The Off
Who
ever coined the phrase the Sun always shines on the righteous couldn't of got it
more right than this weekend. The forecast was for Thunder Storms WoW that would
have changed things eh! But as the weekend approached and I made my car more shiny
Ha Ha no need for mechanics just polish now! Things just got better and better, my car was running great, Bake'y my mate
with a 55 Anglia finally got it sorted after an hour or two in my garage, so the
scene was set. Me and Bake's and our two Rods on a short trip to the Midlands
for some Hot Rodding Fun Yeeha!
The Friday night before we were to go to the Wet & Wild Do, I was invited to a surprise
40th birthday party............. Yep she thought she was still 39 :>)
While there I told another Mate of mine Pudzz what I was doing the next day and
like a shot he said can I come? Hey the more the merrier, and my misses's then
piped up er we could get the Caravan sorted and I could go *hum?* Yeah get the
caravan sorted while I'm at work tomorrow morning and you can go, Mark can go
with Bake's........... "Oh no it will take to much messing maybe next time" she
said..........*phew* though it tows alright it makes the drive down hard work
and I was looking forward to the unleashed 34 drive down not towing a bloody
great caravan behind. So by 3pm Sat the 34 was loaded and it was off to fuel up
and meet my slim Mate Bake's in his Anglia and the start of our Rodding Fun
weekend or what was left of it anyway! We caused quite a stir at the local
garage with some old ladies in a Micra pointing and smiling bringing back some
memories I guess... "I got married in one of those, but it didn't look
as sporty as yours"............... Yeah!
The run down to Chasewater in Cannock was just a breeze, no problems just Sunshine, V8's rumbling and some cat and mouse'ing between the Anglia and the 34. I enjoy the run down as much if not more than the actual meet and you could see by the grin on Bakey's face he did to... Once at Chasewater we were greeted by some very friendly members of the Riverside Rod and Custom club who were hosting the event. We received a well presented and professional looking folder with all the info we needed for the venue and the weekend. Met a couple of the uk_hotrods e-mail group members straight away had a good crack with them and then decided we had best make camp and get the beer out as soon as poss. The weather was just glorious, so I knew it was gonna be thirsty work this tent erecting lark.
I
spied Mike Noble's red 32 (another uk_hotrods e-mail group member) and found a
suitable piece of flat ground to house our newly bought 5 man / 3 fat lads tent.
I am a great believer in to many hands spoil light broth or what ever the saying
is, so I let Bake's and Pudzz do the honors of making our abode as it was its
first erection and beer was calling me "Holmsey" it was saying "Holmsey
drink me drink me now!!!!" So what could I do but oblige eh! The tent
was erected but Bakes and Pudzz were not happy with me, for not helping so they
left me the shortest part of the tent, to put my sleeping bag in. But I guess that
was only fair. So once we all made up, it was into the pies that Pudzz at acquired from
the pie and pea supper the night before and man did they taste good and even
better when the guy across the way made us some gravy to put on em Yum
Yum!
We were starting to get to know the people around us and everyone seemed very friendly indeed. A caravan who's view we had spoilt housed a female everyone seemed to know Mel? who writes for the Hot Rod Gazette I was told. With two barking defensive protective Alsatians she sat with us until I stuck my M &M cd on and she could only hear the swearing and soon scarpered after she found I had no deep purple cd's or vinyl, Jeez do I look like an historian :>) Soon it was evident that only me and a young guy in his 20's were enjoying Malcolm Mather's *in joke* so I put on some Captain Beefheart the oldest music I have... but that was received with equall distaste *hum?* So some Talk Talk saved the day........ish played quiet of course so it didn't drown out "get out dat kitchen and rattle those pots and pans" being played across the way terrrrr ;>)
Graham and Ian Young's excellently constructed A's Both uk_hotrods e-mail group
members Ian was sporting a uk-hotrods.co.uk sticker in his screen aswell which
made me feel so proud and chuffed lets see more :>)..
After a few tales, some good laughs and lot of banter, we
thought it may be a good idea to take a look in the club house. The music when
we got there was the usual 50's/ 60's stuff...... Man haven't they had enough of
it by now they have been listening to it for 50yrs for god's sake Heh Heh! The
DJ to be fair though played some stuff I enjoyed later and seemed to get a happy
medium to please everyone's taste or lack of it ;>)
Which is no mean feat well done that man! He even finished off with some
oops up side ya head stuff where they all sit on the floor which seemed to go
down well... The night was very very enjoyable the disco was good the beer was
the same and most important so were the people 90% of the people I met were
local and they must be the happiest and friendliest bunch you could every meet and
seem to have a well attended and professionally run club which deserves to do
well.. The evening was livened up with a well endowed female doing some boob juggling
a sight you must witness to appreciate though clothed to save our blushes of
course.
Two fine looking trucks that took my eye one needs polish one don't Cool!
Once the Disco had finished it was back to the camp and put on some vibes and crack open some more cans and finish the night with some good old fashioned banter amongst friends........... *huh?* where was everyone???? I don't know what time it was, maybe 1.30am and there was not a sound ?? no parties going on ???? nothing??? I said maybe they all have work tomorrow or something?? It was weird it was just me Bake's Pudzz and new mate Keef who has a V6 Pop who also is a uk_hotrods group member. We had a few beers and swapped a few stories righted the wrongs of Rodding and generally had a great time.. The security came over, but it was just cus a dog had run away and they were trying to catch it. I had my music on very low and it was just Moby melodic and mellowing out tunes. Bake's and Pudzz decided enough was enough and retired to the tent while me and Keef. We just kept on gabbing don't know what about as we was very p*ssed and just gibbered away I guess.. About 3.30am a couple of young lads in their 20's came and joined us. They were asking about my Car and telling me how fast new cars are and especially new bikes like they had...?? so why were they walking round a Rod Run in the early hours? Anyhow they smoked some dodgy smelling tobacco to which I just said no ;>) Then asked for a drive of my 34 er yeah sure!!! I said "no chance would let me have a drive of your Girlfriend?" he said "not a chance" I replied "well its just the same"... After that we all got on like a house on fire, till about 5am when they said they best get on there way and that was my cue to retire aswell.
As I crashed into my sleeping bag at 5am I thought to myself, you are gonna regret this in the morning ya stoopid old git.. Bakes sounded like he had some electric appliance working under his sleeping bag and a generator was powering it Man that guy can snore.. I closed my eyes blinked and woke up, it was 7-15pm and it was already sunny oh boy I need a sh*t, shower, shave and some serious sustenance like a plate of full English if I am to get through this day without dieing! So we were soon off to the local Greasy spoon which we always used when down this way. Mike Noble and his young daughter joined us on the short journey to the Cafe. I chose not to drive as I could not focus to well and let my mate Pudzz chauffer me there, as he is the only other person on the planet I would trust to drive my motor. At this Greasy spoon you can do the three S's and get a plate full of English all for a little under £3.. just a couple of cups of coffee later and we were all feeling a lot better and ready for the days events.. though when we did finally read the booklet we had been given about the site and event we could have done the same at the club house which only required a short walk Derrr next time we shall read the info first..
Same years I think 37 one Ford one Dodge The Dodge is owned by Michelle &
Chris Hay
and featured in the Top Ten picks of the show
The field was
starting to fill when we got back and I just didn't feel like cleaning the car
and decided to just leave it.. But Pudzz was having none of it, he insisted we
polish the Rod and make it as presentable as we could. As it was only fair the
guys had put on a show for the public to come and see and we should make an
effort to make the 34 look special.... Ok Ok.... lets polish.. He was right the
car did look a lot better. An official came round and told us we had best get on
the field as time was running out to be eligible for the judging... We parked
her up gleaming in the glorious sunshine. And had a look round the other cars
that were already parked. I introduced myself to Ian Young who owns the stunning
looking Yellow'er than Yellow A Sedan and his Brother Graham with the Red Lead
painted A Delivery both uk_hotrods e-mail group members. As ever, they were very easy to
get on with and just so into Rodding it was a pleasure to meet both of them
and look at their well constructed A's. Graham had just straightened his A from
a rear ending he had given a Fiesta. The fiesta had scratched paint work but
Grahams A wasn't as lucky, though the Insurance from Adrian Flux came up trumps
and the Drama wasn't so bad in the end..
Here is Michelle owner of the gorgeous 37 Dodge above, enjoying the day behind
the equally beautiful Anglia. Hey with another only one in the country 3 holed
Anglia Grill ;>)
The show
field now had some very tasty cars assembled there and I had quite a few people
introduce themselves to me as members of our happy e-mail group the
uk_hotrods which was so very satisfying and made me feel very honored to be part
of such a very cool hobby.
As the afternoon wore on my mate Pudzz was eager to see who had won the raffle so we ventured down to the arena were the water games had been held earlier. I didn't watch them as I was to busy gassing. But they sounded fun, lots of yelling and laughing and copious amounts of water.
As we neared the arena we could hear the compare shouting out
numbers Puddz said "that's your car number he just shouted"
"Na" I said it must be the raffle ticket numbers.... he said it
again I looked at Mark (Puddz) and smiled then grinned then laughed and said "Na
it cant be can it?" He said "yep that's your car number you've
won a trophy" I just shook my head. He says he wants to talk to us....
So I gingerly told the guy I am number 105 he said "Dave Holmes?"
"Yep" I said he replied "I have good news, you
have won a prize bring your car down to the arena for the prize
giving!!!!!!"
I just was dumb founded all these great Rods and cars here and mine gets picked
in the Top Ten WoW. I started to get butterflies in my stomach and I felt honored
but a phony aswell!! My Rod is Ok, but it aint that great is it? certainly not
in the Top Ten I thought, maybe eleventh though eh Ha Ha. As I walked back to
get my Car I felt so very chuffed but also embarrassed, but it is bloody
fantastic to think someone else looks at your Rod and likes it so much that they
think it deserves a trophy.. I walked back to get my car and counted more than
10 better than mine I thought Oh Dear!
I wondered if when I pick up the Trophy
they may say "now we have had a better look at your car I am sorry mate
but we made a mistake :>)"..
But people just kept given me compliments all the time it was really nice and
made me feel really chuffed. Ian Young with the Yellow A I mentioned before was
also in the Top Ten so there were two of us from the uk_hotrods group in the
winners circle at this meet Cool eh!
Plenty of very nice Pops.
I looked back at the line up, me being all eager I was first in the queue, there was a stunning 59 Vette which had won the supreme champion at Americana the week before, a perfect looking 56 Chevy pick up, a Stunning A pick up, Ian's A and so on, Man I was in good company. The raffle was done first and both my mates who I had driven down with won prize's and soon it was my turn. Graham Young and his wife had come down and congratulated me and made me feel good about going and receiving the trophy. It was just such a surreal feeling and I shook Neil Meredith's hand and it was just so utterly Fantastic. It aint the Trophy (a nice engraved cut glass crystal jug) it is defiantly the admiration or appreciation of your vehicle that make's it so satisfying. And I am sure this is why people do what they do, spend Time and Money to extremes so their cars win trophies and I could now see why.. even I loved it!
More Pops, one flamed, one Metal flaked( Mick Tebbs) and one with an unusual light
treatment Cool
I parked the car up and the guy sorry I cant remember his name with the extra
nice pro street style Somerset shook my hand which was very nice of him and he
was telling me something but as I only had 2 hrs sleep and I was just gob
smacked by it all. What he was saying wasn't really registering with me and I
bet he thought bloody Numpty. He said "I have won the best British Rod
trophy 2 years in a row".." Oh yes I had read you had been
winning a few things you have done some nice mods to your Somerset " Derrr
I bet he thought what's he on about I have won today, you haven't read it, it is
today they have just announced it Terrrrrr!!! I must learn to act my age in
future and go to bed at a reasonable hour so I am refreshed and can talk some
kind of sense when engaged in conversation with people, first impressions count
eh!! So That said anyone who did talk to me on the Sunday and if I did seem a
bit a vague it was because,.... I was a bit vague Ha ha!!!
Another Top ten car this A was exquisite with a mind blowing Cadillac 32 valve Turbo'ed
Northstar Motor yes please..
We did our hand shaking and farewells to all we had got to know at the Wet and Wild weekend It was a brilliant well run and organised Club event which I will be at next year for certain and I can recommend it to anyone. A smaller, friendly Run, but with the same amount of commitment and professionalism as the big Run's.
The drive back was just as much fun as the drive down and was splattered with many Hot Hatches coming past on their way back from the Max Power do at the NEC Birmingham. We had no hassle from them and one bunch of kids in an M3 just cruised along side mesmerized by my spinning wheels they were transfixed on them for miles. On the inside, then the outside, along side and in front for miles and miles. It was quite entertaining and then they gave me some eye contact finally smiled put up the thumbs and sped away!! There also must of been some bike event on, as hundreds of bikers blasted by many slowing and looking at the Rods and giving us the thumbs up, even a guy in a mint restored Herald did the same though it was us who blasted past him ;>)
We pulled in the services just south of Manchester and the neat A and 56Chevy pick ups that were also in the top ten where in there and made quite a sight as we were all at the gas pumps. I thought good we can all cruise up the next few miles together, but as they set off Bake's Anglia decided to play up and not start and it was a good 10-15mins before we got it mobile and they were long gone. Which was a great shame as it would of been cool to run the next few miles together ..... Once home it just seemed to have been and gone far to quickly and I feel quite sad and I needed more!! But It will have to wait till August The Street Rod Nationals for my next Rod Fix....