Rushden Transport Cavalcade 2002

Rushden 2000: Wet, muddy with the odd bit of sunshine.

Rushden 2001: Wet, muddy with the odd bit of sunshine.

Rushden 2002: Wet, muddy with the odd bit of sunshine.

Is it me, or is there still a bit of a pattern taking place here?

Rushden is a good season-opener insofar as you get to rediscover the smells of wet grass, wet canvas, wet mud, steam and coal smoke. I don't know whether there is such as thing as the smell of a bogged-down coach, but we did spend most of Saturday watching one not being recovered from in front of our stand. Does that count as good publicity? "The display of ex-military Land Rovers is hidden behind the coach that has been stuck in the mud all day..."

The display was well populated by Committee members, due to the AGM being held on the Saturday evening in Rushden, so it was a lineup probably never to be repeated again this year. Working clockwise from the gate there was John Butcher (101 Radio Body), Dave and Liz Simpkins (109 and V8 110), Peter Barratt (undercover Discovery - shhh!), a big gap, Mike Timlett (SIII Lightweight), Dave Fish (SIIA 88" Recce), Paul Taylor (SIII Lightweight), Sue Cummings (SIII Lightweight and part-time SI 80"), George Jackson (SIIA Lightweight) and Mike Allmey (SIII 109 Ambulance). For part of the weekend the Big Gap was filled by Steve Marsh with his SIII Lightweight and Colin and Karen Voss with a brace of their 110s.

Not a bad turn out for such a damp weekend.

Arena events were called-off for the Saturday due to the upcoming level of mud, but we were allowed to play on the Sunday and Monday.

Despite the grey clouds, it was almost sunny on the Sunday when this was taken. We must have been hiding somewhere - George didn't drive them all in single-handed.

As a complete contrast to the now-famous Spud, the commentary during our runaround was very enthusiastic, very informed and very accurate. The only noticed mistake was the description of Dave Simpkins' V8 110 as being "diesel". Well, it wasn't that rough! (Although Liz did kill it during the Monday run by leaving the lights on while in the arena.)
Once the driving through the crowds was done with (which is always a good excuse to play with the two-tone), Dave Fish generously demonstrated his new use for reclaimed jerry cans:

Peter Barratt was so impressed by this level of hospitality, he had to leave in his undercover Discovery (shhh!) in order to be at home for his wife's birthday. If anyone would like one of Mr Fish's Very Special Jerrycans, then he is willing to make more.

In fact, the level of hospitality reached new heights by Sunday night with the post-beer tent occurrence of Wine & Pate in George's 9x9. The atmosphere was tempered somewhat when George fiddled with the valve on the Tilley lamp and promptly filled the interior of the warm, dry tent with unburned paraffin fumes, making it untenable if not unbreathable.

It was a cold night*...

*Actually it was: -2ºC!