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
I limp the fully loaded car home and run a quick paperclip test on the diagnostic port - code 12. A quick search shows that I won't be able to fix this quickly 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
By mid afternoon we had been joined by Tallboy (Dave) and his bro, Tigertebb (Connor), Cori.louise (Cori) and her fella Jody. Not only that, the sun was out!!! Unlike most years of late, the camping field was also almost full!!! Promising stuff 
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
Let's start things gentle with the Chilli Chocolate Challenge. First one - Chipotle....Very pleasant with only a hint of chilli. This'll be easy OK, Jalapeno chocolate next. Not much difference to be fair. Stage 3 was Tabasco. Starting to get lively but still well within tolerable limits. Final stage then maybe? Habenero Chilli chocolate. That's more like it Feisty little sucker that one 
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
Started with the home-made chilli burgers, a few burgers from the butchers and a couple of sausages before Jody broke out the whole trout. Cooked slowly wrapped in tin foil and stuffed with seasoned butter and lemon, once cooked it fell apart. With the massive bowl of Couscous as well, we ate like kings (and a queen as well). The chilli burgers were a firm favourite thankfully but then came the decision - go for the full strength Man Sauce or opt for the weaker Pussy Juice? The weaker sauce still packed a punch but nothing like the burn from the Man Sauce. Ben (Boomshack) certainly felt the full heat as the sauce bit back. With a face like a ripened tomato and enough tears to irrigate a field, he bravely fought on and finished his ample serving of the Man Sauce. 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
Signs are good that next year will be even better 
- 
