5 minute read
Drive Newquay
Words and pics: James Webber
When a new show is launched, how refreshing it is not to be having to look for hotels or plan a journey. Drive Newquay is the work of Anthony Fryett and his good friend Fil, who used to run the Bristol Tattoo Convention – and the venue was literally a ten-minute stroll from my house!
The purpose of the show was to bring the custom and retro scene back into Newquay after the demise, many years ago, of the famous Run to the Sun. Now, the people behind that event say they’re going to be bringing it back next year – but for now, Anthony and Fil have managed to demonstrate that the demand for shows like this is as strong as ever.
The venue was Newquay Sports Centre, which had a big field for the cars and
traders – as well as a long entry road, always a help in preventing traffic queues from stretching back on to the main road. Anthony and Fil put in a huge effort to publicise the show on social media, as well as swamping the surrounding areas in flyers and posters, in a big to get as many cars to attend on the day… and they got their rewards!
Show cars had been asked to pre-enter, just to give a rough idea of numbers, but I don’t think that prepared the guys for what was about to ensue. Having put vast amounts of blood, sweat and swear words into laying out parking spaces, trading areas and catering facilities, they were as ready as they could ever be – and even with the gates not opening to the public until 10am, show vehicles were already piling in in their masses from 8am onwards.
As always, a show like this depends on a team of volunteers, and as always the organisers are very grateful to them for turning up and making the effort. Less so when they DON’T turn up, though… and a few no-shows on the day meant Fil and partner Emma were stuck on the gate taking money from the punters while Anthony was left directing traffic. Next time you go to a show and fancy a moan because it’s not perfect in every way, stop to think about what you might not be able to see going on behind the scenes…
Anyway, the show field was filled by more than 150 show cars, ranging from rods to classics to retro to a few modern modifieds. Traders included Tyres and Tides, Empacombe Classic Panels and Pasty Stickers. To entertain the public, the worldfamous Demon Drone put on regular deathdefying stunts, Axe Heads brought the art of axe throwing and renowned pinstriper Tootall Paul was striping everything from cars to tool boxes.
Come prize-giving time, awards went to: Furthest travelled: Lee Belcher, VW Beetle, from Exeter Best Rat: James Sowden, VW Squareback Best VW: David Bond, Mk1 Golf Best Retro: Mark Tregoning, bagged Audi Super 90 Best Yank: John Pastor, ’58 Cadillac Eldorado Best in Show: Jon Buss, ’71 Camaro
After staying behind to help the guys clear up, I had a chat with them and asked how it went. ‘For a first show,’ said Fil, ‘this blew all our expectations. The quality of cars in Cornwall and the South-West is second to none, the public all seemed to love it and it can only go forward from here. We had 150 cars in the field plus a few stragglers parking in any space available. As kids were free, we can’t count a total but certainly over 2000 people came through the gates, which is far more than we could have expected. It shows that car enthusiasts and the people of Newquay want these sort of events to take place.’
Anthony and Fil would like to thank the hardy band of volunteers and supporters who helped out on the day and supported the event on social media: these are Fil and Anthony’s partners Emma and Sarah, Evy Everson, Dave Godfrey, Pete and myself! Check out Drive Newquay on Facebook and Instagram for updates on next year’s show.
Jon Buss has owned Eddie, his ’71 Camaro, for four years, during which time he’s treated it to an extensive programme of work culminating in an engine rebuild last summer. An hour’s cruise from Devon brought him to Newquay – and for his troubles he set back off for home clutching the Best in Show award
The Grumman LLV is definitely a rarity here, especially when it’s been bagged. Being a mail van, it’s right-hand drive as standard – and with the entire US Postal Service fleet of more than 100,000 scheduled to be replaced over the next decade, it might soon start to become a more common sight at shows like these. This one was far from being the only interesting commercial vehicle at Newquay – this gasserstyle Dodge A100 runs a 360 V8
Left: Among the traders was James McMahon, who runs Empacombe Classic Panels near Mount Edgecumbe, across the bay from Plymouth, and makes hand-made panels in steel and aluminium. With a louvre press in his arsenal, he currently has a couple of big projects on the go Right: James Sheardown’s ‘48 Chevy Fleetmaster Coupe runs a 383 SBC, Holley carb and Mustang 2 front clip. As we were going to press, it appeared for sale at a tempting £20,000
