To some a controversial topic to kick start the week, for others one that needs to be brought out into the open and laid bare. For me, and many of my fellow enthusiasts, one that is the lifeblood of what we do. I'm talking about the modified car scene in all its glory. For me this goes back to the bedroom poster days of the Max Power, Fast Car and Redline cover cars (and yes - the now even more controversial use of promotional models, the Grid Girls). Every week, or month depending on the publication, a variety of motoring articles were covered, along with real readers cars being poured over with a fine tooth comb, the chance to have your own motor featured, discounts from traders, tips on how to conduct your own unique build and live reviews from the biggest and best events from around the country where enthusiasts would meet to openly display their cars. Back then, even the police were known to get involved and show off their own patrol cars from time to time. Life in this world was good, and soon the specialist magazines were produced, catering to specific areas and groups within this scene, dedicated to the loyal followers of each brand and what could be done with their own cars. This produced some truly wonderful and unique cars, some of which live on, and others of which now Rust In Peace.
However, shortly before I passed my test and got a chance to go and put my own crazy ideas into action, the scene very quickly appeared to have collapsed in on itself. There are many theories for this, and all or none of them could be true, but the biggest one at the time was that following the magazine features on the cruises, each felt the need to outdo the next, with more spectacular cars, more scantily clad men and women, and more outrageous stunts being performed in car parks and on the streets across cities in the UK. The normal road going public, police and residents had had enough, and soon these cruises were being shut down as soon as they popped up. Press stories stopped covering them except when accidents had occurred or when someone had been killed. Then in 2009 I was introduced to an event which proved the car scene was very much alive and well, albeit well away from normal roads and car parks like before. Ultimate Street Car, and it's warm up events held throughout the year at Santa Pod Raceway, become mecca for modified cars up and down the country, some choosing to remain standard, some becoming sleepers, and others bringing back the 90's and 00's with a fervent passion. Old school met Modern, EDM met JDM, Stock met Modified, and for those looking to test their skills, there was always the 1/4 mile drag strip for speed and acceleration, the handling track for those who fancied themselves demons behind the wheel, and the always crowd-pleasing burnout and flame-out competitions. All this topped off with mountains of alcohol, a very large number of promotional models, dancers and club reps all clad in Lycra and crazy outfits, and some of the biggest techno and dance music of the times.
The problem is that these events bring in good money for those running them, especially as they are away from public roads where they cannot cause menace to joe public, are easily containable for the local constabulary to police, and have their own on site medical care and recovery facilities for those who over-estimate their abilities behind the wheel. As such more and more of them come up each year, and each one I've visited always appears to be going down the same road, to be the best show and attract the most cars. This then presents a problem - is the scene following it's old habits and in danger of collapsing again, or are all these shows the answer to keeping the scene alive? Every year I see the photos from these events, and I see the reviews posted up by those attending, and slowly, just like before, I see dissatisfaction growing. Either it's the same old show with nothing new to add, or the show has grown too big to be properly controlled which leads to a resurgence in crazy antics like doughnuts round peoples tents at 3am or setting fire to portaloos in the camp site. Just like with the magazines, the specialist shows have also been set up, catering to fans of a specific brand following (In my case this a love of fords and the blue oval). These too however are starting to show cracks and signs that the shows need something new to liven them up, something to make them different and stand out year on year.
I've always had a love and passion for cars and for the scene itself, without which I would never have met some of the amazing people I'm friends with today, and I have a huge amount of respect for those continuing to defy convention and physics in pursuit of their own ideal modified cars and creations, putting ideas to paper, and finally to fibreglass and vinyl. This shared passion, and what it represents is what kept the scene alive all those years ago when the magazines and local cruises collapsed, and it's the people once again keeping the scene alive now. But I do have to wonder, that with so much discontent with the events set up to host these gatherings, and with more and more places refusing to hold meets or cruises, even for established clubs, is the scene still collapsing slowly, or have we been lucky enough to live through a re-birth that is now coming to an end?