Hangin’ Dice 2003 By Seth Kennedy

After last years enjoyable weekend, we were really looking forward to this years Hangin’ Dice up in Nottingham. The weather was looking promising and for the first time we’d be going in a kustom rather than our daily driver. Friday morning, the car was packed and we got going up the M1 around 10.30. No problems on the way up and after a brief stop to re-orientate ourselves having reached “the North” at Watford Gap services ( ;-) ) we reached the National Water Sports centre campsite on the outskirts of Nottingham at around 1pm.

A few of the other guys had already arrived and we booked in and were having a bit of a natter when the call came to get back in to the car and head up to the BBC local radio studios in town as we were going to be on air at ten past two! Local member Paul Toplis had been in touch with the station and had arranged for us to go up there and explain a bit about who we were and why we did strange things to old cars. The presenter came down into the car park and we were probably on air for about 15 minutes as he spoke to several of us about our cars, why we modified them and what we would be doing over the course of the weekend.

Once back at the campsite it was time to set up, make a run to the local superstore for supplies and hang out for the rest of the afternoon/evening as more people arrived. Friday evening was pretty chilled, literally as Deb Dorrington once again cooked up a big chilli for everyone. Then it was just down to the beer and chat for the rest of the night.

Saturday morning dawned pretty early and we were up around 7:00 aided by some loud music from the Youth group association kids camping near us. Katie and I were going off and doing our own stuff most of the day so we were off the site before most of the UKK camp had got up. Anyway, we missed out on the bowling that happens round lunchtime but made it back to the site by the time everyone was heading off on the “Beaver Cruise” into Nottingham city centre which by all accounts was the best one yet! This was followed by a Barbie at the Manvers Arms in Radcliffe (near the campsite) complete with live music thanks to Rocket 88.

Sorry that the details of these are a little sketchy but we unfortunately had other commitments – just search out some of the UKK guys who went on the cruise to find out how good it was! What we did join in with though was the drinking and yakking ‘til the early hours back at the site….

Andy Saunders Kustom Bently

Sunday was, as always, show day at Frankie and Benny’s on the outskirts of Nottingham. By the time we’d packed up our tent and made it down there, there were already quite a few cars parked up including Andy Saunders new Bentley. Once again the weather was hot and sunny and it seemed that the “Learn to speak Italian” tape in the loos was finally wearing out at last - its been running for four years non stop! The kustom auction happened early on in the afternoon and numerous useful bits and pieces, magazines and pinstriped toilet seats got sold. Around 4 o clock was prize-giving time for the most deserving cars out there and then Andy Saunders was inducted into the UKK Hall of Fame.

And then it was time to say our goodbyes, especially to those guys we only see at Hangin’ Dice, and head for home. Except that after about 4 miles a rear spring gave way on the Oxford and we ended up getting a lift on the back of an AA truck. GGgrrrrr. Anyway, check out the photos to see what was there and make sure you join the club and/or preferably build a kustom so you can go next

year!

Seth gets a taxi home