Woke up late Sunday, I had already had my orders get the
caravan sorted for our Hols next week and don't even think about any Rod shows
!!!!!!! Yes mamm *salute*
I guess she who must be obeyed could see the despondence in my eyes, as she
turned to me and said "Well what are you going to do today?" "
Errr get the caravan sorted I guess" ;>(
"I thought you wanted to got to the Rod show at Rawtenstall?"
" I do but I gotta get the Van ready ;>(...... You can do that tomorrow
lets go to Rawtenstall..............whoa mass panic car had previously lost
a tie bar bush???? and I was only half way through my Heath Robinson breather
pipe setup to cure my oil breathing problem once and for all! Ah Ha!!! and it
was 10-30am and the show was 95miles away!!!
Fueled by the thought of driving my Rod again and going to meet some fellow Rodders in the sunshine, I got fired into the tasks ahead. Made a new tie bar bush out of an escort anti rollbar bush and finished plumbing the breather pipes and washed and chamoised the Rod all in 1 hour.. It wasn't gleaming but it would do. Loaded up with wife, Daughter and tools and off we jolly well set. This is a local Show for me only 95miles away.
I didn't thrash it but we was motoring on, and it felt great, enjoying the sound of the V8, the sunshine the heat from the engine bringing us all out in a sweat Ace!!! Only 2 speakers in the front and a teenage daughter in the back meant a full blast radio so she could hear it..
I was driving on my merry way when a hot hatch guy came along side and started shouting at me!!! I thought jeez here we go....... He was leaning past his rather petite girlfriend and hollering "Hey Mate you have got one Hell of an oil leak out of your engine" Doh! I thanked him and pulled over. Nightmare there was about a pint of oil thrown right down the passenger running board *glum* ;>( I gingerly opened the Hood and low and behold the breather set up had puked most of the sump contents over the previously mint engine bay.
So
after a bit of messing, we arrived at the Route 66 Hot Rod Show, which was held
at Rawtenstall Railway Station (I know its a Train Station but I just cant get
out of the habit of calling it a Railway Station) it's an era thing!
I parked my Rod away out of sight in the public car park, as it was dripping in
oil. And was promptly greeted by this very nice Pop that sounded beautiful with
its V8 burbling away it sat right aswell, just the side pipes that looked out of
place?
I meandered slowly round to where the Rods were parked, though very despondent with my oil prob, I wanted to see some Rods and meet Rodders to make up for the mess I had parked up.
There was a high turn out of very classy Early Yanks, a 59 Caddy, a 60's Mustang and a beauty 68 Camaro to name a few. But I was here for the Rods and the crack.
These two gorgeous Deuces were a real treat but there was no body about to
ask about them. I could hear a group playing behind me in the Bar so I guess
they was all in there and I could feel a thirst coming on *wink* But there were
more Rods to see first.
This A had a nice look and stance to it and really caught my eye it was really nicely put together. This Fantastic yellow and Black A I have seen before and also in CC for sale. I did wish I had waited after looking round it but it was a bit more expensive than mine so Hey ya pays ya money :>) But it did stand some very close scrutiny and it is pretty near perfect. Yum Yum!!
Is
this a magnificent 32 or is this a magnificent 32. Blown, Moon tank,
fenderless, chequered firewall and tractor tyres just shout's Hot Rod. I
over heard a young lad say to his dad "Dad that is the biggest engine I
have ever seen" which I thought was really sweet and obviously the young lad was
appreciating this Rod for its true worth and not saying I bet that doesn't do
much to the gallon ;>)
I had still to meet any Rodders, to swop stories with or ask about their Rods. my misses and daughter were clearly unimpressed and were itching to be somewhere else grrrrrr!!!
Every where I looked there was another fine piece of machinery, from low riding 50's pick ups to high riding 4 wheel drivers. There were Pro stocked Cortina's and just about every yank you had dreamed of err all bar a Vette which was strange? And Rods a plenty.....
I spied Phil Mallis's Faultless 34. I
peered in his engine bay hoping to see some sign of an oil leak ;>) but bummer
not a drop anywhere Hum it just must be mine Ha Ha.
This 34 just knocks me out, it is just so damned
perfect and not a mark on it anywhere it must be nice to own and drive such a
jewel.
I then spied a beautiful women whoops sorry beautiful Flamed Rod (your car mad you lot).
This
was surely 32 country as they were in abundance and all good quality stuff. Then
disaster my camera shut down, ah no prob I thought I'll use me spare
batteries........ No they were flat aswell Ahhhhhhhhh and still so many Rods and
Yanks to photograph... But Hey ya gotta soldier on in the face of adversity
eh!
Over the way was a nice Supercharged Pilot that goes to Preston Cruise often and Graham Shaw's Hi-Tec Beauty 34 that also goes to the Cruise.
As I approached, the new owner was being accosted by a news reporter from the Rosendale gazette. She was trying to get a photo of him and Thee exquisite 34. It was several minutes before I finally got to check it out but my misses was just looking very unimpressed so it was time for a burger.
I was feeling very out of it and like stranger, which saddened me as I was so excited on the way there. So one last go to try and meet somebody " shall we have a beer?" I asked my misses?" "No way my daughter said I am not going in there and listening to that old music ;>)" " you can have one if you like" my misses said "we'll wait out here" Yeah right Time for Home I guess.
I really enjoyed the drive home and gave it some good
welly, having to stop at every service station and garage on the way to mop up the oil slick oh
and repair the throttle return spring that had snapped. I didn't get to meet and
talk to any Rodders, but I did get to see some seriously Nice motors and I
did enjoy driving my Rod. The Family being into it would help but even with the
hassle I wouldn't change my chosen Hobby.............. it has been a long time
coming. *smile*
Update: I think I upset some of the route 66 members with some of my inane
ramblings I had written on here and for that I apologise I have removed some stuff that did
sound like I was having a pop at them which I wasn't Honest.... but I do tend to
say stuff and get misinterpreted as I am a bit of a numpty really and very new
to this wonderful scene Lots of Love Holmsey XXXXX ;>)
Seeya At Knebworth
Holmsey