Firstly, this was going to be my first gathering and proved to be a very emotional one for many reasons; some of you on here know about them and thank you for the support over the weekend.
My only regret is that I didn't take as many photos as I was hoping to, but at around six on Friday afternoon a convoy of a fair few cars left Area52. From what I hear that was a massive improvement on last year but I think next year we should aim to improve even further! It's a short weekend as it is.
Kev very kindly stepping up and volunteering to take the Galant up to the camp site for me. The Area 52 Cuore was rattly taken up along with the infamous Rascal, another emotional car, but it looked fantastic for the work that had been put in to it recently.
Convoy to the Gathering by Diabolu80, on Flickr
It was great to see Robin back in his Scirocco, and I look forward to seeing his engine transplant proceed too!
Everyone popped up their tents (some more literally than others) and I had a wander with a couple of the regulars to meet some more of the personalities from here.
Quick draw camera shoot off by Diabolu80, on Flickr
After quick draw competition with Chris Politt my camera ended up being taken on a scrap yard visit. Thomas' Corolla had popped its clutch line off and we were hoping to find some suitable replacements here.
Thomas's Corolla by Diabolu80, on Flickr
It turned out to be a real eye opening experience, Kev exploding with excitement over a fair few cars lying there and myself getting some new flat front headlights courtesy of Rich from a Nissan Vanette.
Day trip to the scrap yard! by Diabolu80, on Flickr
Leigh turned Thomas' bootlid into a work of art, which I believe is going up on his wall sometime when he gets it replaced!
Corolla by Diabolu80, on Flickr
Show day arrived all too quickly, the fun that was had on Saturday already distant memory with the amount of activity that was going on. My long standing memory easily being a last second trip to Tesco's in Kev's truck culminating in overtaking the queue of cars to go back into the camp site and hitting a ditch on the verge at about 25mph. I hit the roof of the truck, and nearly went out of the window, Kev yanked it left into the field and we hitched my Galant up to tow it carefully over to the Area52 stand.
Snapped one of the best Ford Capri's I've ever seen and proceeded up the hill to try my hand at some motorsport photography! It certainly took me a few photos to get the rhythm of panning with the cars but I think I got some reasonable photos although not all in sharp focus in the correct place haha!
Mk1 Capri by Diabolu80, on Flickr
Hope you like the following photos, if anyone wants a high res print of their car (or truck...) let me know and I'll certainly be able to sort that out.
Pug 106 by Diabolu80, on Flickr
Apex anyone? by Diabolu80, on Flickr
Cinq again! by Diabolu80, on Flickr
MX5 by Diabolu80, on Flickr
Hillman Imp by Diabolu80, on Flickr
Super Imp! by Diabolu80, on Flickr
One of my favourite shots of the day.
Escort at speed by Diabolu80, on Flickr
Ford Capri by Diabolu80, on Flickr
What a driver!!
Locust by Diabolu80, on Flickr
Adam's Locust by Diabolu80, on Flickr
Fabulous sounding machine!
Hot Rod by Diabolu80, on Flickr
The Cuore.. Coure... Ki-ora!
Cuore...Coure...? by Diabolu80, on Flickr
Superlegerra Cinq by Diabolu80, on Flickr
Escort by Diabolu80, on Flickr
Ooooops!
A Push Too Far by Diabolu80, on Flickr
Clearly nailing it into the corner at 60mph!!
Holding the line by Diabolu80, on Flickr
Cockney Rebel at full sprint by Diabolu80, on Flickr
Speed by Diabolu80, on Flickr
Locust! by Diabolu80, on Flickr
And the car of the show
V8 Celica by Diabolu80, on Flickr
All in all a thoroughly enjoyable weekend, I'm looking forward to getting the Galant around a lot more, maybe even the next beach party!
Thank you to all this weekend, and a special mention to JRevilug for wiring up two looms making the Galant start first time (eventually) Rich for doing an incredible exhaust install, Bruce for letting me use the facilities at Area52 for the week before, Grunty for making the rear spacers, Kev for valiantly getting me there and back again and everyone else who has kept providing motivation knowledge!
And a big thank you to HongKongPhooey without who I wouldn't have had the car at all let alone in the shape it is now in. You are greatly missed and yet still providing help to me. RIP Si.
An emotional weekend, week, month and year! Thank you all and look forward to seeing everyone again soon.
Chris
My only regret is that I didn't take as many photos as I was hoping to, but at around six on Friday afternoon a convoy of a fair few cars left Area52. From what I hear that was a massive improvement on last year but I think next year we should aim to improve even further! It's a short weekend as it is.
Kev very kindly stepping up and volunteering to take the Galant up to the camp site for me. The Area 52 Cuore was rattly taken up along with the infamous Rascal, another emotional car, but it looked fantastic for the work that had been put in to it recently.
Convoy to the Gathering by Diabolu80, on Flickr
It was great to see Robin back in his Scirocco, and I look forward to seeing his engine transplant proceed too!
Everyone popped up their tents (some more literally than others) and I had a wander with a couple of the regulars to meet some more of the personalities from here.
Quick draw camera shoot off by Diabolu80, on Flickr
After quick draw competition with Chris Politt my camera ended up being taken on a scrap yard visit. Thomas' Corolla had popped its clutch line off and we were hoping to find some suitable replacements here.
Thomas's Corolla by Diabolu80, on Flickr
It turned out to be a real eye opening experience, Kev exploding with excitement over a fair few cars lying there and myself getting some new flat front headlights courtesy of Rich from a Nissan Vanette.
Day trip to the scrap yard! by Diabolu80, on Flickr
Leigh turned Thomas' bootlid into a work of art, which I believe is going up on his wall sometime when he gets it replaced!
Corolla by Diabolu80, on Flickr
Show day arrived all too quickly, the fun that was had on Saturday already distant memory with the amount of activity that was going on. My long standing memory easily being a last second trip to Tesco's in Kev's truck culminating in overtaking the queue of cars to go back into the camp site and hitting a ditch on the verge at about 25mph. I hit the roof of the truck, and nearly went out of the window, Kev yanked it left into the field and we hitched my Galant up to tow it carefully over to the Area52 stand.
Snapped one of the best Ford Capri's I've ever seen and proceeded up the hill to try my hand at some motorsport photography! It certainly took me a few photos to get the rhythm of panning with the cars but I think I got some reasonable photos although not all in sharp focus in the correct place haha!
Mk1 Capri by Diabolu80, on Flickr
Hope you like the following photos, if anyone wants a high res print of their car (or truck...) let me know and I'll certainly be able to sort that out.
Pug 106 by Diabolu80, on Flickr
Apex anyone? by Diabolu80, on Flickr
Cinq again! by Diabolu80, on Flickr
MX5 by Diabolu80, on Flickr
Hillman Imp by Diabolu80, on Flickr
Super Imp! by Diabolu80, on Flickr
One of my favourite shots of the day.
Escort at speed by Diabolu80, on Flickr
Ford Capri by Diabolu80, on Flickr
What a driver!!
Locust by Diabolu80, on Flickr
Adam's Locust by Diabolu80, on Flickr
Fabulous sounding machine!
Hot Rod by Diabolu80, on Flickr
The Cuore.. Coure... Ki-ora!
Cuore...Coure...? by Diabolu80, on Flickr
Superlegerra Cinq by Diabolu80, on Flickr
Escort by Diabolu80, on Flickr
Ooooops!
A Push Too Far by Diabolu80, on Flickr
Clearly nailing it into the corner at 60mph!!
Holding the line by Diabolu80, on Flickr
Cockney Rebel at full sprint by Diabolu80, on Flickr
Speed by Diabolu80, on Flickr
Locust! by Diabolu80, on Flickr
And the car of the show
V8 Celica by Diabolu80, on Flickr
All in all a thoroughly enjoyable weekend, I'm looking forward to getting the Galant around a lot more, maybe even the next beach party!
Thank you to all this weekend, and a special mention to JRevilug for wiring up two looms making the Galant start first time (eventually) Rich for doing an incredible exhaust install, Bruce for letting me use the facilities at Area52 for the week before, Grunty for making the rear spacers, Kev for valiantly getting me there and back again and everyone else who has kept providing motivation knowledge!
And a big thank you to HongKongPhooey without who I wouldn't have had the car at all let alone in the shape it is now in. You are greatly missed and yet still providing help to me. RIP Si.
An emotional weekend, week, month and year! Thank you all and look forward to seeing everyone again soon.
Chris
Thanks, It means a lot that you have extended the offer. I was very disappointed not to have it running but sooooo ecstatic to have it present.
