I have been going to Doncaster show for years, I did the very first one and I have missed only a few since then.. It was just a Rod and Custom show at one time, a great Rodding weekend with camping laid on and 2 days of our kind of cars.. Yanks, Rods, Customs, Vans and trucks.. It is now a very different animal. All credit to the organisers for keeping center stage for Rods and for a prestige's title of The Best In Britain.... Now I am not a great lover of Trophies best in show etc etc as I feel this is THEE main cause for all the Bitchiness we have in our Obsession/Hobby, but at an indoor show you know why you are there.. I had heard on the Rodding grape vine that at least 4 new British built Rods would be being debuted at Donny so I just had to go didn't I.. Didn't You!
If you hadn't been to Donny for a few years, were you in for a shock.. Man was I in for a shock and I went last year... The main Car park that sufficed for all the show goers for years was full at 10 15am ... The queue for the massive, massive auxiliary parking was a drive up the main road for about 1/2 a mile, then round the roundabout and back down the road we had just come up all at a snails pace.. The amount of show goers was mind boggling and by all accounts the day before was even busier... I took my 17yr old nephew and his mate.... that was an eye opener aswell.. I never knew there were so many marques of Subaru's wow there's an Evo 4 no its a 5 Cor an Evo 6 ..... Whoa hoa a Fiat Coupe??? look a turbo.. bla de bla de bla?? I was lost, I said "will you guys go look at the Rods today?"... "sure" they said but I know it was just to keep the weird Old Uncle Holmsey happy.. They were here for the new Stuff and the Babes... well I try to educate them. They say they like the Rods or should I say respect them but a Supra twin turbo makes em go gooey not a steel 34 or 32... ;>(
Ashley Markham one very talented young guy who doesn't wear blinkers with a
great career ahead of him *Much Respect*
When we got to the gates to pay.. I nearly shat.. £18 friggin quid... eh?? Eighteen bloody pounds... Jeez and the queue's of eager young kids all willing to pass over £18 to the gate staff, were 4 wide and snaked back as far as the eye could see.... someone was making some serious money.. serious, serious.. money.. The place was a sea of people 99.9% of which were under 30yrs old... I looked and felt really out of place. I was starving and headed for the burger bar and a 1/2lb cheeseburger was £4 and a coffee came in at £1.20 "sod that I'd rather starve".. and starve I did.. The outside show were we came in was just rammed to capacity, there were small stalls, large stalls, massive marques and some professional outside stages with scantily clad young things gyrating to the very lively and bass'y music made me wish I could join in and move ma body with em!! people were walking past with things they had bought all the time, these young ones sure have lots of spare to spend... there was every kind of light, bumper, wheels tyres you could think of, It was like a load of sharks frenzy feeding... It was an experience you have to see to believe, even young girls pointed out things they wanted for their cars and were buying them like there was no tomorrow.... I was gob smacked and in an Alien land.. I had to get to where I felt safe and amongst my own... I picked up the pace and headed for the Rods in the indoor show....
Steve'y Lang's 60's style T stunning attention to detail but
alas to old to be a serious contender for Best in Britain
Metalflake Econoline Pick up.
Phil Middleton's Ace Chevy Truck Voted my most want to take home vehicle.
Once inside the serenity of the Rod show was a very stark contrast with obla de obla da whispering out of the indoor sound system..... *hum?*... What must the young people that come for the outdoor show think of our scene when they hear the music some insist we all like..... It was 50's *bore* with the odd splattering of dross 70's music.... does my head in! Still I was amongst my own now and did it feel good... I saw Steve Lang's 60's style T next to an Econoline Pick up.... I heard a guy shout "Hey look the Scooby Do Van and Penelope Pitstops Car".... Jeez it was as if we were some kind of quirky side show... "hey come and see the man eating fish or the bearded lady".. Not a gathering of what we consider the coolest Cars in the land... Though that was the only time I felt a bit awkward..... there were quite a few young people walking about the indoor show with some looking very interested.. I heard no bad comments and I felt quite a lot of respect for what was on show with lots of photos being shot, which made me feel a lot better.. I think you either get it or you dont... Lets hope most did get it.
Keith Atkinson and son.
Keith Atkinson's 32 looked stunning and a worthy Best in Britain winner, parked next to a Modern Custom I thought at first someone was tekkin da peesh but I later found out it was his sons car that was parked next to him...
There were other cars there not just Best in Britain contenders. The NSRA stand had a cool Pop and a neat Modified T. The NSRA guys were on hand all weekend and did a great Job, I had a good crack with Steve Marley who said it had been a successful weekend for them. Also York Dragway had a stand with Des Taylor's engineless 34 there Des had no engine as he has no sponsor, his last motor he had borrowed and the guy wanted it back so this year Des has not been able to find a sponsor.. do you know anyone?
Alan Spittle's fantastic center Door T
Sedan was a worthy winner or Mike Keys but these Rods are to well known and have
been
seen before... it seems the B I B winner is always a new car not seen
before. I would love to see this title of Best in Britain become the most
respected title as the AMBR is in America and see the Doncaster Hall full
of Top Quality Rods, a great
show case for the Rodding scene... but alas only a few make the effort to go or
give it the respect I feel it should have.. If it makes guys pay lots of
dough or take lots of time making a perfect Rod then that can only be a good
thing in my eyes.
The Home Grown Hot Rod stand was to be the center of attraction today I thought with its three stunning cars on show. You just knew one was to become the new Best in Britain winner later that day ya just knew it...
Ian Hassle's?
Mike Keys engine looking good as ever
John Price was on form and was interviewing all the Rod owners.. Pete Whiteside came over well during his interview. Though as a school teacher and and English
teacher at that ,if anyone should be able to speak in public it should be our
Pete. (Move Mouse over car to see the Interior)
Great looking 37 of John Martinez
The chosen Three
Keith Abrehart Jnr's Fantastic 32 all steel and Keith even cut up genuine 32
panels to use to repair this beauty no new metal (pass
mouse over picture to see the interior)
The one you've all been waiting for Dan Boones best in Britain 32 (pass
mouse over picture to see the interior)
The Star of the show for me John Emery's Steel 34.. John never even opened the
Hood or door to show us the engine which I know is Cool as I have a sneak photo
or the Interior... (pass mouse over picture to see it )
I made my way to where the Home Grown Hot Rods where I spied Pete Whiteside's Resto 36 looking as good as any Rod there Luckily Pete's Car had not been seen to much so was in the running and not just an also ran.. I stayed until the end this time as I was busy gabbing and lost all track of time or to be honest I would of left a lot earlier as I had been round the Rods at least 6 times and nothing outside was of interest to me though I did have another look round it all in-between look 4 and 5 of the indoor Rod show. Dan Boones 32 was Voted Best in Britain, I think John Emery's 34 was 2nd and Pete Whitesides 36 was 3rd... I think I have a real crap memory.. let me know if I am wrong.. I thought I would remember... I should write it down, but then I would be doing this serious then and it wouldn't be any fun anymore... :>) Sorry to all those that read the write up's to find out the facts on who won what but I never have been very organised .. Custom Car will be out soon and you will get all the real facts there.... One thing I would like to add though is, cheque book Rodding some say won . so what.. there is room for us all. I guess we all do what we do to the best of our ability or what we can afford.. Fact is though the most expensive motor there didn't win, so it aint just about money and Pete Whitesides is not a cheque book Rod and he was up with them. So Well Done Dan.. well done John... Well done Pete enjoy ya Cars and your well deserved wins..
I cant say a lot else... so I will just leave ya with the photos and I cant wait until Drayton Manor in 2 weeks Yeeha!