SUNDAY 8th MAY 2005 - RAVENSWOOD CUSTOM AND CLASSIC CAR SHOW

The show at Ravenswood School in Bromley (Keston to be precise) is held annually with just over 500 cars on display. Although it is well known locally, it is not yet recognized on a wider scale. For various reasons we decided not to repeat the club’s attendance this year. Nevertheless, with the school only a few miles from where I live I had decided to enter myself as a solo entry. However, when a few others heard I was going they wanted to come as well. So we ended up with a club display after all.

Being the first show of the year, the weather in early May is always a bit iffy. I remember last year, we all ended up on the hard standing tennis courts because it rained so much the week before the playing fields where the cars are usually displayed were totally waterlogged. This year was much better, it was mild, but a cold breeze hampered us all day with relief coming in short spells only when the sun appeared between the grey clouds. At least it didn’t rain though.

Our local newspaper reported later that the show saw more than 3,000 visitors who raised an estimated £6,000 for the school. Next year will be the show’s 25th anniversary and they are hoping to do even better so I think we’ll be there also to give our support.

A couple of highlights of the day were:

A young man got very excited when he saw Robert Hexter’s car. He used to own it! Robert has undertaken such excellent restoration work since owning his red coupe that the man wanted it back!

Another man wanted to join the MK1 club, but it turned out that he owns an Escort MK1.

A bloke told me he could repair the dent in the driver’s door of my car for £20. I hadn’t noticed it was bent before!

Thanks to Karl Thomas and Robert Hexter who made it all possible.

ALAN CAYZER