Retro Rides award night

Another year rolls round so it must be time for the Retro Rides award night at the Ace Cafe. With a weeks job postponed I was faced with office based work which meant it was far easier to bring the Beetle into work and get a head start on the rush hour. 90 minutes later I coasted into the carpark, a scattering of classics already parked up. And pulled along side a Caterham 21, a modern classic and rarely seen on the roads.



Inside I sat and nattered whilst munching on a full English, slowly the place filled up with more RRers. Talk of Christmas, beards and Guiding filled the air beofre I donned my coat for the arctic walk round. The carpark was now loaded with a curious mix of regular classics and RR fodder.











The road outside was full of modern dailys, through the dark came a pair of weak headlights on a Buckler Trials car, the owner had left the mud from his latest exploits on it along with a pair of spare wheels on the back.



Along the front more classics were lined up including a stunning Damiler SP250.



Wafty, comfy ride with a luxurious interior. And its parked next to a Rolls Royce.





The last stragglers came in as the awards were due to start, this minty fresh TVR Vixen the pick of the bunch for me. With a bit of drizzle falling I headed inside for a drink and the warmth.





A megaphoned Hotwire called out the winners and announced the new dates and venue for this years Gathering. I shall be adding a new hillclimb track to my list of places with Shelsley Walsh the choice.





With everyone happy and some more chatting it was time to head home, a quick photoshoot with a friends 80s 911 first and then the very wet cruise back.



Steve.

Retro Rides awards night at the Ace

After a year out, the RR awards night once more gatecrashed the Classic Car night at the Ace Cafe. I haven't made it to a night on the North Circular for ages so it was a welcome return. Opting for more modern transport for speed and the fact a LHD Camper in rush hour traffic isn't much fun I arrived to see the place heaving. Cars filled the car park and the road outside and I had to excuse myself several times from old chums to get some food at the bar.



With a full stomach and even more cars outside it was snapping time, so I ventured out with the tripod for a look round. The lovely thing about the evening is the variety of cars. Though some of the classic owners look a little bemused at the cars alongside them!







Mr Retro Rides himself was on duty in the carpark along with Gathering Guru Keith and papper Seth!



This Jaguar was stunning and looked as though it had come straight from the import docks.



I'm not sure what pigeon hole this Fiesta fits into. Race, rat?



Some of the more classic offerings. Mustang and Healey keep each other company.



Soon the call for the awards went out and we piled back indoors. David took to the stage, insulted most people and raised a cheer or two. All were worthy winners, though sadly many hadn't made it along, such is the vast spread between us all.





There was just time for a final wander outside before the rain started. From metalics Minors to flaming Beetles and everything between.





A natter inside and it was time to head home. Its eight months until the Gathering, fingers crossed some of us will meet up again before that. There are a few more snaps here.

Steve.

Retro Rides does the Ace Cafe

For the fourth year running the January classic car night at the Ace Café also doubles as the Retro-Rides awards night. A chance for the forum members to nominate and vote for the best of the years retroy-ness, as well as a chance to chat without a keyboard and monitor being involved. Realising that the Camper hadn’t moved since September I topped the oil up, crossed my fingers that the legendary German reliability wouldn’t let me down and turned the key, it started on the first turn and is was away for the cruise into the capital.



The carpark was already quite full with a varied selection of the finest RR has to offer, Seths Borgward was all trailered up awaiting an extended stay with KFW.



After a pitstop for a full English and a steaming cup of coffee it was back out to snap for a while.















Back inside the crowds gathered as The Boss read out the awards, it’s a real shame more of the winners hadn’t made the trip out, but some of the worthy ones were there to collect the spoils. I picked up a third place in the “Best photographer” category, I feel a bit guilty as I hadn’t had time to get on the forum for several months and hadn’t nominated or voted either.





With the awards wrapped up it was back outside to chat and get a few last snaps as people headed home.



The Camper made it there and back in one piece and heads into its yearly service and MOT period now, fingers crossed once again. A full list of the award winners can be found here and more photos can be found here

Steve.

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Summer meet at the Ace Cafe

After many months off, we finally got back to the Ace Café for one of the air-cooled meets. Being a school night for me and with Kim counting down days till the speedybumps arrival we opted for reliable and fast Passat power.



Parking outside we nipped past the growing numbers of Campers and Beetles and planted ourselves on a table with the JTBs and ordered some grub, it just isn’t the Ace Café if there isn’t a plate of full English in front of you!



As the evening wore on more and more old friends arrived and we soon took over a pair of tables for a summers evening natter and catch up, interspersed with trips outside to see what was turning up.











Soon the carpark was nicely full and we moved out there to carry on the chat and get more snaps.







Headlights on meant the light was fading and pudding was calling so we headed indoors once more to eat.



The Badger family brought baby Ella along, making her possibly the youngest dubber at the Ace ever!



And The Loadeds worked the arcade hard racking up plenty of games for £1 thanks to some skilful driving.



With an early start the next day it was soon time to say some goodbyes, depending on how we are doing, next month could see another young dubber at the Ace ;)

The rest of the pictures from a brilliant evening can be found here.

Steve.