ELITE 1000 (E1K) - DUBS AT THE PARK 2018:
Another show and another club stand for Elite 1000 (E1K) . The obligatory rubbish weather was not forecast for May this year BUT for the weekend of Dubs at the Park it had turned a little colder, year on year though the climate in and around the Easthampstead Park Conference Centre always seems to pull through.
Last year I attended in jeans a t-shirt and a jumper and some timberland boots. The weather got hot very quickly and I spent a very uncomfortable day crouching in front of cars with the camera. I think at one point I returned to the Elite 1000 stand with the other members and took my boots and socks off just to air myself out LOL.
So with this in mind, I took the precaution of packing a set of cargo shorts in case the weather did its usual trick of catching me unawares.
The shout was made via social media about a week before the show to the organisers and a stand was agreed.
Now, this show is right on my doorstep and I have been an attendee for quite a few years. In all honesty, there are never any big surprises. We know the show, we know the venue and we know exactly what we will get…. And what is that you ask for those who have not attended?
Well, you get a show with a very friendly atmosphere. The organisers can’t do enough to help accommodate. They are friendly and helpful and want to maintain the reputation of a show where no matter the level of modification of your “Dub” from subtle to highly modified it’s welcome.
Kids play in the fountain, adults chat and catch up with friends, BBQs, and gas stoves are aplenty and it’s nice to just sit and chill with cub members and new found friends.
If there was a show to compare it to I would say it’s very similar in feel to Stonor in Henley on Thames. I'll let you into a secret...I think the air-cooled lot have a big influence on this. Generally, they are a lot cooler and a lot more chilled out that the water cooled cousins ( I am one of these) and I think it rubs off on the show goers.
It’s lovely to hear children play, dogs bark and generally people laughing and enjoying themselves.
My only gripe this year was someone with a very loud stereo system, dropping base and making people’s lives in the lower field a misery. If that’s what you’re into my friend, go take your car to “tracks or fast car live shows”. Does it have a place at this show? I would say not.
So another year has past and the show remains a sable date in the calendar. Show your support for a cracking show and if you haven’t been yet… What are you waiting for?
See you next year.
Scott.
The London Cartel Early Showdown 25/03/2018
Last minute.com is what this was... I had considered going earlier in the week, but there were a few things at home needed sorting with the house move, etc. that looked to keep me busy. But an opening occurred so off to London town I went.
Arriving in North London to the famous Ace Cafe is always a pleasure. I didn't park in the car park due to me knowing there would be places that had been pre-paid for this event, so I hid the R32 under the arches out of the way.
The event was bustling already on my arrival. I got there about twenty past five and the car park was starting to fill. I had a quick chat with Sanjiv and some of the London Cartel gang and of course Mark Wilsmore (owner of the Ace).
Once the entertainment was set up and the music started, Sanjiv was on the mike as always giving his own unique running commentary.
Lots of variety of different cars / vans on display. High end BMW's lots of VW & Audi's. Some cool old school Fords and a couple of Japanese drift cars. Oh and we can’t forget about that V8 Ford Popular hot rod.
The guys at London Cartel again pulled off a brilliant mini show. How they find the time with their London Cartel International Auto Show which takes place on the 19.08.2018 is anyone’s guess.
If the London runs and the events that they have put on to date are anything to go by their Auto show will be immense.
See you guys / girls soon.
Scott.
Cars & Coffee Hosted by Regal Autosport // Pride & Performance
Early morning car cleaning.
Zero temperatures… Snow blizzards… Hang on are we not going into spring? With this in mind, I knew I had to get up the next morning and wash the crud off the car from where I took it down the country lanes to go get it serviced at A & T Motors.
Waking up on Saturday morning it didn’t seem that cold outside. Boy was I wrong. I think it has to be one of the quickest washes the old girl has had. Although I did manage to do a Facebook live video. It was that cold that the water was actually freezing on the car as I was washing her.
So car washed, now it was time to rally the kids. Not the best at engaging in what I love, but slowly and surely, I am wearing them down. The closer my daughter gets to her driving age, the more engaging she is becoming. Hinting at a Polo as a first car. Of course, it will be slightly modified. The boy… well all I get out of him at the moment id football talk, which to a Welshman is like speaking Chinese.
Car cleaned and off we set. Kids keep laughing at the faces of other drivers who spot the decals on the side and back of the car. Lots of street cred coming my way from these two LOL.
So we got down to Southampton about 10:20hrs, not a bad run from us to be fair. Took us about 50 mins and we were taking it easy in the bad weather conditions.
On arriving at Regal Autosport the roads leading to the entrance were littered with stunning German automobiles and as I passed the entrance I thought I spotted an open space in the car park to get the car into. After reversing the car into that space, I was promptly told… “sorry this is reserved for someone else”. Oh well, it was worth the effort and then I went and parked the car a street or so away like the proverbial dog with its tail between its legs.
When I returned to the car park of Regal, there were plenty of people attending, lots of others with cameras and filming rigs and there was a nice selection of metal on display.
I met up with my good friend Ben Fisher for a chat and caught up with fellow Photographer Jason Cornish. You can’t miss him at an even his is a tall statue of a man and a good man at that. I had a quick chat with Jake Edginton and Tom Merchant. Both making the trip in Toms rather “quick” edition 30.
There was a nice selection of other German makes outside of the car park. Mercs, BMWs with the odd mustang thrown in for good measure. I have to say that the girl in the white BMW ragging down the estate had some bottle and the car sounded awesome as did the Merc that was following her example. Both must have gone through a sizable amount of petrol to be fair. Sadly, a lone black Vauxhall Corsa seemed to think he was in the same league. Unfortunately, it was just embarrassing.
The guys at Regal Autosport & Pride and Performance laid on hot drinks and some very much-needed sugary doughnuts from Crispy crème. My daughter’s eyes lit upon seeing these, so thank you guys for keeping the peace.
In the cold temperatures, I think we stayed for about an hour and a half. Just enough time to get around the cars I wanted to shoot, enough time for the kids to have enjoyed but not to moan about leaving.
All in all a successful day by the joint venture and possibly more of them to come. The enthusiasm is there, the attendance is strong but as always, we are at the mercy of good old blighty and its weather.
See you at an event soon…
Scott.
