Caravanner of the Year - An Alternative Thread
Comments
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Perhaps an amalgam of Escape to the Country, Random Canal Journeys, Trains going just about Anywhere, Pubs all over the Place, all topics covered on various programmes but all with one thing in common - celebrities (in the loosest interpretation)!!! Ordinary people doing any of these things sadly, don't sell programmes - but I'd watch them and I suspect a fair few of us would too, especially if they included caravans and motorhomes..
Alison
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My caravan is my holiday home which I take with me.
Write your comments here...Which has clean sheets and pillow cases (not recycled hotel ones!!) My own food and acutrements,(not hotel/wharehouse food !! ),My choice of when and where to stop and rest (not governed meal times !! ) An all in space of my own ,surrounded by my own familiar equipment,( not hackneyed upholstery of every hotel !! ) A clean shower/basin/loo etc,(not been used by all and sundry !! ).I can please myself which direction i go next,(without the enforced itinerary !! ) .FREEDOM !!
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It's been said that the sort of things listed wouldn't make good television and appeal to a limited number of people. Howeve,r surely there are more motorhomers/caravaners than canal barge owners out there yet there have been two series of programmes on
TV recently about these. I have no interest in ever renting a canal barge but have thoughly enjoyed the John Sargent and Timothy West and Prunella Scales series. Probably a motorhome would be better than a caravan [ and I say that as a caravanner] to follow
round and see what was about as the canal programmes have done but it must be equally, if not more, interesting.0 -
Good post DD, the best PR would be to use a family to ensure engagement with a better cross section of potential LV'ers. The social & fun side of visiting different parts of the Country & Europe. Nothing interests folk more than watching others have fun,
it could prove to be aspirational. The younger children the better(post toddler stage), they make fun, they don't expect it to be given to them.Write your comments here... A programme for example about the family who gave up work to go off around Europe in their caravan for a year may have been good.
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Good post DD, the best PR would be to use a family to ensure engagement with a better cross section of potential LV'ers. The social & fun side of visiting different parts of the Country & Europe. Nothing interests folk more than watching others have fun,
it could prove to be aspirational. The younger children the better(post toddler stage), they make fun, they don't expect it to be given to them.Write your comments here... A programme for example about the family who gave up work to go off around Europe in their caravan for a year may have been good.
perhaps CC have been secretly filming 'the Meeks'....
Martin Dorney (?) had a series or two of pottering around in his VW campervan featuring his food options along with a nice slice of scenery along the way....
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The CC could earn the respect of the members by producing a series of programmes about the reliability and build quality of each caravan/ motor home manufacturer. Choosing two manufacturers every episode and looking at how well the vans stand up to the passage
of time.Very useful for prospective buyers and might encourage manufacturers to tighten up their manufacturing process and warranty service.
K
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Like me a great many of CT members and probably many that don’t post found the Caravanner of the Year programme insulting and damaging to our reputation and hobby.
Instead of more moans and complaints I have started this thread to enable contributors to say what they like about Motor Homing. Caravanning, Trailer tenting, etc.
and what you would like to see in a programme about our hobby and how it should be presented. Everything
positive can be embraced, but please nothing negative; leave that to Grenville Chamberlain.Write your comments here...What a disgrace this programme was and how it confirmed to the general public that we are in stereotypical losers they assume we all are. From the head of the Organization to those who took part they do not in anyway represent
core caravaners I have met. As for you request for what you should have done is simple..... Follow real caravaners on various trips from start off to towing and setting up and all the fun and falls involved in that.....both abroad and home. Different pitch
levels from CL to full service. If you really want to find a caravaner of the year pick real people with real vans competing at the same level. I have met wonderful people whilst travelling setting up and being assisted in times of struggle. We clearly need
a change of leadership if they let this happen and looked ridiculous damaging his own van in a riduiculous task. You have damaged our already poor reputation.0 -
I reckon a good TV programme about caravanning would start with a long queue on the road behind an old caravan with all the drivers raging and showing their frustration! This would play right into the hands of the caravan haters.
But then a big-name top quality presenter (who is actually not anti-caravanning!) could cut in showing that this is the old, stereotypical image of caravanning. She could then proceed to show all the fantastic atributes of caravanning that everyone in this thread have highlighted.
There is no need for any competition, just a really interesting programme that publicises the modern caravan and caravanner.
Rather than depicting a million CC members as being a load of incompetent buffoons a quality programme could actually attract another million members. I'm surprised the Manufacturers don't make an effort, it'd be in their interests to do so.
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A fade to an interior shot of the caravanner stuck behind a Nissan Micra sporting a CSMA badge would be a good counterpoint.
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To me the problem with any sort of competition regarding caravans/motorhomes is that the hobby is not competitive. It's social. About the only aspect that could be called a skill, and therefore could be tested, is that of reversing a trailer. Cooking is
another area, on the limited equipment available. That's about it.Most aspects of our nomadic lifestyle are pretty much slightly adapted versions of living in a normal home. What does change is the scenery, as we are able to set up camp in virtually any place we can think of. That is the part that could be highlighted
in a TV program. Of course that is more of a travel show rather than a competition.If a competition is the idea, then mixing the various outfits doesn't work either as the skills required vary. We could have speed aqua roll filling? Competitive BBQ cooking?, Three course dinner in a caravan oven? Speed wine bottle opening?
Write your comments here...I'd sign up for the Wine bottle emptying
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The BBC probably wanted ( and got) a cheap laugh at the expense of the camping and caravanning fraternity. It was clearly cheap as no great expense had been invested. Whether it was a laugh or not depends on your sense of humour. To me it was a humiliating
and embarrassing experience for all concerned. TV companies will not be interested in a prime time serious program about the club.0 -
I'm sorry but IMO the CC chairman has really helped the CC rallying fraternity by showing why rallying with the CC can provide all those extra activities. So don't knock the chairman, His TV programmes will really encourage new people to go rallying.
The TV programme should have been entitled " Rallier of the Year " much more accurate.
Every cloud has a silver lining.
K
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Probably what was needed was planning. The whole thing seems to have been done on the hoof with them looking for the test course after they had arrived and even then not very well. The whole thing should have been planned in advance with sensible tests and
accountable scoring.The units were very varied and were simply incompatible and possibly you would need classifications boiled down to realistic finalists. If it is to be done again it needs to be done professionaly.
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Sorry but have never been on a rally and if this programme is viewed as an encouragement to do so, it has failed miserably! If that's what rallying involves, I am even more convinced I don't need to do it!!
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In this age of reality TV have the cameras following a diverse group of caravaners throughout a summer season. Families, couples, old and young. You don't have to make up tests or trials. Just show real-life caravaning and let the personalities of the people
shine through and at the same time you show what fun caravaning can be.0 -
DD, now that could be a format/concept for a programme itself
. Similar progs are out there, following a number of families, cutting
back to each one as the show progresses. It has all the elements needed, add to that some intelligent editing & it could be fun & informative0 -
this is a difficult one....the 'caravan channel' and the motorhome channel' ran (or runs) periodic bursts of programs on a Sky niche channel...
the caravan side was presented by the late John Wickersham and was usually followed by the MH channel with Andy Harris.
JW was a tremendously knowledable chap (read his book) and tried to make the program interesting and fun, but it was still very niche.
Similarly, AH (who owns the successful RoadPro MH accessories business) tried hard but is painful to watch...
also, those who have a deep interest in the market, will have 'read the news' before these programs made it to the screen so things werent really 'new'...
....for the casual viewer, i would imagine that it would be difficult to hold their attention for very long.
i found the Martin Dorey series interesting as it did follow hos family to coastal areas and portrayed the idea of taking your home to lovely parts of the country.....even though the general theme was cooking (what program isn't?....) in a campervan..
getting the balance right to keep the interest of those who 'know a bit' along with those who are viewing to see what they are missing, is a tricky one....
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I think the programme was a good starting point, however it would have been more of a competion if standard kit was used ie a 2 berth caravan (like used for training), a standard car if possible along with an awning. There could have been a race to errect
and repac the awning (this would have been fun) it would be easy to pull the show apart, however as I said it's a good starting pointing and has got people taking.RR
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So over the years I have watched progtlrammes on fishing ,steam trains and history of railways .pottery throwing, cooking,baking.gardening and many series of the motorhome show , caraven finder TV and the caravan show.
What has really upset folks is the fact that this Caravanning Competition show has been left in the hands of TV people who have been given the task of producing an 'entertaining' show that might catch on with the general public....and judging by over 2000
comments on CT and CC forums it certainly has made some people sit up and stung by what they see is a mickey take on their hobby...Well that's what it is..!!If you think some of the folks taking part were a little nerdish..well I'm afraid you have never been involved with a railway and model making society..now there's a few hours of niche programming.
Just take the programme with a pinch of salt ...life's too short to get worked up about a silly programme and let the rest of us who are in the know get on with enjoying our fabulous nomadic free and easy hobby and if you just can't let it go ...write to
the board of CC and let them know of your feelings and ask why they must have reviewed the prog. and said ok.0 -
Further more I am on a long break in Australia ...so all my viewing has been done on Utube . I have come across some fabulous half hour programmes about wild camping in the outback and the incredible tough vehicle ,trailers and caravans being used
Entertaining ,informative & gripping footage with excellent commentary.... just the way it should be...go take a look
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Ok lets be positive Poor G Chamberlain has in his opinion presented a programme which he thought was indicative of the caravanners who are customers of the CC.
What must have caused his confusion is that he probably only comes in contact with the tiny minority of CC members involved in Rallying. Both committees Regional and District.
He therefore based his programme on exactly the activities that happen on CC rallies, the dressing up clothes and the pretty van competitions Etc Etc.
He was probably unaware that over 90% of the CC customers have no interest in taking part in rallying and in all innocence did not understand that normal caravanners dont do any of those weird activities found on rallies.
Had he entitled his programme of activities "Rallist of the Year". It would have been accurate and would not have offended the vast majority of his customers.
Being kind I would say that he should get out to CC sites and meet normal real caravanners who use their caravans as a means to enjoying their holidays.
K
Write your comments here...The poor old chairman seems so in his PR bubble, that his column inches in the press and minutage on TV programmes are the measure of success, not what is said or by whom.
There is a saying
"When we cannot measure the important things, we make important those things we can measure"
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Not a member of the other club but Not a member of the other club but it would be interesting to know if they have passed any comment!
