We’re genuinely gutted to share the news that, despite our best efforts, ado16.info has not been selected to exhibit at this year’s Lancaster Insurance Classic Motor Show at the NEC in Birmingham this November.
Aside from the COVID-era disruption, this will be the first time since we were lucky enough to make our NEC debut back in 2017 that we won’t be there. The NEC show has always been a highlight of our calendar and a brilliant opportunity to connect with fellow enthusiasts, new faces, and old friends alike.
We fully appreciate that the organisers face tough decisions, balancing space constraints with huge demand from groups of all shapes and sizes. But we can’t pretend we’re not disappointed – particularly because this is now the second time in 2025 we’ve missed out. You may remember we weren’t initially accepted for the March NEC show either – although, thankfully, a last-minute space became available then. Sadly, as the weeks to the event draw nearer, we feel it’s becoming increasingly unlikely that we’ll get the opportunity to participate in what is the end of the show season spectacular.
What makes this especially frustrating is that we were already busy planning for November. We’d been working on a fantastic birthday bash to celebrate 60 years of the Wolseley 1100 and Riley Kestrel – two incredibly important and characterful members of the ADO16 family. It would have been a real milestone moment, and one we were excited to bring to life.
It’s hard not to reflect on how we operate. We know our approach might not be to everyone’s taste – our displays are digital-first, interactive, and (yes) iPad-heavy. But we’ve always believed in making the most of modern tools to tell the story of the ADO16 in fresh, engaging ways. Our helpers actually talk to people – they don’t hide behind a wall of merchandise or a forest of teddy bears.
That effort hasn’t gone unnoticed over the years – we’ve had fantastic feedback from visitors and fellow exhibitors alike – which makes this year’s absence all the more difficult to swallow.
That said, we’re not here to throw stones. We understand the selection process is far from easy, and we thank the organisers for their work in putting together what’s always a massive and complex show. But we do think there’s a broader conversation to be had about how we support those trying something a little different.
For now, we’ll dust ourselves off, and focus our energies elsewhere – with more digital content, more community connection, and more ways to keep the ADO16 spirit alive.
Thanks, as always, for your support.