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My favourite event in the UK calendar, the Hot Rod Drags. Always bumping into old mates, and new cars cropping up. Once more, I took part in the Flathead Meltdown, and got soundly thrashed as usual. When taking these shots I tried to capture a few cars I've not featured before. So check 'em out. |
PC Jones' superiors did not appreciate the tasteful modifications to his patrol bike. Thanks for the pic, Andy. Got some cool pics you'd like to share? mail me.
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Andy "Perfect" Brown (right) quizzing Eddie about his fresh 32 coupe. Although Eddie bought the coupe a few years ago, he wasn't happy with the body, so built a roadster on the chassis. He's been running the roadster for a while now, quietly cherrying out the steel coupe body until he was happy with it. It doesn't take long to swap bodies, so over a weekend it was done and now he has the coupe he always wanted. 
Note the 21stud Flatmotor. Eddie says he had to re-chop the top to get it how he wanted. 
Heres Matt Farrant in "Old Red" his 55 Chevy wagon. Bought in the USA then fitted with a new radiator, brakes, tyres etc. It was then used for a 4000 mile road trip, loaded with more Limeys than you can shake a shitty stick at. Shipped to the UK by John Reid, Matt's car displays the kind of rusting known as desert bloom. This starts at the top and works down, unlike UK rust which tends to start at the bottom and work its way up. I imagine that after a few years over here, they'll meet in the middle, in the area of the trim strip! 
The knob on Matt's wiper switch features the popular "Monkey Wrench" look. 
Here's a strange one. This English bodied Tudor sedan was bought recently and arrived at the drags fully fendered. (See Nasc Nats pics for how it looked) The fenders were removed during the meet, and were lying in a heap beside the car. A previous owner had obviously been suffering from brain fade as he's fitted a front wheel drive engine, complete with tranny sideways under the hood. One driveshaft was locked to the casing while the other drove the car via the original driveshaft. The car could be seen puttering around under its own steam all weekend. The new owners said they would be fitting a more suitable engine, but I think they said it would retain the stripped down old stocker appearance. 
A Kambridge Kustom. 
54 Chev sporting a set of Astro Supremes. Kool. 
Chopped Hudson: Slippery! 
60 Olds hardtop doesn't need any body mods to make it stand out, it's wild enough already. Recently imported, the Astros and narrow whites were fitted, the roof painted, and the suspension lowered before shipping to Blighty. 
This cool truck belongs to John Kellett from oop north. Runs sweet, features wide whites and flipper hubcaps. 
Dave Wilcox realised the starter would work better if you actually connected that big wire to it. Merc engine has a very lopey idle thanks to a hot cam and a lightened flywheel. The build of this car was started by Al Stevens, the well known metal wizard. 
Jerry Wilkinson's 29A receiving helpful suggestions from fellow meltdown contenders, Not sure what the problem was, but sheer willpower probaby sorted it. 
There's always a large gathering of assorted rods outside Avon Park's extensive catering complex (Burger Van). White car is a Standard Vanguard in case you were wondering. 
This 32 has windsor power, a recent addition to the Scutchers campsite. The Scutchers were also spotted in posession of a large quantity of Gentlemen's one-handed reading material. 
Portrait of the artist as a young hot rodder. Amiable Aussie Simon "Wierdo" Watts, with his AV8 truck. Simon's an artist and pinstriper, was capturing a fenderless A that was parked nearby. (He left my coupe out of the picture as it was cluttering up the background.) 
Stuart posed for Simon with his pudding basin helmet, a trademark of any self-respecting Meltdown contender. Note first signs of sunburn taking effect on Stuart's neck. 
Lil Abone on deuce rails, Nice and simple (like me) has stock Rover motor nestling between the frame rails, complete with stock SU carbs. Note use of minimal fenders to keep John Law happy. |
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All contents property of Martin Holden,
Solihull, England.
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