already banked on packing wellies and sun cream!
That is lovely SII.
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PHUQ
Part of things
Posts: 861
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No arguments from me there, always nice to see (although the best bit of the fair to watch is the set up!) the old trucks and rides in use, and the line up of Showmans engines is very impressive and something you have to see- but once you've seen it, that's it, it doesn't do anything else- while the stuff in the playpen is always changing. Of course, since the playpen shuts down at night you do get to see both.
One thing I had forgotten is the night tractor pull, which I think was probably Friday and well worth watching- especially when the put a big Mclaren traction engine on the sled. Proper fireworks display!
Shoulda kept that one, it was a good little Land Rover- the main reason we were there was to show the one on the trailer behind, which is the remains of the "Rail Rover" prototype that they used for the launch of the 2.25d.
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Firstly Go!
As said above mud or dust
Get there Wednesday and leave Monday because Sunday is the end of the show and the world and his wife are all trying to get away on small country road's which if it's been raining is madness
make sure you take much monies although there is a fully functioning Bank on site
Visits the Cider tent for mulled Cider
Watch the tractor pulling
Walk lot's
Look, smell (steam) and enjoy
oh and check when you are able to get on site when you arrive as they are quite strict of entry times and will hold you in a pen until you can enter the camp site,
Late Saturday night ( midnight) all the steam engines blow there whistles Fantastic!
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MK2 Cortina Estate
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Apr 13, 2015 21:11:00 GMT
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Be careful if you take a generator with you, the traveller travellers that get onto the site do have a penchant for them.
Take toilet roll too! Lol
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Apr 13, 2015 21:54:48 GMT
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Yes as escortmad said theve's with centre partings in 4x4's will take if not bolted Down! They do have security patrols and the police are on site and patrol in unmarked vehicles,
But they are not stupid so chain, bolt, cover, hide and be clever
But really go and experience it,600 acres with auto jumble, classic, vintage cars, truck's, tractors, buses, tanks, motorcycles, traction engines, steam engines, show engines, steam fair, beer tents, food tents, craft tents that I lost all my children in for hours painting ceramics, night entertainment, rust! way way more to talk of,
Last time I was there we watched a spitfire doing fly by's and loop De loops not part of the show but just brilliant!
I have been going on and off since I was 12 and 30 years on I still love it, Fantastic !
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MK2 Cortina Estate
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