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After the success of last years Nats at this great new venue,
the 31st Nats was always looking to be something quit special,
and did it live up to expectations? Hell Yes!
With Pre entries up on last years, and
a new layout planned to try and prevent the long queues, we
waited with baited breath as the gates opened at 8am on the
Friday, and with the BHRA running the gate it all worked like
clockwork the new gate layout and new Fast Track entry system
for Pre entries proved to be a huge success.
By mid afternoon the showground looked like
the Good Old Nats, a mix of Top quality Rods, Muscle cars,
Rat Rods and for the first time this year, the site of Hot
Rod Choppers cruising the site.
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| The Tot Rods took the prom by storm |
By early evening we were greeted by the smell
of BBQ’s in the air and the sound of Rods, a perfect
beginning to a great night’s entertainment.
Nats favourites Glyn Lloyd and Dave Maltby along with the
brilliant Earl Grey Band made for a night to remember.
Saturday morning saw the food court full of very delicate
Rodders talking very quietly and squinting at each other,
ahhh blessem.
The mammoth task of marshalling the Monsta Nats cruise was
taken on by the AHRA and what a fantastic job they did, thanks
Guys. Same as last year we took the Tot Rods down to the cruise,
and this year we had the help of an artic to take them down
to the Prom.
On arrival at the Prom we had the Rockin Fat
Cat Trio playing for over an hour, followed by a display of
Tot Rod Drag Racin for the Public and ended with the great
Houndogs to finish things of, that combined with a BBQ put
on by the Spa Pavilion and the general public showing so much
interest in the cars a great time was had by all.
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| Tot Rods on the move |
The cruise takes nearly as much time and effort
to organise as the Show n Shine and a big thanks must go to
Mick Richardson from Suffolk Police for all his help throughout
the year, last year we had 527 cars on the cruise and this
year had a fantastic 621, next year we’re gonna go for
the world record so don’t miss it!
After the display from the Tot Rods they cruised down the
Prom to park up and enjoy an Ice Cream and Soda at Joe Crowley’s,
the place was packed, a big thank you has got to go to Von
and the Dilligaf guys for sorting all the Tot Rods out and
the Staff at Joes for a hectic couple of hours.
Late afternoon saw everyone making their way back to the site,
in readiness for the evening’s entertainment.
Glyn worked his usual magic with the Miss Wet T shirt and
Fancy Dress etc, oh and we had a band.
Von….. What Band?
Err, just a Band!
Von….. Tell them more!
OK! OK! They were an all girl Ramones tribute band, and lets
just say they were my Tom Jones moment…………..You
just had to mention em didn’t ya?
Von…...and don’t
slam the…..door!
We had advertised the event to the public much more so than
we had the previous year, and boy oh boy did it make a difference.
The public car park was full all day and with so much more
to see and do than at your usual car show everyone had a great
day out.
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| The cruize en route |
more cool Rods |
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| As rare n as cool as ya like! |
Cool Rods on the cruize |
Over 2,500 cars, Trucks and Choppers on the
snowfield, Tot Rod Racing in the arena, Hot Rod, Chopper and
Pro Street Drive Thrus in the arena, a Spark Plug changing
competition supplied by Tom Newman and Machine Mart (thanks
guys) and The Fat Cat Trio Rockin the afternoon away, and
not forgetting the Choppers n Bobbers display put on by Bob
Holland and Krazy Horse Custom Bikes, this event can once
again only grow in popularity.
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| cruizin the site in style! |
The Sunday evening
was one of the very best I have ever seen at the Nats, with
the Brilliant Bogus Blues Brothers and Glyn and Dave at their
very best.
Prize giving as always was on the
Monday at Midday, with the best of European Rodding picking
up their much deserved awards.
The list of people and clubs, that I should thank is huge
and if I forget anyone then my apologies in advance, but here
goes, the BHRA for a well run and friendly gate, AHRA for
taking on and taming the Nats cruise as well as all the other
work they did for us before and during the event, each and
every individual who came up to me or a committee member and
said “Want a hand with anything mate?”, Phil Bowen
for making the Trophies, all our brilliant traders, Mick Richardson
from the Suffolk Police, Katie Cross from the Showground for
her help and patience, our sponsors Meguiars, Meteor, Rod
Kult, American Auto Mags, Nitro, Chris Bunting Auto Artist,
Glyn, Dave and Katie, and not forgetting the awesome NASC
Team, it’s a thankless task at times and these guys
n girls work their butts of over the Nats weekend, so next
time you see one of the team just let them know you appreciate
all their hard work.
Laters
Mark
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