Plymouth Sport Fury - AACI Spring Event 2018 - Billing Aquadrome
Regular readers will know that I am into classic motors. On the 22nd April, I attended my first car show of the year. The American Automobile Club International (AACI) held an event at Billing Aquadrome and I spent a few happy hours in attendance.
I have been to a number of AACI events before (previous reviews are available, see below), the first few were at Billing, but then the venue pulled the plug on all the car shows.
Fortunately, the Billing management has now capitulated and let some of the car clubs back in. The AACI was one such beneficiary. It is a shame that the same can’t be said for the Vauxhall Bedford Owners Association.
The early outing for the AACI was at risk of being affected by the weather and though it was fortunate that the sun was shining across the weekend, the main show ground was still too soggy. The impact of this was that the show vehicles had to be tucked into a corner of the site that was okay to use. The grassy area available wasn’t big enough to accommodate all the vehicles and so cars were also displayed all around the car parks, shops and attractions near the show field.
For me, the American car scene is really interesting because so much more happened than it did in the UK – there is so much more to see. The US manufacturers would release new models/variations almost every year whereas the British would change every so often. To illustrate, I love the Vauxhall Viva HC and its derivatives, but the HC was in production from 1970-1979 and old stock was still being sold in 1980, that’s nine years of the same body shell. The Morris Marina did nine years in the same shell as did the even more horrible, Allegro. By comparison, between 1965 and 1973, the Ford Mustang was restyled to a greater or lesser extent every year – certainly there were three completely distinct body shells in that time period. And when you allow for revised front and rear ends and body style derivatives (saloons, fastbacks, convertibles) … a car show just dedicated to Mustangs would be thoroughly entertaining.
Of course, the AACI caters for everything American, so any event has the potential to be fascinating. As usual, I wandered around taking photos (252 in total this time) and share some for your enjoyment below.
What I like the most about the AACI events, unlike any UK car club outing, is that I always see something that I have never seen before, or have perhaps only seen in photographs. To illustrate the point, and draw your attention to my snaps below, before the 22nd April, I had never seen a Dodge Polara (the pale yellow car) or a Ford Thunderbird in the style below (the powder blue car).
The glossy black Plymouth GTO shown below was spectacular ("spectacucar" would be appropriate - I've made up a new adjective for you), the finish and detailing just amazing, the engine/alloys chromed to perfection, the red interior (also pictured) flawless. The love shown to this car was unbelievable. It wins my "Car of the Show, Show Award" even though it was up against some stiff competition.
The Chrysler Imperial pictured was for sale, the price £8,000. That's a great deal of car for the money.
The owner of the Ford Galaxie could be heard revving his engine for the pleasure of the crowd. Blimey, it was exciting too, like a barely restrained and angry bear.
If you like what you see/read/hear, why not put the following dates in your diary and come and experience an event for yourself:
• June 15-17th
• Sept. 7th-9th
My thanks go to the AACI for organising another enjoyable show. This was my fifth outing and I am already looking forward to June.
And from one enjoyable car show to another ...
Car SOS
I have written about the more widely known DIY SOS show before but the purpose of this part of the post is to promote National Geographic’s/More 4’s television series, “Car SOS”.
Car SOS is a similar proposition to the building programme but instead of homes being fixed up by Nick Knowles and his team, Tim Shaw and Fuzz Townsend repair classic cars for deserving owners, usually those that are too ill to get their cars back on the road themselves.
Car SOS has been running for a number of years now (series six underway at the time of writing) and over the last month, I have watched 55 of the episodes (one or two more than once). That’s most probably why April was a drought in terms of blog posts … too much telly watching and not enough writing.
The combination of interesting motors and stories of personal challenge are compelling and I recommend the show to anyone with petrol in their veins, or a heart in their chest. Seriously, it's feel good telly.
The programmes follow a consistent format that involves vehicles being spirited away from their unknowing owners, restored to their former glories and returned in a dramatic, showy fashion. During each show, Tim and Fuzz experience other peoples’ already “sorted” cars to get a feel for what they are trying to recreate. In most episodes, Tim Shaw has to come up with a ruse to get spare parts more cheaply from potential suppliers – this is the only part of the show that is a bit contrived/far-fetched, but hey, it’s a bit of fun. All sorts of cars from every era from the 1920s to the 1990s, every condition from good to write-off, every status from ordinary to super, and every value from cheap and cheerful to unattainable have been restored over the last few years.
There have been a few episodes that I defy any of you not to be moved by. From the current series, the Lancia Delta Integrale restoration was particularly moving. Even if you don’t care about cars, watch it anyway, what Tim and Fuzz do to support the family of the car owner is nothing short of beautiful.
I started off cherry picking the episodes so I could see the cars I was most interested in, but after getting hooked and appreciating that the owner stories were as engaging as the car restorations, I have watched everything.
It is great observing the chaps restore cars properly; when I used to work on mine, I never had enough money, often didn’t have the right tools, was short of key skills (welding and painting for example), never had enough space, never seemed to be able to keep the skin on my knuckles … but at least my health wasn’t in decline, though often the motors were well past their best.
I didn’t have Tim or Fuzz at my disposal but for all those that helped me keep my Vivas/Firenza on the road, I am very grateful – Gary Martin, Laurie Walsh, Matt Emery, my Dad - your support massively appreciated.
Click on any image below to enlarge. High resolution images available, if you'd like one, just get in touch.
I have been to a number of AACI events before (previous reviews are available, see below), the first few were at Billing, but then the venue pulled the plug on all the car shows.
Fortunately, the Billing management has now capitulated and let some of the car clubs back in. The AACI was one such beneficiary. It is a shame that the same can’t be said for the Vauxhall Bedford Owners Association.
The early outing for the AACI was at risk of being affected by the weather and though it was fortunate that the sun was shining across the weekend, the main show ground was still too soggy. The impact of this was that the show vehicles had to be tucked into a corner of the site that was okay to use. The grassy area available wasn’t big enough to accommodate all the vehicles and so cars were also displayed all around the car parks, shops and attractions near the show field.
For me, the American car scene is really interesting because so much more happened than it did in the UK – there is so much more to see. The US manufacturers would release new models/variations almost every year whereas the British would change every so often. To illustrate, I love the Vauxhall Viva HC and its derivatives, but the HC was in production from 1970-1979 and old stock was still being sold in 1980, that’s nine years of the same body shell. The Morris Marina did nine years in the same shell as did the even more horrible, Allegro. By comparison, between 1965 and 1973, the Ford Mustang was restyled to a greater or lesser extent every year – certainly there were three completely distinct body shells in that time period. And when you allow for revised front and rear ends and body style derivatives (saloons, fastbacks, convertibles) … a car show just dedicated to Mustangs would be thoroughly entertaining.
Of course, the AACI caters for everything American, so any event has the potential to be fascinating. As usual, I wandered around taking photos (252 in total this time) and share some for your enjoyment below.
What I like the most about the AACI events, unlike any UK car club outing, is that I always see something that I have never seen before, or have perhaps only seen in photographs. To illustrate the point, and draw your attention to my snaps below, before the 22nd April, I had never seen a Dodge Polara (the pale yellow car) or a Ford Thunderbird in the style below (the powder blue car).
The glossy black Plymouth GTO shown below was spectacular ("spectacucar" would be appropriate - I've made up a new adjective for you), the finish and detailing just amazing, the engine/alloys chromed to perfection, the red interior (also pictured) flawless. The love shown to this car was unbelievable. It wins my "Car of the Show, Show Award" even though it was up against some stiff competition.
The Chrysler Imperial pictured was for sale, the price £8,000. That's a great deal of car for the money.
The owner of the Ford Galaxie could be heard revving his engine for the pleasure of the crowd. Blimey, it was exciting too, like a barely restrained and angry bear.
If you like what you see/read/hear, why not put the following dates in your diary and come and experience an event for yourself:
• June 15-17th
• Sept. 7th-9th
My thanks go to the AACI for organising another enjoyable show. This was my fifth outing and I am already looking forward to June.
And from one enjoyable car show to another ...
Car SOS
I have written about the more widely known DIY SOS show before but the purpose of this part of the post is to promote National Geographic’s/More 4’s television series, “Car SOS”.
Car SOS is a similar proposition to the building programme but instead of homes being fixed up by Nick Knowles and his team, Tim Shaw and Fuzz Townsend repair classic cars for deserving owners, usually those that are too ill to get their cars back on the road themselves.
Car SOS has been running for a number of years now (series six underway at the time of writing) and over the last month, I have watched 55 of the episodes (one or two more than once). That’s most probably why April was a drought in terms of blog posts … too much telly watching and not enough writing.
The combination of interesting motors and stories of personal challenge are compelling and I recommend the show to anyone with petrol in their veins, or a heart in their chest. Seriously, it's feel good telly.
The programmes follow a consistent format that involves vehicles being spirited away from their unknowing owners, restored to their former glories and returned in a dramatic, showy fashion. During each show, Tim and Fuzz experience other peoples’ already “sorted” cars to get a feel for what they are trying to recreate. In most episodes, Tim Shaw has to come up with a ruse to get spare parts more cheaply from potential suppliers – this is the only part of the show that is a bit contrived/far-fetched, but hey, it’s a bit of fun. All sorts of cars from every era from the 1920s to the 1990s, every condition from good to write-off, every status from ordinary to super, and every value from cheap and cheerful to unattainable have been restored over the last few years.
There have been a few episodes that I defy any of you not to be moved by. From the current series, the Lancia Delta Integrale restoration was particularly moving. Even if you don’t care about cars, watch it anyway, what Tim and Fuzz do to support the family of the car owner is nothing short of beautiful.
I started off cherry picking the episodes so I could see the cars I was most interested in, but after getting hooked and appreciating that the owner stories were as engaging as the car restorations, I have watched everything.
It is great observing the chaps restore cars properly; when I used to work on mine, I never had enough money, often didn’t have the right tools, was short of key skills (welding and painting for example), never had enough space, never seemed to be able to keep the skin on my knuckles … but at least my health wasn’t in decline, though often the motors were well past their best.
I didn’t have Tim or Fuzz at my disposal but for all those that helped me keep my Vivas/Firenza on the road, I am very grateful – Gary Martin, Laurie Walsh, Matt Emery, my Dad - your support massively appreciated.
Click on any image below to enlarge. High resolution images available, if you'd like one, just get in touch.
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Other Relevant Posts:
https://www.adrianbaldwin.net/blog/aaci-late-summer-open-nationals-2017
http://www.adrianbaldwin.net/blog/aaci-summer-open-nationals-2017
http://www.adrianbaldwin.net/blog/24424-the-aaci-summer-nationals-and-fathers-day
http://www.adrianbaldwin.net/blog/aaci-late-summer-open-nationals
Blog Library
Home
AACI - https://www.aac-int.com/
Other Relevant Posts:
https://www.adrianbaldwin.net/blog/aaci-late-summer-open-nationals-2017
http://www.adrianbaldwin.net/blog/aaci-summer-open-nationals-2017
http://www.adrianbaldwin.net/blog/24424-the-aaci-summer-nationals-and-fathers-day
http://www.adrianbaldwin.net/blog/aaci-late-summer-open-nationals
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