
Picture the scene, it's 7.30am Saturday morning and raining heavily. Hardly the perfect weather for a trip over to Santa Pod for a show which in recent years has seen a decline. Never the less, here I am. I'm up, I'm showered, the MR2 is cleaned and packed and I am casually sipping on a cup of coffee, looking out of the window at the daunting prospect of another year fighting the elements in the attempt to make a success of the show.
The rain eases and I seize an opportunity to nip out and re-attach the battery (it is left disconnected when the car isn't in use so I know it'll fire up). That's it! I'm ready to go!! A turn of the key and the MR2 fires into life and I ease her off the driveway. I'm off....
Or so I thought

Less the 50m down the road, the EML comes on and she is sounding like a bag of nails, missfiring badly


The weather is still not looking promising, reflecting my mood but I have committed myself to this. People are relying on me as I have all the stand passes on me. Without me, there is no show. Snap decision - it has to be the hack. I thrown everything from the MR2 into the BMW Tourer, take a deep breath and head off into the murk to the Pod.
On arrival, the queue is nothing (a worrying sight) and I made my way through with the traditional booze check and off towards the camping area. On turning the corner, I spy that it is already busier than last year - that's a good sign

Find the club a good spot and pull in and claimed it by placing a sail into the ground. That's it - the OC is here. Just start to get out the Gazebo when Devonlad (Jordan) and Boomshack (Ben) pull up. In light of the fall out, I was beginning to think I would be sat on my own like a plum. With their help, we finished getting the stand together and chilled. MR2Extreme06 (Andy) was the next to arrive and gradually, the OC presence built up


Needless to say, the liquid lunch was in full swing by this point and conversation was flowing freely. Hmmm, time to bring out the chilli methinks




Time to crack the BBQ going. Once up to heat it was time to cook. I think we must have had the most up-market BBQ on the site



The evening carried on with light hearted banter and a very relaxing time, gradually consuming the large supply of alcoholic beverages until the sun set and the fairground called. After a thoroughly disorientating trip on the Waltzers, the age old tradition of the Drunken Dodgems commenced.

Sunday morning arrived bleary eyed yet still dry with the traditional breakfast chowdown before pulling down camp and heading for the stand. We were met on the stand by the remaining members of our stand and set the cars up ready for the day. Sunday followed the usual format - a few guys down the strip, a few wanders, food and a good browse round the happily enlarged traders area.
Unfortunately I had to leave at about Midday to spend some time with my Little'un but I want to thank everyone for coming along. Without you guys, there is no show. Thanks go out to the old school members for turning up and helping create the atmosphere and more thanks go to the new members on their virgin show. The older members reinforce what we are about (a social club) and the new guys help to grow that. Hopefully you all felt welcome and we look forward to seeing you all again

Happily, I can report that Japshow is no longer a dying show. This year showed that the scene is growing again and although it wasn't up to the numbers it was at a few years ago, the guys at Santa Pod have certainly pulled their fingers out and have got the punters back. This may shock some people but they are actually spending money (at last) on the site

