Wednesday, January 19

Exhibition Exploration

The second part of my weekend double-header with Rog took place on Sunday 16th January with a visit to the combined Autosport International and Pistonheads Performance Car Show being held at the NEC...

* An early start sees us leave the Walker residence just after 7am to head up to Wolverhampton Station. We were hoping to get to the NEC well in advance of 9:30 but that plan was soon scuppered when we found out a replacement bus service was in operation, and that wasn't due until 8:45.

* Rather than wait around for three quarters of an hour, we decide to catch the Metro to Birmingham Snow Hill and then hotfoot it to New Street for a train to Birmingham International, Rog using his Blackberry to inform his avid followers of our progress.

* Getting to International Station is one thing, getting into the exhibition is another. The route to the hall involves various corridors, escalators and travelators until we finally arrive at our destination. Our tickets are scanned and in we go - welcome to the show!

* I must admit I don't have a huge fascination with cars, so I wasn't too sure what I would make of the exhibition. We start by meandering around the memorabilia stalls in the Autosport section whilst making our way to the F1 area. I was impressed by a display of McLarens, including racing cars of various vintages alongside their latest road car, and the F1 grid was also a popular attraction featuring a selection of the cars from last year's championship. The main stage was hosting interviews with assorted luminaries throughout the day and we spotted Martin Brundle signing autographs.

* Mid-morning and the place is starting to get busy. We continue our circuit of the hall with Rog on the lookout for freebies and 'pit babes' - there were gorgeous girls everywhere, draping themselves over bonnets or walking around in lycra hotpants and making it very difficult to concentrate on the cars, although as distractions go we were hardly complaining. The girls weren't shy either, and Rog didn't miss the opportunity to get a few photos when the possibility arose.

* Pausing momentarily to catch our breath, we do a loop of the Pistonheads zone where glamorous sportscars are on show along with trade stands displaying various products to present your motor in tiptop condition. Rog is persuaded to fill out a survey (which takes his mind off the girls for all of 30 seconds), and we could also see the latest technological developments being brought out by manufacturers and universities.

* After midday and it's getting rather crowded so Rog and I decide to seek out lunch. The in-house Wetherspoon's had prices aimed at a captive audience (i.e. extortionate), so it seemed wiser to say goodbye to the exhibition and head back to Birmingham. We'd had a good two to three hours milling about and I think we saw everything we wanted to see and more, so thanks to Mrs W for winning the tickets in the first place.

* Travelators and escalators take two, then a train to New Street. Our hunger pangs are sated with a visit to the Briar Rose, which was actually not as busy as we'd expected. I enjoyed my customary gourmet burger, accompanied this time by some Folded Cross bitter from the Beowulf Brewery based in Brownhills - I always like to try a local pint where possible.

* The afternoon is spent dodging heavy rain showers as we wend our way to Stourbridge. The Longlands Tavern was mysteriously closed so we take shelter in the Garibaldi, a pub that will forever now be associated with the infamous darts match of 2011. Rog and I both soon abandoned any pretensions we had of being able to throw the arrows, and the prospect of hitting a double looked increasingly remote with every attempt. In the end we counted down from 101 just trying to hit anything we could, with the result being that I won by 3 legs to 1. I had two crowning moments - a shock dart that actually hit the treble twenty, and a 38 outshot where I hit the outer bull followed by a deadly 13 to leave Roger 'The Dodger' Chance absolutely stunned.

* Proud with my darting prowess, our next port of call takes us around the corner or thereabouts into the New Inn. Having sat in the bar previously I was surprised by how luxurious the lounge area was, very nice indeed. Purity's Mad Goose does the trick here as we consult a copy of Ales and Tales.

* The evening sees us catching up with Mr Wood for some closing pints, starting in the Old White Horse (Harvester) then decamping to the Plough and Harrow. The latter was my favourite of the two, supping some of the Nottingham Brewery's Extra Pale Ale and perusing a fine array of pump clips dotted around and about. A final cheers photo or two and then it's time to head home courtesy of a Diamond 256. What a weekend, what a great start to the New Year!!

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