Chelsea cruise, does this still happen?
Discussion
Many years ago i used to make the trip from Swindon to Battersea park in London to wander around looking at the lastest motors and modifications.
I think it used to be the last Saturday of the month? Anyone remember the 'IceMan'? The Cortina with the mental sound system? Those were the days!!!
Cosworths and RS Turbos everywhere!
I think it used to be the last Saturday of the month? Anyone remember the 'IceMan'? The Cortina with the mental sound system? Those were the days!!!
Cosworths and RS Turbos everywhere!
I used to go when ice man was around lol. It does still happen once a month (can't remember when but I'm sure it's a saturday) cruising in general has changed a lot in the last 10 years, I'm not sure whether it's me getitng older (31 now) or whether things really have changed but I don't overly enjoy the scene now whereas I used to love it.
BLUETHUNDER said:
Chelsea cruise is alive and kicking. And just as it was back in the old days. Lots of American muscle. Old school Fords and the odd supercar putting in an appearance. Last saturday of the month. During the summer gets quite packed. Hot hatches and boy racers not welcome.
Cheers for all the replies, yes it was a long time ago and i saw some crazy driving outside the park Thought parking in the park was stopped due to the attics of a minority? I used to love strolling around the park looking at all the different cars.Being an old git of 44 i'm certainly not into the 'boyracer' scene just curious if the event had started up again. Might have a drive down sometime, is there still parking in Battersea Park? Used to be about £5 iirc? To be honest the parking in the park came towards the end of the original cruise. It was more a request from the council as it started to get out of hand. Now the trend starts off near the tea Hut,parking along the bridge and then in to the park. No charging to park there. If the weather is good expect a good turnout. It usually kicks off around 7-7.30pm.
BLUETHUNDER said:
To be honest the parking in the park came towards the end of the original cruise. It was more a request from the council as it started to get out of hand. Now the trend starts off near the tea Hut,parking along the bridge and then in to the park. No charging to park there. If the weather is good expect a good turnout. It usually kicks off around 7-7.30pm.
Cheers, thanks for the info.
I used to go too, I remember a mint green Ford Anglia which I think was fitted with a Cosworth 500 engine, nitrous and fiddle brakes, it was always fun watching that thing do burnouts. Towards the end of my time going it did used to get a bit silly with some very high speed driving often involving police chases and on one occassion a car crashing into the bariers and crowd on the roundabout at the bottom of the bridge which nearly turned into a full scale riot when plod turned up.
My one abiding memory on one visit was watching an old dear approach the roundabout in a mini metro, stopping at the roundabout and carfully checking left for traffic before pulling out, what she didn't see or realise was that there were at least four cars "drifting" round the roundabout at considerably higher speed than her stately entry on to it....
My one abiding memory on one visit was watching an old dear approach the roundabout in a mini metro, stopping at the roundabout and carfully checking left for traffic before pulling out, what she didn't see or realise was that there were at least four cars "drifting" round the roundabout at considerably higher speed than her stately entry on to it....
I started going to the Chelsea Cruise when it was actually on the Kings Road. The crowds used to get to ten deep, it was crazy. I actually cruised my own rod for about ten years back in the day. They were great events back then .
Its nice to see they are getting back to the origins of the cruise and how it used to be.
Its nice to see they are getting back to the origins of the cruise and how it used to be.
*Al* said:
Anyone remember the 'IceMan'? The Cortina with the mental sound system? Those were the days!!! Cosworths and RS Turbos everywhere!
You have just said exactly what killed a lot of cruises and meets. I know of "IceMan" as I used have a mild system in my first E30 and read the ice related magazines. The cruises were started by the hot rod and custom crowd then the guys in the hot hatches started showing up and ruined a good few events. Cosworths and RS Turbos everywhere!
I used to go to the Lakeside Cruise in the early 90's. It was great, custom cars, hot rods, classics etc. Ok the odd burnout happened but nothing serious. I used to take my Mk1 Cortina's as well as attending the DHSS (Dutch House Street and Strip) meets.
Then the hot hatch/big sterio crowd started turning up, it grew and grew and started to get silly, spreading out and filling the adjacent Tescos car park. Dougnuts, pressure to do burnouts. Massive sound systems blasting out with their noise fines posted on their windsreens as badges of honour. The police had to be called in to monitor the crowds and eventually Tesco had enough and shut their car park at night with barriers. Then they started opening up in the evening.
I had a little dig about and found the badges I had from those days
Then the hot hatch/big sterio crowd started turning up, it grew and grew and started to get silly, spreading out and filling the adjacent Tescos car park. Dougnuts, pressure to do burnouts. Massive sound systems blasting out with their noise fines posted on their windsreens as badges of honour. The police had to be called in to monitor the crowds and eventually Tesco had enough and shut their car park at night with barriers. Then they started opening up in the evening.
I had a little dig about and found the badges I had from those days
Edited by Cotty on Tuesday 24th August 21:14
Streetrod said:
I started going to the Chelsea Cruise when it was actually on the Kings Road. The crowds used to get to ten deep, it was crazy. I actually cruised my own rod for about ten years back in the day. They were great events back then .
Its nice to see they are getting back to the origins of the cruise and how it used to be.
I recall going to that too, must have been in the mid/late 70's, twas mainly American muscle cars and a chopped roofed rodsIts nice to see they are getting back to the origins of the cruise and how it used to be.
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