As they say in all the best red-tops, ‘Phew! What A Scorcher!’ If the weather over Aldershot on Good Friday was a foretaste of the year to come, we’re in for some glorious cruising weather. And if the number of cars on the showfield was a portent of this year’s show attendances then 2007 should be a record year.

There were queues to get in before the gates were officially open, the field was full by 11, the various scattered and far-flung impromptu showfield extensions were full by noon, and reports say that the police had closed the surrounding roads and were turning people back by 12.30. Those poor souls on the field were getting sunburned by lunchtime and had drunk the bar dry before 3pm.
     This show is well-named – anything with wheels is welcome to go on the field, and there were excellent line-ups of VWs, loads of classic UK Fords, a bunch of Caterhams and Westfields, a row of PT Cruisers, military vehicles, the local grass-track club … but it was the hot rods, customs and American cars that made up the majority of the field, and what an excellent turn-out. Stand-outs included a Fifties Buick station wagon in bright orange, a restoration-fresh concours 1973 Mustang CJ from The Mustang Workshop and a very original 1957 Lincoln Premiere coupe … could it be the only two-door hardtop in the UK? I can’t remember seeing another. And kudos to the Corvette Club UK for fielding what had to be the biggest and best one-make display of the day.
     While the sun beat down and several bands strutted their stuff live on stage, it was a great day to chill out with friends and catch up on what’s been happening over winter. On the other hand, if you wanted to see every car on the field it would have been a great day to get very sweaty … believe me.
     Later in the afternoon, as the deserving winners were handed their trophies, it was the organisers who deserved the biggest prizes – for putting on such a tremendous show in unseasonably hot weather with so many more participants than the venue could supposedly handle. Full marks, Surrey Street Rodders. Wheels Day is supposedly the biggest outdoor one-day car show in the UK. After this year, I have no trouble believing that at all.

Footman James / Rybec Shipping Car of the Year
Heat Winner round one

Let’s kick-start the 2007 Car Of The Year contest with a real iconic muscle car – in this case, Jamie Bell’s 1967 Shelby Mustang GT500. If you think you’ve seen it in here before, you’re right – it was one of our three-car Shelby Showdown participants back in the September 2004 issue. Whilst it was hardly in bad order back then, it’s now damn-near perfect … Jamie and Roy Holmes have set about bringing it up to show-winning condition, and as well as serious time and money, Jamie has had some unforeseeable obstacles to deal with along the way. Not that you’d be able to tell – this is a beauty. Think you can do better? The next CotY heat isn’t until the middle of June, so come and have a go!