Friday
was a day of great anticipation for me and my Mate Pete, mine was the 34's first
Rod Run in a completely rebuilt Car and Pete's was his first Rod Run in his
recently acquired Pop whoops sorry Anglia! We had a good distance to do and I didn't
want to repeat last yrs fiasco and get to the wood where we camp, in the dark.
Ideally a mid morning start would of been better but my daughter and her friend
had exams at school so it was nearly 4pm before we finally managed to set off on
our epic journey ;>) I had the Big Caravan in tow and enough tools on board
to build a Rod if required. Once my wife and two excited teenage girls were all comfortably
placed in the 34 we were ready for the
off oh and not to forget the all important Full tank of gas. I had been
on a diet all day so as not to add any more unnecessary weight than was needed
on our journey or was it just nerves? Pete had some things to do so
we set off on our own and Pete (Bakey) caught us up a few miles further down the
road.
So began our journey to the Springnats.
Now from past journeys in the Rod this is where I recount all the exciting
happenings but to be honest the journey down was pretty much a breeze
almost to the point of being dull. Paul Johnson a member of the uk_hotrods e-mail group had rung me warning
me of a 4hr delay that was being announced on his local radio (he lives 5miles
from Drayton), and was ready to talk us round the delay if we needed any help.
But apart from a nutter who had stuffed his car and caravan into the center
Armco another separate incident which gave us a 1/2hr max hold up the big accident was cleared by the time
we got there. So off the motorway we did wented! I being a total memory man and
with such an uncanny sense of direction, I didn't of course need any maps or a
silly computer printout to get me to Drayton I have been twice before so it
would be a breeze. I knew for a fact you turned right at the first round about
*wrong*
after about a 1/2hrs driving in heavy traffic I began to realise that I had no
Fuggin idea where the Hell I was at all *hum?* But being a natural tracker I knew a
left turn was needed Ah Ha a lovely long road covered in speed bumps lovely
jubilly! Can you imagine what fun it was being in a low Rod, with the rear coils wound right up for the load
a massive caravan on the back and 4 of us in it and speed bumps every few yards (they are shorter meters for you younger
readers) it was real fun.....not!.
One nutter in a small van so annoyed at our slow progress
darted past Pete in his Anglia and me in the long vehicle, on the pavement Terrr!
After a few phone calls to local Mate Paul Johnson we were back on track
after an hour long look round some where I had never been to before Greeat!!!
We arrived at The Springnats in the daylight and quickly
found a peach camping place, saw Johnny Best (uk_hotrods
e-mail group member) who I had never met before but I instinctively knew it was
him? The first person I spoke to was Mike Noble same as last yr which was also
an amazing coincidence and he soon thrust a beer in my hand funny how men know
what men need at times like that. My misses said "get the caravan set up and you
can have one then" errr Yeah!!. Once set up I could relax and get into a few cans serious
and look round the cars near me! One was this beauty A.
Friday night saw us in the Bar, my misses hitting the Red wine with a vengeance and me totally behaving myself on the weakest cheapest cooking Lager they had on
offer Cheap my Arse! I foolishly got to the bar first and bought all with us a
drink and got £4.20 change from a £20 BooHoo!
I met so many people it was like this year I had arrived proper. Gaz O'Connor
who I feel I have known for yrs though I haven't, Besty to speak to proper both
Rockabilly Rebels but so very easy to get on with, it was a pleasure being with
them! Met Steve Enright who lives fairly local to me and his mates who are the
Route 66 Cumbria Club! My mate Pete (Bakey) was sat with the northern crew and
was just in his element and like me was realising a 30yr old dream and it was
worth it we were in great company, we had driven down in our Rods, scooping down the beer
and it was shear Heaven even the disco sounded ok! I asked Gaz O'Connor if he was
doing the Cruise tomora and he said it was not his scene and could see no point
in it, I said what!! all this way ( a few miles for him) and not doing it all...
never Ha Ha!! So he said what the Hell I'll give it a go!
Sat Cruise day
The Sun was hot even early morning as I rose from my very
comfy doss ;>) Had a wash in hot water and took a leak in my flushing bog ahh
the pleasures of towing a big daft caravan to a Rod Run shear luxury! I even had
HOT water to clean off the grime from my Rod from the previous days journey
which had taken its toll, it had to look the part on the cruise didn't it.
When I had finally sorted the Rod, I had me full English breaky and generally
fannied about I set off to line up about 11pm I think? The field was already
full of cars ready to go a Cruisin!. This beauty A and Awesomely painted er er
49 Chevy? Anyhow what ever it was it was Beautiful and lined up to take part...
Man I was in good company!
Had
a look round Johnny Best's recently finished 32 what he built in 10mths for a
total cost of less than £3K of which he was very proud and quite rightly so it
was a little gem with very little sign of being rushed!!
As I approached The Duksville Stand Gaz O'Connor shouted "Hey Geordie (Paul
O'Donnell the owner) this is Holmsey" " Hey ya ignorant Get aren't ya
gonna speak" Geordie said!! I felt quite important and chuffed names from
our scene know me and Geordie said "what size shirt are
you?" "X-Large" I replied and he thrust a new Duksville
T-Shirt in my mitt which I wore all weekend with pride. 
Now how Cool is that! It is things like that that really
make you appreciate what a great hobby you are in. He was thanking me for the
link I have to his web site on my links page http://www.duksville.co.uk
which he didn't need to do but he did *nice one*Geordie has taken over
where John Reid left off.
I had a Ciggy to relax before the cruise, and my misses was still in the Car
looking a very fetching colour of grey which is a cool effect you can only get
from to much Red wine the night before!!
I set my video going, and recorded as much as I could holding the camera
down by the running boards which gives a cool effect, that's of the cruise not my
misses that's on another video Ha Ha! There were plenty of cars well over a 100
of us, and all tastes catered for. It must of looked tremendous to anyone out
for a quite Saturday walk seeing us all cruising by I must stand and watch one
yr! The Pub had a tight right hand junction to contend with on a busy road which had
no warning over the crest of a blind hill. I am surprised there wasn't a crash or
two, I came over the crest of the hill to be greeted with standing traffic immediately
as I rounded the brow... Man good job I had disc's all round and the daily
behind me thankfully stopped right on the crest to warn people behind there was
stationary traffic ahead *phew*!!...
The Venue
The pub car park and overflow parking was full to capacity and it was in a very nice
setting next to the canal complete with floating caravans sorry barge's. As we
parked my misses thought it would be a good idea to empty her stomach into a
hastily found carrier bag while still seated in the 34 good job she is a good
shot and never spilt a drop. Man did it smell sweet in the hot baking sun
Terrrrrrrrrrrrrrr! A great looking 46 Study Pick up parked across my brow and I prayed
he wouldn't stop and nosy in my cab as my misses was well into round two of her
puking fun! The 46 Study is my 
dream
vehicle and I hope to own one, one day this will be my hold onto for ever Vehicle....
Dream on Dude! This one had a much breathed on Rover V8 in it which surprised me
but the owner said it was adequate and looked very neat in the engine bay.
I then tried to get a beer which was a nightmare so many thirsty Rodders and so few
staff and useless young ones aswell Hey who said I am bitter and twisted! Saw my
slim (read Fat) mate Pete (Bakey) sat in the corner and I asked what he was drinking he
said it was a slim line tonic *hum?* I said its not working mate get your money
back! ;>) good job he knows me......I finally got a beer and started the arduous task of looking round the
array of Rods outside. Checked on my misses she was now a wonderful shade of
green and I wondered if she was turning into a chameleon and trying to blend
into the grassy background!
I met Nige Lockley (Flamed Model A Fame) he is now on
with building a Zipper... Man only the yanks could call a Rod a Bl**dy Zipper and
get away with it! Nige was saying what fun he was having trying to find a place
for wipers and petrol tank, pumps and brake servo's and all the unnecessary
stuff like that. He said because of how it is designed, Hi Tech and all about
looks, every single thing is Torture to fit and find a hidden location.... I
wished him luck and
carried on with the look round the assembled Rods!
I
had a good look at Pete Angels (or how ever ya spell it) A. It is pure class and
it would be a shame to paint it which I guess he has heard before, but it is perfect and has a look you just cant
recreate can you.
I don't know either of these two 32's, but mind you I don't know that many anyway so its no
insult! Two different approaches at the same body style both really nice and stood out to me as pretty cool Rides.
There was a guy in a Blown, Twin Turbo'ed, injected and nitros'ed Mk2
Cortina and I overheard the driver say it was a nightmare under 4thousand revs and the
heavty clutch it had
made it even more fun. He has to keep the revs up and slip the clutch to keep it
running, what an amazing piece of work. He
made me feel so much better when he said he had been getting 4mpg on the trip
down Hey what fun every mile must of been though, who wants economy???? Hey shut
up at the back and go and adjust you tappets ;>).
Everywhere you looked there was another brace of very cool rods to check out,
everyone was having a laugh or catching up on all the latest goss from mates
they hadn't seen for a while it was a very laid back and almost a Party/Barbecue
atmosphere er without the barbecue .... which made me feel hungry and the beer and Barbecue where calling
me back at camp! Quite a few had already started of back to Drayton but I
had to wait for the Study Truck owner to finish his meal before I could leave
but I wasn't complaining as there were some neat Rod's driving out of the car
park. And Rod's look even better on the move rather than parked up static as we usually
see them! One Old Guy in a Fiesta asked if we knew who the owners of
a couple of Cars were who had blocked him in. The Old Dude was in a rush to get
some parts fixed for his Canal Boat but still has time to say how he was amazed
at all the Old Cars (his description) but needed them moved right now!! His elderly
misses and two NASC guys had to guide him out of his parking space as they are a
very big car you know them Fiesta's :>) He had to do a 20 point turn to get
out with several gear changes and lots of violent brake maneuvers! and very narrowly
missing the 55 Chevy that was only about 10feet away which is a tight gap when
reversing a Fiesta ya know Terrrrrr Why is it the smaller the car the more useless
a driver is any theories???? After the old boys entertaining escapade it
was time to go and we moved out as soon as the Study had vacated his parking place
which was blocking us in, but not before I had checked on my poorly
passenger. She was doing well but the lack of sun had now turned her very white,
in fact very very white.
Once out on the road we caught up to a fenderless 27T which we followed all the way back to town. Now I can see the attraction of a fenderless open Rod, with high loud pipes, a low screen and ya arm out the side to stop you getting to friendly with the passenger( if its a Man that is).. The sun shining and the open road Cool very Cool ;>). But just driving one local on a sunny day would do me, they must be a bit of a nightmare on a long run or in the rain......but mind you I am far to old for anything less than total comfort and peace and quiet in my Road Vehicles Ha Ha!! *Ya owd Git*