Well the Rodney had been introduced to its new keeper, I was feeling a bit weird. The old one door shuts, another door opens clique came to mind, I took a deep breath and entered the new life :>) The show field was a lively mass of Rods and people and I needed a drink, but I would settle for another coffee. I got talking again, and while I was talking, I heard John Price say, "Holmsay, will Holmsay please come to the NSRA hospitality tent, before you leave the show field, that's Holmsay please come the the NSRA Hospitality tents before you leave". ?? Eh?? why I thought?? guilty conscience kicks in sh*t what DID I do last night....???? So I kept on talking pretending I didn't hear, so putting off going to the NSRA marquee. Then I thought, maybe it is just someone who wants to see me. I think that is why you get sensible when you get older, cus you worry what people think about you, when I was younger I didn't give a flying, so never had a guilty conscience.... much ;>)
Isnt she beautiful :>)
I told John Price,
"Hi I 'm Dave Holmes" he looked blank.. "Holmsey".
"ahhhha" he
said "walk this way". He shouted Dave Biggadyke, "we have a trophy for
you".. "me??? said Dave "what for???" I
asked worriedly This was weird and a bit disconcerting for a shy lad.
I heard Dave say to John "it is in recognition for all his work on his web
site"..
John then announces, "Can I have your attention please, we are doing a special award early as Holmsay is leaving,
but this young man ( terrrr ) Holmsay is being presented with this award because
he does hundreds of web sites".... "No no" says
Dave and me together "just one". "Sorry"
says John "just one but it is a big one :>)" I said "dont you dare ask me any
questions or try to interview me I will just stutter and talk crap" (normal). He
asks "what is it called?" Dave sort of looked blank and John turned to me, I
proudly announced "Uk Hot Rods".... and gave him that look.... right ask no more...
It was the most amazing feeling, someone like Dave Biggadyke shaking my hand giving me an award, with all the work he and the NSRA do for Rodding, me... bloody Holmsey from up't Cumbria like, an award in recognition for all the work I do for Rodding on my web site Ha Ha to say I was chuffed is an understatement I was ecstatic.. Then I looked up and saw all the mates I have made through doing this web site and I just felt so damn proud and honored. To see them all smiling at me and applauding was just so fine a moment. I keep enjoying it still and hopefully I will remember it forever.
I cant thank who ever it was, that made this happen enough, it does make me realise Rodders enjoy this web site and get something from it. To be honest that is the only reason I do it.. Cheers who ever you are! I would like to know who it was though.. ahhhhhhhh I feel all emotional like *tear* Ha Ha big Jessie...
I had my hand shook so many times, as people kept coming up to me, most I knew, but some cus now they knew who I was. I noticed someone out of the corner of my eye, when I was talking to Langy. It was a guy I knew from about 28/29yrs ago. I saw him at Doncaster a few weeks previous getting his trophy, so I did cheat on recognising him But I did remember his the face from that little memory jog, as John Emery. Who I had met only once back in 75?, we got on so well back then, that we exchanged letters for quite a while. Then we were just in our early twenty's, I had a Cortina Custom, John had a Wild Pop, such a long time ago, but really only feels like yesterday.
Two 56 F100's sporting new Flames for 2004
John now has a stunning Genuine Steel Black 34 See Video ya know the stuff us Rodders dream about, how cool is that, to realise a dream. John was with his wife and we just hit it off like it was only yesterday, we had been at the same Rod Run. I am trying to think which run it was?? I think it was the the Stratford upon Avon Run... er maybe.. Anyway we had a great crack and got on really well, I think we could of talked all day and all night, but I was conscious that my mate Pudzz and Jason had gone back to dismantle the tent and load the trailer about an hour ago and I said I wouldn't be a minute whooops.. Hey but I did have an excuse didn't I eh ;>) I said my goodbyes and it felt so good we had met again what a Nice Guy! I just kept bumping into people all the time and the walk back to the tent was taking a long time.
Met Billy Gabb with his new 32 sedan, he was with Ray Cadd who has the Superb
Blown red 32 that won best of show at Drayton last year. I just had to go, Pudzz
would be going off on one, leaving him to do all the work. I wanted another look
round, a proper look at the trade stands. A last look at it all.... but it wasn't
to be, mind you there were plenty of Rods left in the camping ground so I looked
at a few of them. At least leaving now we would miss the traffic jam..
After I thought what a pillock, we should of got out onto the road got a can or two, water if ya like and got the chairs out and just watched the procession as the Rods left the show ground... what a thing to miss. That is what me and me old mate Ickle used to do in the 70's 80's go to Belle Vue on the Sunday evening and watch all the cars leave it was awesome.. wish we had Video cameras then.
Keep em clean or keep em dirty your choice.
How much better our cars look on the move dont ya think, Damn I am mad with myself I didn't do that.. Pudzz would of been up for it, so would Jason maybe next time. I have heard at the Max Power do's they have an arena set up for the top cars to drive round and have a commentary read out about the cars and driver, I would love to see something like that done with our cars. Can you imagine sat with a cold one watching the Rods drive by... Heaven! Think we do need to have the Rods driving about more.. not sure how it could be achieved though what ya reckon ? Bollix? ;>)
Looking Back, it was one of the most exciting, entertaining and emotional Rod weekends I have had. I do feel slightly like and outsider now, as I am Rod less. I hope I can still feel part of it when I go to Wet and Wild on my Motorbike or the Nats in the wife's daily.. Hopefully the Truck will be a quick project and I can get back into it.. I cant understand how some people can do this scene for years and years but never have a Rod or any kind of suitable Car, for me that would be shear torture, Hot Rod Groupies... :>) I already want another Rod.. and right now... but it will have to wait, untill after the F100.... so this is Goodbye but not farewell :>) Holmsey xxxxxx
Oh and Tony Osborne's new project aint a secret I just made that up, well if it
was it aint anymore. Picked it up January in San Francisco its a genuine old
steel race car that's been around the American car scene for years, it has
run 7.5 sec quarter s and been in quite a few race
video's and was featured in drag race mags years ago which Tony's has got
,....it is a cool as! Another American Car with History makes it to our shores
Good eh. It's getting the blown mega big block treatment again *respect*
No Not all the Rods leaving but a shot from Simon Phillips 32 sedan of the
cruise Rods behind him, now see what I mean all the same type of Rod together.
Not Like Fred Carno's Circus eh Nige :>)
The Cruise venue organised by Dave Brown
Mellisa Gee left and Simon Phillips (who took these photos so dont blame me they
are all 32's) Sedan.
Nigel Stephenson
Dunno who?
Well a few of em anyway, go to the NSRA Message board for a full list.
Footnote: I forgot to say about the journey home in young Jason's V12 Consul man its that car loud. Me and old Pudzz had tinnitus by the time we got back to sunny *read cloudy* Cumbria.. But it was a blast.