The Journey
At this moment in time, I do not know what I am going to write. Yes I have writers block and for someone who in't a writer to begin with that makes things doubly hard ;>) But Hey lets just get started and see what comes out........
Last time I was at billing, I went there with Steve and Dexy Cheatham who arranged to meet somebody called something king? who was quite famous at the time for designing the Plymouth coupe body for Rays Rods *shudder*.. They were doing a deal with their pearl painted Zephyr for his C Cab (long Story) but it is a great story but to cut it short both did the deal and shot off in different directions as quick as they could as each had sold the other a Pup *Smile* ... But heck back to the present day!!
Me and my slim Mate Bakey (Pete) who also hadn't
been to a Rod Run for Years set off Sat night in the Sports Saloon it was
loaded to the hilt with gear, Some necessary some not so!! It started raining as
we loaded the car and stayed pretty much the same for most of the journey.
Only
one slight hick up as the car needed refueling and we both needed a Nicotine fix
we decided on a quick stop over and just a mop up of the oil slick in the engine
bay!!! Once we decided all was well with both us two fine athletes and our
steed it was off for the fuel...er.. or was it!! Nah motor was dead *?*
The Joy of Rodding
Ah Ha
try battery terminals first, so I emptied the trunk, tent, tools, spare oil etc etc
and the Heavens opened *Thank you God* a quick wet look soon revealed, a clamp
had fractured and was soon fixed with a jubilee. But the battery was also dead,
so a phone call and the RAC came to the rescue. He redid my bodged
clamp for a more sophisticatedly bodged one. He gave us a jump start and did a thorough
check over of the charging system and waved us on our cheery way..
Once on the move my mate Pete
(who ate all the pies) said "the heater works great in this doesn't
it thank goodness" I said "Yeah it does but it isn't on
;>)...... don't ya just love V8's in a glass car with a full hood on!!
We arrived
So we arrived at 11-30pm the security
guards waved us through must be free of charge to fat lads on a Sat night we
both thought and smiled and drove on.
Found where we were to pitch us tent and had a beer thrust into
our hands by the waiting uk_hotrod member Paul Nichols, me and Pete both got a welcome kiss
...... whoops sorry from Sam, Paul's lovely misses not Paul I must add. A few V8's rumbled past
the rain had stopped and soon all felt worth the long wet journey!! Having said
that though, I do get great pleasure out of driving my Rod but in the dark and
rain it is a bit harder work!!!
Did a couple of trips round the camp site torch in one hand beer in the other, saw some exciting looking machines and as we walked down one line I said "hey look a nice 34 3 window lets check it out" My mate Pete said its your blo*dy car you idiot" Derrr I had just done another Holmsey!! So after much laughing and more Beer we decided to call it a night 2-45pm....
Sunday:
Up Washing and polishing the car at 7-30am !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
loads of excellent stuff driving round but no time ta Video or photograph had
some serious road grim to remove......
Got onto the show field about 10am after meeting a couple more of our gang. Pete Whiteside ushered me to an available parking space, and made my day by saying my Rod looked gorgeous on the move. With Pete being a seasoned Rodder and a nostalgia freak to boot it was extra special to me him saying that and really made my day!!
The Show
The moment I had parked up, I homed in on these two beauties the T was just perfectly built and the 34 likewise. The Guy who owned the 34 said he chose the Body colour and his misses had chosen the Tadman interior whoo yes please....
Finally got to meet one of my all time Heroes Geoff Kremer,
which was quite a thrill for me and we spent some serious time checking out the assembled
creations. And the amount of times we both said in unison now that's nice was
uncanny...... There was row upon row of beautifully constructed Rods, Customs
and Trucks with every taste catered for.. You just couldn't help being impressed
and excited well I was anyway.
Smax was set up ready for his engine strip down world record attempt and looked
very focused. The compare (Santa Pod voice) built the tension for Smax and
brought a very professional and informative banter to the whole
Rod event throughout the day.
So some more Rod inspection was called for and off we trotted getting the occasional glimpse of the Mad camera Man Pete the guy who came down with me, Pete by the way is a BBC news camera man and was very very impressed and is making a short film of the day purely for his own Fun not in any official way, should be good.... I'll let ya know!!
lets get looking round
An extra fine 32 with Moon tank and a dream of a 5window with matching
Caravan all the way from Sweden.
I'm gonna cal this the famous Rod bit I had seen all these Cars in Custom car and Awe'd at there excellence and was now seeing them in the flesh for the first time and I wasn't disappointed. The attention to detail was pure obsession and made them really stand out. They all deserved the adoration they have received.
The Pilot looks like it is a very comfy ride and now I have seen this 34 sport up close I can see why he has won so many trophies it was perfectly built with that ever important attention to detail!!
When I saw this beast my jaw physically dropped it was so different to any thing I had ever seen before it shook me to my toes!!!!! it is just the wildest shape like a big beautiful slug with the skin of a scarab beetle!!! The paint shone the front was low the interior was perfect the engine was just Awesome A BIG Block and Puffed aswell!!! Just incredible and my pick of the show!!
So Now full filled Geoff and me decided some food was in order.
Short interlude and then go to page two!!