The drive up was pretty uneventful and we made good progress, stopping off on the A420 to stretch our legs and moan about only being halfway there, as we do every single time. There were some black clouds looming above us the whole way up, but we managed to avoid any rain which I was more than happy about.
As much as I moan about the length of time driving, there's something special about convoying up to a show. The feeling of driving your pride and joy with a like-minded person, full of excitement and butterflies, is something that I've never lost over the years. Strangely, it's arguably one of my favourite things about a show weekend.
Sunday comes and it's an early start. Rain had fallen in the night and the streets were looking wet and miserable. However, stomachs full with Mrs Carvell's finest breakfast, we head up the M1 to bruntingthorpe in good spirits looking forward to the show.
We spend the first hour or so cleaning the cars in the strong winds that were blowing across the airfield, and trying to dodge the rain showers before putting the microfibres away and collecting our judging forms for the Show and Shine.
One thing I've always liked about Inters is the judging format, where the entrants judge the other cars in their class. For me it seems to make the prize giving later on in the day much more exciting, as it really opens up the competition based on personal tastes and opinions.
One of the first cars I wanted to see was this stunning 6n2 Polo. Parked just across from mine, I couldn't take my eyes away from the polished RSs and the immaculate paintwork before looking back at my own with embarrassment. This car was clean in all senses of the word. Subtly smoothed bump strips were kept stylish but OEM+ due to the presence of the badged grill and standard mirrors. Everything tied together perfectly and nothing felt out of place. As someone who wasn't much of a Polo fan, this thing really hit me hard!
Another car that I was really anticipating was Arun Bhardwaj's TDI Bora.
Me and Arun had been bouncing ideas off of each other in the months leading up to Inters, but a lot of things were also kept secret, with the show to act as the grand unveiling of the bigger picture that he aimed to create. To say he pulled it off would be an understatement..
The Autostrada Monzas that Arun spent months refurbishing looked immaculate and still managed to produce an impressive shine considering the amount of cloud cover. The stance was dare I say perfect, and coupled with lots of interesting, yet subtle touches such as the 'twindicator' modification and US front rubstrip that really set the car apart from those around it.
This car pulled a big crowd throughout the day and ended up winning a very deserved runner up in the 'Booted VW' class.
Lunchtime came and the sun came along with it, really lifting the general atmosphere and getting more people out from hiding in their cars and tents. The music was turned up and a real feel good vibe began spreading around the showground, as well as more and more cars queuing up for the drag strip. The sound of such a variety of VAG engines bouncing around the showground always made you stop and listen wherever you may be, and made a nice ambience for viewing the cars on the showfield.
The show area consisted of old classics and new fabrications to keep everyone entertained. This Mk3 Pickup was fabricated from a Mk3 Variant, and has been done to an incredibly high standard that would almost make you think it came from the factory. A set of 16" BBS wheels and a healthy drop was all it needed to stand out.
This Rallye was also hugely popular throughout the day, and you can really see why. Tastefully styled and keeping with its OEM roots, it was a recipe for success in winning the hearts of the older and younger generation collectively. There really was a car for everybody.
One of the great things about GTI International is the additional events and displays should you wish to take a break from marvelling at the cars. A BMX display was set up for people to watch at intervals throughout the day, offering people something new. With the sun shining, it offered a perfect way to eat a burger and rest your legs.
Unfortunately the late afternoon was overshadowed by an incident on the drag strip involving a highly tuned Seat Leon's steering wheel coming off, sending the car ploughing through the barriers and into the crowd injuring a number of spectators. The air ambulance was called in and one person was taken to hospital. This promptly resulted in the strip being out of action for the rest of the afternoon which meant I was unable to get any pictures. My thoughts go out to those involved, but thankfully it has been updated that all spectators who were harmed are in a stable condition.
Awards time came and everyone gathered around the Meguiar's stand with sunburnt faces to watch the trophy's being handed out. It seemed the overcast weather caught a lot of people out who didn't put suncream on!
A very enjoyable day that was sadly tainted with an unfortunate ending that could result in big changes for the show next year. Either way, I'll be attending next year's show for definite!
