Some guidance for those wanting to attend, and a little steering for the organisers.
A plot takes 12 cars plus camping. So if you get 30 cars, you'll need 3 plots to ensure everyone fits.
These are the guidelines from 2018!!! You will need to speak to the show organisers to see if this is still the case. I cannot see them making the plots smaller, but you never know.
But If you get UP to 12 cars, one plot should be fine and you can divide the cost between you all. The cost of the plot depends how close to the action you want to be. What is marked as premium slots are the ones that will get the most "public" traffic on Saturday when open to day visitors. They are also the closest plots to the entertainment etc, and they have mentioned about all day music/films. So take that into consideration when buying the plot. It's always great to be in the thick of the action and getting the public to view the club stand, but for those who want a quieter weekend, the cheaper plots may be worth while. You can always book one of the cheaper plots next to the premium plots so you get the best of both rather than being stuck at the edge.
The EHU fee is from the venue, not the organisers. In all honesty, it's one of the cheaper EHU offers I've seen... I'm sure the last JAE we attended was over £300 for the 32amp hookup for 3 days.
With the EHU - you will need an adapter from the looks of it. Standard campsite adapters are 16amp, so if you go for the 32amp you'll need an industrial connector (read on regarding this). We had this surprise at our last JAE and nowhere local sold them. Luckily we had a couple of members who knew what they were doing and actually made the adapters so we could use the hookup point. If you get enough attendees and you go for the 32amp hookup, let me know and I'll send the lead organiser one of the adapters we have pre-made as they are only sitting there collecting dust. This should help alleviate any issues on set up day. The thorn in this plan is if they provide you with 2x 16a connections, so you'll need 2x 16a adapters, of which I don't have. Maybe if it gets to this point a message to the organisers to find out what you need would be prudent.
Our first JAE all those years ago (2015?)… we had 12 people attend. And it was an amazing weekend. It was also our first major show and we won an award for best club stand. It's not the quantity of people you have, it's the quality. Remember it IS a car show! Not a camping weekend. So you will want to think about a club plot layout in order to display your cars for other show goers and the public. You will also get "clean car envy" if you've not prepared your own car. So allow a decent cleaning session before the show and take some items with you to clean once you are parked up. Ensure that camping and cars are kept separate during the day, which is more important for those using awnings.
JAE is a "come as you like" show for the weekend attendees... so you can drive off/on site as you please. Remember to do this SOBER and stick to the site speed limits. Also drive with your hazards on until you leave the showground so that people know you are on the move and to keep out of the way. You will be issued with a wristband on arrival which is what allows you to get back onto the site if you do leave. So don't damage it, tamper with it, or lose it.
On the cost side, say you get 12 people to attend... the fee per person will be:
£35 for your ticket
£2.50 each for the normal plots or £3.75 each for premium plots
£9.33 each for the 16a EHU or £12.50 each for the 32a EHU
You will also need to ensure you have food for the weekend. There are food stalls etc available at the show, but they are usually pretty expensive. Okay for a one off, but to feed yourself off them for a full 4 days will get expensive.
Check out the safety guidelines on the JAE website, but BBQ's are allowed as long as they are off the floor. If you want to use disposable BBQ's you will need a stand for them. Alternatively, if anyone has a BBQ they want to take to use as a communal cooking point (which is what we do when we organise official EOC events) then each person either chips in for the gas/charcoal supply to keep it going, and the owner of the BBQ gets to take home any left overs.
If you to take a BBQ you will need a fridge to keep meat in unless you plan on going out each day to buy supplies. In the past we've always had a couple of beer fridges just for food. Another tip would be to buy an inflatable pool, stick ice in it and put all yours beers in there to keep them cool. Leaves the fridge free for food
There is an alcohol limit on entry to the event. Check the JAE website. Now they cannot in all honesty police this as you can come and go as you please. So although one 70cl bottle of spirit / 1 crate of beet / 3 litres of wine are the limits... you can go out each day and acquire the same amount of alcohol. Just bear this in mind and don't turn up with stacked crates in the back of your van on day 1 else you may be turned away. This is also in place to try and prevent attendees from over-drinking and becoming a problem. But as Elgrand owners we know how to handle our drink and behave responsibly.
I think that's pretty much everything covered. It looks as though dogs are allowed on site, but must be kept on a leash. At previous events when dogs have been allowed, excessive barking (especially at night) can lead you to be removed from the show. There is a bug firework display on Saturday night, so ensure your dogs are kept safe if fireworks bother them. Maybe put them in your Elgrand with some music on to mask the explosions.
If anyone needs any help with organising or wants to know how we've arranged things previously, don't hesitate to ask.