Retro Rides Gathering ’21 –

Your reviewer began a conscious self-imposed blackout of who and what was attending the event a few weeks ago. Why? One of the motives for attending the now legendary Retro Rides Gathering (RRG) was the anticipation of feasting my eyes on new, fresh metal and unexpectedly bumping into people. It’s not just the promise of a diverse range of cars, both customised and stock, that makes the weekend, but it’s also the minds behind the machines.

As a companion to the spring Goodwood RRG event, Shelsley Walsh acts as the summer venue. Based in the heart of the panoramic Worcestershire countryside, RRG transforms into a mini universe for automobiles, like-minded people, and, more often than not, a place where lifelong connections are formed. Sounds like retro car heaven? Not far off really. Car & Classic asked David ‘Hotwire’ Murphy, Retro Rides chief driver and controller to explain his motivation for starting the Gathering.

‘No one was doing a car show like how I wanted one to be. So “be the change you want to see” and all that. It is still basically putting on the car show that I want to go to, ironically, I never get to enjoy it properly. It has become a bit of an institution to people. Across a number of different venue moves from the early years to now there is a hardcore group of people that will always have a home at RR Gathering’

A selfless vision, providing car fans with an outlook and community to call their own. It’s worth bearing in mind that David’s vision started out as a web forum in the early 2000s. A car forum where ideas, a level of decorum, passion, advice, and open-minded conversation are encouraged. This philosophy has filtered into the events and that’s just one of the numerous reasons why these Gatherings shindigs work so well.

The venue is rather worthy of note too. It is one of the oldest motorsport venues in the world, having first opened up to motorsports in 1905. A notably steep hill climb, the narrow track has a rise of 100m over its 910m length and requires a certain reaction and skill to master. David adds ‘Shelsley Walsh really suits our grassroots nature, where Basil Davenport took on the big guns with his home-built special. That is the spirit we’re channelling.’

Obviously, David hasn’t done this single-handedly, he has a loyal team working behind him, who selflessly organise, control, and help plan the events. The unenviable task of rejecting modern cars at the gate is not a hard and fast rule as one might think. There’s no such thing as a date cut-off point as such, and while not all post-2000’s cars are rejected, the essence of the show is surprisingly difficult to pin down. Conversely, this allows a wide selection of the weird, the wonderful and the inspirational that attend the events. And that’s just the owners. To help filter and provide an idea of what flavours an RRG event, we have a quick scan of last weekend’s Gathering in full technicolour.

The main day is on Sunday, which starts at 9.00 am as the steady influx of retro and classic traffic filters into the Shelsley Walsh grounds. The first two hours paints a picture of what to expect. One cannot underestimate the lengths and trouble owners go through to undertake the journey to the show – weeks of planning, fettling and organisation is the norm. With obstacles such as poor mobile phone coverage, the potential for grounding on lowered cars, narrow roads to the venue, as well as the occasional cow pat left by the previous occupants of the field, these are just a handful of issues one must consider. Yet, the disadvantages are forgiven over the many positive attributes.

The show can be sectioned into five distinct areas. First up is the camping area, where the hardcore survive the weekend to endure the pouring rain and blazing sun. Offset those with a great opportunity to socialise, take part of the legendary RRG charity auction and chat into the small hours with a can or two. It’s the perfect opportunity to put a face to a car or a username.

The paddock is always a humbling environment to walk around in, an opportunity to get close to the cars and soak up the sights and smells of anticipation, as owners build up their nerves to climb the hill. Cars are offered several runs in batches and aside from the start point, there are many unrestricted vantage points throughout the track to observe the spectacle.

The main field is split into two, the bottom half accommodates car club stands, with the classic car parking section being placed further up field. For many, this is the nucleus of the event, where one can catch up, chat, reflect and absorb.

Prizes offer bragging rights and without fail, an informal and often whimsical 15 minutes is dedicated to a selection of cars that best sum up the event and offers an explanation of what has been appreciated by the judges.

Retro Rides was one of the first general car shows to fully embrace the classic Japanese car movement in the UK. One of the forum members who was fondly remembered for his passion and collection of JDM classics cars was Simon Baldwin, who went under the username ‘Hong Kong Phooey’. Tragically, he was killed in one of his cars 10 years ago. As a tribute, the now yearly award for the best Japanese car is dedicated to him. It was won by Don, who has recently taken on this imported ‘Old Hots’ inspired 130 Series Nissan Cedric.

Five prizes are given out, which are ‘Dare to be different, ‘Hong Kong Phooey’, ‘Best of Show’, ‘Best truck/van/wagon’ and ‘Cool Award’.

The Best of Show was won by Colin is his Subaru powered Renault Dauphine. His motivation is clear to see by this unique creation, as a rear-engined, air-cooled fanatic, the choice of developing the Dauphine is aligned with his interests and with a nod to the 1/4 mile drag racers, his vision has been beautifully executed.

With the prizes handed out, ably presented by long-term sideman to David, Simon ‘Rmad’ Coulson, we wander off back into the field of dreams and continued to seek the tin.

Not known for its racing pedigree, this 1985 N12 Nissan Cherry was a novel sight. Fully prepared for competitive amateur rally sports, the N12 actually makes a lot of sense as a club sports entry. Robust mechanics, ease of driving and the option of upgrading in-house Nissan parts makes it a missed opportunity for the brand. One brand that didn’t miss out on a rally pedigree was Mazda and their 6th generation BF Series 323. Although the 4×4 version was a competitive rally car during the late ‘80s, this 1.6i version would have been a suitable entrant too.

Imagination, ideas and originality are often a common thread among owners and their cars, but it’s not just limited to passenger vehicles. Vans have always been a constant in the modified car scene, with their load-carrying abilities coming second to their modification and treatment. A pair of Renault Extra vans, follows a long tradition of small French cars being used as light commercial vehicles. The Renault 5 is a great example of how GT and Turbo models can donate their engines and running gear to their baguette hauling cousins.

Ade’s Ford Sierra 3 door is now a rare beast these days. He’s resisted the temptation to convert it into a Cosworth replica and has maintained the cars humble style but has added a subtle but effective Zender look. Originally imported from Holland, his original motivation was to simply do burnouts in it. He has no concrete plans and will literally make it up as he goes along. Maybe a V8? Maybe some new wheels. No sweat. It’s just for fun.

Robin is well known for his lowered car antics, having created the iconic ‘Epic Spe-cialz’ Bosozoku Nissan Sunny but has occupied himself with a pursuit that is some-what higher off the ground. He took on the Daihatsu Sportrak to use specifically to enjoy on the green lanes. A confident and talented fabricator, his cars are constantly evolving, and he is always receptive to new ideas and concepts, so this could be another one to watch.

Club stands have always been the mainstay of the RRG events, and it’s always good to see that many make the effort to regularly change the models on their stand. The Datsun Club UK line-up was striking for its dominant 80s feel. Given the interest and rising values of the earlier RWD models, the baton has been passed over to the more accessible and slightly more rust-resistant later cars.

A well-oiled machine often requires a well-oiled club. The MK1 Golf owners club ensemble collated a series of well-finished cars for their club stand. With almost 20 years of existence, the presence of the ubiquitous MK1 Golf has been a constant since the early days of the RRG.

As the main fields offered a low-key but enjoyable ramble into memory lane, it’s always a tremendous occasion to delve into the pit lanes. Interspersed with rather low sheds, the charmingly rustic and picturesque paddocks raise the tempo, as we leave the static display and absorb the smell of burnouts, burning clutches and an engaging PA commentary.

RRG always hosts a batch of carefully curated guest cars, but also the Shelsley Walsh event is the focus for many owners who wish to book a place for the hill climb. Professionally prepared cars, as well as daily drivers, are all welcome to run but the same rules apply. Recognised as one of the oldest disciplines of motorsports, like most disciplines of Motorsports, it revolves around a static start and a flying finish. While it offers a genuine competitive sprint, the minimum requirement is a helmet and your vehicle documents. Spaces were scarce, so it’s always advisable to pre-book well in advance of the event.

You’ll still need your machine to be scrutineered. There is a briefing too and you’ll be astonished at how much a stroll up the course before the day’s event helps with orientation and gauging your car’s capabilities.

As the day progresses, the energy levels start to flag and people make plans to leave the venue, as the organisers selflessly restore the field to what it was before the invasion of the cars. There’s a lot to reflect on, a lot to catch up on, and some remorse about not being able to spend as much time with some people as you’d like. The RRG is a long weekend that passes far too quickly but those precious hours in the RRG universe can be described as the ultimate in grassroots automotive enlightenment.