New Wheels Day

For years now we have driven over to Rushmoor Arena to Wheels Day, but due to various things the organisers decided to move venues this year. So at just after 7:30am, with our friend Steves 911 safely on our drive we hit the road in the Camper bound for Dunsfold. Home of Top Gear, it is now home to what has to be one of the biggest one day shows around. After a nice leisurely drive down we joined an all American queue of Chevys before getting onto the airfield site and parking up.



Kim rustled up some bacon baps and coffee while Lily and I explored the local cars.







With full tummies we started a mammoth walk round. I'll state right away that we didn't see half of the show, probably not even 25%. There were a rumoured 5000 cars on display along with traders and food stands. Unlike previous years where the show is square and easy to get along the lines, this was long, very long and very disjointed. The organisers must have been having a nightmare as there were chaotic tales from most people we spoke to. Long queues, not enough toilets and not enough marshals.











On and on we marched. Americana, mixed with air-cooled. Classic British sat alongside modern muscle. Bikes, trucks. You name it, it was there. At the end of the line we headed over to check out Richard Nobles Bloodhound LSR car. Its an amazing beast with a fighter jet engine, boosted by a rocket and with an F1 engine as a fuel pump!







On the concrete apron, we walked along the bikes and yet more cars.









We wandered back to the Camper for a snack and rest for a tired Lily, she coped really well despite the sun and long walks. Bribes came in the form of fun stuff to do in the morning and afternoon. After another walk we made it to the caterpiller ride, where her and Kim had a spin round the track.













Another trip back to the van for more food and rest meant more lines of cars to look along.







Lily and I spotted a scooter and sidecar that has been doing the rounds for a few years. Its now yellow with matching splitty alongside, we took a photo of her infront of it as the owner returned. He made her day by letting her sit on the seat.











Our final bribe of the day was an ice cream and ride on the teacups, so we walked the whole length of the show to get there. More car spotting.













With tired legs and a very tired Lily we walked back to the Camper to catch a few more cars.







One of the stars of the day was the recently restored Allard dragster. On a visit from Beaulieu Motor Museum. The front engined legend was fired up during the day and allowed to cackle.









Back at the van, we loaded up and settled in for the queue out. Before we hit the gates, Lily was fast asleep.





Yes, the show needed better planning and facilities and yes the queues were shocking for some. But it was a great mix of cars with awesome weather. Another good, Good Friday. There are more photos here

Steve.

Fresh Wheels Day

A couple of weeks before it was snowing, not a good sign. Wheels Day is very exposed at Rushmoor, but the organisers are a hardy bunch and a few days before Good Friday the sun was shining and the snow had gone. We set off with our friend Steve, chilly but with the blue skies, rolling into the arena they had shifted the event round by 90°and fenced off the boggy areas. Parking up behind a super Mk1 Transit race van we fired up the bacon roll machine. Everyone tucked in!







With full tummies we set off, Wheels Day is famed for the massive variety of rides on show, and the vast numbers too. This year may have been down on previous, but there must still have been a few thousand vehicles to see.



This huge Thunderbird had a great interior, including an old 8-track.


Hotrods form a large percentage of the cars on show, this was just perfect to me.


I'm quite partial to a nice bike as well, this was in amongst the traders.


Heres a bit more of the variety.

















With Lily getting tired and hungry we headed back to the camper for a natter and to let her munch away, soon she was tucked up asleep in the buggy and we were free to wander again. We weren't the only Dubbers there. As well as a couple of Restowagen cars there was this random Bay/Split custom, chopped and narrowed and with a single seat up front it had a crowd round it all day. I thought it was brilliant.









With Lily still snoring away, we stopped for pizza, welcome heat in an otherwise chilly day. Then it was back out again.







They really do let anything in to the show!






When my time comes, this would be a cool way to go!












We decided that it was time to start making a move home, so carried out a last sweep around the field while heading back towards the Camper.







Then we saddled up and my co-pilot drove us home.


The sun kept appearing to warm things up a little, the ground was soft in places, but it didn't rain and we had a superb time. There are loads more photos here.

Steve.