Brian Damaged
West Midlands
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 9,555
Club RR Member Number: 33
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Aug 26, 2012 17:43:39 GMT
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It's not bad Graham, it's grown year-on-year since the late 90's from 13 cars at the first one. Always held on the Sunday of the August Bank Holiday weekend. It serves as a National meet for the Morris Minor Van boys and the local branch of the Stag OC, plus it tends to get booked up by the same people year in, year out....so there's not much variety. Out of the 400-odd cars on show probably 75% of them are there every year.
It's a decent enough couple of hours out for me though as it's literally ten minutes' drive away....plus I can listen to Daddy Damaged as he tactlessly unpicks every over-restored MGB to bits. Bless him. ;D
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Brian Damaged
West Midlands
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 9,555
Club RR Member Number: 33
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Aug 26, 2012 16:40:30 GMT
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No idea what this is worth now, must be worth something to someone, Miniworld reprinted it a few years back. This one's full-fat 21 years old though. Good readable condition if a bit 'old magazine' smelling, one small 1/2" tear in the back cover. Pages are a bit yellowed but that's because they printed stuff on what amounted to glorified bumwipe back then. Anyone?
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Brian Damaged
West Midlands
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 9,555
Club RR Member Number: 33
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Aug 26, 2012 15:16:27 GMT
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It's only five minutes down the road, and a pleasant enough way to while away a couple of hours on a Sunday. Always seems a bit of a comedown though, coming as it does mere days after The Gathering. Imagine my delight then, when I parked the Benz and saw this first...... The old giffer on the right stood there for ages, shaking his head before hobbling off in a huff. Marvellous. This was parked right next to the Lotus, but for some strange reason he moved it. Beautiful car though, AC got these dead right first time. Looks like an older rod build to me. There was plenty of modified stuff there this time which held my attention for a good couple of hours. Very clean and sensibly-modified Mk2 drew many admiring glances. Juiced Passat lives near me, and is for sale. Stock Rover Vitesse was maginificent. I don't really 'get' the hype around old Fords. This Mk1 Mex was absolutely incredible though. One of my favourite cars of the day. Looks just SO right on Dunlop alloys. Nicely-modded Anglebox sitting sun-dappled under a tree. Not seen one of these for a while. '56 Olds was in incredible condition. That pearl white paint was mile-deep. Just so.....right. '65 Split belongs to a mate of mine who's set up his own business specialising in Subaru engine conversions for air-cooled VW's. www.facebook.com/fellowsspeedshopHope you enjoyed them, link to album here: www.flickr.com/photos/damaged23/sets/72157631252906370/with/7864112096/
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Brian Damaged
West Midlands
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 9,555
Club RR Member Number: 33
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Aug 25, 2012 20:14:31 GMT
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What an EPIC set of pics. Thanks for sharing them.
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Brian Damaged
West Midlands
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 9,555
Club RR Member Number: 33
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Aug 25, 2012 10:39:57 GMT
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That looks clean and tidy. Shame it's not a year older, in which case it'd have the original 'mad as a box of frogs' dashboard!
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Brian Damaged
West Midlands
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 9,555
Club RR Member Number: 33
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how was your gathering?Brian Damaged
@damaged
Club Retro Rides Member 33
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Aug 24, 2012 13:37:20 GMT
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Every year's the same.
Every year I go to The Gathering I love it so much, that when I get home on a Sunday evening, I unpack my gear, fill the washing machine with beer-soaked clothing, then I go out into the garden with a big mug of coffee and a cigarette, sit in my favourite spot,.....
....and shed a tear.
No really. I'm knocking a hole in fifty years on this planet, so I'm big enough, ugly enough and life-experienced enough to be completely at home with my emotions.
It's beyond cars for me. It's all about friendship. Those of us lucky enough to be long-timers here on Retro-Rides have formed bonds that no amount of EU legislation will ever tear asunder. For 95% of the time those friendships are conducted via telephone wires, satellites, text messages and wireless signals. Granted there are various events/meets held throughout the season when some of us can get together for a day or two of car/alcohol-related fun. But for one glorious weekend in August, we can all gather in a field under a summer sun, throw aside the sturm und drang of everyday living and become a proper living, breathing community.
So I'd just like to thank everyone on the organising team for their sterling efforts this year. You people are incredible.
And I'd like to thank everyone I high-fived, hugged, shared a drink and shared deep, meaningful conversation ('stratospherically philosophical' as Bruce put it ;D ) and unprintable drunken jokes and conversation with.
I had the best time. The BEST time.
RRG13. 357 sleeps away.
Brian
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Brian Damaged
West Midlands
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 9,555
Club RR Member Number: 33
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Aug 23, 2012 18:42:33 GMT
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Love it. I would love mine even more with half the amount of doors and 50% extra cylinders. :-)
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Brian Damaged
West Midlands
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 9,555
Club RR Member Number: 33
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Aug 22, 2012 18:40:59 GMT
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Guys - I think I'm onto something I don't need an estate as such, I just can't help thinking they look better then the saloons? Plus, it would make an epic oversees weekend trip/getaway car. What wheel fitment do the 405's use? I say chaps, keep the pictures coming! They are EPIC motors. PSA's 1.9 Diesel is probably the best small high-revving diesel ever made, capable of incredible mileages if well-serviced (some guy up in Scotland has one with 800,000 on the clock). Will sit on the motorway all day at silly speed and still do 45-50mpg. Wheel fitment on them is 4x108mm, shared with the 205/309/406 and also the Citroen BX/ZX/Xantia.
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Brian Damaged
West Midlands
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 9,555
Club RR Member Number: 33
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Campsite ClearupBrian Damaged
@damaged
Club Retro Rides Member 33
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Aug 22, 2012 18:28:05 GMT
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I can't speak for any other camp, but on behalf of 'The Bottom Of The Hill Crew' (we're thinking of having T-shirts done with that on for next year ) down in The Swamp I'd like to nominate VIP and Speedman for their sterling efforts on Sunday morning clearing 'our' area up. Speedman and myself had done a similar job first thing on Saturday to make sure we hadn't got an absolute mountain of beer bottles and cans to clear up before we left. I couldn't really understand that criticism either, much like 2011 I saw plenty of folks carting black sacks full of garbage when I left the camping field.
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Brian Damaged
West Midlands
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 9,555
Club RR Member Number: 33
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Aug 22, 2012 16:52:23 GMT
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Thanks for that James.
Understandable I guess, if a little over-zealous on Cannock Chase DC's part IMHO.
I'll keep a watching brief on Incarace's website and keep all interested parties aware of any developments.
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Brian Damaged
West Midlands
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 9,555
Club RR Member Number: 33
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Aug 21, 2012 20:44:09 GMT
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I live in Worcestershire, and deliver to Reading regularly (and know Lawsy well). curse word the postage, I'll happily step in and act as courier. Just don't tell my gaffer.
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Brian Damaged
West Midlands
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 9,555
Club RR Member Number: 33
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Aug 20, 2012 19:23:18 GMT
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That is one SERIOUS weapon. I had two of my rallying compadres with me watching you going up the hill, it takes a lot to impress a bloke who pilots a Talbot Sunbeam with a 260bhp XE in it, but he was absolutely gobsmacked by that Astra. Fantastic.
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Brian Damaged
West Midlands
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 9,555
Club RR Member Number: 33
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Aug 20, 2012 15:55:53 GMT
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There ya go. Resized, inverted through 180 degrees, and brightened up a bit. You don't get that on Auto-Trader. ;D GLWTS.
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Brian Damaged
West Midlands
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 9,555
Club RR Member Number: 33
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Aug 20, 2012 14:57:57 GMT
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The Lotus-coloured Cortina with the Zetec belongs to Pappa69 Gorgeous car. We actually thought it was a BDA at first! ;D
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Brian Damaged
West Midlands
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 9,555
Club RR Member Number: 33
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Aug 20, 2012 12:15:19 GMT
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It was one of those magic moments that just....happens. Loved the spontaneous ripples of applause from the campsite, too. What a magical weekend.
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Brian Damaged
West Midlands
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 9,555
Club RR Member Number: 33
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Aug 19, 2012 21:54:37 GMT
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Brian Damaged
West Midlands
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 9,555
Club RR Member Number: 33
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Aug 19, 2012 21:35:44 GMT
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Great photos, especially that 'Stang. If anyone's contemplating a day out, IWM Duxford is absolutely brilliant. You need a full day to get round the museum, but it's awesome.
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Brian Damaged
West Midlands
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 9,555
Club RR Member Number: 33
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Aug 19, 2012 21:15:36 GMT
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Jeez I wouldn't wanna try and take the donut off that bloke.... :-O I'm actually quite harmless. ;D I've actually just sat here typing a far more exhaustive account of the proceedings, but prefer your more concise version Steve! As always, it was an absolute pleasure spending the best 50 hours of my entire year in your company. I've just had an hour-long soak in the bath, but can't bring myself to take my RRG wristband off. What an INCREDIBLE weekend. A MASSIVE thankyou from me to all the organising team for their efforts. I thought last year's gathering couldn't be topped, but you guys managed it and then some.
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Brian Damaged
West Midlands
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 9,555
Club RR Member Number: 33
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Aug 16, 2012 22:24:36 GMT
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My God. That's AWESOME.
Welcome to Retro-Rides!!
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