Making it a day out

How it all started...

It all started when my son gave up moto x, I used to have many a nice car, but with paying for the racing, all the traveling, maintaining the bike, I just couldn't afford a really nice show car, plus I would never get the time to show it as we were away most weekends racing.

Daniel gave up in 2000 after 9 years of racing, we had some really good times, well I couldn't persuade him to keep racing, so, I had to sell all the moto x stuff, I was gutted about this because Daniel was a good rider, if not in the top 3 then he wasn't far behind.

Well, with a bit of money behind me, I set off to by a car, I didn't really know what I wanted until a friend lent me his Series 2 RST, well that was it, I wanted one, it had to be white and very clean, I looked at a few, which were crap to be honest, then this guy from Plymouth rang me saying he had a red one, D plate no MOT or TAX and would I meet him in a pub car park!! Well I had my doubts but off I went.

I got there before him and waited for about half an hour, was just about to go when in pulled this very shiny looking RST. I was well taken aback, I had a good look over it, it was mint, I took it for a test run and it drove really well, I was impressed, I offered him a lot less than he wanted for it, he gave in saying he needed the money as his miss's had left him, hang on a minute if Jayne left me I wouldn't sell the cossy (sorry dear). Anyway I joined the local RS club and started showing the RST, I had some good times traveling up and down the country but the only thing was I was putting a fair few miles on the clock.

So one day in getting my hair cut, chatting to the barber, as you do (my mate Chris), I just joked about organising a car show here in the South West, his words were "why don't you", "I wouldn't know where to start" I said.

Well that is history now, so off I went and contacted as many clubs and traders as I could find, booked the Racecourse, set the date and the South West Motor Show was born.

The first show I ever did, June 2002, wasn't that good as it ran along side "Run to the Sun" and England in the world cup, so you could imagine not many people turned up, to be honest I think I had only one trader a handful of cars and about 800 public through the gate.

Well it didn't put me off, so I went away, set a date for 2003 and started all over again, to be honest, I've never looked back, 2005 was a fantastic year with almost 5000 public through the gate and nearly 30 traders, also about 600 show cars, I even had the Kangaroo kid, he was something else.

One of my biggest supporters is Ripspeed along with Konceptz, Turnbulls, Auto glym. KSH Audio, S C Performance, Auto Trader, Meguiars, Cruzin on Chrome, Injection Imports, Per4mance Cars, Torque Imports, Engine Tuner (Alan Jeffery), plus loads more.

I would just like to mention Ross Stephens from South West Cruisin, because he has been a big help to me, he's always there to help and give advice, plus without him I don't think Ripspeed would attend, thank's Ross. This has been one hell of an experience for me, and I've made alot of good friends along the way, may it continue for a few years yet, Lets get bigger & better.