Arrived 9-30am with Me mate Nige FBA (group member) my son (23yrs) and two very excited 14yr old boys (my nephew and his mate Nick). The traffic jams outside were the biggest I have seen at the Donny show. I can remember with fondness the years the jams would of been mostly Firebirds. Camaro's, Vette's and all manner of Rods and Customs. Oh how times have changed there is now an enormous Army of Young Kids having their Fun in Cars we would of been embarrassed to be seen in but Hey! we can only show what we are into and hope some will see the light! I wont delve any deeper into what is going on as I have no desire to make it an us and them situation, as one thing is for sure we do not want them as enemies!!!!!!!!!
The Show!
Entry into the show was swift the massive queue was
gone as the show now opens an hour earlier at 9am. The Rods we were
greeted by as we entered the Hall boded well for a great show! A perfect 34
Sedan (I know he is famous but I don't know his name Doh) & Pete Tyas's Beautiful
32, and a Flamed Model A sedan. Further down the hall I spied a Mean looking Thames van and I was
now getting
very excited. On Closer inspection the Thames had about the size of tyre I
needed for my own Rod. So I had a quick shufty round nobody was looking
and I whipped out me Tape measure and jumped the rope and quickly measured the rear
tyre's dia!!! To much amusement from my Son and Mate Nige.
I then began a total fetish on whipping out me tape at every available opportunity.
I didn't care if I looked like a total Numpty as I had to make sure I had
ordered the right size tyre for my car as they were being ordered by the tyre
shop the next day!!!
Can I first apologies for the poor quality of the photos I took. the only excuse I can give is I borrowed my misses camera and I didn't know how the Fug to set it up!! The composition leaves a little to be desired aswell as I had to take them quick as people kept walking in front and I couldn't get far enough back to fit all the car in!! That's my excuse and I am sticking to it!!
My Nephew and his mate soon disappeared in search of the Adult channel girls :>). And left us to drool over our beauties.... Rods!!! Oh and tyre measuring aswell. The quality was just Fantastic and even the most hardened of Hot Hatcher must of been impressed by the Rods on show.
All was not Lost
Coming back to our Stuff we were greeted by a
pair of beautiful 40's one a Chevy and the other a 47 Ford. I managed to
get chatting to the owner of the 47 Ian Hassle a very friendly and informative
chap. I was about to jump the rope again and measure his rear tyre when he came
back to his car. I asked if it was ok to climb over the rope and do the dead. He
did look quite bemused at first but once I explained why he produced a Toyo tyre
catalogue with every size I needed so my tyre measuring fetish was over and I
could finally get on with enjoying the show! The 40's Chevy (Purple with Flames)
had the most sumptuous interior and perfect paint to match and both the 47 ford
and the 40's Chevy had the same Budnik wheels on very Smart wonder if they got a
quantity discount?.
Next was a massive true 4 Seater er? not sure what year. I am not the best car spotter in the world well to be honest I am useless don't know a 40 from a 41 to be honest so I wont try but I will learn as time goes on! The attention to detail on every Rod so far was amazing and how a Rod should be in my eyes something that is comfy to use and does look finished.
(Update owner info sent veer e-mail)
1938 Chrysler 4 door sedan. Belongs to Phil Middleton
Debut Car
Every year there is the debut Car and this year
was no exception Nick Taylor's KUGEL SPEEDSTER... It had obviously just been
finished as it had never even turned a wheel. It was perfection 20" wheels.
smooth body, luscious interior plenty of stainless etc etc. it is easy to slag off
such a Rod, but this was a car Show not a Rod Run and this was the most amazing
piece of Rod sculpture ever. If this was trailored to a Rod
Run just for the show and shine I would feel totally different about it. This
was a great show car but did it win best in show?
The more every day Rodders Cars were very few and far between and their spaces
were now taken up much to my disgust by such things as a Supra, a Skyliner and an
XR4 even worse round the corner was a James Bond stand complete with a TR7 and
Volvo!!!
To be fair these are cars worthy of the
tag Supercar but not what I had come to Donny to see. I can now safely say
Doncaster is a CAR SHOW not a Custom Show anymore..
Back to the Rod's *shudder* the next sight to greet our eyes was Tracey wards oh
so Peach 37 cabriolet. It is so perfect it hurts your eyes not a blemish and
this Rod is used. Was great to see it finally with the top up and the 6mths of
work on the top had paid off it looked a treat!
Then I spied my favorite on a stand all on its own, Fireman
Franks 34 *droool* if there was a trophy for the car you would most like to drive
home this would get my vote no Problemo!!
You really cant believe this car is ever used it is absolutely faultless, and
ooh so Reddddddd. The story goes Frank was lying in bed and couldn't sleep so at
3 O'clock in the morning thought Fug it I is orf Ta Donny! And he got in the 34
and drove up from London in the persisting rain arrived at 7-30 in the morning
stripped the car and began the task of polishing everything. So people could
have the pleasure of seeing his Rod looking like perfection and perfection it
was! *Respect*.
Next was a Pro stock style Somerset also worthy of an hours look,
I must say what was lacking it quantity was more than made up for in Quality that's for sure. And just for the drag fans the Bruiser was there a 500bhp PT Cruiser and very pretty (is that the right description?) it looked to.
There were a couple or Rods that I have seen at Donny
before that were representing the Rainy City Cruiser of which I was a Member
years ago may give them a call one cruise night!
Nige went for a leak and came out saying look who I have just found in
the Bogs! And it was the The Man himself Smax and as usual he was traveling and
speaking at 200mph he had loads of jobs and things to check on his Funny Car
that needed about 10 people who knew what they are doing to sort out but guess
what he was on his own!! So off he darted to try and get the Funny ready for his
time slotted display What a Guy!
Outside it was glorious Sunshine we had a little toddle round and I am sure
we must of come out of the show ground and found Asda Car park or there was a
load of young People lost and had parked up but try as we might I couldn't see
any more Rods or anything worthy of a look. Well a couple of Ferraris and stuff
like that I didn't venture over that way though. The Music was Pumping Boom Boom
shake the Room (actually I quite enjoyed the loud Music but don't tell anyone
ssshhh). Watched a bit of gone in 60seconds inside a small Car I don't know what
sort? with the most mind blowing surround system that should of been in a house
I wonder if his Dad knows he had borrowed it and put in his car for the day! me
an Nige were now on about our 4th meal hard work staying our shape much harder
than going to the gym ya know!
We all helped Smax get his body on the Funny, now Smax is over the moon with his
new paint scheme and who am I to disagree. It is now Matt Black and to be honest
only Smax would build a Matt Black Funny Car. Well with the possible exception
of his mate Odgie. Man it does look mean and a breath of fresh air against
the Perfect shiny paint of all the others but will the Sponsors or the Pod be as
impressed? I hope so. Went then and watched the very good stunt bike and
Legend race car display before the Man himself put on a show that only a Funny
Car can do. Bollix to all the sound off equipment we are talking real decibels
here a Funny giving the old crrrrrk
crrrrk well you know the sound it was loud enough to make your eyes bleed
;>) I love it.
Now totally deaf I tried to get in touch with Mark Van Driel to arrange a meet.
After about 6 phone calls we finally met up, for the first time. It was quite a
buzz for me to meet such a talented guy and he made us all feel at ease and was
very easy to get on with a Crack over a few beers would of been fantastic
but all the bars were shut?? so we just swapped stories for a while and on
our way we went again.
There were now a few rods from the camp site parking up over the other side of
the racecourse. So we decided to get over there and take a look at dem.
There was also a good display of American Iron so things weren't to bad
after all for us.
Did about ten more laps of the indoor show bought some bits and me and Nige had some more food. Finally got to talk proper to Smax he got us passes to the exhibitors bar and we had a relax and a Crack over a Beer. Then it was all over to soon time to get Numpty and Numpty'er (my Nephew and his mate) and drive the long journey home.
My nephew and his mate came up to us very excited as they had autographed topless photos of all the Adult Channel Girls and taken loads of photos of their rears. Did you look at the Rods I enquired "oh yeah they are great but did you see that Blue Saxo it was wicked!!" I gave him a clip round the ear and we all went home, stopping off only for more food on the way just to keep me going till I got home for my Tea!
And how did I feel next day when I did some work on my Rod?
Seeya all Holmsey