First thing to greet our eyes in the morning Ahhh better than any Beautiful woman and far less hassle *wink*
Hi Gang well it's the end of the Rodding calendar and the time when we should all be firing up the stoves and getting in the garage and getting our dream Cars built or warmed over or just updated you know them all important jobs you promised you will do over the closed season.
So it was with great excitement me and me two fat mates Bakey and Pudzz set off on our quests to source them must have parts to finish off our steeds!!!!! And to just mingle with some like minded people aswell.
First thing to greet our eyes in the morning Ahhh better
than any Beautiful woman and far less hassle *wink*
We eventually arrived at Oakwood School Rotherham veer the scenic route as usual. Met up with one of the Uk-hotrods group members (Paul Johnson) We said our Hello's and then did some swapping of our own, which made us both a bit lighter one way or another but hopefully both satisfied. Paul had come equipped with a Stainless Steel Scimitar Tank and a 34 rear panel for their promised purchasers. I am always pleased when I meet uk-hotrods members and they are good to get on with!! Is it just cus we are into the same thing or is it the Hobby attracts nice people????? Hey I am not so naive to think this Hobby aint got its R'Soles I know they are out there thankfully I have yet to meet one or them Ha Ha make no mistake about it though I will tell ya all about em on here if and when I meet any ;>).........
We
headed off towards the place where the meet was held last year lugging the
Petrol tank and 34 panel with Paul when we came across a great sight a
full crate of Pop's ;>) Terrr!!
It soon came to our attention that the school was closed and where was everyone? Derrr we had come to the wrong end of the school and so off we trotted again back to from where we had first wented from *HuH?*
The three Tenners (Me, Bakes, & Pudzz) saw Reid's Rod Parts and
thought that was a good place to start and Paul took his parts (Tank &
panel) to swap em for cash inside the hall. Geordie Paul
was busy running around sorting out deals customers and generally looked like he was
having a good time. I priced a new Edelbrock Air Filter and Pan £65 I shuddered
and went away to convince myself it was a much needed purchase Like ya do!
Parked close by was Lee's (uk_hotrods member) Red Pop. We met Lee inside
the hall and had a good crack. Then Met Paul again less his rear Panel but
with his petrol tank still Hum? the guy who said he would have the tank cocked
on the deal but the rear panel had gone ! so we consoled ourselves with a look round the indoor trade
stands.
(update Paul sold the Tank so has some wedge for his 34).
In' it great looking round all the shiny stuff to bolt on ya motor
and if money was no object you could go absolutely mad Baaaaa!!!!
Saw another uk-hotrods member (well his stall anyway) Hot Rod Tees http://www.hotrodtees.co.uk
Robs Hot Rod T-Shirt stand never got to meet Rob just his mates who seemed
decent guys with some excellent shirts for sale.. But I had a £65 Air Pan in
mind and I was still shuffling my money round in my pocket as we spoke.
Some Ally Heads across the way almost made me need a tissue ;>) Man why do
things shiney and Ally make me feel this way? Odd very Odd!!!!
There were plenty of Rodders walking round and quite a few trade stands but somehow it felt a bit lacking?? I don't know if it was just that what I was after wasn't there or whether other people felt the same. But there was no engine parts stands I mean hoses, clips, Aeroquip, clamps for wires, brake pipes, trim stuff, exhausts you know the things that are impossible to find at ya local parts store but you need just to finish things off sure there was loads of second hand engine bits and a few panels etc but apart from the Air Pan I could see nothing else I wanted or needed ;>) (The Ally Heads were for a Big Block).... I overheard one trader say "this is a waste of time I am not doing swap meets anymore" which surprised me as there was plenty of people about and I am sure like me they intended to spend some money but had yet to find what they came for.. lesson to trader identify your customer and cater for them!!!
Outside in the sunshine was a playground full of more gear including Cars for sale. Which looked like a playground for us big kids now!! Met Gary O'Connor of Top Ten Knebworth 49 Chevy Truck Fame (feature soon) we had a bit of a crack and I learnt some new ways of using the word F**k which was Cool ;>) .... He told me that the rumour about Reidy giving up was Tosh or was that F**cking Bollix I just cant remember *smile* Gary does have a way with words. And that John was not happy with the rumors going about so there horses mouth and all that Reidy aint giving up!
Wonder if this Topolino found a new owner and star of the Meet had to be
this Awesome 34, inboard shocks tube ifs 9" rear Blown small block whoooooo
had some very nice gear on it and will be just the Bowlocks when finished.
This I know found a buyer *nice one*!!! It is being very closely looked at by
uk_hotrods member Paul Johnson who is building a 34 sports saloon of his own..
and My mate Pudzz is just having a feel of his cheeks *smile*
What do ya wanna drive home the 100e 0r the Buick?? Both were for sale though
I got the impression the Buick owner went off early in a huff?? before I had time
to have a proper look anyway..
Gary Janes had his Dooster demonstrator on show looking like it has seen some use. And he looked busy with a small crowd round all day! The uk_hotrods group had arranged a meet at 11'Oclock at Gary's stand and I was early but wanted to introduce myself first but as I said before he just always looked busy. Met Graham Shaw and his mate Frank who own some, yes some of the best Rods in the country I wont go into detail........ ooowwww... go on then......... Graham is the guy no doubt you have heard about who bought Mark Van Driels 34 and he use's it, Geordie Paul's 32, and Keith Murrells 34 Sport *nice eh* and Frank has a Cool 32 and a 40's or is that 50's Truck.... Graham is a very well healed guy and is into Rods and is just one of the easiest people to talk to I have ever met same as his mate Frank we had a great crack and a good laugh funny how you can do that straight off with some people eh!!.
An A and a B just need a C now eh! same theme different look that is what's great about our
Hobby every Rod is as individual as the owner even when they are the same Terrr!!
Anyhow it was quickly approaching 11am the prearrange time for the gang meeting
of the Uk_hotrod members I was quite nervous I find it very hard meeting people
for the first time I tend to get a bit flustered and struggle to know what to
say. I got to Gary's Dooster stand and he was still busy and saw a rather large
guy waiting by him who looked like he went to the same gym as me ;>)
eventually a couple of people turned up about 6 or 7 of us a bit disappointing
but Hell we got on great which was very satisfying, Got to meet Dusty laugher a
new member who looked as Cool as his Matt Black Model A and Ian who owns a 57
Starchief who enlightened us all of how his misses bribed him to give up
smoking. Now if my misses offered what he was offered I would give up tomorrow
:)> lets just say he gave up smoking in return for her Smoking something he
had *nice one* Always a good icebreaker eh!! We had a short but sweet
meeting maybe next year we will all be a bit more relaxed and get a proper gang
meeting with more of us at one of the runs.
Had several more looks round the trade stands my mate Pudzz
hassled Geordie Paul trying to get my Air Filter for £55 to no avail and I
eventually took the plunge and bought my prize a new Edelbrock Air Pan to match
my Rocker Covers.. decided it was time for Home so the Three Tenners left
the Park (car park) and toddled of home to sunny Cumbria with our purchases. Not
before we nearly rear ended a Nice Red Pop. slim Bakey our driver was so busy
making sure he didn't scrape our car or Gary Janes's Dooster toting trailer he
failed to see the Pop in front had stopped Doh. That was a very very close one
so close you couldn't even have gotten a slim small thing made slimmer and
smaller by a fat lad sitting on it between his rear and our front Yep that
close.. *phew*...
It had to be done didn't it tell me you wouldn't do the same Yeah three grown
men stood in the garage checking out the new shiney Air Pan on the half built
engine in my garage.... Eh My misses will be just as excited when she see's it
wont she!! Not!
The End ;>(
Roll on Summer and Drayton Manor