My Truck is still a long way off ,so again not really into the Rod runs, feels really odd going to them without a suitable car. I feel like a groupie or something like that. But I knew it would be a good way to bolster my enthusiasm to keep slogging on doing my Freaking truck. A Rod run where I could meet a few old mates and see a heap a cool cars would be good therapy. And that's just what Billing would have in-store for me.
I had told a mate of mine Stu, who happens to do my tattoos just how cool a Rod
run is and how he, being an artist would really appreciate how much work goes
into our kinda cars, the mind boggling attention to detail and the
awesome talent some Rod builder have.
Now he has said yes before and never came, I thought this time would be no exception, though I hoped in the back of my mind he would. We talked about going on our Motorbikes, me and he (+ a few others) ride out most weeks anyway and get along real well. 6am was the allotted time and he was not only adamant he was going, he was excited about it to. This time it looked like he was actually going to make it.
At around 6am ish I heard 2 Harleys ride past thought *hum?* some other's off out early. I pushed my bike to the end of our lane to sit and wait for Stu, as my bike is very loud and I didn't want to wake the neighbours, I didn't want to start the engine just yet. I sat and sat and sat 6-20am and I thought is he not going now??? I thought surely he would ring me?? Then I remembered, I had turned my phone off Whaa whaaa the night afore to save the battery Derrrrrrr. Soon as I turned it on, I got a call. Where are you? I said where are you more like ;o) We are sat at the 24hr garage as arranged??? news to me, but my mind is slipping nowadays real bad!!
I got to the garage, saw 3 figures there, not the just the one I expected, I realised one was Stu's right hand man Snowy, the other I thought was just some tart they had brought ;o) I rode in exhausts a blazzin, gob a swearing in proper biker mode.... Stu moved to one side, to let me see who the mystery bird was...... ohh ohhhh it was only a raving dyke Cop, booking Stu for a dodgy number plate.. Jeezz we hadn't even started our journey yet..
Once underway, the heavens decided to piss on our parade some more and it rained solid for the first 70miles, Fan bloody tastic eh... open face helmets and Rain yep real fun.. Its like someone throwing sand or gravel at you full pelt... we stopped at the 2nd services for us on the M6. The rain had stopped and we warmed up with some coffee, all was quite jovial, until I told them that we could of gone down with Jase in his Econoline day van thingy, and watched Videos while we drank beer in the warmth and dry if we had wanted to.... Ohhh ohhhhh I thought I was gonna get lynch ;o)
Hey guys, come on, I said where's the adventure in that, motorbikes are far cooler and more fun... a few expletives and we got back under way.. Arriving at billing, I noticed quite a lot more motorbikes, custom aswell as Cruiser style, which was a surprise and a relief. I think the thing is about Motorbikes and Rods is normal cars are a means to an end. where as a Rod or a Bike is the Means and the end, maybe that is why so many of us enjoy both. Nige from Dover was there sat in his Chevy Truck, with a grin that I swear was trying to split his face in two. We rode onto the show field just as the Cruise was about to start, so me and Stu tagged on the back and Snowy jumped in the Econoline as his Harley's seat aint so comfy and after the 250 mile journey we had just done, he was complaining he felt like a rent boy"!!!..
The cruise had been organised by Dave and Lesley Brown (flamed A40 Van) and was superb, sorry no photos as I couldn't take photos and ride my bike. We were all following Stu from Riverside in his Red oxide A truck, he looked like he knew where he was going. A real neat Classic Capri in front of me started indicating left, no body else did. So I went with the majority, in fact everyone in our convoy about 20 of us did... We was all wrong and the Capri was right ;o) About turn and we gave chase, it was absolutely brilliant, as we all thundered through this gorgeous country side, the people who lived there were stood outside their gardens, or houses waving and smiling with glee. It was so great to see how much they enjoyed us being there. How easy it would of been and understandable really, for them not to of been happy and waving, as it was their homes and tranquillity we were rudely roaring though, even if our roaring to be fair, was entertaining roaring..
The NSRA put on a barby and the venue was perfect, a sports club with plenty of space. The women queued for burgers outside as the fellas queued for a beer inside.
We were 3 mega hungry bikers but also quite thirsty, so Stu queued for us food, as I queued for the beer. Stu was quite a good way down on the queue by the time I had come out with the beer, not long now we thought *yum yum* only to be told by Keith Harman you needed a ticket and to get a ticket you needed to have booked in back at camp *damn*.. We just got there and joined the Cruise ;o(
Oh well eh, there is always the cars to look at and my mates Stu and Snowy were kinda awe struck I think, so the pangs of hunger abated for the time being anyway..
T time at the Barbecue
Hey Hey Hey Look its Nige and his Truck with good pal and all round good guy
Adam Sayer driving. It is a long story, but a condensed version is. Nige had
bought this truck from e-bay, a thought to be trusted source picked it up in
California but when it eventually arrived on these shores, Nige was not greeted
by the same truck, engine wise he had bought. If Adam hadn't got involved Nige
for sure would of given up on not only on this Truck, but Hot Rodding all
together... They say alls well that ends well, but in this case the Truck is
Sweet, the incident is still very very sour!!!
After a good crack, a bit of a look round, and just the one beer. Dave brown asked if I wanted a run out in his awesome looking A40 Van.... Oh yeah!!
It was a real treat and made me realise just why we do what we do and spend years and years building the bloody things, all the hassle, blood, sweat and tears not to mention ear ache, to just get to drive one of these beautiful beasts and that's what they are beautiful and beasts. It had that feel you know, that rumble of, "if you wake me, I will tear the tarmac from the ground and throw you out the back window Grrrr" ;o)
It rode over the bumps and hollows in the roads real nice and had soft suspension, not the bang ya teeth out on every bump that some have. I was enjoying every second, which wouldn't of been many I suspect, had we been driving full throttle for a 1/4 mile if ya know what I mean It is a mega bucks rod there is now getting away from that and Dave makes no bones about it either, but strip away the Hi-Tec electronic gadgetry and this is one serious Hot Rodded Van..
I like our Hobby and its many different styles of
cars and I do Love this Van!! Thanks Dave and Lesley.
When we arrived back at the sports club everyone had gone, there was just Dave's family, my mates and the guys and galls from the NSRA who had been running the Barby left . Steve (hop along) Marley offered us hungry bikers (and Econoline Jase) a very much appreciated Burger, so the day was just getting better.
Using Holmseynav we got back to Billing without to much drama, I did hear Jason had acquired a new passenger side mirror from a passing transit but I can not verify this 100%. The camp was buzzing with all sorts of stuff going on, Rods just cruising every where, Nige from Dover was still just stood drooling over his ace looking Chevy truck, I am convinced he was plying it with drink, so he could bed it later.
Wee Mark dove this absolutely stunning 35 down from Scotland with his own police
escort.... well passenger really and I did hear that it does do a tad over the
70mph limit aswell ;o)
Come on aint his what a Run is all about eh, cool cars, great surroundings with
some great BS going on, Nice ass by the way ;o) Here look at Him Paul the
Geordie swanking about in the shine 200mph Roadster, must be cool to be in with
the in crowd eh ;o)..
We parked our Bi Cycles, after a ride round, pitched camp and went onto the show field which was really alive with all manner of Rods and trade stands. I met so many people that my mates got a bit humpty with me stopping every 2 mins as they wanted to get looking round with me as their guide, as they were knocked out by it all, but had no idea what it was they were being knocked out by!!
I make no apology for including Pike and Sexy Sues cool 36 Truck it is so so
cool and I thought this scoot kinda neat even if it was owned by a Nazi
lumberjack called Heir Calvin Evans ;o).
Another Fav of mine, with amazing wheels, though I am now leaning toward
the steel and cap style wheel more, I still thought these really nicely made and
made the rod jump out at ya!!
This scene was amazing and I thought how ace it must be to be part of the in
crowd, this really was celeb coral or it looked that way to me. Some real neat
top end Rods.... what I thought was a tad weird though, Nige Lockley was just
parked behind me in this photo and not part of the celeb group as I expected him to
be??
Bob Booths simply stunning Steel A, just how damn fine is this car, one of my Billing favourites, Sorry Bob for not recognising you and the
car I did have my head firmly up my arse this weekend, I was not being ignorant
just stoopid sorry .. more later why!
1940/41 Pontiac owned by Gary streams mega cool as
all the Streams Rod and Trucks are.
One from the celeb Coral and a proper Corker, some real nice début cars and the
atmosphere was really electric.
This was about my favourite of the meet I think a cool A roadster pick-up , another was
a flat red/maroon 35 pick-up I cant find a photo of ;o(
I have heard tell this particular Roadster pick up is for sale at £18k .. so just go
and buy it I would.
Langy out on yet another test drive I saw him out in at least 6 different rods
this Saturday afternoon.
After a good look round the field we thought a trip round the site on our bikes would be good before we hit the beer. We were well into the ambiance err if loud bikes loud Rods music at every turn ambiance, so lets say we were savouring the feel of it all and helmet less which felt so right. When camp security told us to put our lids on as it was just for our safety..... Now my mate Stu who is a big Tattooed proper biker sat there, then you could see his face turn red with rage.... nobody and I mean nobody shows Stu up like that... Nobody tells Stu off in public and lives..... he roared off after the security in their van... and shouted "Hey hang about, before you start telling us to put on our helmets, get those frigging twats on the mini-motos and the like sorted first, they don't have leathers helmets or Fuk all then come and tell us to put our on"... to which he got a rapturous round of applause from all in ear shot, which was most of the camp ;o) For my sake, not theirs, Stu abided by the rules, as he was a guest at my chosen hobbies venue we put on our lids..... reluclently. Later the security came and told Stu, we have sorted them lot out on the mini-motos now mate, expecting some kind of acknowledgement from Stu, but you don't tell Stu off and then try and be a mate !! Ya Know! ;o)
Evening brought on a whole new feel to the run with rumbles everywhere as Rodders went out for an evening meal or took that last run round before the nights Party!!
I thought this A Roadster looked a bag of fun without being to over the top very
useable. This 32 really did float my boat.
There is always one.. well there were several ones, as it happens. I just
happened to capture this one, one!
A roadster, with a carson style top, drop beam and Toyo Proxies?? This
32 sedan was very nice and had a stunning interior, I love them racing mag
wheels..
I thought this stood out from the crowd
This channelled A. along with Gaz O'Conners 34 Truck and John Goldings 32 are
Rods I never tire seeing, they are just so right.
This A is owned by cool cat Adrian Smith, who was telling me he had quit his old Job now and had started up doing what he loves and is good at, creating, building and modifying cars, Rods or modern. I cant wait to see some of the creations that come out of Ade's shop.. I have a photo of his latest a Gold A coupe see it on the Sunday show day page.
Well soon it was night and after some good grub at a near by pub we were set for a night on the razzz, but as I was the only NSRA member we couldn't venture into the marquee which was a pity as I hear the band was good. We stood outside and chatted with who ever we could squint and see in the dark. This time unlike other years the marquee was ram packed. with not many people outside at all. Which was a major disappointment for me as I wanted to impress my mates with the night crack. Mind you Stu had a funny ciggy and retired real early?? while me, Jase and Snowy took in what was going on around us. Snowy wantedd to look at the Custom Vans, though they had, had lots of work done to them I don't find they do much for me at all. Hey but each to their own.
I remember having a good crack with Russ from Scotland and I also remember seeing Suzy who was in about stage 10 of loosing her voice and stage 20 of being pissed.. Also remember talking with John Denton for a good while when I was at stage 20 of being drunk to *hic* ;o)
We did intend to finish the night at the Acme party, we went round about 1-30am but could neither see nor hear any activity so thinking that if it hasn't started yet then it would be a long night and I didn't fancy over revving then face a ride home on a motorbike the next day hungover and knackered. So being sensible again (that's becoming a scary habit) we retired to camp... Stu was well away snoring in a strange manner like an air bed going down. Hissssssssssss While in the tent behind who ever it was was snoring so loud it was like a generator going.... Every so often Stu would snort and shout Oh Fuck... snorre hissssssssss I said you all right Stu? He jumped up looked at me and scowled Yeah I'm allright are you Grrrrrr Yeah I replied all sheepish.. and off he went back again into the land of Nod :0)