Classic car show diary (with Mayday and Conor)

[Ozzy Mandeus]

Edit - conor liked the first show so much we did it again and plan to do as many classic car shows this year as will actually let us in. ONWARDS!



I found out yesterday that there was a steam traction and classic car show happening locally, I phoned the organizers and got a call back in the evening saying that yes, I could show a car without pre-booking or paying an entrance fee and that yes, a 1954 austin somerset sounded suitable.



On entry to the "show area" it looks as though I could have just blezzed up in the sierra and achieved the same result.



We were directed to park beside this huge american car



and behind this almost as huge english car. I was starting to feel dwarved when we were joined by this very tidy small car



which turned out to be owned by one of my son's teachers.

Other highlights* of the static show were



Very wobbly marina. Like the vinyl* roof?



Oh yeah.....



Also hand painted, but not bad looking for it.



We're the sweeny son, and we haven't got any waxoyl.



Webuyanycar, 1970s style.



MG



Rover



Land Rover, Land Rover, Mini Clubman. All words that now mean something else.



Cor.....



......tina!



Consul



Capri



Not 1500 kent pinto essex v8 zetec innit.



Best for ped-o-philes.



Suitable for roof-mounting on a wide variety of square-ish 1960s saloon cars.

After lunch, there was a parade of cars around the arena, with the obligatory man with a mic but no clue doing a commentary and interviewing drivers. I entered the ring and he said "Oh, and here's a......erm......I don't actually know what that is."



His first words to the driver/owner/restorer of this polo were "It didn't leave the factory looking like this, did it?"



Verdict - SUPER!

[Spottedlaurel]

Good to see your photos. I hope there was a range of stationary engines on display - I imagine the owners would look the same as at a show down here.

[Seth]

Excellent Ozzy. Nice to see you get some appropriate use out of the Austin, and always good to hear of it confusing people.

[tone_depear]

Exciting + unexpected lathe content. Well played.

[Ozzy Mandeus]

Today was the annual classic car rally for Darlington Railway Museum (now retitled "head of steam" but no-one calls it that). Someone left a flyer in mayday last show and it looked interesting, Conor was willing to go and it was sunny today. There was a condition attached, he wanted to take something he could "show" himself so I had to rescue the small suzuki (a 1967 B100P) from behind the capri and the sprite at the very back of the garage. I did though, so yesterday he washed and polished it while I dabbed at mayday with a damp cloth trying to remove some of the coffee rings from the bonnet.

Bright and early this morning, we loaded up and headed off down the old A1 ((now A167) to the museum (it's on North Road) with both a small two stroke bike and a former Austin Somerset on board to display.

On arrival, we were directed by a hi-viz wearing person towards the "commercial section" so after unloading I displayed* the LT35 as well


The hi-viz person sent conor to the "motorcycles" section (I don't think he wanted to get too friendly with them and besides, of 6 bikes there two were less than 3 years old, one triumph and one harley.


I was sent to line up with the other cars. I was placed between a SMALL CAR and an ROOFLESS AUSTIN so all good there. I had a nice chat with the sprite guy.



The show flyer we were given promised rare and unique classic cars - we counted 7 escorts and 9 morris minors that we didn't bother to take pictures of. Here's the stuff we liked.



This marina owner hasn't realized yet that you can make a vinyl roof out of bitumen. Conor liked the caddy, but said the interceptor was a pile of meh with a stupid shaped back window. He mellowed a little when I told him about the V8.



RUN! It's the Auto five-O



Best badge for model confusion



Tatty but a nice change from yet another minor.



WILL NEVER BE A CLASSIC



It's that handpainted Minx again - for some reason the brush marks don't come out in photos.



Decidedly excellent large automobile gets emoticons



Turns out our hi-viz wearing friend* is the owner of this, and we saw him at the last show. Maybe that's why the LT got the nod and I didn't have to hide it in the public car park.



"I was sheriff of Scat County until I lost the use of my legs"



Smallest of small cars.



"Guess what darling? I've got a flathead woody!"



It's what all the cool kids are riding these days, don'cha know?



Safe from VOSA DVSA



Not fitted with the optional* 27 litre supercharged V12.



I'm sorry, there is half a morris minor in shot. Spoils the whole thing, so don't look. Thanks!



I need your boots, your clothes und your motorcycle.

FIN! I think it's Beamish show in a couple of weeks so stay tuned.

[I.K.Brunel]

Good stuff.
Mandeus Jnr is developing 'the look' of old vehicle show exhibitor nicely (Folding chair, air of disdain etc)

What is the grey truck between the Ford Thames and the Rebel Vanners type thing in the first pic?

[Ozzy Mandeus]

It's a bedford J type with a homemade front end

[I.K.Brunel]

Well I wouldn't have guessed that.

[Ozzy Mandeus]

Yeah, I had to go have a closer look. Bulkhead back, it's an early J type but the whole front seems to have been made from whatever was lying around (trailer arches, bits of anderson shelter, that sort of stuff)

[Jonny69]

I see where this thread is going. Ok, I'll make sure I check in again.