Krispy Kreme Khristmas

Somehow we've managed to go almost a whole year without a doughnut run. But with the decorations up and home and our friend Steve at a loose end we decided to make a festive go of it once more. Heading up in sunshine, it soon turned to gloom, but the American car owners had made the effort and the carpark was full up.







The old RM van was interesting, I never did find out the full story, but it had a thumping pair of pipes out the back and the engine certainly wasn't stock! We crossed over and headed into the main carpark at the back. Despite some familiar cars on show, there was several new ones as well.











With a spit of rain in the air we headed indoors and ordered drinks and a dozen of the sugary treats including a mincepie and festive truffle version. Mmmm



Lily picked one with sprinkles on and demolished it along with her lunch.



I spied Retro Cars very own Dbizzle loitering outside so popped out for a chat and wander round. He also hadn't visited for a few months either.







With everything seen and eaten, we headed for the car and home. Via a stop off at Mercedes World to play in the cars and KFC for a cheeky lunch! Thats it for our show season, thirty assorted shows, meets, camps and races is a good and varied haul. Roll on 2014

Steve.

Dr B's Toy Run

Its now a well established Christmas tradition that we try and get to watch the Toy Run some where along its route. In the past we've gone to the start and the finish. This year with other things on during the day we started early and headed for the Foster Wheeler carparks just after 11am as the bikers started to arrive. Around 2000 bikes, trikes, quads and a tuctuc amassed over a couple of hours, we sipped coffee and wandered amongst them.









The hundred or so marshalls that ensure a smooth convoy we getting in the spirit too.













With the time ticking away to the road closures, we decided to bail out. Kim and Lily off to a crafty afternoon. Our friend Steve and me, back to ours to park up and walk back to the main route. As the clocks hit 2pm, the signs came out and the roads onto Lower Earley Way were shut down and the convoy began. For 35 minutes non stop and constant stream of decorated bikes and riders came past to a huge crowd and cheers, sweets were thrown out, horns blasted and the winter sun shone on it all.





























The stream began to thin out and the marshalls at our roundabout mounted up and join the end of the line. Another year over as they headed for Wokingham with thousands of toys for local kids. Its a heart warming sight to behold.

Steve.

Christmas Bracknell

Its been a while! 18 months actually! LTV has been through some hard times recently, we moved on from it in the middle of last year as things started to get messy. We kept in contact with a few people and hoped that one day it would all calm down a bit. Things still aren't perfect, but with a few changes the road to recovery for a 40 odd year old VW club could be on the horizon. At the recent AGM we were recognised for the work we did over almost a decade as members and then team members and gifted a life membership to the club. As such, we decided to give the festive meet a go. After a trip to Woodley for the Winter Extravaganza we pointed a dirty Passat to Bracknell and armed with naff jumpers caught up with old friends over a mincepie and sausage roll.







Santa made an appearance for the little ones and handed out presents. Lily wasn't too sure, but came away happy. The turnout wasn't massive, but those that came enjoyed themselves.





We ended our afternoon with a trip down the slide before a drive home to warmth.



Steve.

Honorary Alvis OC member for the morning

Back in June at the Woodley Carnival, I was nattering to fellow H&B club member Rob about his Alvis collection, I gave his daughter Mayumi a few pointers on Beetles and made a throw away comment that we should swap cars one day. Well it wasn't exactly a swap that took place today, but I got to see into the world of the Alvis owner with a trip to one of their monthly meets. With blue skies and cold hands, I blasted the Camper down the country lanes to Rob's place near the A30 and once parked, swapped 1.6lt flat four for the 3lt six in his 1964 TE21. On the cruise over we chatted engines, oil pressure, roadtrips and more before rolling into the cramped carpark at Newlands Corner near Guildford.



Already there was an immaculate 1930s 4.3 Vanden Plas, one of only a dozen produced and worth hundreds of thousands of pounds. It was truly stunning in two tone white and green. A chat to the owner revealed it came with an on board jacking system run off the engine and controlled from under the bonnet. His is currently disabled as there is a risk of the car being stuck on its jacks should it fail.





Following a washout meet last month, Rob was hoping for a better turnout with better weather. By lunchtime ten models from the marque were parked up, the owners happy to natter about them to the interested public out for a sunday morning stroll.





Keeping in the 1930s, this Speed20 from 1934 was fitted with a makeshift radiator shield to keep engine temperatures up on a cold day.



Bonnet mascots varied a lot. I never got round to asking what they all were.







The perfect car for the weather (with gloves, hats and scarves) was this TD21 drophead coupe





A couple of latecomers were the four door TC21 Saloon, looking gorgeous in two tone silver and red and the elegant Firefly from the 1930s in bright green with an equally bright red leather interior. Both found spaces to squeeze into.







Slowly the owners headed home, the solid line of Coventrys finest getting interspersed with modern machinery. Rob had already departed for the airport, so it was left to Mayumi to chauffeur me home in style.





We took the cross country route through the villages to the M3, the TE prefectly suited to both meandering and when required, pressing on at motorway speeds. Once safely tucked away I swapped back to the Camper for a lovely blast home, the sun shining and my brain imaging what I can't afford or garage!



There are a few more photos from a brilliant morning here. .  

Steve.