Well it is true the Sun does shine on the Righteous! The weather just couldn't of been better. I made it to Drayton Manor about 10pm Friday night, the NASC officials were friendly and after fitting our wrist bands pointed us in the direction of the campsite and Man! in a chopped topped Rod and having just completed a 4 1/2hr journey for its maiden voyage towing a very large caravan and two teenage age girls in the back seats it seemed a very Dark and packed place. I didn't relish the thought of having to back up with the Caravan on so hoped for an easy place to pitch!! and low and behold one was just waiting there for me amidst all the chaos that Fri night brings.
I was setting the Caravan up when I heard "that's Holmsey's Car that is "and it was Mike Noble (Red32) which was a very cool way to be introduced to my first Rod run in 15yrs!! I Had a few Beers then got some kip. ...... Early next day cup of coffee in hand I started the clean up operation, so I would look as good as poss for the Sat Cruise me up at 8am washing and waxing my car...... Man!!! I am turning into my brother!!!!! Met Paul Nichols and Dave Crees from the hotrods_uk e-group and we all got on like a house on fire which was great.
The
sight's and sound's I awoke to were just Heaven, uncorked headers, matt Black
paint and people with more tattoos then Edinburgh!!
All excited we set off to line up for the cruise the
34, my misses, teenage daughter and friend and me!! The 34 was looking great all
polished and I was ready for a Beer (just one)......!
Saw Tracey Wards very cool 37 Ford coming towards me, I was about to meet Tracey
for the first time after months of swopping e-mails it was great to finally meet
him, and he was just the friendliest and nicest guy as I imagined he would be.
While me and Trace were changing stories, I then met for the first time Kev
Rooney I sort of stuttered hi er! Ke Ke....nn.. Kev!!! Man the one Guy I was really
wanting to meet and get it right and I spluttered like an old lawn mower.. But
Kev being the guy he is just smiled and we got on
brilliant he is one of the coolest Guy I have ever met and a big thrill for me
*nice one*... His Truck is just perfect aswell.
The line of Rods for the cruise was very impressive, and must of looked Awesome to anyone going in the opposite direction* Hum?* might try that one year!!! I was in the first lot of cars so got to pub before the main of the Rods got there. Now what do I do get a beer before all the rabble arrive or stop outside enjoy the Rods coming in and just stay thirsty? I stopped outside Hell I am a changing cars before Beer never thought I'd see the day ;>)......
It was just a Hot/Street Rodders Utopia, the Rods assembled were very varied and showed our hobby/lifestyle from all angles which I love, none of this elite stuff. Mike Key was there in the Brookville Bodied 32 whooooo!!!!!! and a Beater Model A with a Blown Chevy hidden under its Rusty Bonnet/Hood was excellent.... there was a car for every taste. Superchargers whined, V8's rumbled, thirsts were quenched, stories were told and Booby's wobbled in the scorching Sun what more more could you want......er....decent music;>)
Had a good Natter with Kev Rooney drooled over a few Rods then I made my way
back to camp site as there was some serious Barbequing to be done...... Met Nige
and his Beautiful purple flamed A sedan also Met Jon Denton who has built
a beautiful 48 Rover Pickup both hotrods_uk member's . It was fantastic to meet
and talk to all these great hot rod owners and builders and what was even more
gratifying every single one was down to earth and I never once felt uneasy in
their company.
There was a seminar in the bar which
was hosted by Neil Meredith all about the new legislation that is starting
to raise its ugly head and concerns us all very much, but being a true Northern
Numpty on his first Rod Run I choose to bury my head in my beer and threw
another piece of steak on the Barbie sorry Barby got distracted again.
;>)
After me Barby I decided a look round the camp site was the order of the day and
it was all very laid back with music playing jokes being cracked and I finally
felt like I had arrived at the place I have wanted to be for 30yrs a Rod Run I
in a Rod and it felt good!
Sat night saw everyone washed and
their best togs on, and meeting in the Bar getting all the latest gossip, and
hearing all the Hot rumors...oooo have you heard how much such and such a Rod
cost to build etc etc, and it was good to see some lovely Ladies as opposed to
some lovely Cars....... Man you lot are Car Mad!!!
The Skiffle group were Ok!! nice to hear live music, and far more acceptable
to most Disco stuff that gets played ;>)... A Cajun Band would of
got me Boogying more though! Sat on my own most of the night daren't move in
case I lost my seat. Everyone was busy with their old mates and I felt a bit out
of it *hum*? Then a hotrods_uk member Paul Nicholls came over and made me and my
misses feel welcome *nice one*.. Things got a lot better as I was introduced to
a beautiful lady who owned a much modified Mini!!! Tracey said "this is the
person you overtook on the cruise"..... "Nobody overtakes on a
Cruise" she explained and was it her who was I driving to slow? she
asked...I apologised as best I could with about 10 pints inside me and I explained
I was just trying to get a better view of Trace's car for my Video...
*whoops* The group were buzzing and the dance floor was full everyone was
getting into the swing of it, it was a Great Night....... I decided to have an
early Night about 1pm as it was going to be a knackering day tomorrow.
Sunday Show & Shine
Same as the day before I was up early but I wasn't the first up by any
means. In fact I felt like I was late by 8-30am as many cars had already gone
and lined up (power parked) in the right hand field... I got the my 34 Sport
looking as mint as poss and even though I say it myself it looked Good... Dave
Crees came up just as I had finished polishing the car I am sure he was hiding
behind a tree until he saw me finish all the hard work!! We set off to line up
and were ushered into the left hand field Grrrrrrr I was put with a
load of stock yanks and knew people would only come over this part who were into
yanks nothing wrong with Yanks mind you just not a very good spot for me to show
off me Car!!
The Sun was beating down again,
and I got out my newly acquired California duster, and proceeded to dust my car
off Ha Ha I felt quite amused by it "me in a Car show dusting off my
Car" Ha Ha my daily is a P100 pick up that gets washed once a year
when my wife has to use it.
But as I chuckled to myself I was soon put in my place by a small child
and his wonderful father as they walked past the father not looking side ways at
my 34 the small boy wanted to look but saw his father storming ahead asked
" Is this a Fake Dad" Yeah was his Kurt reply and so the boy turned
away and carried on up to the Mustang close by????!!!!! Now I know my car aint
the real thing but Hey what is? I knew the insult was meant to put me in my
place as he could of said its a replica or a copy but Fake..... Tw*t....! So I
began to wonder what he calls the real thing? a steel body on original rails?
and I suppose it would have to have the original running gear aswell not to be a
Fake and it could not be real if it had a posh interior for heavens sake and
must have original paint Arrhhhh guess he would be happier at a steam gathering and
would appreciate all the Vintage motors there!! . Jeez!!!! Open your Mind Man, there's
a bigger world out there :>)
There is room for every taste and interpretation of our thing and we don't have
to like every style but Hey surely we understand where each of us is coming from
and nobody should look up or down at any of our Scene...Hell rambling again.
Met
more hotrods_uk members and they were all very friendly and great to get on with
which made me forget the R'sole from before!!
The show was absolutely unbelievable and was a lot bigger than last year plenty of trade stands, plenty of new rods and some fantastic interpretations of our hobby. The Model J Morris being one that stood out to me.
This Model J Morris was fresh out of Burnham Auto's and
was the subject of many a Bar room conversation as it is reputed to have cost a
few bob to build!!! I wanted to ask the owner where he put his left leg as there
was just no room to put one!!! Maybe he only had on leg? And this 34 is just
prefect I had a good look round this beauty and I could not find a fault
anywhere the engine bay the interior the running gear the paint hurt your eyes
it was so perfect *nice one man* just a complete perfect Rod for sure.....
This Wooden yes Wooden as in made of Wood Humber Hawk
was just to unreal to pass by.
I was just gob smacked at his talent as a wood fabricator and his ability
to put such and amazing engine together and different taste? It did shock me and did entertain
me so maybe that is what he was out to do.
If it was you did it man!!! on the other hand this Kustom lowrider was
half built and just oozed class.
This guy was mates with the new owner of Mr Torquer so
they packed some serious muscle between them. I had a good crack with them
sat morning as I strolled the camp site. This Moggy was awesome and I would just
love a go in a supercharged Motor.. "go on giss a go"!!!
Gary McCormick's freshened up Model a pickup, I guess
he knew what he wanted his truck to look like and so set to over the winter to
get it more to his likeing! it is not as much in ya face now I guess with the
Black steels on??? This Pop stood out to me aswell if not just for the most dazzling
Orange paint job..
I bought some goodies as I toured the trade stands had a good natter with a few people and time was getting on and I still had the Caravan to load up and car to sort for long journey home and I was feeling a bit knackered. I tried to wait for the prize giving but saw Kev Rooney line up and Michelle Hayes and the Red 34 from above so they were well deserved winners. But there were so many great Rods there and even more good rods I wouldn't of liked to pick anyone out!!
I don't know why I didn't take more photos as there were some even more mind blowing Rods worthy of a photo or two. Rod lag can be my only excuse. Mark Van Driels 34 was there with its new owner who obviously likes driving it more than polishing it and he was in the company of the most amazing 40's Ford. Next to them was Miss D' Meanour A Gorgeous Tunnel Rammed 355 Chevy powered Pop owner Rob Hibbert promptly roped it off so none of us could get near it *huh* this was the only roped car in the entire show......not even Mike keys Awesome 32 was roped... It is great to be able to get up very close to these works of art, but hey it is the owners choice eh.
The whole weekend was superb, weather, people, motors and babes Journey
home was not as traumatic as going down, the rod was not as much of an
unknown quantity now. Apart from a drastic oil leak (Again) that swirled all
over the rear of my Car and front of the caravan. The journey home was otherwise
faultless.. Until I arrived home I unhitched the Van and thought I shall stick
car in garage and check my trans fluid level the bloody thing wouldn't start. It
span over like the plugs were out of it, I pumped it, it span and no fire
grrrr it had started every bloody time over the weekend what now?
I left it a few minutes and tried again I could hear a sort of fluttering sound coming
from the engine bay but could see nothing?? I tried again and it popped back through
the carb...... but still no fire or I thought not!!!!
I could smell a strange yet familiar smell!! I lifted the bonnet and arrghhhh
the air filter was full of flames and I mean flames Man!!!... "Jeez Ma cars
on fire" first went for hose aahh ahhhh remembered fire, water, fuel not a
good mixture. Then I remembered me fire extinguisher in the cab and promptly
emptied it into the carb........ Boy did that give me a fright!!! it showed no signs
of going out on its own accord!!
Left it a bit, while I regained my senses and fought back the tears!! Boo Hoo!!
she did look sad now... I thought dare I try again but yeah I tried again and
guess what it bloody fired up first crack??????? drove it into the garage and
left it till Tue before I started working on it again!! EEEH the Joys of Rodding
even if I do drive a Fake!!!
Seeya all at a Rod Run sometime came and say Hello I don't bite...
Last 4 photos courtesy of David Crees