Sunday Morning sunshine was battering in the excruciatingly hot tent from 7am... man what bloody material do they make tents out of? Its amazing... friggin Red hot in the sunshine and fffreeezin in the cold *Huh?* how does it know??? It was around 8am when I could stand no more, it was still far to early but Pudzz was up with a face like a slapped R'se still cus we had fallen out :>) Bakes was up for his morning Jog round the primus stove. It was far to Hot in the tent to sleep any more so I reluctantly got up..... Oh Boy...... did I feel Kak! Felt like I had hay fever or summet, I was bunged up and needed some Food, Coffee, wash and a Poooo....... Not necessarily in that order either.. I spent some time waking up, emptying every bottle of Pop and half full coffee flask down my throat, I gave Pudzz a kiss better and he smiled, we were friends again * Big Jesssie* We went to the local Transport Cafe ordered a Belly Buster Breakfast apiece with two extra toast's, two mugs a coffee, had a Dump, a wash and brush up and was I alive now oh was I alive.. Yeehhaaa Yes I was ready!! Bakey hadnt come with us to the cafe as he he is watching his weight......... and so had no time for food, as it takes a lot of watching Ha Ha.
The Show field was filling slowly when we got back to camp, and I looked at my battle scared 34 and thought..... Nah no polishing today, I'll just wipe it over... It looked pretty shiny so it will be ok.. I then took my place in the already impressive line up in the show field.
First vehicle to view had to be Dave Browns engineering masterpiece Ally A40 Panel Van.... I walked up an had hardly gotten out "Hi Dave I'm Holms....."....... Dave shook my hand, in a way only a tough self made man can.... ya know that bone crushing way.. "Right what do ya wanna a know?" he said " Gulp" I thought he thinks I know what I am on about and doesn't realise I'm just a narner who makes it all up as he goes along..."err ... err It's just Ace in' it" I inanely retorted with a smile... yep a smile usually bluffs ya through ya first introduction don't it!! *Smile* see....
But Dave being so into his
Nick Butler built creation he just jumped right in and gave me an awesome guided
tour that made me just nod and smile like a young child looking at his mates new
wild toy at Christmas...... First impression is Dave Loves this Car and
loves to show anyone with an interest its mind blowing attention to detail
and engineering excellence. Ya know if you have a tilt front and maybe even a
hydraulic assisted opening one, it would lift up and then lift back down wouldn't
it. Well this doesn't just do that it doesn't just lock back down
it shuts then moves slowly backwards then locks into place, like them
fancy Merc doors do so all the gaps are perfect. The roller mechanism that locks
the hood/bonnet in place, is a work of art and a piece of engineering Merc,
Rolls and Lexus could only dream of.
The tricks or should I say attention to detail on this A40 just snowballs as you really get more into this Super Rod. I was invited to have a seat, this was the only strange part about this well thought out Rod, I had to limbo to get in. Though once in it felt a very sturdy piece of work, the steering wheel falls into your grasp in the perfect position the seat was just right, it felt like you were in a very expensive work of art.... You want attention to detail, well there is a bank of illuminated buttons that let you know the progress of the Hood, wipers rear door etc etc, they show you it is opening and shutting, like a computerised railwaymans signal box... It was red lit for open, Amber for shutting and Green for shut. All with little graphic's engraved on them showing the Van with the bonnet, wiper, rear door etc open, closing and shut Wild eh!! Dave showed me trick after trick after gadget after gadget all so brilliantly thought out I just gawped..
Little tricks like this are everywhere you look Dave can jump start or recharge his batteries oh and stick some fuel in all hidden neatly behind the Number plate. Just look at the hinges, the craftsmanship is perfect in everyway. There's fans to cool the wiring, motors that close the rear door so the gaps are perfect it goes on and on.
The door handles are superb, have a look next time you get a chance they will blow you away... I was starting to think how cool is this guy. It is not, oh I am saving all this info for its Street Rodder or Custom car feature... It was little (well Big) old me who was sitting in the drivers seat and me he was showing all its secrets to, did I feel important yes I bloody well did... I just wished I could ask some interesting and clever questions about the intricacies in its build etc... instead I was just smiling and saying " Its great in' it" *smile*.. I could fill this page on this one Car, this one Guy, this one encounter but I had best shut up for now and get on with the rest of the day... leaving you with this one last thing, Dave said to me as I was about to leave "I'll see you at the SuperNats and I'll take you for a spin in it" Oh Boy now what a Buzz that will be what an Honored eh! More to come.
I
met up with Kev
Rooney by his beautiful Kapri ( which is for sale if you fancy it). We had the first of many a natter
throughout the day. Kev knew I was like a cat on Hot Bricks so Kev retired to
some shade while I had a Sken round for suitable photos. Cars where arriving all
the time for the Sunday Show. Putting the photos on here now I seem to have lost
some? There was a Pop with the most amazing engine set back, I wanted to show, a
beautiful black Pop a Brilliant Dodge Pick up and some of the photo are to
bright to use, so I apologise and I hope you can enjoy what there is. I met Nige Lockley and he was telling me how
he thought the Saturday Night was as noisy as the Nats and even some nutter was
trying to blow their engine up through the night Tut Tut I said I never heard
anything :>)
While walking round on this scorching Hot Day I was looking for a decent photo and my eye well both of em in fact was taken by a stunningly beautiful girl as I wiped the dribble from my mouth the wind caught her very short Ra Ra style skirt and flipped it straight up to reveal the most perfect Botty is was out there like a trumpeters cheeks in full blow... Man I nearly swallowed me camera.... that really was the best I'd seen in a long time praise the guy who invented thongs eh!. Though like the cars on show I can admire but don't expect a drive! True to my heritage I poised the camera in case the god of wind gave me another peak.. I followed her down the line of cars camera poised then I realised!!!! What the frig ya dooing! you'll get locked up if anyone sees you ya idiot....... So I quickly took a shot of a car and scarped back to camp fatty all smiles....... I told The lads what I had just seen.... Hey Hey here she comes again I spluttered.... Pudzz laid down on the grass staring to the sky in anticipation of her walking right over the top of him...... I thought bugger it, it is to good to miss again so I was gonna join him when she rounded the last car before the trip up to where we were lying.............. she turned left and went the other way Ohhwwwwwwww :>( probably just aswell it was a hot day we may of had a heart attack a piece eh!
Well excitement over
I went on another walk about chatted to a load of different people the water
games were in full swing and everyone seemed like they were having a great day.
I was told my Car had won a trophy WoW I was gob smacked and felt guilty I hadnt
polished it proper...
I met up with Kev Rooney again and I was telling him how, one of my old mates Pete Gething had gotten in touch through the internet after not seeing or hearing of him for over 20yrs. My wife and I had been great Mates with Pete and his wife Diane in the 70's. We did a few rod runs together, they had even been at our Wedding and we spent our Honeymoon at Stoke with them aswell such was our friendship.. We had parted company around 1979 and never seen or spoken to each other since then. I had a Photo of his C cab that he had rebuilt after buying it from Steve Cheetham. I think it was originally called Beer Wagon, Pete had transformed it into a top Show C Cab in 1978ish called Temptation..... I had posted a photo of it on my old photos page and Pete's Son had seen it, told his Dad and Pete had gotten in touch with me after 20 odd years. Pete has now just bought Temptation back and is working up enthusiasm to tackle it and get it back to its former glory..
We had arranged to meet up after all these years here at the Wet and Wild Run. I was Telling Kev how it is gonna be weird seeing someone now we are nearly 50 and the last time we saw each other we were in our 20's As I spoke to Kev who should walk up but Pete he recognised me and I recognised him straight away!!!! We must look totally different to what we did in our 20's but Honest we knew each other straight off weird eh and Fantastic...
Kev could see we were in for a long chat so he went for a sit in the shade while me and Pete just talked and talked and talked.. His son is into the Rodding scene and has a real nice White with blue flamed Pop. While we were talking Diane his wife walked up again instant recognition, it was like we had never had 20yrs apart it was like it had only been a week or two. After a very long chat, Pete and Diane had to go. So we bade our goodbyes and promised to keep in touch I sure hope we do. Just proves though if you have Rodding in your blood it is always there.
All 4 of these were in the Top ten pick and would of been in mine aswell
Talking of the 70's here's Pinball Wizard and from only a few yrs later the Ex
Steve Cheetham's 37 Dodge I was good Mates with Steve and his Brother Dexy
aswell in the 70's through 80's same as Pete mentioned above. Pinball Wizard I don't
know who owns it now, but the sexy Dodge is owned by the equally sexy Michelle
Hay
. The Peach 40's ford having the much needed aircon. This 57 Chevy truck is gorgeous
and sits pukka!
Al Williamson's Flamed 54 Chevy Truck sourced from't T'internet Al is quite a
dab hand at this T'internet lark as he also got a daily 54 Chevy Truck for his
misses to tool about in. Look out for one with Sturdy Bird written on the back that's
Al's Missis.... oh Sturdy Bird is written on the truck not his misses by the way
Terrrrrr Oh and not content with two internet Trucks he also sourced this
flamed 54 F100 for a mate Cool eh.. yep he finds the Truck, calls a shipping
agent, they pick it up and ship it. Al only sees it when it gets on to our
shores... so far he has had a good eye for a good truck.. Nice one !
Two Rods that also stood out me 32 was BS free and sat a treat also I thought
this Pop was Neat with its stance and chop same just very clean and no
BS..
Well I had by now spoken to about everyone I knew at the show had drunk about 10cans of Coke 2 ice creams 2 cans of orange and 3 cups of coffee and my tongue was still sticking to the roof of my mouth.. to much gabbin I reckon.... I was now informed my trophy was the NSRA pick with a free pass for one to the Supernats "what" I thought "my 34 NSRA pick no way!!!" but yeah it was yes way!! With all those excellent Rods there I was a tad embarrassed to tell the truth but Hey if its awarded ya then except gracefully eh! Ha Ha me NSRA pick I couldn't believe it.. I was first up for the prize giving and this year we were to all park up afterwards in a line together... Dave Sidaway is a member of the uk-hotrods e-mail group so knew me and plugged this web site when I went for my trophy and ya know I felt real important and proud..... Thank you!!
I still am not sure I like top tens and stuff, I think it can cause bitchiness and back stabbing... though I cant think of an alternative. I think top tens and stuff are better suited for indoor shows like America's AMBR we could have UKMBR (UK's Most beautiful Rod) or maybe just participants choice is more real???? I dunno I am just new to the show scene so what do I know about its politics.... All I know is I never ever put my car on the show filed expecting a trophy, I put it on to be with the other Rods, to let people have a better look at it and help promote our scene.. I know some do honestly want the trophies and get disappointed nay upset when they don't win...???? Shame cus they then become real bitchy to some Rods and their owners.
I know one guy who is building a wild Hi-Tec Rod who is thinking of trailer'ing it all next season so it will look its best for the show days... He doesn't want to, it is just once it gets road rash it wont look as good to the judges.. Mad aint it!
Talking of Prize winners here is the info I have, My head was all over the place by the end of the weekend and for the life of me I couldn't remember who won what, so this is what Dave Sidaway sent me.... I looked and looked but I can not for the life of me understand why Dave Browns A40 Panel is not there or the Fantastic 60's Dodge Pickup? but the Judges do their job and pick what they see as the cars they like for what ever reason. so here goes. And the winners are:
34 sports
Dave Holmes NSRA pick
Pop Pinball wizard
NASC pick
VW Notchback
Hot Rod Gaz
Corsair
Martin Stowell Hot Rod Gaz
Ford Pop
Paul Joesbury
Plymouth Roadrunner K Walsh
Dodge Coupe
Chris Hay
Chevy Pickup
Steve Tristram
Model A Delivery Graham
Young
Forty Ford Coupe Gloria Whitehouse
100E
Neil Upton
Consul Kustom Kapri Kev Rooney
Consul Capri
D Beven
Humber Woody C Pugh
Fordson Van
Mick Payne Best British Rod
Anyhow the Wet and Wild weekend was now over for us and the breaking of Camp was the next task and the journey home in the glorious sunshine. We said our goodbyes and loaded up and shipped out..... I hate the leaving of a Rod Run but somehow with getting to know so many people at this Run it was quite cool beeping the Horn and stopping shaking hands and waving to all we had gotten to know it was not like it was Goodbye somehow it was more seeya Later... and felt great.. This is a brilliant, Friendly Rod Run that I will do next year for definite Hope you do to!! S.W.A.L.K Holmsey!
Footnote: When we used to go to the Pod many moons ago we used to play a game of Car then woman or woman then car. Meaning, we've all seen the Old bald guy in the Posh motor with the Blonde beauty by his side, well that would be a Car then Woman. The Guy bought the Posh Car and then got the beautiful Bird. Ya know Ferrari Old get = beautifully bird. Like wise Ferrari + minger = woman then car.. Ya know the guy had a minger of a bird then got rich and bought the Posh ride still has the minger.... Only exception is the young successful Dude in the Ferrari and the trophy bird...
Well this was on my mind as an Awesome Aston Martin something, came zooming up the 3rd lane and slowed as it reached us pottering along in the 2nd lane in the 34. He had a good look and his passenger was obviously Car then Bird material and I'll tell ya what a buzz I got as she craned her neck to look back at us in the 34 and smiled oooohhhhhh I went all jelly like Ha Ha little things eh!.......... well just thought I'd share that with ya....... moments later I phoned home and got the one syllable conversation, yeah, right, no, when.... in a huff cus I hadnt phoned all weekend Terrrrrrrrrrrrrrr I am the exception aswell Ha Ha!! Ya gotta love em eh!