Friday 1st July
I travelled down to Billing in Lou along with my
mum, Brandon & Charlie whilst Beth & Mickey Mouse arrived in
Clementine.
We arrived at Billing at 7:30am to start getting
the club stand set up and the tents of course.
Mk3 Cavalier with OMY and Charlie
Ian Hill's Rally Opel Manta
We started setting up the club stand with the
bunting and fence posts, then up went the 4 gazebo’s along with a flag.
The weather was starting to get hotter, soon to
arrive was Jeremy Haynes in his P Reg Chevette no longer was he out of
his car than he was straight away helping set things up, we are very
grateful Jeremy as it does take us quite along time to do all this.
Next to arrive was Simon Downs in his immaculate
Opel Commordore A,Simon also has a very rare Cavalier Mk3 on a F Reg and
a Opel Manta on a B Reg which is undergoing a restoration.
Once Simon had arrived we all carried on with the
club stand, then me and Simon went up to meet Kevin Bricknall in the car
park as Kevin had a dvd of the cavalier and chevette adverts for me so I
could pass onto the V.B.OA whilst me and Simon were then heading back to
the club stand we noticed Bryan & Marie Wilcox in omy & Marilyn & Colin
Scott in charlie, both of these Cavalier’s had travelled down from
Wales but Charlie had first started from Scotland.
This was Marilyn & Colin Scotts first trip with
Charlie to Billing, I hope they enjoyed there time there, whilst Bryan &
Marie had not been since 2003.
Thanks to them for making such a huge effort in
coming to Billing, soon Dave Cole arrived in his Bedford Rascal after
selling his beloved Cavalier Mk3 after 8 years of ownership however Dave
Cole is remaining a club member, then came Colin & Laura in there
Chevette which was only just put back on the road after 23 years stored
in a garage, a big well done to the both of them for getting Goldie (
Chevette ) back on the road so quickly.
Then our newest member Stephen Duffy arrived in his
splendid Cavalier Mk2 Convertible, and last to arrive was Andrew Waite
who has been a regular at Billing for many years now but sadly as he has
sold his beloved Cavalier Mk1 Sportshatch he had to arrive in his also
very rare Ford Escort Mk3.
Interior shot of Steven Duffys
Cavalier Mk2 Convertible
Saturday 2nd
July
First to arrive this morning was Kevin in his Manta
he started helping us with the Cavalier Mk2 30th Birthday
celebrations, now Kevin had designed these all by himself and spent the
time mounting them.
The usual Saturday morning crew arrived Ian
Broadway, Paul Ellson, Gary Williams, Malcolm & Julie Docherty, Phillip
Scaiffe and Steve Fordham with his Cavalier Mk1 which starred in a
Passionate Woman alongside Billie Piper.
It wasn’t long before club members went looking for
the elusive part for their car from the autojumble, but speaking of
autojumble me and Simon Downs picked up a very very very rare part for
his Commordore A it was a bonnet, brand new complete with opel stickers
on now these are very rare to find and if you do find one they will cost
you in excess of at least £500, but we managed to get it for just £50.
Also Kevin brought a display board which was used
for the 1987 cavalier, which was very rare and rather handy as we were
celebrating the 30th Anniversary.
It's not that bad Colin!!
Sunday Morning traffic at Billing.
I think nearly everybody managed to find something
for there car from the auto jumble, soon is was the quiz a first for our
club and a fantastic idea set up by our very own Kevin Bricknall now as
Kevin had already tested his quiz out on me I decided to sit it out, but
all the club members took part it was a quiz based on tv, music & film
from the 1980’s, a very big thanks must go to Kevin who brought the
prizes who were won by:
Beth Watt 1st Prize
Phillip Scaiffe 2nd Prize
Marie Wilcox Boobie Prize ( Donated by Marilyn &
Colin Scott )
Sunday 3rd July
Richard Winter, Chris Martin, Robert Smith, Ian
Broadway, John Jones, Richard Haywood, Toney White & Ian Hill all
arrived in time for us to enter our cars in to the Main Arena Parade
alongside the Chevette Owners Group.
We had a fantastic line up upon entering the ring,
Ian Coomber who is the V.B..O.A Chairman done the commentary, he was
magnificent with his knowledge of our cars and the many others that
entered before and after us.
On the way to the Main Area
Parade. Dont forget your Video Camera Richard!!
I once again left Lou on the club stand so I could
record it on my video camera.
Once back on the club stand the club members went
off to look around the show and the auto jumble.
Now it was soon our turn to enter a car into the
Chairmans Cup which was a first for us, we entered Simon Down’s very
rare Opel Commordore A, now once it entered alongside all the other cars
for the chairman's cup, it started getting people flocking over to it,
of course with that amount of people looking at it, they must of liked
what they had seen as it one the prize for the pre 1975.
Simon with the Commodore and the
Chairman's Cup Pre-1975 Prize.
Soon it was our club’s turn to get out the voting
forms and get looking at our own collection of cars.
This year Beth & I decided to buy some trophies
and do Best Cavalier, Chevette & Best Opel, we of course still had best
body type complete with certificate’s.
Once all the votes were counted by Beth Watt, I
announced the winners they were as follows:
Best Cavalier Mk1 Saloon : Richard Watt - LOU848P.
Best Cavalier Sportshatch: Ian Broadway – YEG784T.
Best Centaur: Tony White - YGW543S.
Best Cavalier Mk2 Saloon: Kevin Bricknall – E30FTL.
Best Cavalier Mk2 Convertible: Stephen Duffy –
B5DUF.
Best Cavalier Mk3 Saloon: Chris Martin – G939TFG.
Best Chevette Saloon: Paul Ellson – RCA597V.
Best Chevette Hatch: Richard Winter – SGW623X.
Best Opel Manta Hatch:Richard Haywood - WWE795Y.
Bob Watt Memorial Award – Furthest travelled -
Marilyn Scott: Cavalier Mk1 – STS155S.
Rodney Nicolls Best Cavalier In Show : Richard
Watt – LOU848P.
John Ball Best Chevette In Show: Richard Winter –
SGW623X.
Russell Brookes Best Opel In Show – Richard Haywood
– WWE785Y.
Best Guest Car In Show - Simon Downs: ARP743J
Well done to all winner’s, those who won a trophy
please return it one month before the start date for Billing 2012, but
if you are returning to Billing next year please bring it back in a
presentable condition.
Richard Winters Chevette ES
Last thing left to say is a big thank you to
everyone who took the time to attend this amazing event, special thanks
to:
Beth Watt, Brandon Smith, Kevin Bricknall, Simon
Downs, Jeremy Haynes, Colin Pizey & Laura, Bryan & Marie Wilcox, Stephen
Duffy & Marilyn & Colin Scott.
Hope to see you all next year.
All The Best
Richard Watt
(Note from Kevin. Its only a
week after Billing 2011, and already we have the dates for Billing 2012.
Better get my thinking cap on for the Quiz, though I do have 12
months!!).
PRESENT
BILLING 2012
AT
BILLING AQUADROME
NORTHAMPTON
14TH -
15TH
July 2012
BEST
CAVALIER & CHEVETTE IN SHOW,
QUIZ, COLOURING COMPETTION & CHAIRMANS CUP
=============================================================
You
will need to book your place at the show, So call or write to R .Watt
(details as below), quoting membership number and address for your entry
windscreen pass and show booklet.
Latest date for booking –
2nd June 2012
All members must apply for
the new windscreen pass and show booklet.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Your support at the rally
is urgently needed to make this the very best ever year
So check your diary and
write the date in NOW
All enquires to: - R .J.Watt
(Area Rep,V.B.O.A Rep & Billing Organizer,
Joint Website Manager )
1 Hadrian Way, Baldock, Hertfordshire, SG76AW
Tel: 01462 634957 or 07548712358 - Email:
rjwatt.cavmk1@tiscali.co.uk
Vauxhall Cavalier,
Go ahead. Live a little.
