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Day 1
Flying out on Friday 13th November nearly proved to be unlucky for all 8 of us when the pilot announced that the flight would be delayed due to the rear door not shutting properly, after a mere 30minutes the problem was resolved (Normal Flybe delay time anyway!) and so Myself, Chris, Ruben, Ernie, Barry, Charlie, Martyn and Malcolm were on our way to enjoy 3 days of classic cars, crusty pies and beer! (there can be few better ways for a bloke to spend a weekend!).
We arrived a little late due to Flybe's policy of not getting you to your destination at the time they agreed when you booked the ticket! and headed straight off to the show.
Our tickets were kindly provided by the Sporting Bears, and once in the NEC we all headed off in different directions after agreeing where to meet up at the end of the day.
Chris however had managed to loose his digital camera between the Airport and the NEC, happily some honest soul had handed it in, so Chris was able to fill the memory card with more Landcrab based pics!
Friday, normally press or preview day was busier than last year, but with so much to see we set about the different halls to drool over the 1000 cars on display!
Soon it was time for the first pie of the trip (Wild Boar and Mushroom) which was very fine indeed, We roamed the halls staring at various lovely classics, and also some cars that Chris liked! There was a huge auto-jumble area which is always fun to have a good nose around, and yes I was able to add to my collection of James Bond Aston Martin DB5's. Having been a bit starved of red meat of late, I persuaded Chris that a meaty snack from the Real English Sausage company would keep us going for the rest of the day (well till the evening meal at any road) this was a good choice as all that walking had worked up a good appetite.
At the end of day one we had barely scratched the surface, and we still had one unexplored hall to view the following day.
We Checked into the travel lodge in Yardley and later decamped to the Nearby Harvester Restaurant where we devoured delicious but defenceless bits of grilled animals!
Day 2
Day 2 Started as every day should with a Bacon Sandwich and a huge mug of coffee!
Thus fuelled we set off for a full day of classic car bliss! We headed for the hall full of American cars and soooo many lovely muscle cars on display and for sale.
Chris's eye was drawn towards a Purple Metallic Plymouth Barracuda with a metallic pink interior that had just been restored and was an export model fitted with right hand drive, it was also for sale! I know that Brenda would have like the colour, however it was about 17 foot long! I too was drawn towards a bright yellow 1970 v8 Mustang convertible but at £9,500 a tad expensive for something exhibiting quite so much filler in its lower area's.
As the day worn on another Pie stop was called for (Wild Boar and Mushroom) Saturday is always a busy day at the show, and I was glad we did the MPH (Top Gear) display the day before, as it was packed out on the Saturday, not that the display was up to much, James May had his Rolls Royce on display and Richard Hammond had his Morgan on show, Jeremy Clarkson also displayed the MG Midget he used in one of this years earlier shows, however the terrible trio (wanted for war crimes against Morris Marina's) were no where to be seen, too busy racking in yet more cash no doubt from the live MPH show, and at £42 per ticket plus all the stands selling Top Gear Junk (Souvenirs) It's big business!
Another day drew to a close, and once again we found ourselves at the Harvester, where steak seemed to be the order of the day, rinsed down with the finest ale Yardley had to offer! That night however my sleep was disturbed by what I later found out was the Police arresting some people in the Travel Lodge at 3.40am, things didn't really settle down till gone 5am, so lost a bit of kip there!
Day 3
The final day and refreshed with another hot meat based sandwich we hit the stands for the last time picking up those last minute bits and pieces that every classic car fan feels they need! Another swing past the Crusty Pie Company saw we break with tradition and scoff down a pasty, Chris (ever the fundamentalist) stuck to the Wild Boar and Mushroom, have to admit I wish I had followed suit, but there is no use in crying over crumbled pastry! All too soon it was time to head off for the Airport, and all too soon we were delayed again by Flybe, not sure what the reason was this time! Maybe they just don't like us!
Eventually we made it back to good old Guernsey and went our separate ways. I don't have a date for next years show yet, but rest assured we'll be there flying the flag for Guernsey and eating all the pies we can! And looking at some old cars while we're at it!
Thanks to all the guys! It was a fun filled weekend.
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