Out with the old, in with the new(ish)

Four years ago we had a problem, the old daily drive's gearbox went south along with a predicted huge bill for repairing the Citroen's Hydractive suspension we had it cubed and nabbed a bit of 1980s action in the shape of a 16v Golf GTI.



It served us well, needing only a few bits that any 20yr old car would need to keep it going, and with almost 150000 miles on the clock it still pulled like a train and provided big smiles. We nicknamed it "Fiver" the day we bought it, I had test driven the car and was taking it home, barely a mile into the return trip it conked out and we had to rely on the Beetle to collect £5 worth of unleaded to replace the vapours in the tank!



Over 40000 miles under the wheels and its time to move on, with a perspective buyer in the wings we nabbed a bargain the other weekend, bigger, better and warmer (but not as fast!) a low milage, one owner Passat, 16v and 150bhp/ton might be a lot of fun, but climate control and a quiet ride wins the day.



Rare for us the car has yet to pick up a name, so its just plain old Passat for now. Theres no plans to change the car yet, a slap from the lowering stick and some new rims might be added in the future.....



Steve.

An Ace award night

The first classic car night of the year at the Ace Café is also the venue for the Retro Rides awards ceremony. A chance to gather together for a fry up and natter before the serious business of the awards. Categories range from “magazine of the year” to “best blog 2009”, nominations are made throughout the last month of the year and then a shortlist is formed and votes made and counted. The winners can be found here.

With the snow starting to melt but more on the way I wasn’t expecting a big turnout on a freezing cold Tuesday night, setting off in the Beetle with a few inches of ice and snow beneath me and the heating set to full the roads were clear and the journey quicker than normal.

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On arrival there was only one other RRer car there, Bruce’s Delica with an interesting cargo on the trailer behind, an unusual project for 2010



As the masses rolled in we stamped our feet for warmth and marvelled at Seths newly MX5’d Herald.



Inside there was only one thing that could be ordered to stoke the fire.



Back in the carpark the madman award for craziest transport in the snow went to Jonny69. But everyone was a winner for making it there.





Another trailer had made a very long trip from Germany through Belgium up the UK to collect a few bits and then it was heading back to the continent, 2000 miles for a fry up!



Braving the chill and dog sitting Bruce noshed on the Aces finest whilst Jed looked on expectantly



The variety of rides on show was amazing, from Japanese saloons to British sportscars and everything in between.





Inside people kept warm and well fed waiting for the big event.



On stage David “Hotwire” Murphy held the mic and announced the awards, speeches were kept short (really short by some….sorry!)





I had a few nominations for the photography categories and with the competition very stiff didn’t expect anything, but much to my surprise I nabbed a gong for “RR photographer of the year” I was so shocked and with an irritating cough and being unprepared couldn’t muster much more than a “cheers guys”, so I’ll make up for that now……

“Thank you to everyone who nominated or voted for me, to win whilst up against such amazing competition really means a lot to me, with around 50 events in 2009 and getting on for 20000 photos taken I do I hope it was quality not quantity that gave me the edge. The other nominations are all very deserving of the award be they seasoned snappers or new guys picking up a camera for the first time and experimenting at the shows, the quality of photos being posted up after each show is out standing and gives such a great overview when combined with a few choice words that it really feels like you were there. And that’s the reason I take photos and share them online, I hope I can keep up the effort from 2009 into the new year, bring on the show season! “




The rest of the photos are here, thanks for reading.

Cheers

Steve.

Let it snow

After the dusting of the white stuff just before Christmas, I don't think the UK was expecting another dump so soon and in such large quantities! Temperatures dropped well below zero.



The local Eskimos set up camp outside the house



And the Camper gained a fluffy white poptop, with the locks frozen shut and the snow weighing down from above, I left it for a week until it started to thaw a little before removing the icy covering, with predictable Volkswagen build quality and reliability a pump of the throttle and turn of the key fired the flat four into life with no problems, it would be another week before the deep snow had gone and the Camper would take to the roads again.



The Beetle was safe and warm(ish) in the garage so required no snow clearance, with RWD and all the weight over the back it became the ideal frost wagen, taking any weather condition in its stride it never stopped!



Steve.

First Bracknell of the year

After the festive period its nice to get back to normality, so we fired up both Dubs and took them down the A329(M) to the very relaxed Bracknell meet


With an empty carpark on arrival we ate and figured we’d be home in the warmth soon……but a couple of other LTVers braved the chilly weather and with the mobile club house in attendance we sat for a few hours and nattered about Christmas, icey adventures and engine swaps! KC hogged the best seat in the house


While our gracious hosts brewed plenty of coffee and even did the washing up!


Before heading off in the newly re-engined Gipsy


A local in his ute turned up as well, I’m surprised there wasn’t a bale of straw and a couple of piglets in the back with all that mud!


Theres a few more photos from a very small gathering here.

Steve.

New Years Day at the pub

New Years Day rolls around once more, and with it an early wake up for the traditional cruise down the country lanes to the A30 and The Phoenix Pub in Hartley Wintney and the VSCC organised classic car meet. It starts as a few cars in the front carpark and soon spreads to the rear and every available grass verge and pavement ending with a couple of hundred assorted motors from the 1910s right up to the latest offerings from Ferrari. Parking the Camper up with an easy getaway in mind I heading off to check out the early risers.








Very brave rod driver!


The arrival of our Beetle signalled a stop for breakfast


Before setting off to see what else had arrived, with cars coming and going all the time it gets very crowded very quickly.






Yes that’s a Ferret Scout Car, the meet attracts such a wide variety of vehicles and bikes.




Where else can you see a Plymouth Superbird drive past followed by a Lancia Stratos and a vintage tow truck?






The start of the year is also a great time to catch up with old friends, Retro Rides had a good turn out and provided the first “Seth Snap” of the year!


If Nascars, Rally cars and old commercials are perfectly normal spots, then a tractor, Reliant and trailer and a Beetle together shouldn’t faze you either!






With one final wander up and down the road it was time to head home after another awesome gathering, if the hangover isn’t too bad and you can stand the cold then make a note in the diary for January 1st 2011.







There are more photos from the sunny A30 here, thanks for reading.

Steve.