Saturday ESRA De-Hann
Saturday is the day for the
organised Cruise, so I got up a bit late as it wasn't until 3pm but to late in
fact for breakfast in the complex. Not a problem my wife and I decided a trip to
De-Hann town would be cool and we could get some food there. As we sauntered
round to the secure pre49 only ;>) *pose* Car park we were stopped in our
tracks as around 15 Brit Rods where just burbling out of the Sun Park complex
errr errrr !!! what's going on???? Howard Bolton was in the lead car
"Morning Dave" he spouted "err err where ya off?"
I enquired "on a Cruise you coming?" "errr errre yeah
er no errr damn" my misses looked at me "I thought we where
going for breakfast" "err err Oh Damn seeya guys"
.....My brain couldn't take it all in and work out how to get in my Rod and join
em in such short notice and also get breaky and keep she who must be obeyed
happy aswell oh and cruise with the guys like ya do.... So I waved em a weary
wave and sighed *shit*. That will teach me to leave the bar early the
night before and also teach me I should not lie in when on a Rodding holiday....
;>(
I had a bit of a look round the parking show and shine area as compensation
before we made our way into the village/town? for us breakfast now come lunch
Brunch thingy do da ya know some food .
The park was bursting with nice quality Street Rods and the European Rods do
seem to have a look of their own not sure what it is but you can generally tell
them from a Brit Rod. It was really good to be able to look at Rods and nothing
but Rods, without other style's of cars being intermingled. I have nothing
against other styles it is just nice to look an uninterrupted field of pre 49
Rods.
34 Sport very very Nice.
Once my misses could tear me away from the pre 49 parking
area, we drove into De-Hann. It was really amazing as out on the road every so
often a few Rods would pass going the other way and we would acknowledge each
other. And into the town and the car park had a few rods parked in it aswell. We
parked and immediately attracted a bemused but interested family who took loads
of photos! We walked round this very picturesque Town (so picturesque I aint got
a photo whoops) eagerly looking for somewhere to eat. There were plenty of restaurants
but most looked far to posh for me and my wife dressed in the usual Rodders attire
T-Shirt and jeans... the ones that looked cheaper we just couldn't understand
the menu's at all. By now my belly was hanging out and I needed Food and quickly
grrrrr I was getting annoyed, this spot will do Na grrrr where then? We decided
on a meat? and salad sandwich, just what a hungry Fat lad needs, still the
splattering of Cruising Rods by far and away compensated for my enforced fast.
And I still had the organised cruise to look forward to eh!
The Cruise
I asked at the ESRA desk for a route map and the helpful dude
ran to reception for me and got me one and in broken English said that everyone
as they leave for the cruise will get a copy. I looked at it and then did a
double take and then searched for more info and Man if you ever do get to see a
copy of the cruise direction's have a look they are a wonder to behold. Just a
page full of arrows *huh?* I just looked and thought looks like we are following
someone again ;>)
We met Ralph and the others and arranged for a 2-45pm meet up for the 3pm
departure. My wife and I went to the field at 2-30pm and a group of Rodders
where gathering already and they said it seemed like the organised cruise was a laid
back affair and you just set off when ever you wanted to, then meet at the allocated
destination when ever! One guy asked if anyone had a map I said I had and that
was it.....come on lets go he said ;>) As we decided to leave Mike Hughes
just arrived back from his drive from the morning, he got out, I said we are off on
the cruise so he jumped straight back in again now that's a driven Rod!
It seemed that once we decided to go everyone else did
aswell... Now
I was surrounded by a sea of Rods.. at last. Once out onto the Belgium roads it was
Rods
as far back as the eye could see, it was just the most fantastic sight any true
Blooded Rodder could ever imagine, I guess outside of America. This went on for a
good few miles till we reached Bruges and traffic lights and we became separated.
I just hung on to the tail of a 59 Mercury lowrider estate in front, yep post 49's where
welcome on the cruise this one was just imported to the UK from Texas and looked
great in original paint (anyone go a photo?). The local people were fantastic
they clapped us as we drove by and the old ladies smiled and waved. I don't know
if the lead car knew the way but he seemed to just turn right at every opportunity
and left at every other. We went down cobbled streets, over canals, through busy
bustling town squares, into court yards, and through some streets so narrow we
had to breath in to get down them. It was just so unreal to see all the locals
out for a quiet Saturday in the sun with several Burbling V8's disturbing the
tranquility of it all, fountains gushed and our V8's whooshed it is just a memory
I will have with me for ever........... Rodder's Heaven Man.
The Mercury in front though not a Rod didn't look out of place amongst the Rods we were in
the company of, as we made our way through the Belgium streets. He gave one or
two a thrill as he lowered his air suspension with a very loud Pwoooshhhh, as he
passed little old ladies seemed his favourite time to do it :>) Boys eh! We
finally stopped as we came to a canal bridge being lifted. Once the Barge had
passed under the raised bridge and it was lowered we then crossed and trundled down a lane
to make it to the the Cruise's final destination and all in one piece. We were one of the first to arrive and this gave
us time to get a cold one and watch all the other Rods arrive.
The chosen few get power parked at the cruise venue, a large
open air Bar and Barbeque (though not lit today???)
I am not to sure of the new owners name of this 37 from the Uk a well known Rod
I know that much. It's just so perfect inside and out a Rod you just dream
about.. Droooooolllll.
The
Cruise venue was an open air style bar like you get in Spain where they have the
weekly all ya can drink wine and barbecue do da's but the Barby was not lit? I
was starving and had a plate of Nacho's (fancy foreign crisps) very
filling....not! Well I was still really excited about being where I was and in
the company I was to worry about food and at least I
could afford to loose some weight anyway.. eh! Had a Beer and a crack with Rob
Whitwell someone I have always wanted to meet after seeing his 5 window coupe he
biult in the 70's at the tender age of 19 a Rodding mile stone in my eyes..
*respect*.
So it was then time to check out the cars still arriving, some
didn't even make it by the way. And also take some photos and video the Rods
parked.
Very Cool Volvo brings Street Rod and Max Power together if it
drives as nice as it looks then Wowee Class.. pure class in fact a breath of
fresh air to Rodding. Cant you just tell these are European Rods! Not bogged down by tradition or styles,
they just do what looks right to them and what pleases them. I think that is the
reason they look so different.
Now I am not a great lover of woddies in fact they are my least favourite but this one changed my mind. This one I really do like, it is
just so nicely put together and everything just flows I could own one like this *nice one* who ever you
may be!
This
A amused me with its awning style weather equipment, practical, cosy but butt
ugly :>) Hey can an A ever be ugly Na it was sweet!!
The narrow lane we parked on was chocker with Rods and the
atmosphere was quiet and laid back with just the one incident of merriment as
Mike Hughes decides to park right in with the other's who had power parked. He
drives in being directed by an official ESRA looking dude. Mike drives his 34
right up to where the Brit Rodders had formed their customary Circle and in fact
he nearly parked in the middle of them. He just didn't stop as he neared them he
just kept going and drove straight into the back of one of their chair's and put
him on his R's with a very loud crack as the plastic chair leg snapped......!!!!
??? Mike got out everyone was laughing I was cringing wondering what damage he
may have done to his beautiful coupe but Hey Mike didn't even glance at
the front of his car. He walked past as if nothing had happened??? I suppose
trying to look cool and pretend he meant to do it, not that he forgot to take it
out of gear as he parked ... ?? Ha Ha what do you think was
it intentional? The debate goes on.
Another costly lesson to learn is Bear claw latches are a
must. This dude had obviously found this out to his cost as his passenger door
was heavily taped shut and was severely damaged on the hinge, wing, rear panel
and of course the door aswell * big shame*.
It took a few hours to drive to the open air bar but it was not as long a
journey back as we had come the scenic route there and the quick route back.
Well that was the intention I joined the same group as I came there with and
followed them. As we drove through one town we became aware of another group of
Rodders coming in the other direction??? One waving a map at us as they drove by
*huh?* a quick three point turn and we were in Hot pursuit of the clever Bug*ers
who knew the way back to De-Haan. A very enjoyable fast'ish drive back was the
order of the day and it was good to give the car it's head and open it up a
bit.
Saturday Night Do
By now you can imagine I was starving, one salad bun and some crisps hardly
enough to sustain a Hippy let alone a fat northerner. So it was with great
anticipation We queued for the Buffet which was all included in the price. We
were one of the first in the queue as I just could eat a horse, the rider and
its saddle. As we were being allowed into the hall where the buffet was. I was
asked "did I have my blue arm band on ?" "Eh? what blue
arm band I spluttered!!" "the blue one's in your welcome pack"
sh*t sh*t sh*t. I thought they were for the kids we were gonna bring Na they are
for the Buffet Damn and blast I thought ;>) so now this hungry old northerner
had to run back to the chalet and get the bloody blue arm band's so we could go
to eat Grrrrrrrrrr At least I was now so much slimmer from lack of food I could
run... Man I could of killed something and ate it if I had chance!
So now I am boiling up from running, starving and
thirsty. I queue for Beer Ha Ha not that starving obviously eh! I Met Wade
Pilkington for the first time and he said that he had some great footage of the
Guys on the cruise and the video should be a great way to look back at the weekend,
also as we queued Howard Bolton
said they had gotten a load of tables so we could all sit together Great I
thought. My misses was queuing for food. I had the beer and said we are sitting
up the top with all the other's "er Ralph has saved us two chairs on
their table down here" she said .. Oh well as long as I get some food I
will be happy. As I looked at the buffet I was gob smacked it was just everything
I love and there was mass's of it. We English queued all politely and didn't
seem to move, as the European bugg*r's just came from the other side and got
their food. I was now getting very very agitated and thought sod this, as in Rome.
If I stay queuing all polite like we do I am gonna die of starvation. So a plate
of Paella for me and my misses and I Zoomed straight to the Salmon in wine
sauce I just pushed through everyone as I could stand it no more, bloody
ignorant English I bet they said but hey they hadn't watched as 20 or more
people got food before us. I put a good 6 or 7 pieces of salmon on my plate same
for she who must be obeyed. I had to stretch to get the spoon back into the
large dish and whoops the Bagger slipped in and disappeared into the wine sauce
whoop's and Man was I then flavour of the month but I didn't care I had FOOD!!
The Buffet I must say was magnificent and I had three plate full's and all of
things I love Nice one ESRA.
All the time we were eating there was a Hot Rodding Video on which just added to
the atmosphere.
Soon it was time for the Band to strike up they turned out to
be a Half decent Blues band and I suppose are safer than any other style of
music at a Rodding do. The band got the room jumping soon it was nudity time as
is the way with these do's. A Belgium? Rodder who seemed to be in touch with his
feminine side did a strip on a table facing the English Rodders at the back and
this was answered with a pole style dance routine by Danny Stephens, which was
then answered by the two beautiful and well endowed women on our table Ralph's
misses and her niece this brought what seemed like the entire room of dribbling
male rodders to our table for a better view Hey and I had a front seat ;>)
(has anyone please got a photo for the web site honest) I tried not to look to
enthusiastic as my misses was sat with me Heh Heh! That was it though, how
could anyone follow that? No body that was for sure. Hey they made an old man
feel very old ;>)... The night was Fantastic, the group were good, the food
was excellent and the company Great. Mind you Frank Ogden who joined us didn't
like sea food so he may not entirely agree as he had some potato wedges and that
was it. Though did he make up for it on the dance floor he and his wife are just
the best jitter bugger's I have seen in a long while or is it called Jiving?
Anyhow they could move and showed everyone else how it should be done Oh and
Keith Harman was also a mean mover aswell I noticed. Now I don't know if
it is because the European rodders are just not as inhibited as us but they just
danced on their own or by their tables one Dude danced all night all on his own
and looked like he really had a ball while all the English had to have a partner
oh of the opposite Sex of course. Also a nice touch was free drinks from the
ESRA but they were soon gone as I slowly got a major slope on. The table was
full of empty Alcopop bottles from Ralph and his crew and a good night was had
by all. Topped off with some he'ing and she'ing back at the chalet
Perfect!
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