Manky Monkey Motors

Good Friday bank holiday.
Surrey Street Rodders' 41st Wheels Day show.
Back at it's regular venue of Rushmoor Arena, Aldershot, Surrey.

Pre entry only for the first time with a 500 car limit -no show vehicle entry on the day.
No dogs on site.
For many it's the big show season opener. See you there.

Just got email saying I can get in with the trike :D

Have you pre entered the Pop Andy.

Congratulations Tel.
I sent the email to the address they advertised, but they didn't send any confirmation that they'd received it -so I think I entered.
No word from them this evening, so either I didn't get in or I'll be in the 2nd batch of 250 cars they'll announce later.

To be perfectly honest, I'm not that bothered. We did the show once in the Pop -it's maiden voyage actually, & it'd be nice to do it again, but if it doesn't make the cut, there's plenty of other events to go to. I'd still go to Wheels Day, but just as a normal punter.

Have been popping along as a 'normal' ( ::)) punter since the 70's when it was at the cattle market in Slyfiled Green. I used to go to this, mates used to go the Transatlantic bike races at Brands, that was pre M25 days.

Got the confirmation email from the organisers this morning, so yup, we're going.
I've been going, & taking various bikes, trikes & Morris Minors, for 30 years or so & remember one year in particular at Slyfield when it lashed down with rain all day & there weren't more than 50 cars there at any one time, with owners huddled inside them, peering out at the weather.
I know they need to reduce numbers to a more manageable level & cut out the mundane vehicles that no-one wants to pay money to see, & the SSR are friends, (they were our local club when Tazet & I lived together in Guildford & always invited us to their events), plus they're obviously raising a huge amount of money for charity, but I must admit a little voice in the back of my head keeps saying I don't want to go to a car show that requires me to apply in writing in advance for permission to go. Kinda runs against the ethos of the whole thing to me. I really enjoy driving my truck, wherever I'm going & there's plenty of other places to go.
-yeah, I'm sure we'll be there.

I have heard that you can just turn up and if your vehicle is suitable they will let you in.  ???.
Andy you say about pre booking. well there starting that at Basingstoke festival of Transport they what reg and insurance info.
Still this is my first time.  will go and see. been told its a good day out

Yeah, that's true Tel.
It all just sounds a bit officious -phrases like Your application will be terminated if you don't pay for your pass in 7 days, just immediately make me think Well maybe I'll just go somewhere else then, or cruise around the Basingstoke ring road, or stay at home.
I know it has to be regulated, but suspect they're struggling a bit with the PR at the moment. I see they've said there's still time to apply, (What are you waiting for, Easter? -a phrase which also instantly annoyed me), so maybe they haven't reached 500 show vehicles yet? How much is it to enter? Don't think I've actually seen a price yet. Should the show vehicles be paying, seeing as there wouldn't be a show without them? They say payment must be made by Paypal within 7 days -what if you don't have a Paypal account?
I'm not normally so nit-picky about these things & they do put on a good event, but something about the way this one's been presented just irritates me. Don't know why.

Fair comment.

Totally opposite view from me ( sorry). Last year was the 40th , they coudl have knocked it on the head and walked away without a backwards glance ...indeed had I been on the receiving end of what was aimed at them I would have done !

If it was to continue it had to be brought down to a more managable size  which meant goig back to Rushmoor and the Police , Council and MOD were never going to allow that to happen without major changes, hence the pre-entry position we have now.

Yup, some of the wording sound a bit officious and could have been better thought out , agreed.

The main question is would we rather have this event with pre-entry or lose it entirely ?

Other shows NOT pre-entry ? Try Pendine, Hayride, Hipsville, Trip out without pre-entering, indeed even the Basingstoke show ?;)

That's from those who haven't kept up to date Terry.

You got a pass Kev.

 :D I have had conformation of acceptance to Wheels Day, but I don't think a lot of thought has gone into the cause of the congested roads around Rushmore arena that has been a problem in the past, the general public are more of a cause rather than the show cars, so I wonder if they are going to limit the amount of visitors to the show ?????? I think not, having never been caught in the queues to get in I can only go by other folk that have voiced their thoughts on this, on leaving the show late afternoon I have all ways been amazed just how far away from the arena people have parked and walked in, we shall see. :-\

Hi Terry, yup, will be there in my A pick up.

Rick, they have to start somewhere and they don't have any control over the public but they have to be seen to be trying to do something about it. At least if they get the pre-entered cars straight in ( ie no waiting for payment etc) then any queues should at least start later.  Non of it is ideal , ideal ( for many) would be Dunsfold with professional organisation etc  ...or would it ? To me it is the fact it is the SSR who put it on that make it a 'must do' for me.

Agree with you on all counts Kev -as I said, they're friends & they're doing something I wouldn't even attempt, but if their PR's enough to put off long standing attendees like me, then maybe they need to look a little closer at the announcements they put out. Trying to be constructive.

Nope but have a longterm relationship with the club, and many members , going back as long as they've been going , we all used to go on holiday together back in the days of the Southern Roadsters / Surrey Street Rodders  Skewjack Surf Village week away. 'Back in the day' we also used to all meet up at The George on Portsdown Hill.

Ok back in the good old days ;)  hope to see you there

Last of the passes have been issued any more members going, trikes bikes?

The SSR were back at Rushmoor Arena near Aldershot for the 2015 Good Friday Wheels Day, but alas, the day started wet and the sun didn't shine........

Went over about midday as the water had stopped falling from the sky, tho felt sorry for the SSR volunteers who had been out in the weather all morning.
Unfortunately it looked like the weather had kept many away, tho saying that, there was quite a variety of cars on display, and folks with willies and rain coats were wandering round with smiles on their faces.

Bumped into a couple of fellow Monkeys whilst taking some snaps.

First shot taken as just entered the site

Honda 450 (DOHC) tracker.

Bike carries an "H" reg plate, which would be 1969/70, when the 450 had a drum front brake.

A few years later Honda introduced the SOHC twin-cylinder CB350 & later CB360.

The CB450 Black Bombers were often used in circuit racing back in the day.

Yellow Gas Monkey pick up

Dub

'55 and flat-bed dub with scooter on board in background

me thinks a '56 (station wagon)

Tri chevy tails

Nice old XK120 Jag, mmmm. Looks like proper race spec too

Yellow '32 coupe

Thunderbird, don't know the year but guess mid sixties?

Same t'bird

MkI escort with proper wheel arches and minilite wheels as per the circuit racers and hot-rod racers of the period.

Who dat?

This is one of two cars that were nicely different

and this is the other, look closely under the bonnet

and another shot

one more

Mercury Comet

"the devil made me do it"

A lot of green field, unfortunately not packed out with motors as in previous (drier) years.............

folks with willies and rain coats were wandering round with smiles on their faces.

-!

I saw some rain coats, but not sure about the other.........  ::)

I feel sorry for the Surrey Street Rodders who undoubtedly worked hard to arrange this year's Wheels Day but I think all the upset did put a lot of people off, even those who had been accepted and offered a ticket. I think a lot of people didn't understand why their mates ride had been accepted and their 'better' one hadn't been.

The weather didn't help things but in previous years we have always supported Wheels Day whatever the weather.

I could understand it if they do call it quits this time - for good. I know they can't go backwards because of the constraints placed on them by the police and the MOD but perhaps they went too far the other way this time. Maybe they just needed to flog a given number of tickets offering them to clubs first by a certain date and then on a first come first served basis to custom/classic vehicles on the understanding if they misrepresented their vehicle they would be turned away at the gate with no refund.

Whatever they decide, I would just like to say I have really enjoyed all the Wheels Days I have been to at Rushmore Arena and it is sad to not have the event as it used to be. A real loss to the season's calendar.

The Rods n Sods forum had a couple of pics of my friend Chris' Austin Special.

Chris is fairly local to Rushmoor, tho he had planned to take a couple of vehicles to Popham, but without a roof they kinda ain't best suited to the wetness that the Bank Hol threw at us, so when there was a break in the proceedings he, and his brother in the BSA three wheeler, nipped along to the SSR bash.

BSA is still to be upholstered, and Austin will be wearing a paint job in the near future

He runs a business building bespoke bodywork for vehicles such as this. All the body work was made by hand. Company name - Bespoke Bodywork  http://www.bespoke-bodywork.co.uk/

Piccies courtesy of Rods & Sods

Chris' again (pic courtesy of R&S forum)

Chris' brothers BSA 3 wheeler (pic courtesy of R&S forum)

Jayjay it wasn't about condition as a criteria more about a good mix of vehicles  my A pick up is no show winner and another friend of mine was accepted with a 70s car that isn't normally rodding fodder . Clubs had stands as well as the 50 individual places. From the looks of it the policy achieved what it had to do though I agree that the reasons behind could have been better explained to all to stop the rumour mill.

I know most of the SSR and one of them who was dealing with applications said they had an amazing amount of mispresented vehicles apply in the first place ?

The weather may have helped the SSR achieve their goal and also that Popham was also on , only the future will tell.