UK Nostalgia Page
The Early Years!
Here’s a selection from my own personal photo collection, of
my favourite and most remembered cars from the start of the
“New Wave” movement, as it became known, in the UK.
Back then a nice set of wheels, paint and interior was just about
all it took to get in amongst the trophies, oh those were the
days.
I remember Bug Jam 1 was just a Sunday only show, with parking for 'normal'
cars along side the strip where the trade stands reside these
days. It was a very low key and laid back affair, and as with
most of the early shows, for some strange reason, was blessed
with awesome sunshine.
By the time of Bug Jam 2, the styles, level of detail, investment and the
"dare to be different" theme had all stepped up a gear.
Ivan's Peaches & Creme Bug and Richie King's "Rad
Roadster" were the real show stoppers at this event.
The German Car Company Nationals of 18/19th Sept 1988 saw the growing interest in race
machinery was now really taking off. Start line wheel standing
action from the stunning green Oval of John Maher was the biggest
talking point of the weekend. It was also the event that was
attended by some extremely cool cars from Sweden; the monster
Porsche turbocharged engined Dalhems RSK Spyder, and a couple of
exquisitely detailed Ovals - both displaying very unique and
original styles.
Bug Jam 3 in June of 1989 was, from memory, one, if not the
biggest, turn out of cars and people on record at Bug Jam.
Scorching sunshine, the best cars we had ever seen made for one
of the most memorable Bug Jams of all time. On the track, Keith
Seume's recently rebuilt and repainted ex-Humbug race car, now
sporting Flat Attack livery, the De Coppen Bros turbo Oval car
which had been recently imported from the US, the superb US
ex-Sewfine 356 Speedster funny car was now painted white with
green scallops, and of course the legendary Terry's Beetle
Services Moody were just some of the crowd pleasers. Show car
wise, the strip was taken over on the Sunday by a stunning line
up of cool cars. My own all-time favourite; Alan Smart's red
tube-framed Oval made it's debut. Thump Tump's Billabug left us
speechless, especially seeing Jay and Gary Constable in matching
Billabong jackets! Brian Burrows' white Wizard Roadser also went
on to take the prestigious Europe's Most Beautiful VW award.
More to follow. :-)
Andy Parrott
May 2001