Words : Simon Coulson
Photographs : Simon Coulson
Date : Good Friday 2008
Location : Surrey, UK
Weather : Snow, Rain, Sun...!
Result : Cold people, cool cars

Wheels day 2008

Now in it's thirty-fourth year, Wheels Day is the first major show in the UK hot rodding calendar.

Every Good Friday hundreds of the country's best rods and customs make their way to Rushmoor Arena in Aldershot, but that's not all - Wheels Day is about just that: wheels. The chaps from Surrey Street Rodders aren't a blinkered bunch and encourage everything from classic Minis to massive military vehicles.

This great little A40 didn't seem to be in the show but is still very cool.

What is it that drives so many Minor owners to cut the bottom out of their cars and stuff a full chassis and a V8 under there instead? Whatever it is, I'm glad they did. The primered one was still being worked on at 2am on the morning of the show.

Even the atrocious weather doesn't stop the cars coming. Thankfully there was some sun between the spells of wintry wind, rain and snow. No sunburn this year!

"So you're just going to waste a whole page with nothing on it but a 76 aerial ball?"

"Yes"

Adam Slater's Peugeot provoked reactions of all sorts...some sniggered, some burst out laughing and others just stood looking bemused.

This '57 wasn't suffering any negative effects from having 'too many' doors...in fact I think it made it even cooler.

It's all for charidee! The nominal entrance fee (£5 adults, children free) all goes to charity and includes live music throughout the day as well as the familiar sound of John Price letting everybody know what's going on.

New this year was 'Wheels FM', a radio station just for the event broadcast to Rushmoor Arena and the surrounding area...inclusding travel reports...an inspired idea.

Celica liftback had all the right JDM bits, chin spoiler, mirrors and those SSR MkII rims.

Who you gonna call? (GHOSTBUSTERS!)

Diff 'n ' Jo's Zetec'd HA Viva made the trip up from Southend and looked as good as ever.

Another Good Friday, anther Wheels Day...whatever you're into, whatever you drive, if you like things with wheels then the trip out to Hampshire is going to be a worthwhile one.

Well done Surrey Street Rodders, let's hope the thirty-fifth year is just as good!

See you next year...