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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VSCC Winter Tests

Following last years introduction to the world of the Vintage Sports Car Club at Brooklands, I decided to give it another try. Unlike last years snowed out January date this year things went ahead as normal, the sky was blue and cloudless and the temperature, in the sun at least, was quite pleasant. As its always more fun to have a car full on these trips the whole family and my brother jumped in for the drive over, through the ticket gate at the old banked circuit we were soon amongst the pre war rides.



Winner of the “best radiator cap mascot” this MG was sporting a very nifty Schneider Trophy Supermarine Spitfire model with turning prop.



Dressed for the weather!



The first test we headed for was the infamous “Test Hill” a mighty stretch of concrete that climbs from the flat to a staggering 1:4 at the top, pushing the pram up the track alongside was a bit of a struggle, but worth it for the views at the end.







Walking on to the Members Bridge we got a birdseye view of the banking based tests, cars on skinny tyres skittering along on the damp surface.





Easing our way down the slope, the thought of a runaway baby hurtling into the carpark below, I was thankful for hiking boots today! Back on the flat we watched one of the many salmon style auto tests, each laid out in cones to confuse the drivers.



One of our cars of the day, the 1911 Scat Racer, 9.5lts of thundering engine hurling a couple of wicker chairs strapped to the chassis along.



We took a wander round the paddock, marvelling at the variety of cars on show, each one showing signs of heavy use in the mud and leaves of the tests.









While the last of the morning tests was run we nabbed a table for lunch and then had a walk round the museum, there is far more to look at than is possible in a day, but I’ve been a few times now so selected my favourite sections to peruse, before heading back up to the banking for the afternoon tests.





We ended up following this 1932 Morgan three wheeler round a few tests, its driver running a hand throttle to ease the 990cc engined car round.







I took to the banking myself, but chickened out mid way up as the slope got steeper.









With the sun going down the temperature was dropping too, so we took a last wander round before heading for home. A fantastic day out and a great introduction for Lily to the high octane world of motorsport.





The rest of the photos can be seen here

Steve.


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First SHP meet of the year

Least said about it the better I feel....



....still it was nice to grab a coffee with Ian and Lucy and Stu and Millie

Steve.

2011 off to a classic start

For the sixth year in a row, we’ve been up and out first thing New Years Day to the classic car meet at the Phoenix Pub on the A30, for the first year we weren’t in a classic. Having stood for months unused on the drive and in the garage the air-cooled part of the fleet wasn’t really ready for a trip out (oil is on the shopping list now!) so we bundle the family in the Passat for the drive down, parking out the way to allow more classics in. The pub is now under new management and with a porky bap now topping £7 we were glad we’d eaten before setting out. As usual the A30 was lined on both sides and up the middle as well as the side roads and the carparks with a fantastic variety.















Despite the rumble of V8s and the occasional squeal of tyres Lily seemed a bit nonplus about the array of fine machinery parked up as we weaved the pram about.



However this all changed when we met up with Iainie from Vzi, she kept smiling and grabbing his finger as we walked round.



Whilst trying to get a shot of a brown Cortina drag car I managed to snap instead Alanbug parking up, so our gang grew



Along with some familiar cars a few new vehicles were there including this vast Diamond T pickup and eyewatering Porsche 916





I have fond memories peeling a sticker just like this off the side window of a MK2 Escort in the 1980s



We played Aston Martin “Top Trumps” DB6 was beaten by DB5 convertible





I spied my brother, lens in hand aimed across the carpark, what wondrous car was he snapping?





With a final wander down the road we took in the last of the cars, more we pouring in filling the gaps left by the early risers.







Getting weary and cold we headed for a local pub to while away a few more hours before heading home. 2011 has started in the same way as 2010 did, heres to more of the same.

The rest of the photos can be seen here

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