Meetings Hulst-Dutch Interntional 2003

International report written by club chairman - Judd Hadley

Our annual trip to Dover started out as usual with the usual moans of still being tired, not enough breakfast and theres far too much luggage being taken of which I’m innocent on all counts... Good job the night before we had the company of graham & sue who stayed in Essex to lessen the strain on the "silver bullets" mechanicals with us all going out for a large dinner.



Arriving at Dover we were waved straight through customs to line up for the ferry, well that ruined the plan of distributing the bright orange event caps at the usual undercover meeting point, something to do with it already being crowded by classic cars also heading across the pond.

Arriving shortly behind us were Andre & Clare lucker who also brought the club shop with them & the large framed photos as gifts to the organisers, thanks to you both, mention must be made of Andre & Alans job of manning the club shop on the saturday evening (see photo), Andre especially managing to tear himself away from Clare for the occassion. Unfortunately alans windscreen shattered on the way to dover so he along with Carolyn & Pamela made the journey in a hire car ariving much later in the evening, this meant them bumping rides with everyone else for the weekend.

Stopping in Brugge for lunch on the way with the "inlaws" or should that be "outlaws" for company along with Andre & Clare & Graham & Sue we managed to find an underground car park, with the "pathfinder squadron" vehicle having to take the lead. Walking from the said car park and onto the escalators Nicki decided to give an impromptu "jig" as she neared the top. The escalators werent working or so we thought, when victoria and I reached the top we triggered the infra red beam which started the escalator, unfortunately we had walked UP the down escalator! it came into life rather unexpectedly so we jumped off with everyone else having to run up the wrong way!!

Arriving in Hulst at the old city hall we were met by friends from all the international clubs, including club members Dave & Deborah Reed who were holidaying in Holland & dropped by for the weekend, once
inside for the registration & welcome speeches we were all treated to welcome drinks and snacks.

After this we headed off to Terneuzen to the main hotel where the cars were to be left in secure parking for the weekend, the other hotel was only a short bus ride away with 3 minibuses on hand to ferry us all between the hotels at leisure. Friday evening consisted of the plan for the weekend and with all participants being put into small groups named after various animals with mixed members from all clubs, an excellent idea, although we ended up in hedgehog squadron! Saturday was a 7.30am start for breakfast with us leaving in our groups at different times, fortunately we got the 9.15 slot, one of the latest.

The day consisted of a long convoy drive of approx 70 miles broken by the stop offs for the team events which consisted of hurling a pitch fork at an oversized dartboard made from a bail of straw, to rolling wooden balls down an alley in an attempt to knock off the wooden pegs sitting on poles, mine seemed to be glued on, though I’m reliably told Adrian managed to knock them all off! Stopping for cakes & coffee our next event was driving a peddle car whilst someone else with a long pole speared the overhead hoops the aim being to collect as many as possible in two passes without cheating! the peddle cars had only one steering wheel so I’m not sure who was sitting in the "dummy" seat!! (see photos). With a meal in the afternoon there was a chance to walk around the old fortress wall of Hulst & be dragged around a few shops! Arriving back at the hotel slightly parched, it was time to help out Andre & Alan on the club shop & don our del boy images with the club shop doing brisk trade.

As the next day was going to be busy speeches were made and thanks given to the organisers along with gifts, this usually being done on the sunday. The evening meal was most welcome and a chance to relax with a beer & friends before the unveiling of the piece d' resistance...a cabriolet cake with fireworks no less, it tasted rather nice too! (see photo) There was live music and the themed evening was caribbean, so there was a mixture of loud shirts, lairy shorts and a brilliant atmosphere with most dancing into the small hours, the childrens entertainer was another hilight with all sorts of objects being created from balloons, with a magician on hand to baffle everyone including me.

Sunday was a cabriolet free day, with us taking a boat trip along the river Scheldt to Hoedekenskerke accompanied by a brass band who played us aboard & hopefully wouldnt be playing as we went down! before disembarking for drinks at an old steam railway yard & station. before leaving on a tour to Goes with the brass band playing all the way, a very relaxing day was had before returning to the hotel.

Numerous prizes were awarded with one going to the Aspdens for there determination to get to the meeting, with the Vinalls getting the appropriate award for most unconventional cabriolet, theres was at home wasting garage space whilst they took along there new beetle, which isnt a cabriolet! Graham & Sue received an award for there teams joint effort in the events on saturday, Wim koelman the Belgian chairman said it must of been because of the belgians in there team? Victoria was awarded the
prize of the most beautiful lady...of which im still being reminded of two months later! During the weekend a team of sand sculptors were creating a sculpture of a cabriolet complete with passengers, dog & luggage (see photo) the detail was immense & had to be seen to be fully appreciated, with the event over most of the GB members stayed on sunday night & we all had a meal together in the old square in Hulst, this ended the meeting nicely with us going on to Antwerp for a few days rest!