A Club Run

One Sunday in late July I’m usually found walking around a field to the west of London for the annual Uxbridge Autoshow. While it is a great “traditional” classic car show I was somehow relieved to have something else to do that weekend this year. A member of the hot rod club I’m in had organised a small run around abouts Bedfordshire, where he lives and looks after a successful traditional rod building business. About a dozen cars and perhaps twice that number of people were involved, a fraction of the numbers at Uxbridge yet more enjoyable for it.

Having gathered at base camp a line of rods and customs rolled the few miles to his shop Buckland Automotive to check out the current projects and repair a cracked exhaust on one members old bike.

From there a scenic route was plotted along some narrow twisty lanes, final destination being Twinwood Airfield, a World War II air strip that had strong links with the musician Glenn Miller. Some of the buildings have been restored to period correct condition and there is also a museum (and annual festival) celebrating Miller’s music on site.

WWII garage. The sidevalve block on the bench had been extensively stitch welded and was probably Willys in origin.

Crash damaged aero engines are chilling reminders of past heroes.

All in all a more inspiring day out than looking at lines of cars stationary in a field.