Well the forecasted Rain did arrive finally, in the early hours Saturday morning. I awoke to the soothing patter of rain on the caravan roof and thought how cozy it felt :>) I just hoped the downpour didn't wash away any of the tents that strewn the camping area and I also hoped that Mike Noble had remembered to put the roof up on his stunning new Gold 32. I lay awake listening to the patter of rain as the time slowly edged towards the Cruise set off time of 12pm.......... I thought sod it, I bet many wont bother to do the cruise in this weather, so I just took my time getting awake and decided to make some breaky for me and the girls instead.. the miss's had over revved the night before so didn't want anything, not even a coffee ..
As the bacon was about ready, the rain stopped and the sun shone *hum?* that changed things, young Jason was chomping at the bit to do the cruise, but it was now 11.55am. I had just sat down to eat my bacon sarnies, he asked if I was gonna do the Cruise. I thought for a bit, then said Hell why not, cant come all this way and not do it to the full eh. I said there's no need to rush now, we have missed the convoy and it was not a problem as I knew the way ok. So by 12.20pm I was ready to have a drive, did it ever feel good to drive the 34 with no bloody great caravan on the back, it felt like it was a horse let loose in a field after it had been locked in a stable all night. It seemed to squat down when I got on the throttle and launch like a scolded cat. But as good as it felt I knew I had best behave..... but it really did want to go, seems the run down had done it good and the new Mallory ignition had cured the pinking problems, I had experienced since I bought the car, oh and the new 3:77 gears helped some aswell, swapped out for the 3:54 from last season, all the time it felt like it was straining at the leash.
It was just my 34 and Jason's 57 Consul on our mini cruise. We made it to the first roundabout and was surprised to see one of the NASC or Hot Rod Gazette volunteers still there, making sure we didn't go the wrong way. I smiled and waved but thought hey its Ok I know where I am going... same again at the lights and the next roundabout and so on.. Right up to the T junction where I knew we turned right to the Cruise venue. I got in lane and waved and smiled then panicked as the guy in the fluorescent over jacket waved franticly for us to get into the other lane and turn left whoooo, was I glad these guys had been so conscientious and stayed at their posts until even us stragglers had passed *Cheers Guys*.
I was pleasantly surprised at the decent drive to the venue this year, made a great way to pass on some time and enjoy the Rod. At every junction without fail the volunteers were there, making sure we knew which way to go, now how good is that, people put them self's out so much, give up there time, so we can have a drive in out cars and make it to the venue Ok.
Once there, the chosen hostelry looked superb, massive car park, great looking building and a lot going on by the look of it. There was even Volunteer's showing us where to park, the guy as I entered the car park said for me to turn it round (good old Banger term that one).... and put it right on the entrance to the car park... but I was also beckoned to go to a proper parking space so I just followed the flow and stuck it right at the back of the car park instead at least there was room for young Jason to park his Consul there aswell.
I started to look for decent photo shots, that would look good on the web site, ahhh heres one....?? I pressed the camera button and nothing... arghhhhh I had only run out of memory and couldn't take any photos *Damn* :>( I was admiring the cars and many I had not seen at the campsite, so I really wanted some shots of these but it wasn't to be. I was admiring Martin Nortcliffe's fantastic 39 Chevy, when I noticed the UK HOT RODS stickers in his rear windows. I looked, I thought, Na! surely he isnt advertising my web site is he? Martin then caught my eye and shouted "What do you reckon to the stickers Holmsey".... I was absolutely stunned, to put stickers in his gorgeous Car. was just to much!. To say I was chuffed is a major understatement I was absolutely ecstatic with pride.. That was the high of the weekend for me, someone who is so into Rodding respecting my web site so highly WoW I cant really put it into words the feeling I had for the rest of the weekend .. well to be honest still have.
Martin was not a very happy bunny either, seems the management of the chosen public house, didn't want little public in it. Martin and his family had gone there for Lunch, but were refused as they said they didn't have a license for kids.. A license? to serve food to Kids? I have never heard of one, have you? Martin had remarked "a license they're not bloody animals". Bad choice of venue for a family orientated Rod Run I thought, shame that, as all was just going so swimmingly before this, well all except for the 50's music being played but that's another story.. If I hear Bill Haley sing Shake, Rattle and bleeding Roll one more time I am gonna freak!. We bade our goodbyes as Martin and family left, with style I may add, executing a very nicely controlled rear drift as he stormed away from the Pub..
There was plenty of Rods and our type of cars there and a few strange ones aswell looked like 70's or 80's throw back Custom's again no way of taking any photos, so ya will have to use your imagination.. The cars that were there were filthy aswell from their night in the wood, but none more so than Al Williamson's 49Chevy Truck. It looked like duck crap to me all over it what a nightmare, Al later told me there were several squirrels nesting in a tree that his truck was parked under so it could of been Squirrel shit who know's I aint no shit expert :>).... I did remove one photo in the camera's memory so I could take the one shot ya see above. We had a bit of a crack with a few, supped a very expensive Coke and decided to mossy on back to the campsite. No marshals to show us the way back now, so we got lost.. but only a little :>)
Once
back at Drayton I still had the bug to drive so I thought a trip down to the auxiliary
camp site was in order and that's what Reg and Andy From Matt Smith Country had
thought aswell I guess, as we followed them there. There were quite a few Rods
at this part of the venue which I didnt know where there. I also met Simon
Phillips and his mate Martin Griffin see their Cool Rods on the Photos page 2. I
have swapped many an e-mail with Simon who has built one cool 32 sedan, he had
mixed feelings at Drayton, as he didn't have his 32 with him but the high side
of that was, he is having a Neil Tadman interior fitted. Now that will be worth
waiting for, see it in all it's glory at Billing, I personally cant wait, it is
one of the coolest Rods in our scene, which has just got cooler.
Once back at camp, I fancied a look round to see if there were any new cars I hadn't seen yet. The Kids and the big kids wanted to go on the Theme Park rides the NASC guys had come up trumps again and secured a reduced park entry price, little kids £9 and the big un's £12 seemed like a good way for them to blow off some steam and have some fun, while we looked round in peace.
Andy followed by Regy in his chopped and Trucke'd ex Dusty Laugher Sedan body
Cool eh! Dont know this T but young lad must think he has the coolest Dad around
must be great.
Real different looking Pop trying a few different ideas as lights Nice one.
See this Red A every year still looks as good as ever.
Sexy fresh out of Burnham Autos dead right 56 F100
The bang on the button Moon Equipped Truck now proudly owned by Gaz O'Connor. I
had been talking to Gaz the day afore about his Truck, life and the Universe
like ya do, when I mentioned that he had promised me a do in it last year.. yeah
no problem he says I'll give ya a blast in it tomorra when I bring it.. Hey and
here it was right on Cue. We did talk about a Video of him giving it some alla
Jimmy White in his Hemi.. Though Gaz's was at a disadvantage as we couldn't
uncork the headers as Jimmy had and we were in a family Theme park oh and it was
wet and the truck has crossplies so bearing that in mind Gaz gave it a little
bit of boot and I video'd the whole thing. I have just put a snippet on the
video page if you wanna see what it is like to ride in it.. more to come. Not
sure if you get the full effect from the Video, but the feel of sitting in a Tin
A Truck is awesome, it drums it rattles it moves all over, Man it is wild and
the best Fun.. you can just feel its soul. The Hemi crackles with power, the exhaust note is loud but not
deafening it shifts a treat, with more space in it than you would think it had,
it's like a Tardis in fact.. Ok I am exaggerating a tad there but it aint
cramped at all. I would love to have the balls to own a Truck like this
*respect* They say things come in three's, Mike Key acknowledging me 1. Martin Nortcliffe's
sporting Uk Hotrods stickers 2 and now a blast in the Moon Truck 3 Man can it
get any better?
I had to now come down so I sat back at camp and had a cup of Coffee before I was off again for a look round. That was when I spotted something going on with Martin Nortclifs39 Chevy in the car park.. *hum?* intrigued I went for a look see sithy! Weirdo Watts was only Pinstriping the flames on his car. Mart had asked for blue edging but Watts'y had other ideas.. "How about Orange" Mad or what, but it works somehow. Blue I feel would of been very classy, but Orange makes them really jump out at ya WoW what a transformation.
Pass your mouse over the photo to compare before and after
Seen this cool 32 driving about all weekend but only noticed the Pinstriping
when it stopped just down from us *Nice*
Everyone back at camp, was a bit subdued from the previous nights highly toxic shenanigan's and most looked like they would be far happier with a night in, not another night out. Young Jason was still getting lots of interest in his V12 Motor, opening his steel flip front like a flashers trousers all weekend. I thought it was really great, the way he had taken to the scene and its people. He was showing no sign of being at all phased by all us older gits, he just got in there and joined in. Going out of his way to speak to people, I was really chuffed he was enjoying it so much and people gave him so much time. We decided to have a Chinese from just down the road tonight to save on cooking as the misses was still jaded. After that we had a little tipple or two to get us into the mood for the live band that was booked for the Saturday night entertainment.. Billed as if you wont dance to these you wont dance to anyone.
When we got to the Hamilton Suite, it was rammed WoW it looked as busy as any Springnats I had ever been to.. so maybe the people were there in numbers but left their Rods at home? We sat down with some sad and weary faces, we all looked quiet..... Then Pudzz got us all going with some mad antics and we were soon in the spirit of the night.. Again a night of just madness and laughing just what the Dr ordered. The Band well..... I will try and be as positive but accurate as I can...... They struggled to be honest, they did songs that varied from Cold Play to Hendrix so fair play they did try. Though everything was done in a lower key to help the singer who needed all the help he could get :>) He even had the words on a stand in front of him, some songs at 40years old I felt he should of learnt by now, Hell just how long do you need to learn lyrics Terrrrr ! I enjoyed them but Sour Mash last year would knock em into a cocked hat, still it could of been worse they could of been a Rock and Roll quintet eh.
We had another fantastic night, saw that Kev Bloke from Wheelsday at least he looked like Kev now with his hair done :>) Mind you he did get up to some strange antics with his tongue and his friends tongues... shocked this Northern Lad, I can tell ya, I have had a sheltered life and had never seen anything like that before whoooo these city folk!
The night was drawing to an end, my mate Pudzz had gone to point Percy when he noticed one eminent.. well two eminent female NASC figures sat on a bench outside the men's Bogs.. Let's just call one Margaret Sice for arguments sake *wink*.. Margaret nudges her friend who shall remain nameless to protect the innocent and says "here now look"..... Nawty Nawty! Very Nawty! They were only having a good peak as the door opened, at men going about there duty. They looked in what can only be described as an schoolgirl manner, at the dangly bits being shook dry :>) So Pudzz being the gentleman he is, held the door open shouted them and kept it opened until they realised they had been nabbed....!
An early night was decided upon, as we had a long day ahead of us Sunday, but it took us longer than expected to get finally in the sack as, Rosie Aka Lilley had somehow lost all the marrow from her bones and needed a lot of assistance to get her back to the tent.. Night Night Seeya Sunday