VBOA Rally 2019

Sywell 6th - 7th July 2019
Welcome to the Cavalier and Chevette Club
Your friendly Vauxhall - Opel Club since 1994
© Cavalier and Chevette Club 2023 We acknowledgement to Vauxhall Motors Ltd
The VBOA National Rally was at a new venue for 2019 Sywell Airfield just to the north of Northampton. I arrived Friday afternoon in my Cavalier Calibre with a clear blue sky and sun. There were only too other club members camping on the stand this year James McGrath and Lizzie Wilson. Everyone else was stopping off site. Due to traffic James and Lizzie dint arrive till around 8pm so in the meantime I took in the auto jumblers that had already set-up. Once James and Lizzie had pitched there tent, we fired up the Pico projector on my Motorola phone and using the white table I had brought as a screen watched the 1988 Launch Film of the Vauxhall Cavalier Mk3 which was shot at the Royal Lancaster Hotel London. Then after a quick drink at the bar we headed for out tents. Saturday arrived and we were joined on the stand by James McGrath’s father with one of there other Cavalier Mk3, Dawn and David Hill with their MK3, Mark and Sarah Westwood with there Mk2, Paul Green with his Mk2, Fred Coombs Chevette HS, Paul Roberts Mk2 and Carlton, Simon Downs Opel Commodore. To celebrate the Clubs 25th Birthday we had a special 25th Birthday cake. Only two awards were presented this year due to low numbers, instead everyone had a gift bags and exhibitor recognition certificate. The awards being the Choice Award and Lady Driver Award, more of this later. The weather started off fine but by about 3pm some rain set in and people started to leave our club stand and a few of the surrounding ones. I took in the auto-jumble and bumped into old club member Ian Broadway who was selling some items in the Auto-jumble. Latter on in the evening when everyone had left our stand and weather was a bit better Ian joined me on the stand and we had a catch up. Sunday arrived and we were joined by Jason Himpson Mk1, Peter Baldock Mk2 Convertible and Darrell and Caroline Keen. We were due in the parade arena at 9.30am so we made our way around there sharp and made a V for Vauxhall with our cars in the arena, I went on stage and was interviewed by the VBOA Chairman Shaun Broadbent where I talked about the Club being 25 and Chairman’s Travels. We then headed back to the club stand. Fred Coombs Chevette HS was our Chairman’s Cup entry this year so when the time came, I headed around to the arena with and helped him set up his car for the judging. All the Club Members present came down and voted. Sadly, Fred didn’t win but he got to meet Gerry Johnson who was at event. Gerry worked at Dealer Team Vauxhall with Bill Blystein. After the awards were given out and the raffle was drawn, we headed back to the stand were we gradually packed up the stand and made our way home. Big tank you to club members new and old that attended the event. Kevin Bricknall (602)