East Coast Retros Car Meet

[trigger]

As many of you know me and a mate run a local car meet to us here in Suffolk called East Coast Retros, once a month over the summer we have a monthly meet at a pub called the Shipwreck at Shotley Marina, when we started 5 years ago we got 10 cars in a evening, now it's anywhere between 150-200 cars depending on the weather and day of the week.

 

Last nights was a bit mental!, to the point that i was having a bit of a meltdown due to the number of cars and spaces, Sadly i didn't get to see a lot of stuff as i was trying to park cars up until 9pm although i did get to thoroughly enjoy having a drive of Semi-C's Cortina GXL and Spottedlaurels little Datsun 1200, both drove amazingly nicely! Sadly as i was so busy i didn't get time to take many photos but i have got some photos that others have took. Enjoy.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Angrydicky]

Some beautiful cars there! I'll try and get to the next one; I was aware it was on yesterday but I didn't finish work until 6 and was too knackered to drive up.

 

Who does the Daimler Conquest belong to? I'd love to have a closer look at that 

[wuvvum]

Conquest was lovely ('twas a Century I believe).  Made me wish I'd held on to mine.

[Spottedlaurel]

A few of mine from last night:

 

 

Orwell Bridge achieved. I had feared the journey down the A140 and along the A14 on such a hot day might have caused me a problem, but my efforts in getting the radiator recored and having new hoses fitted appears to have paid off as the needle stayed in the middle of the temperature gauge all the way there.

 

 

As I pulled away from taking that shot I ended up following this. The Avenger is a formative influence on me, it's the first family car I remember as we had one new one when I just two.

 

 

Familiar Triumph, looking very smart. Spoke to the Bond owner, he only recently got it back on the road and various parts had to be specially made. Looked an amusing thing to trundle round in on a fine summer evening.

 

 

Beetle coupe/ute was cleverly done.

 

 

Wuvvum's old Sud was in attendance.

 

 

I always end up taking photos of this, it's quite wondrous and is something I would happily own.

 

 

Twin wipers!

 

 

As seen on this beauty (neatly parked-up next to the co-ordinating Capri). I kind of know the owner, looks like I might be able to help him with one or two bits.

 

 

Semi-C's delightful Mk3.

 

 

With its funky, pre-facelift interior. I was chuffed to able to get behind the wheel and have a drive in it myself. We had three Mk3s as family cars back in the ‘70s so it was a bit of an ambition achieved to finally drive one. I liked it muchly.

 

 

More AS content than meets the eye here. I was following my own car whilst driving the Cortina and Wuvvum got this shot. We then ended up being followed by Trigger's Triumph, but he was in the Cortina with us. A lot of key swapping was taking place, hopefully we all ended up with the right ones at the end of the night.

 

 

When Wuvvum and I went out in Trigger's car later on this quite randomly started playing on the concealed stereo. We both agreed the Triumph was a very pleasant thing to drive and be passengered in, could easily do a long journey in it.

 

All in all, an excellent night out and many thanks to Trigger and the rest of the ECR people for organising it.

 

The weather was glorious and it was the perfect excuse to take the 1200 out and make sure it runs happily on a longish journey in the heat (I know it’s OK in the rain after last month’s meet.....). I took some boxes of magazines which I’d intended trying to sell but couldn’t be bothered, as there were too many cars to look at. They seem to have quelled some noise/vibration issues, as it did seem a bit smoother. Still got them in there when I brought it into work this morning….

[trigger]

I did take a very quick video of the convoy whist i was in the back of the Cortina, it's like driving in the 70's again! Hopefully this link works. 

 

https://www.facebook.com/dockertrigger/posts/10154958860362087?pnref=story

[Semi-C]

What a reet good do it was last night, got to gorge myself on a plethora of smut (280c estate, Wartburg Knight & a sedicivalvole Tipo amongst countless others).

Met up with Trigger, Cortinaboy, Wuvvum & Spottedlaurel off of here (the latter brace for the first time, twas a pleasure) and had a bit of a car swap-a-thon.

Triggers Dolomite was roomier than I would have imagined and it drove in a manner that befits it's condition (fabtastic, in case you wondered)

The Datsun 1200 was and is my new most favourite thing. How could something that looks so compact, feel so comfortable to occupy? It was like driving an imaginary car it was so effortless, fantabulous.

I had never driven examples of either of those models before so it felt a bit like losing your virginity in a Christina Aguilera/Katherine Ryan three way.

Apologies to Wuvvum and Spottedlaurel for failing to say goodbye, Lady-C had decided it was hometime just as you set off in the Dolomite.

[Brodders]

As usual that looks like it was a superb evening. Unfortunately I had 3 exams today, so wasn't able to make it down there, but probably will be able to for the July one.

 

Some amazing looking cars there anyway, but I have to say that the Cortina looks amazing, especially the interior, which just looks perfect. I am also strangely drawn to the Avenger too for some reason.

[trigger]

I had to have a lay down after driving the Cortina and if the truth be known it's still playing on my mind. That offer still stands if you do change your mind!

[Semi-C]

I was the same after my go in your Dolomite, couldn't lay on my front though...

 

Your interest has been noted!

[RoadworkUK]

This looked like a fantastic meet, and with a far richer variety of tin than you see at more 'official' events.

 

Top effort, Trig.

[alcyonecorporation]

ECR meets are verily qual.

[MarinaJosh]

Cheers for a great meetup. Your Dolly drove beautifully- lovely driving position. One thing I forgot to mention is I thought the throttle pedal felt quite stiff, not sure if it needs a bit of lube? It's not as stiff as I was driving it mind you.

 

The Datsun was a lovely car to be in, even if it meant there was far too much 'accidental' leg touching.

 

Even better was I got overtaken by seven of the usual chavs in a 30 on the way back and one of them got a puncture!

[59Impala]

Some lovely stuff there. The Consul Capri brings back memories as back in the glorious 1970's we had about five of them in our rod and custom club, indeed I borrowed one for a while from a mate. The Chrysler is lovely, reminds me of a late friend's car which sadly he never got to drive much as he got struck down by the big C. Love the GXL Mk3 Cortina, my boss had one new in that colour, private reg 2358IA. My dad also had a new Mk3 which he let me have a hand with ordering. So to my 17yo self back in 1971/2 we ended with a two door 1600L in red with a black vinyl roof and interior, radio and sports wheels. It looked pretty spiffy and I've never seen one the same. Sadly KMC328K no longer exists.