Abbey Hill Steam Rally. Wot I saw.

[mercrocker]

Better late than never, been back to work for what seems like a month, but this was on down Yeovil way over the Bank On It Raining-day weekend.   

 

Shotgun-carrier Junkman style....

 

 

 

Nice '55 Pontiac.....

 

 

 

A Somerset in Somerset 

 

 

 

This sounded ace...

 

 

 

Grand-dad to the Sierra Base...

 

 

 

Nice car but minus 20 points for unnecessary badge affix-ation and I won't mention the Ghia interior.   Ambla rules....

 

 

 

Giffer's day out - only enhanced by the rain.

 

 

This was a bit of alright 

 

 

Of course, do not paint....

 

 

 

One of my favourite cars of the weekend.   Appropriately enough, the TV in the club house was showing OHMSS that evening!

 

 

Shite gatherings are not complete without one of these...

 

 

Very old and ginormous, so was the bloke driving it...

 

 

 

This was another vehicle that sounded flippin' great...

 

 

 

I developed unnatural feelings toward this...

 

 

 

Orl Voxhalls not shite shocker...

 

 

 

 

Not my taste in rimz but nice to see this...

 

 

One for the "better from the back" thread, nice little bobtail Ford 

 

Delightfully shabby Herald 

 

 

Bloody Dagenham Hell Fire - A Hooper Capri.   Nah, too common - A Hooper Capri GT.   Actually The Hooper Capri GT.

 

 

 

Want any sheep shearing, mate?

 

 

 

 

Alright its another bloody Ford... Sorry about the shit behind it. 

 

 

 

OK have some Truck Shite -

 

 

 

 

Add some Tractor Shite...

 

 

 

And its goodbye (quite literally) from the White Helmets - Royal Signals Motorcycle Display Team who are in the last of their 90 years owing to Army toss-pots deciding they are No Longer Relevant.   Farewell, lads, been enjoying your shows for 40 years..... 

 

 

 

They are still using T140 Bonnies, too...

 

 

 

 

That's all, folks, well nearly.....Have another Capri shot

[Spottedlaurel]

I'm impressed to see that the Bluebird Estate is still around. I tried to help the original owner find a buyer for it a few years ago, it did go to someone but he wasn't able to keep it and it's been through one or two others since. It had been used as a taxi until 1990 and had done a lot of miles. As it was back in 2013:

 

1984 Nissan Bluebird 1.8GL Estate (910) by Spottedlaurel, on Flickr

[mercrocker]

Looks like it is being enjoyed, still.....Had a "Parts Wanted" notice in the window so might be a keeper for a while.

[UmBongo]

Are those Wover estates weally ware?

 

And that Datsun Bluebird, or rather those hideous wheels. What was he thinking?

[Uncle Jimmy]

Odd but by no means unpleasant these steam fairs, I was up at one in Norfolk last Sunday; a LOT of tractor and even combine shite and a hundredish cars. Lot of Fords there including a totally original mk3 Consul. I enjoy a natter with some of the owners though they can be strange!

[PiperCub]

Was sad to hear about the disbanding later this year of the White Helmets team on the TV a couple of weeks ago. As you say, defined as 'No longer relevant' was the BS the army PR-type Johnny was spouting but no-one was swallowing! (I can think of things that are 'Not relevant' too, PR idiots for one).

 

This really misses the point of there existence as far as I can see, they are & always have been, a tremendous PR tool for the military, pretty much anyone over the age of 25 has seen them at one time or another especially if you've ever been to a Royal Tournament etc show. What are they proposing to replace it with? Let me guess, maybe an iPad based virtual experience? Yeah, for sure, that sounds way more exciting than nice old motorbikes roaring around doing seemingly dangerous things, lots of noise, smells, colour and action.

 

I wonder how many times down the years people in the WH's audience have turned to each other and said 'I say, this is not very relevant is it'.

 

(Apologies for the rant - this type of bullshit really angers me). 

[mercrocker]

Rant justified.  

 

As I said to anybody who would listen whilst they were doing their act -  

 

Does the modern Army not value training, discipline, team-work, trust, motivation?

Not to mention excellent public relations and awareness. 

 

I referred to having enjoyed their act for 40 years.  As usual, I have lost a decade somewhere...It was the 1967 Royal Tournament I first saw them at.   

They were jumping over a GT6 then!

[PiperCub]

Similarly, I'd seen them on TV but the first time live was also at a Royal Tournament in 1976 IIRC - went there as one of our local Cub Scout pack! Was sitting in the front row and we were all excited about being showered with grit/gravel as they barrelled around the arena. This is exciting when you're ten!!!

[UmBongo]

The Bluebird estate is owned by a chap who works at the garage across from me - pretty sure it's his first car!

 

Can you have a quiet word about dem wheels, Guv?

[mercrocker]

I blame Mattel....