Simon White posted a series of shots taken at the Pendine Sands vintage hot rod races, Wales U.K. June 2019. Some fine vintage iron of all kinds for your viewing pleasure.
Cool stuff. The Vintage Hot Rod Association there in Wales seems to favor American iron, it appears. Or is old American stuff the only acceptable basis for what counts as a Vintage Hot Rod?
A very Ford-centric gathering, as most hot rod racing was in the pre-Chevy SBC era. It is probably significant that slowpokes like the 46-48 Plymouth and the 50 Studebaker Champion (with the bumper sticker) were not racing, but parked. 🙂
I’m reminded of an old Tom McCahill article about the 1958 new-car sales slump where his suggestion to induce domestic demand for new cars by exporting used ones *en masse*, to Europe in particular, with acceptance of them a requirement for continued Marshall Plan funds.
It would never have worked. Gas was and still is crazy expensive in Europe. Even basic stripper 6 cylinder U.S models would have been unsalable. The average man in the street in 1950s Europe who owned a car would have had something around 1000cc that did at least 30 mpg
The British people are the biggest retro heads in the world, nowhere else you will find such a variety of car nuts.
Go to the Le Mans 24 hours and it is like visiting an English garden party held in France.
The Land Speed Record car driven by John Parry-Thomas. Unfortunately one of the runs on this beach resulted in his death and the car was buried under the beach for many decades.
Looks like a fun place to actually use and enjoy your machine, kind of like the Race of Gentlemen here in the States. I always worry about being so close to the salt water though. 😊
Having fun with old cars. I think that was the slogan of the NSRA, the National Street Rod Association. Bab’s was dug up and recommissioned. The episode was covered in Octane magazine awhile back. Photo before it was buried.
90 mile beach here and Murawai were popular for racing and speed records, 90 mile beach is still officially a road with unfortunately a speed limit but isnt patrolled much, large shell fish called toheroa play havoc with tyres though.
I thought “Babs” was a reference to the lady with the ice cream cone. That look is so authentic that it could be a 1950s Kodachcrome. These are great pictures!!
Great shots.
Love those snowshoes on the VW. Very handy, I need snowshoes every time I go to Wales 🙂
Cool stuff. The Vintage Hot Rod Association there in Wales seems to favor American iron, it appears. Or is old American stuff the only acceptable basis for what counts as a Vintage Hot Rod?
A very Ford-centric gathering, as most hot rod racing was in the pre-Chevy SBC era. It is probably significant that slowpokes like the 46-48 Plymouth and the 50 Studebaker Champion (with the bumper sticker) were not racing, but parked. 🙂
I’m reminded of an old Tom McCahill article about the 1958 new-car sales slump where his suggestion to induce domestic demand for new cars by exporting used ones *en masse*, to Europe in particular, with acceptance of them a requirement for continued Marshall Plan funds.
It would never have worked. Gas was and still is crazy expensive in Europe. Even basic stripper 6 cylinder U.S models would have been unsalable. The average man in the street in 1950s Europe who owned a car would have had something around 1000cc that did at least 30 mpg
Amazing photographs.
Amazing event.
More please.
Here’s some more shots from Pendine
The British people are the biggest retro heads in the world, nowhere else you will find such a variety of car nuts.
Go to the Le Mans 24 hours and it is like visiting an English garden party held in France.
Delightful photography and appealing subject matter. A great start to my day!
These photographs are terrific.
Last time I was on Pendine Sands, Babs was still buried there…..and I was probably the only person there who knew what a Hot Rod was !
Ok, I give up….Babs?
The Land Speed Record car driven by John Parry-Thomas. Unfortunately one of the runs on this beach resulted in his death and the car was buried under the beach for many decades.
Looks like a fun place to actually use and enjoy your machine, kind of like the Race of Gentlemen here in the States. I always worry about being so close to the salt water though. 😊
TRUE viewing pleasure: the lady watching as she enjoys an ice cream cone!
Having fun with old cars. I think that was the slogan of the NSRA, the National Street Rod Association. Bab’s was dug up and recommissioned. The episode was covered in Octane magazine awhile back. Photo before it was buried.
90 mile beach here and Murawai were popular for racing and speed records, 90 mile beach is still officially a road with unfortunately a speed limit but isnt patrolled much, large shell fish called toheroa play havoc with tyres though.
Beautiful photography. Thank you!
I thought “Babs” was a reference to the lady with the ice cream cone. That look is so authentic that it could be a 1950s Kodachcrome. These are great pictures!!
Jeff
Lovely photographs, and it’s nice to see the cars used as intended — no trailer queens here!