Spring Fling 2012 photos that show what it looks like in general

 Spring Fling, annual Mopar car show in Van Nuys, usually March or April

The new Challengers have a big car club that shows up every year and did a great color swatch job this year

 It's about the only place to see old vans

 Unusual forgotten Mopars like this Mirada

 or find 1950's and 60's cars with transplanted hemis like this Belvedere

 You won't see old Dodge trucks in many places outside a Moapr car show

 Bring cold drinks, because it's usually in the 80's and humid. There are plenty of vendors charging the usual 3 to 4 dollars a coke, 2 or 3 dollars a bottle of water. 

Aston Martin from "Goldfinger" the Bond movie

You know that more than one car are used during a movie, right? One for close ups, one for camera mount hardware, one for glamour shots and press photos, and a couple for stunts.

Well, one of the DB5 was stolen from an airplane hanger in 1997, and hasn't turned up yet

Petty's 1971 Road Runner was at Spring Fling

the white house appearance that is referred to on the above call board is here: http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2010/01/nixon-had-race-cars-over-to-white-house.html

Woodvale Rally 2012 - an update

An official statement from the organisers of this year's Woodvale Rally regarding the change of venue:

A routine site survey at RAF Woodvale has found as of 11am Wednesday, May 30 that asbestos has been discovered at the airfield.

The survey has revealed that World War II buildings, which were demolished and buried have now found their way to the surface and contain asbestos. For health and safety reasons organisers of the Woodvale Rally are relocating the event to Victoria Park with the new dates of Sat and Sun July 28 and 29. 

General Manager Peter Wood said: 

“Although we are disappointed that we are not able to use the airfield after so many years we are more than happy with Victoria Park as a venue. Most attractions will go ahead as usual. The Southport Flower Show committee have been marvellous in accommodating the rally at Victoria Park.

“The 2012 Rally will have the benefit of a town centre location with free bus transport from Chapel Street station and free parking in Princes Park. The 2012 Rally will adapt to the new venue and will provide most of the usual events and attractions.”

Public camping will go ahead and we will contact all people who have already booked.

To see today's earlier post click here.

Woodvale Rally to be held at new venue on earlier date

EAGLE-eyed readers might have already spotted something unusual on our Events page about this August's Woodvale Rally. This year it isn't being held in August. Or in Woodvale, for that matter.

For all sorts of complicated reasons better left to the hard-nosed news bit at the business end of The Champion the event can't be held at the RAF airbase this summer, meaning that the show's now got an earlier date (July 28 and 29) and a different venue (Victoria Park, which visitors to the Southport Flower Show will already be familiar with).

As one of the many, many classic car fans who've headed there year on year to show off their pride and joy at the Rally it's a bit of a shock to the system, but despite the setbacks the organisers have still got my support. The show, as they say, must go on! The Woodvale Rally has long been one of the highlights of my motoring year because it gives enthusiasts the chance to check out hundreds of classic cars, bikes and other machines in a nice, friendly atmosphere which provides a fun day out for ALL the family. Behind the rows of Rover SD1s and owners' club flags there's fairground rides and stalls selling sunglasses and handbags, so you can leave your other half or your kids to wander around to their heart's content while you take fuzzy photos of old Jags. It is big fun.

Over the years I've enjoyed all sorts of perspectives of the event; I've been there not just as a showgoer, but as a litter-picking cub scout, as a venture scout pointing motorists to the car park, as someone who's offered a helping hand with the model railway tent, as a Champion journalist reporting on it and - most proudly of all - as a classic car owner exhibiting there.

I‘ve been to Woodvale pretty much every year since the early Nineties and still come back with a smile on my face, with the exception of the ‘95 event when - while litter picking with the cub scouts - I managed to fall over and came back with a gaping great big gash on my knee instead. That exception aside though the sunshine, the radio-controlled aircraft, the banter with the classic car owners, the hamburgers, the vintage buses that connect them all are what make it what it is - I love all of it.

Only time will tell whether the Woodvale Rally will prove just as enjoyable at a different venue on an earlier date, but that doesn't mean I'm not looking forward to it.

Don't make the elephants angry!

Discovery Channel is trying a new car show, I hope it's a good one!

Carroll Shelby remembrance at JBA, an awesome display and experience of dozens of Cobras and Mustangs roaring their engines all at the same time