Dragonball 2012 - feedback thread

So,its been a little over a week now since we got back!!

As it looks like next year will be even bigger I want to see what lessons I can learn from this one.

Looking for constructive criticism about things we can control, and also feedback on what worked well.

Did the hotel work well, was the buffet a good idea and good value, were the lunch stops and other stops okay. Was the driving too quick, too slow, dangerous or anything else like that.

Were the stickers good, which ones were good. What could we do better with the packs and mirror hangers.

Did the satnav thing work, what can we do about those who decide not to use a satnav?

Did the walkie talkies work?

And so on.

So, off you go. I will do a tidy up on this thread as I go to keep it on topic as I need it as a reference thread for next year.

Overall a great weekend, I don't think it's fair to point the finger on things out of your control... From my own perspective I will make sure I find out the exact meeting locations... I managed to lead a number of cars into the centre of oostende but didn't know wtf to do next..., thankfully another member had the TomTom routes and so managed to get us the final mile..

Driving styles, routes etc are all things that will vary from place to place and are also dependant on those attending.

Overall big thumbs up to you and the chaps who organised the weekend.

I would also be willing to help with next years event if you are in need of another pair of hands.

Cheers

Rob

So,its been a little over a week now since we got back!!

 

As it looks like next year will be even bigger I want to see what lessons I can learn from this one.

 

Looking for constructive criticism about things we can control, and also feedback on what worked well.

 

Did the hotel work well, was the buffet a good idea and good value, were the lunch stops and other stops okay. Was the driving too quick, too slow, dangerous or anything else like that.

 

Were the stickers good, which ones were good. What could we do better with the packs and mirror hangers.

 

Did the satnav thing work, what can we do about those who decide not to use a satnav?

 

Did the walkie talkies work?

 

And so on.

 

So, off you go. I will do a tidy up on this thread as I go to keep it on topic as I need it as a reference thread for next year.

Hotel was great lots parking and buffet was good idea no messing about finding somewhere and people just hung around

The driving could do with being slower think that's ware people got lost trying to keep up

You don't need to blast along to get people looking at the cars as i found out on my trip down to Italy, you will always get some who like to blast along.

Stickers were great i likes the single number 12 and the forum names, people will be keeping them on

Map packs fantastic, people just did not follow them and when lost car in front could not find themselves on the map lol

Satnavs fine but maybe add gps coordinates also

Walkie talkies great also

Def have small groups to keep them together

Longer times for lunch

For me, as per my email, I think if we have large numbers next year we should have a group of 'team leaders' - 8 or 9 people with all the itineraries and SatNavs sorted who lead smaller groups of cars (all still within the whole as much as possible) and they are responsible for their group (ie. waiting after junctions etc to make sure they stay together). Then the smaller groups can attempt to keep with other groups. Managing that many cars (trying to keep them all in one big group) is unbelievably hard but I think we can get it better next year!

Hotel was superb - no comments there.

I think maybe longer stops to allow a bit more browsing (the town with the Castle for example - would have liked longer there).

Apart from that I thought it was pretty amazing!

the slower driving thing is odd, I generally kept it down to a reasonable speed and I used to always think everybody was behaving behind me, but when I go back and you cover the front I realise everybody is tanking it along trying to keep up. When you had the front after the castle stop were you moving at a fair rate on top of the wiggly embankment roads?

yes i did but slowed up to nearly a stop at junctions for the tail to catch up

Hotel was stop on and the food was fantastic at 15 euro each as it is a bargain, if anyone saw the full menu would know. Rooms and parking were stop on as well, so the accommodation we just need to do what we done with the previous years and find a decent one and then... haggle!!

Longer stops I think is a good idea, for people to regroup and allow the engines to cool down, take photo's etc.

Walkie are great but the range on them is always limited to about half a mile in real life terms. It was a god send as I was able to alert some of the group on police etc. Kayla did a fantastic job of radio directions so a group of us who kept getting split at the lights and small roundabouts could follow her directions without worrying about nav too much. I'll be purchasing a couple to bring with me to the next event.

The only request I'd make is to ensure that everyone has a sat nav with them at least or proper road maps. What Darren and his missus done with the co-ordinates was superb. My nav packed up, but I was able to use my phone nav using the co-ordinates to arrive at locations & they were spot on. We can all just follow you on the route you have designed but if a group get lost then at least they have the location point so they can head in that direction to meet us. Unfortunately it is difficult for everyone to hold together especially when driving through towns, if you pull over it causes a block sometimes which means people at the back can not catch up. I hanged at the back a few times and I must have gone through at least 10 red lights over the weekend! I don't mind stopping the traffic to help keep us together but all the drivers need to pay attention and be quick, co-pilots also need to ensure they are playing a part. Without my wife I'd be lost as she done a great job on using the map, guiding me, and keeping an eye on the convoy.

Really looking forward to next years one.

Also can I put a suggest we dress up as cartoon character for the journey out!?! (Someone else mentioned it on DB).

Having done Dragonballs 06 and 07 this was by far the best for me. Excellent hotel, food, parking etc. Driving, yes we did get split up but for us that was part of the fun because there was enough of us that we all seem to meet up with other groups and find the way, even with a police escort at one point

The organise route /days out was so much better than the original Dragonballs we did before.

Great bunch of such varied people all with the one common interest.

I would change very little, we really enjoyed it, so much so I am took my car off the market so I can do more

the only problem i could see from the weekend was something we couldnt foresee and will alway happen, when the lead cars leave say at traffic lights / roundabout the "train" behind get left behind with the either lights changing or traffic delays this leaves people " pushing on " to catch up .........also on the bigger roads when the train gets split by slower lorrys etc when they clear out of the way the lead cars are nowhere in sight putting the fear that everyone has turn off somewhere unseen etc ......i dont know of a solution other than having dedicated cars on the front and back and within the group and everyone knowing who the cars are etc

Last years dragonball wasnt a problem due to smaller numbers and less traffic lights and roundabouts i think

The Hotel was spot on good secure large car park, excellent food buffet and breakfast and friendly staff, and good value

The stickers were perfect and well done to Ellis for the info packs they was top work

Cant comment on the sat navs as i dont have one

I enjoyed the Walki Talkie banter when Pete joined me on saturdays run i will have to sort one for next year the banter was well funny

The stops could have been longer but on it will probably end upless driving prehaps ?

It was an Epic trip again and cant wait till next year well done all who organised it all we counted the supra,s out and they all came back result = top weekend had by all

PSST next year Fancy dress on one of the days, theme Cartoon caracters / super hereo,s

Cheers

-Ian-

Well as you know I loved every minuite of it, there's not much I would change but to bullet point:

- More stickers were needed, however that appeared to be because only 2 or 3 of us had them last year, many more wanted them this year(I think we should discuss who wants stickers in advance next year)

- I felt that there was a little too much driving on day 1(but that's my opinion, I don't know how others felt)

- I think Ellis's idea of having a 'leader' of smaller groups could work well(maybe seperate the groups into those who want to drive a bit faster and those that want to go slower)

But considering that the organisers got 30-40 of the most dis-organised Supra owners to get through northern Europe without any real hitch and to only have the above points to consider for next year, well that I must say is one top job .

Oh and the packs were fantastic, the hotel was brilliant and the buffet food was perfect

The Friday drive was a bit much, I pulled on to the coast road way too early in the plan, if I had come across to Oostende and then up from there it would have taken about 60 minutes out of the journey at least. I realised that as I was coming out of Zebrugge with only 1 Supra behind me out of the 40 that were supposed to be there.

So I now know how much is too much, where in 2011 we did too little driving, I think in 2012 we did too much the first day, about right the second and a little too much back roads on the Sunday.

Giving more time at lunch stops means the driving and scenery gets cut down a bit, unless we drive up to 5pm and beyond. But I will look at the properly for next year.

I can only say how much I loved this trip. I must have watched the highlights video about a dozen times.

It's is difficult to be critical of anything really as the things that went wrong were not really within our control. I, as an OCD type of guy would like to have kept the group together more as we would have brought towns to a halt with all those cars in succession. The problems came with junctions and traffic lights etc. I was slightly frustrated that many of the groups dispersed and for a while there was myself and Dan in convoy for about 20 miles.

I think the packs, stickers, mirror hangers (although not many used them) were excellent. One thing we would need in future is either post codes of the destinations or co-ordinates as Vicki and I would have struggled to find the hotel if we had got lost.

I thought the driving standards were generally very good. There was one incident in which I had words with another member as they were so far up my chuff my magnetic GB stcker nearly jumped onto their bonnet.

The hotel was excellent and the buffet was a masterstroke.

Next year, I am going in fancy dress whether any one else does or not. I also think we need a better effort at the terrible shirt competition.

I also think that speeches and a general run down of each day should be part of the meal in the evening and we can have a laugh at the expense of our more flamboyant members. I can't remember a trip that comes close to the Dragonball experience, last year was great but this one was better for me.

H.

Spot on Paul, spot on!

I wanted to come dressed as Batman but I think someone has dibs on that, next on my list is Superman & Spider Man & last restore will be Banana man

Spot on Paul, spot on!

 

I wanted to come dressed as Batman but I think someone has dibs on that, next on my list is Superman & Spider Man & last restore will be Banana man

Wonder women would be more fitting.

Spot on Paul, spot on!

 

I wanted to come dressed as Batman but I think someone has dibs on that, next on my list is Superman & Spider Man & last restore will be Banana man

Surely Supraman would win

Wonder women would be more fitting.

You still talking about my wife?

Surely Supraman would win

Think you just gave me an idea!

You still talking about my wife?

 

 

Think you just gave me an idea!

That's my name I call dibbs on that

This was my first Dragonball and I loved every bit of it from the hotel to the driving. I am definitely investing in a decent walkie talkie as the banter was very entertaining. As has already been said a little longer at the stops would be nice and having a longer day apart from that I don't think I would change anything. I found the driving speeds fine apart from the dash to the tunnel on the way back when I think I got flashed doing a naughty speed coming out of the contraflow to try and catch up

Was a very good =trip, thoroughly enjoyed it. My 2p...

As people said, driving miles/time was slightly harsh on the Friday/Sunday. I would like it if we got back to the Hotel about 4pm so we could have some banter in the late afternoon...

I think it was spot on and well planned out if im honest. The maps was good and espcially the firday map - could of been done for saturday and sunday but apart from that it was great.

oo and may be a contact number or some thing so if any problems or get lost etc you know where to the meet next just incase you miss a meeting point.

I want to do it all over again. i just want next years tickets now

Top event, maybe a list of people who are willing to buy dragonball shirts/polo's/caps stickers etc. Maybe we can pay for it on the same time as the tickets and if someone is willing to bring that along, just a maybe. No worries on delivery time, or shipping details, just all in one account.

If I had to change anything I would say that I wished it was longer as the first and last day was mostly driving. I think 4 days would be great.

If I had to change anything I would say that I wished it was longer as the first and last day was mostly driving. I think 4 days would be great.

I personally think that 3 days is spot on. I think if we were doing northern France next year we wouldn't be covering as much ground on the first and last days comapred to Holland. From our point of view, the Wigan lot set of at Thursday lunch time and got home at 22.30 on the Sunday. Any more and I doubt we'd fancy it..!!

H.

I only have two things that i think would improve Dragonball, the first is an extra day. We basically travel most of the 1st and 3rd day's to get there and back, so it would be nice to have two days at the hotel enjoying everyones company. The 2nd is strippers.

Both me and Tasha had a brilliant time this year, we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves and we have both already agreed we want to go again next year I also agree with Marc, I really wanted the stickers this year and I was gutted when they ran out before the Petrol station in Calais. Next year an option of previewing them and prebuying them in the Club shop would be good.

Well all i can say is more stickers pls, Maybe order/purchase early. Preety sure as virgin's to Dragon Ball me & Karen have no other complaints....Oooo apart from the bloke who was smoking a fag out of the window,& playing with his little freind,whilst watching the morning sun. Who was it on the 3rd floor?

I personally think that 3 days is spot on. I think if we were doing northern France next year we wouldn't be covering as much ground on the first and last days comapred to Holland. From our point of view, the Wigan lot set of at Thursday lunch time and got home at 22.30 on the Sunday. Any more and I doubt we'd fancy it..!!

 

H.

Fair enough, I just wished there was a bit more time to chat to people as I didn't get to speak to yourself very much and a few others.