OBSERVATIONS AT A CAR SHOW

BY DISPSTICK PETER MOORE

In April, your Dipsticks sent a contingent to the annual Shannons Classic Car Show at Ascot Racecourse, an event that attracts all sorts of shiny and/or gruesome vehicles, a few funsters and a few cars that are actually interesting (to your scribe at least). Darlo was represented by a Mk7 Jag (for sale), a lovely Ford Crestline (more later), the inimitable Citroen Light 11, an MGA and a Roller. The little Caravelle was a non-starter because it did not feel well on the day.

I was driven to the event in the Jag which is really an old truck in a sleek body. It sounds very early 50s, steered similarly and was not particularly interesting until Sir Richard got its revs above 2500rpm. That’s when it actually felt exciting and made even more so by the lack of seat belts. I do hope RP gets a few decent bids for it. Young Barry’s recently acquired Crestline is a beast that grows on you after you realize how old it (side valve V8) is and wonder at the lack of glitzy chrome. Proportions are sweet, sound is good and definitely appears comfortable. And the hood, oh the Hood…. The MGA, Roller and TA were their usual selves with Mark C still sorting gremlins before the old tart is waved goodbye down the track.

After we assembled the marquee and made ourselves comfortable, the crowd had started to wander through, and this quickly built to very decent numbers by 11am and stayed that way for a few hours.

I found that many would look at our cars, many nose prints on windows until I had a bright idea when no other Dippers were around – open the bonnets/ hoods and get some more attention. This was obvious with the TA which had already been opened up and the crowds slowed and studied it closely. When more bonnets were raised, viewers grouped around for a decent inspection of the dark insides, allowing for a few ‘aficionados’ to quibble about stuff just not quite right but most just enjoyed the opportunity to check out under the hood – an opportunity offered by very few other cars on display on the day. In practical terms if you can’t see the bits, you may as well stay at home thumping your keyboard for your dreams.

And what of the other many cars on site – lots of overly shiny steel (and plastic) but as I enjoy cars that are actually used once in a while and not just kept polished to satisfy the owners ego. Our Mk7 was probably the only Jag saloon at the show, Raima’s contribution to supporting the UK economy with her Silver Ectoplasm I believe the only Roller (I could be wrong or just blind). Leaving aside the grossly over embellished bogan Frauds, General Mutters and recent skanky Southern Europeans, I did tend to focus on the exceptions rather than the downright common. Probably in reminiscence of my youth (back then, not now, Eloise) cars such as a 1920’s Amilcar roadster, a couple of nice Frogeye Sprites, a Renault Alpine A110 (all rallied up) that appears thankfully at all of the shows, a wonderful Daimler Landaulette with enough room in the Main Compartment for a decent poker game (or orgy) without troubling the uniformed driver behind his glass screen. The old Morries, Austins, and Vauxhalls (we had to send Richard out more than once to find something resembling his recent Bremer beast) were worth spending some time on and the 60s and 70s French and Italian commoners were worthwhile including a very nice R8 Gordini although the 2CV that was built some years ago as a fully EV I was expecting and did not see.

The phalanxes of plastic Cobra copies were a bit of a gross statement but hiding in the batch was I believe a Real One and now worth squillions. The similar lines of Corvettes were also fairly boring although I do get excited with a simple C1 that has not been overly chromed up. Young Malcolm, had he attended would have been dismayed with another Caravelle / Floride present. This beauty was perfectly restored and had an ice blue over white body with white trim and body matching ice blue inserts in the seats. I reckon Mal would have either (a) married the owner (b) draped himself over the bonnet in a matching G-string or (c) just thrown up! Option b is an unpleasant thought so good that Mal stayed in Darlo on the day.

Our neighbouring displays with Toploaders and Subaru utes were worth a giggle and all in good humour. The Landrover men from Team W4 on the other side mainly parked their trucks and disappeared or muttered darkly about how Solihull got it right and saved the World.

By the witching hour of 3pm we were thoroughly done and allowed to leave which we did with alacritude. It is truly wonderful how quickly you can drop and pack a marquee when you can think of better things to do, like find a cold Sem Sauv Blanc to settle the day. Next year, we should display more, maybe have the story boards out and take our own cold drinks as we do for DAF as a warm day was draining. So much for next Year.          

PLF (channelling LJK if only he could)