Thanks: 
Likes: 
Duncan's Billing 2007 pics and write-up
Well, where do I start? Well I suppose at the beginning!Billing for me started quite some time ago as a fair bit of work went in to getting us an official stand at Billing - details here - as without that we wouldn't have had the stand, just the camping area.
The weekend itself started for me on Friday with a bit of a nightmare drive up to Billing - took four hours instead of around 2.5!Got there around 7pm. Had been planning to do a service on my car when I arrived but after that drive I wasn't in the mood! lol So it was a case of meeting up with everyone who was camping.
I thought I'd take the opportunity to wash my car before we had dinner so armed with my kit I gave the car a wash. GG kindly loaned me a roll flat hose he'd brought and a quick drive up to one of the blocks enabled me to give it a proper rinse off - much, much quicker than trying to do it with buckets! Unfortunately on my return while reversing back into my space, I didn't spot the boggy corner and dropped one wheel into it - completely covering the wheel, tyre and wing with mud!!So, off back up to the block with hose in hand! Once sorted, car was parked up for the night, all I needed to do was quick detail it in the morning on the stand and do the tyres.
Soon after Cara and others headed off to get dinner (Domino's Pizza
I wasn'tlike last year at Billing (down to GG plying me with some blue vodka stuff and Rob Woodhouse's missus topping it up with neat vodka!!
The morning after the night before......
So, next morning up bright and early for breakfast. Thanks to Mark for knocking up a bacon and egg bun (and Jamie for the egg!) - we do let him cook sometimes, but only on gas and not for large numbers!
GG was communicating with other campers via smoke signals!
After breakfast it was off to the stand - a monumental drive of, oh, about 300 yards!I don't know what Alex bunged the VBOA for our stand, but we got a cracking spot - absolutely perfect. No boggy areas or big ruts and in a really good spot.
Banner was set up...
....along with literature/flyers I'd done plus laminated copies of the Irmscher TV article.
The cars - everyone's cars from the two days - hope I haven't missed anyone out....
Rickyroo
Spoons getting 'up close and personal' with my car!
ditchp
Mrs GSi
Johnboy77
Jamie
Drinky
AJA
Payney
Caravaner Tony
Duncan
Spoons
GSi 3.2
Jay Kay 313
Plasma
Dazle
Ian T
Green Growler
Gary 3306
Big Phil
Just chillin'
This one's ripe for a caption competition!
GG (far right) "How many ferking Vectra-C.com members does it take to do a BBQ?!"
"If I wave at it, will it get hotter quicker!
After the first day everyone was glad to head off/get back to the camping area as the the weather was fantastic and some of us were singed and/or just plain tired.
I got stuck into servicing my car as it was due for a major service so I cam prepared with all the bits I needed and proceeded to do an engine flush and oil/filter change, pollen filter, air filter and fuel filter. Also did the air-box mod so I'll see if that makes any difference. Thanks to Mark for help with the fuel filter as it's a bu**er to get it off and I wasn't sure how it came off.
As per his thread, GG (the swine) got some pics of me mid-service.......
Dean looking like he's about to drop a wooden block on me knackers!
So with that done it was about time for dinner and we settled down with Indian takeaway from Vinnies onsite - and it was very, very nice indeed - all washed down with a few beers of course!
Sunday morning was much the same as the day before. Up for breakfast, drive the cars over to the stand and set-up again and other members soon arrived. Yet again another hot, hot day and Sunday seemed even more chilled than Saturday - possibly due to us bringing over GG's gazebo which offered a nice bit of shade from the sun!
It was Diane's (Mrs Spoons) birthday on the Sunday and Nick (payney) had come prepared....
Happy Birthday to you
Happy Birthday to you
Happy Birthday dear Diane
Happy Birthday to you!
So at the end of the day it was time to pack up and say our goodbyes.I contemplated whether to stay another night and avoid the traffic heading south after a weekend, plus with Silverstone that weekend as well. Decided to go for it and get home - had another four hour nightmare of a drive!
BTW, for anyone driving into Newport Pagnell services southbound, watch out for this little beauty on the main slip road into the services!! Only just spotted it as I was looking further ahead at the signs - that would have done wonders for me alloys!!
So, a thoroughly enjoyable weekend with great weather, great company and a fantastic turnout for the club. It was great to also meet new faces for the first time. Thank you everyone.
Thanks to the GSi's for all that they did - Cara for fetching all the BBQ food and Mark for helping people with cars, Drinky for manning the BBQ and Alex for helping Drinky with the BBQ and liaising with the VBOA regarding our stand and sorting out stuff on the day. I don't know what you bunged them to get the spot that we did, but whatever it was it was well worth it!!
And not forgetting, thanks to everyone who turned up to display on the stand with a superb standard of cars, anyone who helped that hasn't been mentioned and everyone for their company and friendship which made the whole weekend thoroughly enjoyable.
Soooo looking forward to Billing next year when we should have a full stand, as opposed to a guest stand, so will be able to have more cars on. Next show will be Trax - not as chilled as Billing!!, but still good to go to.
D
Reply With Quote
.. Thats big pot hole nasty
).
Originally Posted by Duncan
(anyone want to buy two daughters ![[SIGPIC]VX<font color=Red>R</font> with added Courtenay <img src=https://www.vectra-c.com/forum/images/smilies/biggrin.png border=0 alt= title=Big Grin class=inlineimg />](signaturepics/sigpic87_3.gif)
Bookmarks