What do R5 Members think of the boards proposal for the relocation of Cornbury House?

[Martin_Davis]

Whilst I actually like the idea of a Porsche Club GB HQ at Bicester, I just don’t understand how the board”s proposed plan makes commercial or financial sense. With this in mind, I was wondering what the other members of R5 thought about the relocation proposal and the latest EGM?

As you may have seen a considerable number of members have raised this in the members only section of the forum. If you haven’t already had a look it’s worth a read.

Could the money that we generate from the membership fees not be put to better use by putting on more national and maybe even international events as well as bigger / better events across the country than we have seen before, for all of us to enjoy.

Many businesses have recently had to think differently and change the way they work, perhaps the time has come for our club to think differently about how our club is run?

For me the club is about the fun and experiences that my family and friends share because the club has brought us together, not because of an Ivory Tower that I can visit a couple of times a year.

What do you think?

 

[BrianJ]

Hi Martin, firstly, congratulations on ordering your dream. But to answer your question:

1. The Board appear to have already made the decision to move HQ to Bicester. The EGM is set up specifically to vote to change the Articles of Association around electronic voting. There is no vote about the shift in HQ, that's a done deal as far as I can see. They are using the EGM to communicate about this done deal, not to vote on it. The very small proportion of members engaging through the forum conversation is pretty much drawn from the same pool as the previous R5 fiasco, which I think you also initiated on the forum! (that's not a criticism by the way).
2. If we didn't already have an HQ I agree that Bicester looks like a fair location to have one. But from the details provided and the "video" accessible from the FAQs, I personally can't see any major benefit compared with Cornbury House, especially the parking arrangements for events. The cost of disruption in financial and personal terms will be huge, and the financial justification (including the unknown unknowns and the costs of keeping Cornbury House) is hidden from us. In my working days I've been involved with several companies doing major office moves - if you don't close down the old one, somehow it just keeps going, so I'm not convinced about retaining Cornbury House and moving to Bicester.
3. In our years in PCGB since 2004, by far the most enjoyable events we have attended have been put on by Regions and Registers, and Richard Watling's factory tours. They all involve driving round fabulous roads and spending sufficient time with groups of people with one thing in common to get to know them. Visiting HQ for whatever reason doesn't really hit the spot for us. I would rather the money go to Regions and Registers for enjoyable events, not an ivory tower.
4. In my view, Club HQ primarily needs to be a low-cost admin centre. Ideally, it would be in a location from which Regions and Registers could easily organise 2 or 3 day driving events on fabulous scenic roads. Maybe it would have some kind of partnership with local hotels and a local track or other large accessible space for holding large events. Not much excites me about driving to Bicester for a few hours, and although the Christmas event there a few years ago was great, the whole of the return journey was awful and not to be repeated very often.

Have a great Christmas!

 

[Twinfan]

Hi Martin.

As you know I've commented several times in the main thread within the members section.

I'm totally against it, 100%.

-Dave

 

[Cater_Racer]

Hello Martin,

I watched the presentation and subsequent discussion and quickly came to the conclusion that this was a vanity project totally lacking commercial justification. The annual running costs were quickly brushed aside without any analysis. There seemed to great emphasis on renting other parts of the complex for additional events, like a concourse meetings or sprinting round the perimeter road, with no idea of the viability of side shows. The regions are much better equipt to understand demand and they seem to have been ignored or under consulted.

This is a foolish plan and financial suicide.

Gerry

 

[tscaptain]

For clarity, one of our region members has received an email from the Chairman saying there will be a "poll" of members before a final decision is taken and no contracts have been signed, just a letter of intent. This is on the main thread. This, however, does not form part of the EGM - well, not for the moment anyway...

 

[graham m]

I‘ve been an active member of PCGB for over 25 years, and in that time have visited HQ just once.
That was as stop off coffee break organised on 997 Register drive probably around 13 years ago
That aside I’ve no desire to drive to Bicester to marvel at the misappropriation of our clubs funds.
I’ve heard from more than one ex PCGB Director that the Clubhouse requires updating and money spent on it; but to give up and move, lock stock & barrel seems madness. Invest in the asset and not refurbished someone else’s.
As BrianJ pointed out - the Club’s far more about the friendships formed and driving our cars than a shiny status HQ
Not in favour
Graham

 

[Toffeepete]

I can see the club wanting a nice building for a headquarters but I’m not totally convinced that renting one on the scale proposed is the way forward.

 

[Martin_Davis]

For those R5 members that are interested in the latest EGM and the proposed relocation to leasehold premises at the Bicester Heritage site, there is further dialogue and an interesting poll which can be found in the members only section of the forum, that can be found at:
https://www.porscheclubgb.com/forum/tm.aspx?m=1108579

General information about the proposed move, including the most recent Q&A document may be found at: porscheclubgb.com/bicester

Mark Hamilton, our Chairman has also confirmed that the Board will host two informal drop-in Zoom meetings for members ahead of the EGM which is taking place on the 19th January to discuss the two issues.

Drop-in One
Wednesday, 12 January
7.30pm - 9pm

Drop-in Two
Friday, 14 January
7.30pm - 9pm

Further information on how to join these meetings can be found in his email or on the club’s website.

Yours,

Martin

 

[David Russell]

I sat in on the drop-in last night and I think some other R5 members did. Back in December when the comments on this topic on the R5 Facebook group were switched off, we were advised to wait for further information before making up our minds.
From what I've seen on PCGB messages and what I heard last night I just can't see the merit in this plan: too much financial risk, too few benefits and a general lack of thinking things through.
There's an element of over-selling the whole BH thing; I've been there lots of times and what's been achieved is great, but it's really all about old cars; outside scrambles it's access by appointment only (I don't believe the claim that as 'residents' our members can just walk in to other businesses at any time) MB F1 aren't there, it was announced a few months ago that Bonhams is closing etc.
Nevertheless, the way in which this move has been presented and managed leads me to think that it'll go through but I don't think it'll be good. Better to stick with Cornbury and do more in the regions.
There's another drop-in tomorrow and a vote at the EGM.