Fast Marina Magazine

I have just been told about this event http://www.claphamclassicevents.co.uk/

UK Roadster Nationals - Sunday 4th July 2010

UK Pick-Up and Van Nationals - Sunday 15th August 2010

Twinwood End of Season Get Together - Sunday 5th September 2010

Wow these are right on my door-step and I didn't know about them. Nothing in the local papers at all.

Hi jiversteve and marinacoupe!

We just found your posting on google and were chuffed you'd found out about us. We've just had a Roadster show at Twinwoods which was reported in the local press and we have leafleted etc to spread the word and will be advertising in the BoS and T and C just before the next show.
If anyone from your forum fancies coming along to one of our shows you would be most welcome either as participants in the main show area or as a special interest vehicle depending on the make and model you have.

UK Pick-Up and Van Nationals
Twinwood Airfield, Clapham, Bedford
Sunday 15th August, 10am to 4.30pm
The main show area is open to all special interest pick-ups, vans, woodies, estates and countryman type vehicles including Classic, Americans, Veteran, Custom, Hot Rods and Replicas. These participants will receive a crystal cube memento and are eligible to enter a free prize draw to win £300.
There is a separate display area for other vehicles of special interest and a car park nearby for the general public.

Twinwood End of Season Get Together
Sunday 5th September, 10am to 4.30pm
The show is open to all pre 1980 vehicles including Classic, Americans, Veteran, Custom, Hot Rods and Motorbikes manufactured before 1980, replica vehicles manufactured in pre 1980 style.These participants will on a first come first served basis while stocks last, receive a crystal cube memento and are eligible to enter a free prize draw to win £300. There is a separate display area for post 1980 vehicles of special interest. Members of the public are welcome.

Other attractions for both shows include an autojumble, trade stands, food stalls, bar, music and entry to the Glenn Miller and WW2 museums. Entry payable on the day (includes entry to museums) – Special Interest vehicles- Adults £6. General Public- Adults £8. All Children 5-16yrs £3, under 5’s free http://www.claphamclassicevents.co.uk

We're all set to go, looking forward to Sunday and are expecting a pretty eclectic mix of pick-ups and vans. We had some great feedback about the venue from people who came to the Roadster show and who enjoyed the relaxed atmosphere, picnic areas, the Glenn Miller and amazing World War 2 museums and of course the Officers Mess Bar.

All other special interest vehicles and public are welcome too!

For anyone coming for the first time, please check the final destination on our web site, some of the SatNav instructions are wrong!

Twinwood End of Season Get Together 5th SeptemberTwinwood End of Season Get Together 5th September

Clapham Classic Events are holding their third and final event for the year at Twinwood Airfield in Clapham, Beds. This show follows the successful UK Roadster Nationals and UK Pick-Up and Van Nationals. (Check out http://www.claphamclassicevents.co.uk/pickupvan.htm for the show report and amateur photos in the gallery. For professional photos Clever Captures took these pics:- http://www.clevercaptures.com/Cars/Clap ... sic-Events )

The Get Together’s main display area has been expanded to include all kinds of interesting cars, vans, motorbikes and scooters. There will be an eclectic mix of pre 1980 Classics, Americans, Hot Rods and replica vehicles of a pre 1980 style. These participants will receive (on a first come first served basis while stocks last) a crystal cube memento and an entry into a free prize draw to win £300. These will be displayed next to the authentic World War 2 buildings and Glenn Miller Museum. Post 1980 special interest vehicles will have their own show area and there’ll also be a large hard standing display area for all motorbikes and scooters.

What was RAF Twinwood during the Second World War is now a series of fascinating and authentic museums which will interest all the family. The setting brings the atmosphere alive of what it was like for everyone, adults and children alike during those dark days of British history. There’s everything from aviation to the fire service, the Naafi and the Waaf billet right down to an air raid shelter and a prefab house. From the control Tower you can step into the shoes of Glenn Miller just before he disappeared during his ill fated flight to France in December 1944.

The Pick-Up show drew many compliments and is summed up with this comment: “Just wanted to say thank you for a fantastic day on Sunday, the kids loved the museums and the quiz and asking the DJ for their favourite songs, great setting, great cars, nice people, doesn’t get much better than that, CHEERS.” Steve (1941 ford truck)

So if you fancy an interesting and entertaining day out come along and enjoy the show, the museums, picnic areas, food stalls, trade stands, Officers Mess bar and music by DJ Big Gazza.

Opening hours 10am- 4.30pm
Entry prices: Show vehicles £6 per person, general public £8, children £3.
For more information http://www.claphamclassicevents.co.uk or Dave or Lesley 01234 824987

We're all set and ready to go for the third and final event of the year and once again Lesley's booked nice weather for the occasion.

This time we move away from the specialist types of vehicles and into anything pre 80. If you haven't already visited us at Twinwood (or if you have and fancy a bit more), please join us on Sunday for a chillaxing day, enjoying the sunshine, the cars and all the other stuff we've got on.

If you are a first timer, beware the SatNav gremlins that can send you to the wrong place. Once you get to Clapham, Bedford follow the car show signs.

Dave and Lesley

Planning on coming tomorrow, I'll post pics and a brief report.

All

As promised some pics (lots of pics) and a brief show report. As this show is virtually on my doorstep, it seemed rude not to go, I wanted to suss it out as a possible venue for the club for future years, as it falls after what is usually the last show of the year over the August Bank Holiday weekend.

The location is Twin Woods Farm Airfield just outside Bedford, an ex WW2 American Airbase. It's main notoriety is that band leader Glen Miller flew from here to France and never arrived. Why Bedford? well during the war the BBC used Bedford Corn Exchange as it's recording venue for a lot of its live broadcasts of big band music. After the war like many other sites the airfield was forgotten and returned to agriculture although the runway remained well into the 1980s. All that remains now is the perimeter road and most of the buildings. A WW2 aircraft museum has sprung up, run by volunteers, in the buildings dedicated to the US 8th Airforce and there is a Glen Miller museum alongside http://www.twinwoodairfield.co.uk/. The venue is now used for concerts of all kinds and now car shows. End of history lesson.

I chatted with Dave Brown one of the organisers during the day http://www.claphamclassicevents.co.uk/ and he said that what they were trying to achieve was a laid back, anything goes mix of cars and I think that they were very successful. There was everything from pre-war Bentleys and Lanchesters, through standard British and American classics, to Hot Rods and Drag Cars. The local motorcycle club also made a good showing. The cars and bikes were mixed in with the museum buildings and once in (£6.00 entry if showing your car) access to everything was free. The museum is definitely worth a visit on its own, so showing the car as well made for a good day out.

On arrival I picked a spot and within seconds took a call from Vermillion who was driving in so we parked together. Lot's of appreciative comments on the cars (no Marina bashing) and everyone wanted to talk about theirs too. So, somewhere for next year - definitely.



Vermillion (Gary) had brought his new Siberian Husky puppy (Sasha) and we took turns in walking her during the day, she's a beauty and a great magnet for women, all of whom wanted to stroke the pup (not Gary).

Looks like a good show. 8)
Thanks for sharing.

Thanks Chris for your kind remarks and for sharing your photos. We're glad you enjoyed the event. It seems we achieved what we set out to do when we organised these events and we hope to build on this in years to come.

As it happens, your Marinas have a special mention in my event report which will be on our web site as soon as Clever Captures have completed their work on their photos. I'll post again when it goes live.

As you saw there is plenty of room at this venue and one of our plans for next year is to offer designated space to clubs if they would like to have "a show within a show" which will give small clubs the opportunity to have their own "meet" without the pain of the organisation and the expense of hiring a venue, first aid etc etc. Once we've set our dates for next year we'll let you know and we hope to see you, Gary and the dog along with some other marinas!

Thanks again.

Lesley and Dave

The event report and photos are now available on our web site

http://www.claphamclassicevents.co.uk/gettogether.htm

We'll post next year's Clapham Classic Events dates as soon as they become available.

Dave and Lesley