A weekend of win at The Gathering

Wow, just wow. It doesn't feel like five minutes ago In was rolling down a muddy field in the Camper in driving rain on friday afternoon. Technically I was first in and nabbed my usual spot by the tree at the bottom of the hill. Worries about getting back up the lake of mud would wait till sunday morning. I sheltered in the Camper with nothing but cider, pies and copies of Octane to keep me company.



After a couple of hours of downpour it eased and finally stopped, time to venture out and see what conditions were like. Not brilliant was the answer, but with it draining fast and sunshine promised fingers were crossed.





Slowly more people arrived and the first of the "bottom of the hill under Speedmans gazebo crew" turned up. It was lining up for a great weekend. We pitched and drank and ate and wandered and generally arsed about.









Mrs Blown-Imps illuminated duck was a hit!


The Werthers Original Vodka was too. This is the last photo of the night, it was messy.


Saturday dawned bright and warm, the rain long gone it was going to be a scorcher. Most of us had survived the night, Arkle hadn't and would be seen here several times during the day!



People were off on day trips, some to nearby Shelsley Walsh, some on scrap hunting. I chose to hang around the campsite and chill some more, it was also a chance to catch up with old friends and see who else had arrived under the cover of darkness.











I consumed far too much (all) of my scrumpy so decided to walk it off over the fields nearby and watch the GWR steam trains chugg past.



Before the lure of meat stirred inside and the BBQ was lit.





A quadruple decker cheese burger cured all.



Normally I'm happy to sit around and natter by the Camper, but fancying a walk and utter those words that can make group of people stand and move as one. " I'm going to the bar, who wants a drink on me!" We headed to the club house for a bit, passing the hillclimb paddocks, already filling up with guest cars.









Following some very random talk and more cider it was time to hit the R'n'R bed for some kip, tomorrow was show day.

Sunday, blue skies and scorching sun greeted me at 7am, it was wake up time, pack up time and relocate to the show field time. Lots of weight, little power and a steady right foot saw me out of the mud with no problems. Dumping the Camper and gazebo on SE stand I hung around for a while before heading up to the hairpin on the hillclimb for the first runs.













As ever a stunning selection of guest cars had been arranged, the Napier Bentley the star for me.







Having seen everyone run once I headed down to the club stands for a bit. Some really nice cars, these are just a handful of my highlights.











I walked over into the race paddock and got myself a passenger wristband, I was in the mood for a bit of a climb but in what? Seth suddenly appeared grinning like a kid in a sweetshop in the mighty Healey.



More of the guest cars.





I watch 24litres of aero engined beast leave the line.





Then Seth was back, he'd loved his run and introduced me to Mr Frankenhealey. His last run of the day was in a bit but the seat was promised elsewhere. I hung around to see the other cars run and chat with a few people in the show area before returning to the paddock, as I did the Healey was sitting there waiting to go, the passenger seat empty. The grin was answered with "get in and belt up" Thanks to Bastardchild for capturing the moment.



It was a whirlwind of noise, speed and heat as we tore up the hill. An amazing ride I will never forget for a long time. As the lunch break arrived I nabbed a burger and more water and listened to Bryns interviews. The commentator at events can make or break sometimes and you did a cracking job chap. Soon it was the all important awards. Worthy winners all of them including car of the year for the air ride Lotus Esprit.











I was all set for another wander when Ian and the Monza were due out with the guest cars for one of his last runs of the day and the cars last outing before being stripped and sent over the bridge. Again right time, right place as the seat was empty, its intended recipient busy elsewhere. A very different experience to the Healey, but equally as memorable.



There was just time for a bit more hill action and walk around before starting the trip home.







And a bit of Seth papping too.





And that was it, a load of goodbyes were said and I loaded the Camper for home.



But not before slapping on the all important sticker.



It was an amazing weekend, there are far too many people to thank, from the whole bottom of the hill crowd, the BlownImp massive tent posse, the people that made it all happen and the drivers kind enough to give me a ride. I'm tired, tanned and grining from ear to ear. Bring on 2013

You can see the rest of the photos here

Steve.

Scorcher at Beach Buggin

Last years trip to Beach Buggin was eventful, the fanbelt pulley shattered on route and we arrived on the back of a breakdown truck. Following several long and hard weeks at work and knowing I have the RR Gathering to go to next weekend I decided that Passat power was easier. It also helped that we were taking a friend of Kims and meeting up with more friends at Winchester, the Camper doesn't keep up with a 911 too well! We rolled onto the common at Southsea as the last of the rain went and parked up, our mob set off, our mission, to find a Beetle for Spud!







The sun suddenly broke through and was too shine for the rest of the day, some prepared well....I am a lobster now!





Moving on we passed several clubs stands and moved into the American car area at the far end.









It was soon lunch time and we retired to the cars for a snack, catching up with some old friends. We don't seem to be able to go 10 yards without bumping into another old pal.





Spud found a potential car, but it turned out to be a pup, over £2k for lots of trouble. Gren cast his eagle eye over things.





It was soon ice cream time. And this funky 70s Beford was ideal.





There were plenty of Buggies about.







As is the way with a trip to Southsea, we headed for the beach to watch the hovercraft come in and to skim stones. Some people even dipped a toe in the chilly waters!







With the rest of our group gone we had one last wander round before a second trip to the beach followed by fish & chips overlooking the sea. Wandering back to the common we were one of the last to leave. A blast up the A3 saw us home in time for Lilys bedtime.



It was a lovely day out, saw lots of good friends and returned home slightly pink and tired. The rest of the photos are here

Steve.

Gymkhana in a Beetle

An advert in the magazine of my local motorclub caught my eye a while back. It was for a gymkhana and BBQ. With nothing planned on the first sunday in August we decided to give it a go so bright and early in driving rain we loaded the Camper and Beetle up and headed for Foxhanger House in deepest Hampshire. With the gazebo up it wasn't looking promising.



Once the 30+ crowd of drivers and marshals had assembled we walked the courses of the five test areas, the rain got a lot heavier and we abandoned that to shelter. Suddenly a break in the clouds lead to a scurry of activity as a motley crew of automobiles amassed. Everything from our Beetle, through a TR3 and several MX5s as well as family estates and hatchbacks. Anything goes. We lined up for the first test, parallel parking. Most of the tests were similarly scored, perform the manoeuvre without hitting cones and get marks for distance in inches, closest wins. With Lily in the co-pilots seat holding scorecards we were away.





All around competitors were running the other tests and escaping the damp.





Kim was taking part as well and by the end of the morning session she had just pipped me to the post by four points!


The other tests included parking in a garage as close to the front as possible and in a garage so the passenger door could be opened fully. Both tricky to get right. Knowing the length and width of your mount is essential.





And still the rain came down, but it was easing a bit by now.



The last two tests were difficult in their own ways. Firstly driving round a course flinging hoops over stakes from the seat and then the dizzy inducing four garage shuffle. Every garage had to be parked in forwards and backwards. This actually turned out to be the easiest but longest test.







With the sun beaming down and all tests run once we stopped for the BBQ and a rest. Lily had a chance to run around with her ball and we had a natter to a few other club members.





With lunch over we set to the same tests in the afternoon, hoping to improve on my average 69 points and 17th place out of about 30. With my co-pilot in place we were away to a flying start, shaving inches off the nose in garage park.





My passenger door opened with three inches to spare. Before an impromptu stop for ice cream.







A clear run on the hoops set me up nicely for the parallel parking. Which I managed with a stunning one inch gap at the front!





The other drivers were also improving on their various scores. It was tight at the top.





With all the tests complete we waited for the final scores. I managed a 15 in the afternoon whcih combined with me poor morning saw me somewhere around 10th-12th. Kim had a right mare with the parallel parking, getting a taxi to the kerb and dropping to almost last. But we both had a great laugh doing the tests and Lily was so well behaved in the passenger seat all day. Looking forward to the next event now.



P.S, the winning score was an unbelievable -3. You got points back for not using all the hoops and he was regularly parking an inch or less off the cones! There are loads more photos from a brilliant day here

Steve.