Putting the Great back into Yarmouth and the Fun back into the Fun Run.

After 40 something years Billing Aquadrome decided they didn't want the Fun Run there anymore so 6 months ago the attendees at the NSRA AGM voted in favour of  the committee pursuing the option of the Racecourse in Gt Yarmouth for 2017 and what a great choice that turned out to be.

With good weather we hopped into the car a few days early and drove the 125 miles to Yarmouth, checked into a guest house near the pier and enjoyed the sunshine, walked the promenade and took a trip on a boat to see at least 600 seals on Scroby Sands. The next day we took a trip on the Bure Valley narrow guage railway on a steam train from Wroxham to Aylsham, drove through some pretty villages and stopped off in the Norfolk Broads. The evenings were passed eating a nice tapas meal in Champagne Charlies, an OK Italian meal at the Albatross, a few drinks at the Troll Cart and Marine Hotel with a bit of pole dancing too. All in all a very pleasant couple of days.


The first Gt Yarmouth Fun Run turned out to be absolutely fantastic and a credit to the Committee who all worked so hard to put the show together at such short notice. The Racecourse, just five minutes away from the sea, proved to be a perfect venue- plenty of room for camping, spacious showground, a nice big entertainments room with decent music where we were able to chat and dance if we wanted in civilised surroundings and not forgetting the excellent toilet facilities of course.

We stayed with the Stapletons at the Haven Holiday Park in a well appointed caravan but at 8 berths it was rather small for 8 adults meaning we slept in a cupboard on what was no bigger than a shelf. Also it was nearly half a mile just to get out of the site. It did the job but we'll be making other arrangements if the Fun Run returns to Yarmouth next year.


 On Friday we went for a ride out with six other cars to Lowestoft and managed to get lost around the town centre before finding our destination, the very lovely little Everitt Park on Oulton Broad where we visited the interesting Lowestoft Museum with lots of local history and then enjoyed a delicious sandwich outside the cafe with the others. Kudos to Andy and Debbie Crockett who came on the 25 mile trip in their immaculate Rod using over 40 litres of fuel in the process!

The highlight of the weekend was the Saturday cruise. Nearly all the Hot Rods present set out at 11 am for a short drive around the countryside before assembling in Gorleston- on- Sea where we parked in a long line along the promenade, had an ice cream and admired the lovely beach and wondered why we had never visited there before. The bright colours of the cars reflecting in the sunshine was quite a sight.


 




 

 We had plenty of time to mingle before heading off in convoy to reassemble at the port end of the sea front in Yarmouth. Finally we were escorted the full length of the promenade and by the time we got to Joyland Plaza we were being mobbed by the public. I have never seen so many people in Gt Yarmouth and they all seemed to turn out to watch us drive by, kids high fiving and adults thumbs up, it was great. There was much excitement and for Dave and I, it ranks as one of the best ever Hot Rodding moments we've had. We were lucky to be selected to park outside the Joyland Diner. For the rest of the afternoon people were taking a great interest in all our vehicles which were parked along the prom and the shopping precinct.
Shirley won an award for the best car chosen by the diner owner which she was rightly delighted with - the atmosphere seems to have converted her to the Hot Rodding way of life! We found a good fish and chip shop The Britannia so we know where to go next time we go there.





 

Sunday was show and shine day in a very relaxed atmosphere. Most of the cars present had been put on the show field and we all spent this last day chatting and soaking up the sunshine. I liked the way the winning cars were displayed in front of the grandstand too, a fitting end to a marvellous weekend.

Participants Choice