Modified Nationals Performance & Tuning Show
Modified Nationals Performance and Tuning Show 2019
NAEC Stoneleigh Park Coventry.
So the summer is just round the corner and for the automotive photographer that likes cars which don’t move too quickly it's time for the static show season. The static cars show is an odd beast, you pay money to park your car up at a venue and other people pay to come and see it.
In anyone's book that is a good business model. I've never quite understood the logic behind it, you are doing all the work for someone else to profit from. However, you have been in your garage all winter making your car better than the original manufacturer's design concept so I suppose you want as many people to see what you have achieved.
Don’t get me wrong, I go to shows, a lot of shows but my car is modified slightly for a visual effect and more so for performance. So it makes no sense to take it and park up, so why do it? One of the main attractions of a show is going with your friends who are probably like minded and have the same sort of car as you. This is tribalism as it's most base form.
Most people are in some sort of tribe and feel most comfortable when they are around the same sort of people. Football supporters, people with the same political views, music, and of course the car and bike scenes in all their different guises. You must have seen loads of scooters or Harleys riding as a group on the road, well these will be heading off to meet up with others form their "tribe" who are into the same thing.
One of the biggest gatherings of like minded individuals in the UK is Modified Nationals Performance and Tuning Show (Mod Nats). This year it was held over a weekend at Stoneleigh Park just outside Coventry and had over 160 Club stands. When you consider that each stand had to have a minimum of 5 cars that’s a lot of modified vehicles in one place. Add in the visitors and you have more of a nation than a tribe!
Our resident car street photographer, Ryan, went along to soak up the atmosphere, capture the event and give you some tips if you are attending next year. Arriving on the Friday and departing on the Sunday Ryan had plenty of time to get round all of the displays and take in the evening entertainment.
Staying for the whole weekend is encouraged at Mod Nats and camping with your tribe is the best way to be close to the event and meet like minded people. With pop bars and DJs the assembled masses were entertained during the dark hours and during the day. There is also a live element to Mod Nats - drifting, stunt shows, live stages and driving courses to test your skills, or lack of, them against your mates are put on over the three days.
Mod Nats is not resident at Stoneleigh Park it’s a roving show. Last year it was held at the East of England show ground, and having been to both I got Ryan's view on the location, the show and how he shoots an event this big.
R.
I personally think Stoneleigh Park is a great venue for a car show. It is also used for another major UK show, Gravity by SlammedUK to be held on the 7th July this year. The venue just clicks with the car show crowd and provides a great space to view the cars and a lot of different areas to explore all in one venue. The show is so big we found it difficult to navigate to start with but once you went around the venue a few times it was easy to know where everything was.
PC.
To photograph Mod Nats what photographic kit did you take with you?
R.
I used my mirrorless Sony A7ii with the FE 50mm 1.8 lens. It’s the standard lens but I feel like it provides a good quality image and as it's a lightweight setup it helps when you have to carry a camera all weekend.
PC.
How easy is it to shoot at the show? The event attracts lots of people, were they getting in the way or did you have plenty of room to get your pictures?
R.
Usually at shows I only have the one day to get all my content which can be a pain with the crowds but this time I had three days. For the outside displays I waited for the right time when the lighting was perfect and the crowds weren’t as large to get my shots. Inside the halls I just had to be patient.
PC.
A fair amount of the show is held inside the halls, was the light ok in there? When I visited earlier this year a few halls were very dark with mixed lighting.
R.
The lighting is strange as it looks rather dark for taking photos but the A7ii handled the light that was available very well and made the most of it.
PC.
Do you use the show to network for business or it just a fun event?
R.
Shows help with growing an audience for your work and improving your style of photography. For me it’s about relaxing and doing what I enjoy surrounded by friends and having a good time. So it’s more about enjoying the show and the time with others than growing a business.
PC.
What is the best part of the show and what will be your enduring memory?
R.
Best part of the show for me was spending a weekend with different people from all over the country and getting to know and meet new people. The camping side of the event really helps, bringing people together for the weekend.
PC.
What was the standout car on the day for you and why?
R.
There was not one car that stood out for me but if I had to chose I would say either Dale’s BMW 2 Series or Kurt’s 97 EK Coupe on Hydros.
PC.
What was your favourite shot of the day and why?
R.
My favorite shot of the day is hard to chose but if I had to I would say it was of Dale’s BMW.
PC.
What do you do with the pictures you have shot at the show?
R.
I send them to their respective owners and post them on my Instagram page. They are also used on the web pages of Lowco Automotive and ReformedVAG who I am partnered with.
PC.
Did you notice any new trends in car modification at the show? What's the next big thing in car modification?
R.
There are common trends across the scene at all shows in the UK for example you have the stance scene, the track builds and the show cars and also at Modified Nationals they have a huge section of hot rods, drag cars and American muscle cars which was good to see. The trends in those scenes you notice appear from car to car but everyone’s build is different and they take inspiration from different things but you’ll see trends from countries like the USA and Japan on many of the cars on display.
PC.
What caught your eye at the show and why? Live action or the static displays?
R.
The displays more for me on this one. It was great to watch some drifting and BMX biking but as a photographer the cars on display is what drives me at shows.
PC.
£20 for a ticket, good value? How about food and drink at the show, expensive?
R.
The ticket prices I think were reasonable for the show but the advice I would give is either go for the weekend or make sure if are only going for one day to plan to be there for some time because the venue is massive and there’s so much going on. It’s definitely a weekend show but you’ll not be disappointed going for just a day. Food and drink costs are always higher at shows but we got a pizza in and just chilled around out camp site.
PC.
Any tip you would pass on to visitors for next year?
R.
Definitely make sure you make plenty of time to go around the event and make the most of everything on display. I would advise going and camping at the show as it gives the show something extra that other shows don’t have, its definitely something I am doing again next year!
Lincs Auto PhotographyLincolnshire
Lincs Auto Photography is run by Ryan and located in Lincolnshire.
Ryan is an up and coming photographer based in the city of Lincoln who specialises in the car club scene.
His passion is Automotive Photography aimed at all cars no matter the age, design model or manufacturer.
If you want to see more of Lincs Auto Photography have a look in the Photographers section and the links below.
Use the links below to share this page to your social media.
Follow us on Social Media: