Wednesday 14 August 2019

VW Junkies, Bletchley



Monday 12th August




I have enjoyed driving the Beetle as my daily driver during the summer. It is running really well, it looks good with the new paint and I do get a lot of compliments about it when I am out and about. It has never been my intention to take it to car shows but it did deserve at least one outing to a VW car club meeting and with nothing important to do on a Monday night, Dave and I went over to The Rugby Club in Bletchley for the VW Junkie’s Show and Shine. We duly paid our £3 entry, £1 for a sticker and £1 for a raffle ticket and parked up next to a few other Beetles. There were about 30 vehicles altogether, not a bad turnout for a Monday night but if they are looking to increase membership they are going a funny way about it. None of the members spoke to us apart from one guy who picked fault with my car, even though we had explained it was a deliberate decision not to make it a shiny, new version of the Beetle. His car was nice. It won best air cooled and Best in Show, which was more than a stretch, as it wasn’t a patch on the beautiful and expensively restored metallic lime green Beetle. The owners had attended the show for the first time but obviously people only voted for their mates!

 

NSRA Supernationals, Old Warden


Thursday 8th - Sunday 11th August 2019


We needed the weather to be kind to us at this event, as so many other car shows were spoilt by rain this year. Ignoring the 45 mph winds we had on Saturday and the rain showers we experienced, I would say we were well and truly lucky with the weather this year. All around the country, including just a mile or two away, there was torrential rain and thunderstorms so we definitely dodged a bullet.

This event just gets bigger every year. The pre-entries were up on last year and the Sunday Show and Shine didn’t fit into the arena, so an overflow parking area was used and the public car park was rammed too, so hopefully much needed revenue will have been taken to counteract the losses at Rutland.

There was something for everyone- as well as the cars of course, we had two music marquees catering to all different tastes. We enjoyed Ian Dury and the Blackheads on Saturday. There was a surf board machine, a large movie screen with films including “Deuce of Spades”- probably my favourite hot rodding movie. With our cars parked in the arena, it looked like a real drive in movie theatre. The catering vans were of good quality and value- we indulged in the fish and chips from the Red Bus, fried chicken from Chicken George and pie and mash from the pie and mash stand- all very nice. For those that wanted it, there was a funfair, a wall of death and a Merlin engine to see (and hear) – plenty of entertainment for the children- and even the Mansion House was open to visitors this weekend, which was a nice addition to the programme.
 
Thursday was rock up, set up and chill day for pre-entered members. After a few teething problems with the new booking in system everyone was soon settled and catching up with the gossip. Friday, Dave organised a drive out for 20 cars to Paul Sharman’s workshop near Gamblingay, where he showed us all round and explained what he does and showed us some of the plane engines he and his team are working on. The sun shone and we enjoyed a picnic surrounded by hangars and a circle of Hot Rods. As if that wasn’t enough the owner of the airfield wheeled out his classic plane for a photo opportunity with the cars and then he hopped into his stunt plane and gave us a marvellous air display! Later in the afternoon we called into Buckland Engineering to see what they were up to and again the members enjoyed looking at the work in progress.
 
Saturday, One of the East Anglia Air Ambulance helicopters flew in (NSRA's chosen charity.) 
With the weather threatening the cancellation of the cruise, we did get the Ok to go ahead from Luton Council and about 160 cars set out on a blowy journey through Central Bedfordshire, until they reached the special parking area in Stockwood Park. After a picnic, most people went into the Discovery Centre and saw the Mossman Collection- the largest collection of horse drawn vehicles in the country. Unfortunately due to the wind blowing down a tree and the threat of more to come, the gardens and the pathway to the local section of the museum was closed but we were just grateful we were able to be there at all and without getting wet. Back at Old Warden Park, the wind had died down quite a bit and the sun was shining, perfect for watching the film at the “Drive-In”. Later in the evening we enjoyed watching Ian Dury before heading home (which we did every evening as its only 10 miles away and we don’t do camping!)
 
The Sunday Show and Shine was quite spectacular. The main show field was soon filled and an overflow car park was set up for Sunday pre-1972 cars. The general public were out in force, spending money at the trade stands and enjoying the cars and other attractions. As always, we watched the prize giving before heading home at the end of another successful Super Nats. All credit to the committee of volunteers and other helpers for putting on this show. The amount of work involved to pull this off is enormous.
 

Tuesday 6 August 2019

Dudge's "Do"



Saturday 3rd August 2019



 One of Dave's hot rodding friends, who is a member of UK Street and Strip, organised a weekend "Do" together with Cath, his wife, their daughters and various friends. It was to be held at the Partridge Club just outside Finedon, a great little sports ground and club house. Dudge has been ill for some time and then unfortunately he was in hospital and so was unable to attend his own party. So if the host can't come to you, then why not go to the host. So loads of Hot Rods and even more motorbikes went on a cruise to the hospital to see him. It was quite sight- a row of Hot Rods being overtaken by a massive posse of bikes. The staff at Northampton General Hospital were fantastic. We were all allowed to park (free of charge) together in one of the  hospital car parks and then Dudge was brought into the car park to see everyone and all the vehicles. He was in for a surprise though. Unbeknown to him, his unfinished pick up had been completed by a few of his amazing friends and his daughters drove it into the car park for him to see. A proud moment all round and a beautiful looking truck it is too! Afterwards we went back to Finedon for drinks, music and pig roast. Most people stayed the night but we went home and returned the next day for the show and shine.