To the NEC and beyond!!

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Friday’s start was scheduled for 1 pm as MJ had a work presentation to do in the morning which, in a way, was fortunate as it took me 3 hrs to get the GT started. I was beginning to get paranoid that she didn’t want to go. This did not air well for the future and I distinctly got the feeling the old girl (the car that is) did not wish to go to the NEC. However eventually we set off at 2 pm and enjoyed a fine drive down to Newcastle. By 3.30 pm we find ourselves in very slow moving traffic sat in the fast lane and then break down due to overheating etc. Now it’s a traffic jam with the potential to gridlock all southbound traffic round Newcastle. MJ has developed a Migraine.

I call for police assistance with the hope they arrive before some road raged Geordie rearranges my good looks. With prompt police attendance we quickly determine the car will not restart so a break-down lorry is called for and eventually arrives only to leave again as he can’t load a car with such low ground clearance without doing serious damage. With the southbound carriageway now completely blocked by police cars, fellow drivers singing we’re on the road to nowhere and MJ complaining that “I’m stuck in the middle with you” it was decided to push the car to the next layby so we could wait for the AA Rescue. Question: - How many police does it take to push our yellow submarine ¼ mile? Answer - 4 not very fit officers who were very hard pressed and suffering much ridicule from frustrated motorist. By 6.10 pm the AA arrived and successfully jump start the car. They can’t find a fault but suggest we head home so reluctantly we’re on the road again heading north.

The GT’s now running well so after much debate we turn round at Alnwick, hoping the car doesn’t notice and blast south again on the percept that he who dares wins. Life is a highway after all. I drove all night to get to Stratford, but with this car I had the feeling you ain’t seen nothing yet!!

Saturday morning, hoping for no more tears, we head off to the NEC optimistically thinking it will be all right now. Following Mick Bryan’s directions we ask a marshal to direct us to gate 4 but due to a communication break down he informs us gate 4 is only accessed via a pass key. We must use gate 2. He must have been dazed and confused.

On arrival we were very impressed with the Sporting Bears Stand. The large display of cars and efficient organisation of Mick Bryan’s team made us feel proud to be fellow Bears and glad we had made the effort to be part of it. A whole lotta love had obviously gone into this event.

MJ and I set off for a walk round the show with instructions to return when called on MJ’s mobile. After lunch, having not been called, we return to be told all the other GT’s were doing well but Yellow was not popular today. Maybe she’s not giving off good vibrations, so we drop the price by a tenner and immediately get our first ride.

I introduce myself to a nice young man from County Cork saying ”I hope you can read a map mate”. ”Oh yes” says he “we have them in Ireland” so off we go and all went well. However I thought it strange we kept seeing other Bears going in the opposite direction. Obviously my passenger’s motto was go your own way.

We eventually get back having visited one shopping centre, a hotel carpark, several small villages and using all my old rally skills to spin us round in a farmyard with my passenger going a whiter shade of pale. I was determined to get the route right on the next trip. Idea!! I’ll follow another Bear so I won’t get fooled again.

So out I go with my second victim, quickly tucking in behind another Bear I’d nicknamed Mustang Sally. This Bear did not appear to be following Mick’s route either, but was obviously determined to give good value for money and wanted to be a highway star. I was driving like a bat out of hell just keeping him in sight, and on arriving back I was surprised to find my accelerator pedal wasn’t working properly. I just managed to coast to the drop off point and then had to be pushed into a parking space. Understandably I was having mixed emotions and wonder if our little adventure was all over now. The result of my sledge hammer technique with the old throttle pedal was that I’d snapped the thing clean off. So here I go again in search of a welder but first to take out the part still attached. No problem to an ex-potholer like me but I think I’d still be there had it not been for MJ and fellow Bears to pull me out when I got stuck. Thankfully Leeds College of Technology kindly welded me back together and with a little help from my friends we were homeward bound - well Stratford on Avon anyway - and hoping Sunday would be less stressful. Wrong!!

With the arrival of Sunday morning I excitedly start the car with no problems. Well there couldn’t be any more could there? However starting MJ was proving more of a challenge, she being struck down by one of her migraines. Fortunately our friend Ann kindly offered to come along and make sure I drive my car ok. Brave girl!

We arrive late due to a huge traffic jam approaching the NEC but the car was good and did not let us down. Once signed in I take Ann for a tour of the show and expecting a call to take out a ride. None came, the sound of silence was worrying me but checking my mobile I found it was switched off so I hurry back to find I’d been in much demand. Yellow was popular today!! So, keen as mustard, out I go with my first ride and playing safe follow the old Lagonda. Can’t go wrong here can I? Wrong!! Under pressure the top water pipe splits and my dreams of a problem-free day evaporated with all my water. Following my mobile call for help a fellow Bear with TVR picks up my passenger to complete his dream ride and leaving me shouting don’t leave me this way which of course he didn’t returning later to give me a lift back to the show.

After much frustration I manage to purchase a suitable hose and borrow a water carrier. TVR Bear kindly takes me back to my car. Unfortunately I couldn’t get rid of an air lock so had to try driving back with coolant not working properly. I managed to get to Gate 2 but had to be pushed back from there. Thanks to two strong GT 40 club members I was soon sorted and heading back to Stratford with my long-suffering friend Ann who said she enjoyed the show immensely. Sunday evening saw us all enjoying an evening at the local Jazz Club and the thoughts of a relaxing drive home.

Monday proved to be another challenge, my beloved GT or Hell on Wheels as MJ has renamed it, just would not start. Back to the AA again, “Is that the Yellow One?” The love of my life, ah second love that is, was gaining a bad reputation. However Mr AA man with jump leads quickly proclaims “that should fix you” and Ann helpfully pipes up “I got some like that in the shed” AAAAh We’d only been waiting two hours! Still it gave me time to recover from my 19th nervous breakdown…

So off to Oxford, car’s running like a dream, Yeh welcome to my nightmare. Did you say something dear? Half an hour later we’re lost in Oxford!! Arguments cause steamy windows and some crying but eventually we reach our destination. Seeing my daughter Jessica and gorgeous little Abigail were worth all the problems. Now let’s head for home.

Two hours later sat in traffic jam on the M25 that I can see for miles and miles and miles arguing about how I missed the turning on the M40, it felt that we would never make it. Going this way will take us at least 500 miles to get home. But, confident I will survive, and with growing confidence in my beautiful GT 40 we press on,

surviving another horrendous traffic jam at Leeds, blinding rain and a slipping fan belt that developed north of Newcastle we arrived home undercover of the night with a great sense of achievement. Despite all our problems we thoroughly enjoyed the NEC show and will, if possible, go again but not in the GT 40 as it’s now been sold to a French enthusiast. “Well if you drove it to NEC and London and back I will be OK to drive to Strasbourg, won’t I?”. Sure you will. No problem for a Frenchman. I wonder if he’s lost in France.

God I miss that car..

Jeff Ferris

There are over 40 song titles in this piece – how many have you identified?)