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Finally after 3 attempts of trying to ‘pin’ people down to find a date for a bowling ‘social’ event we met at the end of June.  It was decided we would have 2 games of bowling at Bowlplex, Longwell Green but I had a lot of deliberation about where to book to eat that was affordable and good value for money, Frankie and Bennies and Nandos was ruled out and I decided that a local (ish) pub to the Bowlpex was the best find.

Unfortunately Dawn got held up on her holidays and Len turned up a week early!!!!  But we didn’t have a bad turn out with 4 of us bowling and 6 of us for food.

We met at the Bowlplex, and had 2 games of bowling where I must say I was not on a ‘roll’ but I blamed it on my shoulder problems, which of course it was!!!  Oh and Nick went sliding down the alley!!!  Then once the 2 games were up we all started to get ourselves sorted to go and get some food and the computer started up another game, Gremlins in the system??!!!  But someone soon realised and after a few minutes the computer then said ‘no’!!!

After the bowling we jumped in the cars and trundled off to The Star Inn, Pucklechurch where we had a very nice and great value for money roast dinner, lots of chat in a good atmosphere.

A couple of people had dessert (including Nick, of course) then we went our separate ways, homeward bound.  On the way home a couple of us had some issues, Nick’s car seat (where he had too much cake!!!!) collapsed and I ran out of fuel a couple of miles from home (and the petrol station).  I should have filled up before going but I was running late so thought ‘I’ll be ok’, how wrong was I!!!  Luckily a friend came to my rescue and picked me up, took me to the petrol station and then back to put the well needed fuel in my car!!

Apart from the homeward bound issues and the absentees a good day was had by all.

A new event for this year organised by Swindon Borough Council.  I only discovered this event by seeing an advert in the local paper a couple of weeks prior to the show as had most of the other owners.

This show was free to enter and attracted about forty classics ranging from Austin Seven’s through to modern Aston Martins.

Cars were displayed on the lawns at the front of the house and attracted much interest from the public using the park and visiting the house.

The event pass also included entry to the state rooms of Lydiard House, the ancestral home of the viscounts Bolingbroke.

The organisers plan to make this an annual event and build it up over the next few years.

The longest-running independent classic car show in the UK took place at the Bath and West Show Ground, Shepton Mallet, on 14^th and 15^th June 2014.

Around 14,000 people were expected to experience the show, which featured around 200 classics from 65 car clubs, and another 2000 in the classic car park, along with 200 traders, an autojumble and classic auction.

Large club displays were the order of the show, with the Early MG Club bringing seven cars; the Aston Martin Owners Club with 10 models; and up to 12 cars from the Joint Rover Clubs as part of their 110th anniversary of Rover.

The show was very much a celebration, with many other clubs reaching landmark anniversaries. The MK1-5 Cortina Owners Club was celebrating their 25th anniversary, the Post Vintage Humber Car Club had eight cars on its 40th birthday display, and the Daimler and Lanchester Owners Club were celebrating its 50th anniversary with a cross-section of cars.

One extra special club at the show was the Swallow Doretti Register. Their first time at Bristol Classic Car Show, celebrating the 60th anniversary of the very rare Swallow Doretti with three cars.

Together with the pristine classics indoors, the classic VIP parking area featured around 2000 classic cars brought in by visitors over the weekend.

The Beaulieu Mini Cooper day has always been one of those “must attend” shows with a huge collection of some of the most spectacular minis ever in one place. Organised by the Mini Cooper Register, they arranged for some of the oldest, rarest or just most pristine condition cars along with a vast display of club stands and general public.

Minis of all ages filled the famous Beaulieu Motor Museum’s acres of grass and were once again divided into classics in one field and the new MINIs in the other, with exception for those on display at club stands.

The traditional Show and Shine competition took place in the main arena out in the open this year.

Beaulieu also boasts one of the largest trade villages, with almost every shop imaginable. Not only car parts but other accessories like clothing and technology so there really is something for everyone. A large auto-jumble means you can generally find even the rarest of bolts and washers!

A new feature for 2014 was the specialised “Non A-Series” selection of cars, showcasing some of the top engineering feats such as motorbike engines, Vauxhall and Honda engines and even a Cosworth engine.