Sunday Billing spit and polish day
Who said a field full of 32's would be boring? As this was the 32nd NSRA Billing
Fun Run, it was thought a cool idea to get all the 32's together. Not sure how
many there was at the height, last I heard was 37. Also the Pop festival had all
the Pops lined up. It would take to much to organise each year cars together,
but it would look amazing and be cool and so much easier to look at the style of cars
that you like. All the Trucks together, all the pre49 together, late stuff etc wouldn't be as hard as
each year. Hey easy for me to say, I wouldn't have to organise it.
3 of the best. I just received this photo from Dan Boone I just had to use it.
What a sight this must of been, the last three years winners of Best in Britain
Magnificent, all driving together. Dont ya just wish eh and yes here's the
proof they are driven *respect*.
Right on with the show..
Where was
I....??? Oh yeah the flash back, like a thud I remembered the passenger window
had fallen in on the 34 the night afore and try as we might, the only way to fix
was dismantle the door trim.... oh Man did I not need that.... But Tony would be
here any minute wont he.... the sod'in window had been wound down without a hitch
for the last 3 yrs, why now? Steve Hudson was still polishing the T, I still felt
kak and the sun was hot already... I better get washed and see how I feel then.
Nope still felt Poo, as we had no cooking facilities it had to
be cold drinks only, my intention seeing as I wasn't driving today was to have a beer
or two today... but I could think of nothing worse at this moment in time. My
miss's bless her cotton socks had put some iced water in the cooler and a full
carton of orange, they went down well, while we sat and watched Steve and his
mate still cleaning the T.
After it was all cleaned, Ste did come over and
explained why he had told us to turn our music down, then I got another
flashback from the drunken night before "Hey I spoke to you at
Wheelsday" I said "you friggin blanked me *hic* if you thought
I was a pillock you should of just said ya pillcok or something but not blanked me
*hic*" oooh noo I can be such a git when I am pissed. Soss Ste if you
read this :>) So that done, it was time to sort the window. It wasn't
such a bad job to be honest, just annoying more than anything. I have had the
trims off loads of times so I could actually do it with my eyes closed, just
aswell really as I had one closed most of the time with the sun. I was now
coming to and my stomach was churning again, for today I knew was the last day I
would drive the Rod. I didn't have any cleaning gear with me, the wheels needed
a do aswell, but I couldn't do anything about it. The day afore, we had stopped at a hand
car wash and had a whole tribe of Kossavo's give it a half hearted going over
and the stuff they used had stained the wheels hey ho eh!
Steve Hudson has the T all spick and span now so it's of't to the Show ground
for him, while we slowly try and wake up, hey look he is smiling at me, maybe he
is thinking "pillock" ;>).
Dave Brown Arrives in the Amazing Devon, looking as Wild as ever. I
have been promised a go in it, I cant wait.
A bacon butty and some coffee was now needed, so it was time to
put the car on the field. I half thought that Tony would be here by now to put
his new Car on the show field himself, but there was neither hide nor hair of
him anywhere. The Pops were lining up and had a good show already, same with the
32's. I was in the 2nd row of Rods and the show ground was filling fast. Having
an early look round showed some amazing Cars, The quality of the Rods
there was stunning. Adam Sayer's Slingshot was causing a lot of interest,
have you seen it? You sit with the diff nudging ya nudger, it is so Mad you
gotta admire the ethos of it , "Cool Adam Cool". All the time while I was looking
round, I kept looking at my phone, but still no missed calls no messages... it
was 11am and still I hadn't heard from Tony who was picking up the 34, he had
already paid me for. I even phoned my misses, "has anyone rung me at
Home?" Nope?.
The Mad Steel Willy's which Tony (Ozzy) Osborne has as his next
project sat outside the Home Grown Hot Rods stand, now I knew what it was. The
Blown motor from his equally Mad flamed one is going in it so I hear "Wicked eh"
and guess what? the only photo I didn't get was one of his new/old all steel
Willy's so it is still a
secret ;>).
There were hundreds of amazing quality Rods there, but
the one I could see myself in next was this excellent Green 40's Ford Pickup, now
that is just me perfection, once the F100 is done that is what I am going for,
the best 40's Ford I can find "Hand me a tissue".
I thought the rocker cover treatment on this A engine was rather neat. Same as
this Cool Pop Interior, its the attention to detail that makes a good Rod Great.
TooTall Paul was working hard and doing some fine work. The whole perimeter of
the show ground was encircled with Trade stands, some for the women and kids
that aren't so into Rods and some for us Rodders. With the likes of Originals
Hot Rods (Kerry Tate), Duksville (Geordie Paul), Home Grown Hot Rods (John
Golding), Reality, Pop Parts, Pop Browns, USAutomotive, American Car Mags,
Stafford Vehicle Components and Simon Watts, TooTall and Chris Bunting supplying
the art work for us Rod Mad nuts, if I missed anyone out sorry.
Has anyone ever built a 40's Willys with a liddle engine in? I thought these two
primered Motors look hard as nails.... But....
If ya want Hard this is the hardest Car I have ever seen or heard... "Yep Hard"
and yet "pretty" that is the only way I can describe it. When it came into the
show ground, you heard it first ( Loud exhausts save lives) the ground shook and my video
camera was in Jason's Car, dont ya just hate it
when that happens. I am a Rod Man and a Truck Man, late model stuff has never
been my thang, well later model anyway ya knows what I mean... But this I think has to get my vote for best of the meet. Well
the one that impacted me the most, when I heard it and saw it, I shuddered with
Awe.. You had to be
there. I felt this unholy rumble and heard that RUMPA RUMPA.......
I looked to the right and was blown away with this low and beautiful hunk of
metal thundering towards me. Where's me camera?? where's me Video.. damn damn
damn... I just stood and gawped and soaked up the moment.. Knockout Mate who
ever you are KO!
Quick Quick lets look at some Rods before I become a Tri
Chevy convert........
Yes I have decided it has got to be a 40's Ford for me. ;>)
I wont show my self up and try and guess what year, but it was a great looking Truck. What
can you say Johnny Best made his 34 the Best ever.
*Phew* that's better I feel safe now, cuddled in the warm bosom of Rods :>)
The Sun was roasting me alive now and still no contact from Tony? I was getting
worried. I had to get his phone number somehow.. Yep I had no contact number for
him, cant ya tell I am not used to selling cars, let alone Rods. I managed to
get in touch with a mate of his Vince *yep that Vince* Hi Vinnie :>). I
only managed to get Vin's answer phone. A few minutes later he got in touch, we
have our difference of opinions but now was no time for that, I needed Tony Shailer's
mobile number. I was talking away, loud as you do when on the phone, then I
looked up and everyone was stood still and silent. I thought hell someone has
thrown a magic boomerang ;>0...... then it dawned on me jeez it is a minute's
silence.. I quickly pushed the red button on my phone and cut Vin off....
everyone near me was looking... oh boy was I embarrassed... I am so so sorry, I
would not of done that for anything, we were now all silent, Vin Rang I quickly
pressed the red button again.. er and again.. I rang him after to say what had
happened, as I was grateful, even if we do not agree on everything to do with
Rodding Eh Vin.
Mind you I do love my Hi-Tec 34's Ha Ha so many Cars so little time. This Purple
Blown 28/29A aught my eye aswell.
I rang Tony, and it went like this " Hi Tony".....
on the other end all I could hear was "Its says Holmsey, that's Malcolm
isnt it?" I could hear the sound of a car and some kids.. Then " Holmsey that's Malcolm isnt it"
... I was even more confused. So I went
for another Coffee and a Burger. I wanted it to be some of the Thai food but
at £5 a shot I settled for a Burger. I had a crack with a few Rodders and just
sat soaking up the atmosphere and had a crack with some more Rodders
and waited. My phone Rang at 1pm ( what did we do before the mobile
phone?) Yes it
was Tony and he was in the show field. He was just so cool and laid back about
it, I was amazed. I showed him round, but it looked like a test drive was out of
the question as we were blocked in.. Old Toady came to the rescue, you want out,
I'll get these guys to move their stuff and he did and they did. So it was Tony's
first drive and sit in his new Rod.. He may of acted laid back but I could see a
smirk beneath the calmness... he was chuffed.
First thing that became apparent was, he was used to driving something
with far less a turning circle than the Rod. He is a Black Cab driver and them
things turn on a sixpence, the 34 turns on a marquee ground sheet. The next was
speed humps, bloody annoying things they are, we got stuck twice... oh boy what
must he of thought he was getting his self into, as he said "Oh Dear
this could
be fun, where I live it is full of speed bumps". Still back at the show field we
filled in the Log book and shook hands and the deal was sealed. The whole family
looked pleased which was great, I hope they get lots of fun out of it.. Byyeeee
Rodney... Enjoy Guys... that was it what a weird feeling.
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