Diehard hot rodders live every day immersed in their cars and culture. To them, life is an experience full of history and loaded with the inspiration they derive from it almost every second of the day. Regardless of what he or she does during the work grind, there is always that one reserved part of the brain that is tuned in to the vibe that is hot rodding. It wasn't all that long ago that belly tanks were ripping across lake beds or the Salt for the first time, or when channeled roadsters and chopped coupes initially hit the streets. It's easy to think back to the past and imagine how a particular car was built, how you might be able to work in some facet of its style or engineering into your own car, or how to absorb that influence into something totally new by adding in your own personal touch to make it even cooler. This experience isn't just something that is happening in the USA; it has been growing throughout the UK and Europe for many years.
The UK has long been a hotbed of hot rod and custom activity, with many of our culture's influences having long been absorbed over the decades; however, just as we are always expanding our own personal history over here, they are also deeply involved in expanding their own. Thanks to plenty of racing lineage, amazing builders, and countless personal styles, their rodding movement is ever evolving. We recently received an invitation to spend a week in England to take in the biggest event in the country as well as to meet up with many of the builders, car owners, and vendors who make the scene an exciting bevy of activity that it is today. With a rare opportunity to experience everything firsthand, it was easy to say "book the flights!"
The NSRA Hot Rod Supernationals, now in its 16th year, has settled into a dramatically picturesque venue named Old Warden Park, located some 70 miles north of London in the quaint little town of Bedfordshire. With old country roads you only read about, dotted by thatch-roofed homes abutted by vast farmland, it seems it would be a very fitting locale for the country's largest hot rod show. Pulling into Old Warden, you are greeted by endless greenery and trees spread over 500 acres, with winding roads that transverse the park in such a way as to create some truly amazing cruising. Eventually, you come upon an extraordinary English manor that was built way back in 1875 by the Shuttleworth family that serves as an amazingly thought-provoking piece of architecture centered in the middle of the event. The history held within this country is vast, and you are able to experience quite a bit of it being on the grounds thanks to the Shuttleworth Collection housed there. The collection features eight hangars housing 40 vintage aircraft, which are all in flying condition, as well as countless images, historical aviation artifacts, and engines that line the walls of the buildings. Add in the adjoining Birds of Prey center with its hawks, falcons, and eagles, along with the Swiss Gardens, and you have a venue filled to the brim with activity.
With everyone settled in for the weekend, it was time to enjoy the surroundings, since a large majority of the car owners camp in for the duration of the show. Unlike many larger events in the U.S., the campers in the UK prefer to use tents, and it's amazing to be out at night while not being attacked by mosquitoes. For two days, car owners had the park all to themselves since the event did not open to the public until Sunday morning. This allowed time for fun, socializing, taking in a few runs to the local pubs, and staying up late-until almost 2 in the morning-enjoying live music, a carnival, and plenty of great food. Saturday morning was cruise time, with over 250 cars participating in a mini reliability run that took participants through a myriad of country roads and highway sprints that wound up at a neat old pub for plenty of barbecue and some ice cold ale. It's an atmosphere that is plenty laidback and based on loads of interaction. There was never a loss of entertainment either, with scorching music sets provided nightly by bands After Hours and The Good Old Boys. Sunday morning, when the event opened to the public, the show field filled to the brim with 1,500-plus of the coolest rods and customs imaginable. Whatever your likings, you could have easily found it with a top-notch combination of traditional, high-tech, and hardcore-styled rods in attendance. If you dig customs, bobbers, or even musclecars, they were plentiful and well presented for over 5,000 visitors to enjoy. The combination of fresh country air, multi-carbed Flatheads, and the English countryside made the event truly memorable. We owe many thanks to the NSRA UK for allowing us this firsthand opportunity to experience some of the finest hot rods and hospitality that England has to offer. It truly is an event worth experiencing for yourself. You can check it all out at www.nsra.org.uk. Dig it!
An American Hot Rod Journalist In EnglandIt's not every day that the opportunity arises to be able to accept an invitation by the NSRA UK to come over and check out the largest event they hold in the country. With hot rods and customs coming in from all over England, as well as Scotland, France, Germany, and others, it was an amazing chance to actually experience what's happening on their side of the pond. Let me be the one to tell you that they are building some of the most bitchin' cars imaginable, and when you factor in the price for the parts, and the cost of fuel ($8, on average, per gallon!), you know their dedication to the hobby is immeasurable.
To be able to participate in the weekend's events was truly memorable. I was also able to meet with some of the top builders, including Home Grown Hot Rods, Duksville Speed Shop, and Wisbech Engineering, as well as check out cars from many of the top clubs, like the Executioners, Outlaws, and UK Customs. There was an amazing social atmosphere that surrounded the event with everyone there just wanting to have a great time.
Thanks to many of the rodders for wicked rides in their stoke hot rods that seemed to bring out the best in the countryside. With the trip over there only being about six hours from the East Coast, it's one many rodders should check out. While there, we were also able to take side trips to Windsor Castle, the famed Spirit of Brooklands automotive and aviation museum, and numerous pubs in search of the perfect fish-and-chips dinner. Plan ahead and expand your rodding experience to another country to check out just how much fun they are having too.
Built in England in '36 by Chrysler, Mark Belcher's model Kew-Six sedan wowed the crowds with its high-tech styling, effervescent lime and magenta pearl body, and Colorado Custom rims. | 
They don't get any more real than Phil Well's knockout '24 Ford all-steel soup job. | 
Ian Armstrong certainly knows how to set 'em up right, having originally built his '55 Ford Popular (an Anglia to us here in the States) way back in 1980. |
One of the fastest Flathead's in England, Jim Turnbull's stoke burgundy candy topped Deuce sucks you in with its rambunctious good looks, then lays you out cold with its wild bent-eight. | 
Starting with a total basket case, Pete Whiteside brought back Henry's vintage steel to create this sweet soup-job with its perfect stance, dramatic Washington Blue flavor, vibrant red grille and interior, and neat beehive caps. | 
The English countryside was a perfect backdrop for Sue Manners' drop-dead gorgeous '29 Ford roadster pickup. |
Mark Miller's wicked traditional '35 Ford coupe was a former Custom Car Magazine feature car in the UK with which we were able to catch up. | 
Talk about wicked, Brian Watson's '47 Ford was set on kill with its tasty torch-job, ground-scraping stance thanks to a Total Cost Involved independent frontend, and Billet Specialties rollers covered in Kuhmo skins. | 
Not just another pretty face, Steve Lang's '23 Ford T sees plenty of duty on the street and strip where it is a regular participant in quarter-mile nostalgia racing. |
Original English Fords have a distinctive look all their own. | 
In a rare moment without crowds hanging over it, Dave Greenfield's Shoebox Ford custom left you breathless with its pan on the ground, mirror-straight body, Lancer caps, and aqua candy coating. | 
Another vintage Ford being debuted at the Nationals was Mark Gee's Deuce pickup that was given a perfect channel, coated in suede complemented by an ivory chassis, and packed full of power thanks to a Chevy 327 topped with six deuces. |
Fresh off the cover of Custom Car Magazine, Kevin Foster's all-steel '34 Ford coupe was loaded with style and class coming from the stables of Home Grown Hot Rods. | 
Originally built in the States, Nick Williams' '23 Ford modified sits on a set of A 'rails, has three pedals, and gets its scoot from a dressed-to-impress Flathead complete with Offy heads and matching two-pot intake. | 
Henry Georges caused quite a stir with his wild '38 Peugeot Model 402 custom that had many of us thinking Chrysler Airflow with its sweeping grille and bodylines. Smooth and low, it rolled on Colorado Customs wheels. |
One of the many different hot rods on the field was Colin Pugh's Humber woodie wagon. While visiting the show, there were numerous makes that were never exported to the USA that had extremely interesting body styles. | | |