NSRA Billing Fun Run - Bad Ass Having only just published a post entitled “Car Sunday”, I can report that the second weekend in a row had its fair share of car related wonderment too - so much in fact that Car Sunday 2 (the sequel) felt like a necessary post.
On 5th June, by way of a fluke, I attended the National Street Rod Association’s Billing Fun Run. The unplanned outing occurred as a result of agreeing to visit my in-laws who have a house boat moored in the marina at Billing Aquadrome. The visit just happened to coincide with the event. Result!
In previous posts I have written about Vauxhall car club events at the Northamptonshire holiday park, but I had never been to a hot rod event there, or anywhere else for that matter.
Here’s what the NSRA stated about its event:
BILLING FUN RUN
Our first major hot rod show of the year, held at the Billing Aquadrome. Weekend activities and entertainment, trade stalls, Saturday cruise, huge show ‘n’ shine car show for pre-1972 hot rods, street rods, and customs; open to the public on Sunday.
Here’s what I observed:
When I walked into the showground, concessions circled the main show field like Wild West wagons protecting their travellers (which is a kind of appropriate simile given that the vast majority of vehicles were American). Food, drink, models, memorabilia, car parts, clothing and vintage collectibles were all available to tempt the cash out of passing wallets.
Inside the ring, the motors on display were colourful, playful, artistic and even beautiful. The custom paint jobs, the out-there designs, the money no object expenditure, the body modifications, the obvious efforts invested, the attention to detail, the spotless presentation were awe inspiring.
And as for the noise, the occasional rumble, or full blooded roar of V8s as vehicles moved around the site, were as guttural and powerful as lions broadcasting their presence on the savannah.
For me, I wandered around like a kid in a toy shop; a Hot Wheels (HW) toy shop. Life sized models of the kinds of vehicles you only normally see in the HW range were everywhere. So many spectacular cars were on show that I didn’t know where to look first. I loved all the vehicles but the late sixties, early seventies muscle cars were particularly special. The Plymouth Road Runners and Barracudas, Dodge Chargers and Challengers, Ford Mustangs and the Chevrolet Camaros were simply marvellous.
In the blazing sunshine, over the course of an hour or two, I took 163 photos and some are shared below for your enjoyment. One car pictured (the green one) had me scratching my head because I didn’t know what it actually was – after some post event time web researching, a Plymouth Fury III is my conclusion.
All in all, the NSRA event was a petroleum-fuelled car nirvana where any petrolhead could feel like they were experiencing something life affirming/enhancing. I am going to go again next year, in fact I am already excited about the prospect.
As the Baldwin family left Billing later that afternoon, a number of show cars were leaving too; I drove down the A45 towards the M1 with the windows down to listen to the roar of supercharged trio of “Hillbilly Racing” Plymouth V8s at full chatter (a Roadrunner, THE Fury and a Duster). The sound was elemental, exciting and moving, like driving in the grip of a thunderstorm.
And storm is this week’s link to Top Gear. The Sunday car fun continued at 8pm because Top Gear was on the telly.
Episode two was entertaining and I’ll happily admit that I am already a convert to the Evans and LeBlanc format.
There were some laugh-out-loud moments and the guests - Jenson Button, Sharleen Spiteri, Tinie Tempah, Seasick Steve and Damian Lewis (and presenter Eddie Jordan) - added some real value.
Frustratingly though, I have since read the BBC News coverage knocking the viewing figures of its own showcase production - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-36458510 - and that just makes me cross. If you ask me all the negativity is just a storm in a teacup (now the link makes sense).
My recommendations for any of you still feeling grumpy about the departure of Clarkson, Hammond and May…
…are get over it and get watching the new presenters/series.
Click on any of the images below to enlarge.
On 5th June, by way of a fluke, I attended the National Street Rod Association’s Billing Fun Run. The unplanned outing occurred as a result of agreeing to visit my in-laws who have a house boat moored in the marina at Billing Aquadrome. The visit just happened to coincide with the event. Result!
In previous posts I have written about Vauxhall car club events at the Northamptonshire holiday park, but I had never been to a hot rod event there, or anywhere else for that matter.
Here’s what the NSRA stated about its event:
BILLING FUN RUN
Our first major hot rod show of the year, held at the Billing Aquadrome. Weekend activities and entertainment, trade stalls, Saturday cruise, huge show ‘n’ shine car show for pre-1972 hot rods, street rods, and customs; open to the public on Sunday.
Here’s what I observed:
When I walked into the showground, concessions circled the main show field like Wild West wagons protecting their travellers (which is a kind of appropriate simile given that the vast majority of vehicles were American). Food, drink, models, memorabilia, car parts, clothing and vintage collectibles were all available to tempt the cash out of passing wallets.
Inside the ring, the motors on display were colourful, playful, artistic and even beautiful. The custom paint jobs, the out-there designs, the money no object expenditure, the body modifications, the obvious efforts invested, the attention to detail, the spotless presentation were awe inspiring.
And as for the noise, the occasional rumble, or full blooded roar of V8s as vehicles moved around the site, were as guttural and powerful as lions broadcasting their presence on the savannah.
For me, I wandered around like a kid in a toy shop; a Hot Wheels (HW) toy shop. Life sized models of the kinds of vehicles you only normally see in the HW range were everywhere. So many spectacular cars were on show that I didn’t know where to look first. I loved all the vehicles but the late sixties, early seventies muscle cars were particularly special. The Plymouth Road Runners and Barracudas, Dodge Chargers and Challengers, Ford Mustangs and the Chevrolet Camaros were simply marvellous.
In the blazing sunshine, over the course of an hour or two, I took 163 photos and some are shared below for your enjoyment. One car pictured (the green one) had me scratching my head because I didn’t know what it actually was – after some post event time web researching, a Plymouth Fury III is my conclusion.
All in all, the NSRA event was a petroleum-fuelled car nirvana where any petrolhead could feel like they were experiencing something life affirming/enhancing. I am going to go again next year, in fact I am already excited about the prospect.
As the Baldwin family left Billing later that afternoon, a number of show cars were leaving too; I drove down the A45 towards the M1 with the windows down to listen to the roar of supercharged trio of “Hillbilly Racing” Plymouth V8s at full chatter (a Roadrunner, THE Fury and a Duster). The sound was elemental, exciting and moving, like driving in the grip of a thunderstorm.
And storm is this week’s link to Top Gear. The Sunday car fun continued at 8pm because Top Gear was on the telly.
Episode two was entertaining and I’ll happily admit that I am already a convert to the Evans and LeBlanc format.
There were some laugh-out-loud moments and the guests - Jenson Button, Sharleen Spiteri, Tinie Tempah, Seasick Steve and Damian Lewis (and presenter Eddie Jordan) - added some real value.
Frustratingly though, I have since read the BBC News coverage knocking the viewing figures of its own showcase production - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-36458510 - and that just makes me cross. If you ask me all the negativity is just a storm in a teacup (now the link makes sense).
My recommendations for any of you still feeling grumpy about the departure of Clarkson, Hammond and May…
…are get over it and get watching the new presenters/series.
Click on any of the images below to enlarge.
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