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Due to the rain our awards ceremony got cut out of the actual event this year, the usual crew of people had a look at what was floating around the show and we had a little chat afterwards to decide what we wanted to win what. Everyone had seen things other people hadn't seen, so the little bit of time allowed us to check out some of the cars a bit closers. Here is what we picked
Car Of The Year
Nick Allen - Volvo P1800ES
One comment on a photo of this car we saw after the show said "finally someone has done it!" which is exactly how we felt. Custom built air ride with suspension modified in such a way that the chassis can remain pristine and untouched. It just looks so good to us and every time we thought about other cars we always came back to this. Brilliant stuff.
Engineering
Alan Lambert - Ford Cortina with Lotus Twin Turbo V8
A different kind of Lotus Cortina, but it looks so well built it could easily have come from the factory like that, although I'm not sure Ford would have gone with the bright red on the engine. A level of quality we should aspire to.
Dare To Be Different
?? - Nissan S12
Oh this was a tricky one. Gone are the days when there would only be one modified Volvo 340 or Lada in a field, or only one bosozoku style car. Initially a couple of the judging team over looked this, another AE86 low on wide wheels not drawing attention, even if it did have a Nissan engine in... This is very much what we love here at Retro Rides, seeing someone take styling that is often applied to another vehicle and applying it to a similar but more left field choice. This car has gone all the way, no half measures.
A small mention must be made for the Clio with the rear engine VR6, suitably different, a touch too new.
Hong Kong Phooey
Scott Andrews - Datsun Sunny B310 Coupe
Always a bitter sweet award, it is wonderful to look for the cars, but is saddening when we find one that Simon Baldwin would have loved. We believe that this would have really been Simon's pick of the many wonderful Japanese cars at the event. Scott's attention to detail, the quality of the car and the inspirations that have driven it all come together to produce a brilliant car.
Club Stand
The Motorworks / Nishiki Ricers
We had a great range of club stands this year, some hard work had been put in by organisers to get them together and we are thankful for all those that came. The Motorworks / Nishiki Ricers brought along a very fine selection of cars with a range of modifications from the show to the go, the stand really seemed to throw themselves into the event, they had cars on the track, cars scraping the ground up the hill and stuck around through the rain right to the end of the event.
Other stands worthy of a mention here are the folk from Clique30 who had a really nice selection of Beemers, and the Datsun Club UK who turned out in force once again.
TheLowSet Pick
Max Fleckney - Toyota KP Starlet
Ian Woodridge - Mercedes W114
A different judging team for this, our friends at The Low Set took their pick of the show, then couldn't decide firmly between two very different cars. So both of them are winners! Max's Starlet sits so well on those Advans, a tough functional stance, really well put together it just constantly draws the eye back for another look, exactly the sort of thing The Low Set loves. On the other hand Ian's 'dreamy' Mercedes was sitting on The Motorworks stand next to The Low Set just one piece of RR branded barrier tape away, on air, so clean with those wonderful split rims, and it was his birthday at The Gathering, so happy (belated) birthday.
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