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.

I'm dreaming of a white Christmas

As the white stuff is fluttering down outside its time to abandon the usual forms of transport…..





….and take a leaf out of the fat man in reds book.



A lot of the car manufacturers are getting in on the act of Santa Sleigh design too, Aston Martin, Bentley and Rolls Royce are adding a bit of luxury to the toy hauler.







Or you could just supercharge the reindeer hotrod style and tow an old stagecoach.



There are a few more designs over on the Car magazine website, Merry Christmas and thanks for reading.

Steve.

Christmas at the Ace Cafe

The December meet at the Ace Café on the North Circular in London is the last chance to meet up with fellow Dubbers before Christmas. Despite the freezing weather there was a good turn out of T4/5s and air-cooleds.

First up was a little grub to warm us up….

….and pudding to fill us up


Next up it was out into the cold to sample the cars on show.







A very brave Beach Buggy owner.


Watch for the gritting lorries, they’ll rust a Beetle quicker than you can say Waxoyl


Watercooleds dressed for the season


The man in red even turned up to surprise the kids


Thanks for reading and Merry Christmas, the rest of the photos are here.

Steve.

The festive Bracknell meet

December, its cold and sunny and the perfect weather for the LTV festive meet at South Hill Park. Following on from our trip to the toy run in the morning and after saving a fellow camper owner who’d run out of go-go juice we finally made it to Bracknell. Mince pies, tinsel and Santa filled the carpark as the members met for the last time in 2009.



Christmas tunes rang out from the radio controlled split


Presents underneath the Christmas tree


Santa was in his T5 shaped grotto handing out goodies to the boys and girls (both big and small!)




The rest of the photos are here Merry Christmas and thanks for reading.

Steve.

Dr B's charity toy run

The first Sunday of December is the date for the enormous charity bike ride, from an office complex on the outskirts of Reading to the Dr Banardo’s school in Wokingham town centre. Over 2000 motorbikes, trikes and quads gather in the carparks of the old Shire Hall in festive fancy dress, each with a small present to deliver to the school to be distributed to the children. We decided to pay the start a visit this year to watch the build up before heading off to the LTV festive meet, the sight brings a lump to the throat, the vast numbers of leather clad Santas and reindeer all coming together for such a good cause.

Decrorated bikes came in many styles






The riders really went to town with some imaginative takes on Christmas, yes that’s a reindeer on a trike


That’ll be Santa riding his Kawasaki reindeer


Lots of Santas


A 6ft decorated Christmas tree even rode in!






There are more details about the toy run here and theres more photos here, thanks for looking.



Steve.

MERRY CHRISTMAS 2009

Steve.