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Folkies and their vehicles
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Subject: RE: Folkies and their vehicles From: Old Vermin Date: 20 Sep 10 - 06:52 PM The Sidmouth camp-site rather aided the decision to get a Subaru Forester estate. It was wet grass, not even mud, which required the predecessor - a Skoda Octavia - glorified VW Golf and quite a nasty thing in some ways - to be driven on a shallow diagonal across the slope to make progress uphill. The trick was to get it moving across the slope and very gently point it higher. The Forester gave a very smug feeling with a clean ascent starting by the showers when the proper Land-Rover immediately before had got stuck at first try. And as for going straight up-slope unfussily - not even in low range - when all around had been sliding... |
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Subject: RE: Folkies and their vehicles From: Amos Date: 20 Sep 10 - 06:49 PM My first vehicle was a weathered old Willys station wagon, a large box behind two seats. The previous owner had adapted it from its native four-banger to a Ford V-8 (gad knows how he found the space for it). The damn ting had enough horses to climb a verticall wall, but it would never stop winding up no matter what gear you put it in, as he didn't swap out the gearbox in the process. A |
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Subject: RE: Folkies and their vehicles From: Bill D Date: 20 Sep 10 - 06:08 PM In about 1963, a folk gathering I was attending had to move from one house to another due to the time & sleeping habits of one person... Into a Karmann Ghia much like this I helped load 3 people, 1 Siberian Husky dog, 1 banjo, 1 guitar and 3 gallons of cider. Fortunately, it was not a long drive. After the people were in, the dog was set across laps, and the various instruments and jugs were handed in and stuffed in odd places. I wish I'd had a camera. |
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Subject: RE: Folkies and their vehicles From: Cats Date: 20 Sep 10 - 05:29 PM Started with a 2CV.......Loved it and cried when it had to go and NO, I did not want a 'nice little hatchback' as the garage salesmen all seemed to think. I did say the next person who said that to me I would scream and I did.. in the main citroen dealers in Plymouth! have had a range of citroens now have a Xsara which has been chipped to increase bhp and a Transit autosleeper duetto camper van |
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Subject: RE: Folkies and their vehicles From: WalkaboutsVerse Date: 20 Sep 10 - 05:04 PM Shank's pony, of course! |
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Subject: RE: Folkies and their vehicles From: Andy Jackson Date: 20 Sep 10 - 04:51 PM I bought my 1933 four seat Austin 7 tourer in 1968 and it was my only car for the next 15 years or so eventually being replaced by a 1935 Ruby. The first visit to Sidmouth we stopped overnight half way from Southampton, it seemed such a long way. In later years the hill to the third site was special challenge. The peoor girl overheated on the way up and I topped up with the left over carry out beer from the previous nights LNE. Later in the day it boiled again and stank like a brewery. Happy days. |
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Subject: RE: Folkies and their vehicles From: wysiwyg Date: 20 Sep 10 - 12:28 PM Hi, You can CLICK HERE to see a previous related thread focusing on vans (and sleeping in them), with various folks' comments. (It would be helpful to set a link, there, back over to this one.) ~Susan |
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Subject: RE: Folkies and their vehicles From: GUEST,Rob Smith Date: 20 Sep 10 - 11:32 AM Back to Brock. I played a number of sessions at the BBC Pebble Mill in the 70s as a member of The Skillets and Brian played bass with us a number of times. Yes, he was frequently seen riding up Pebble Mill Road on his bike with the bass on his back. What a guy. On one occasion after the first song was recorded he asked what time the staff bar opened, and when the producer told him midday, he commented "I think we can be done by then...". We had about six more songs to tape and yes, we were finished in time when the bar opened, even though the session was due to run until 1.00! |
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Subject: RE: Folkies and their vehicles From: theleveller Date: 08 Mar 10 - 05:07 AM Glad you like it, Don. I first knew Roger when we worked together at a couple of advertising agencies and he became a friend as well as my 'boss', and he always encouraged my songwriting. Even in those days, he would head off to Suffolk on a Friday to work on restoring his farmhouse, often sleeping under a tarpaulin or inside the inglenook fireplace. He would turn up to work on Mondays covered in dirt and dust, usually clad in the old dustman's leather jerkin that he continually wore, would have a shower and put on the suit he kept in his office. We lost touch for several years after we both left London (me to go to South Africa) but renewed our acquaintance after the publication of Waterlog. He introduced me to some of the great works of English literature and I, in turn, introduced him to John Cowper Powys, who he quotes from time to time in his books. Yeah, a great bloke and sadly missed. |
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Subject: RE: Folkies and their vehicles From: GUEST,Jon Dudley Date: 08 Mar 10 - 04:16 AM Leveller, I went to the thoroughly admirable 'Much Ado About Books' in Alfriston on Saturday and purchased 'Wildwood' which I am now three quarters of the way through. It is an inspirational book and beautifully crafted, full of 'poetry' that doesn't hold up the narrative flow if you know what I mean. Plus it's choc-a-bloc with wonderfully arcane facts. His CV reads like I wish mine did - 'educated Peterhouse Cambridge, entered advertising agency became copywriter and creative director, wrote the slogan "come home to a real fire" for the Coal Board' - and then the best bit - 'taught English at school in Diss'. So presumably he gave up all the expense account lunches (they went on for most of the afternoon), the high living and what was undoubtedly a pretty high standard of living in the material sense - to pursue his dreams and ideals, what a bloke! As The Grauniad obit says, "he changed the weather". Nicely put. |
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Subject: RE: Folkies and their vehicles From: GUEST,Jon Dudley Date: 04 Mar 10 - 11:01 AM No, I admit my ignorance of all things Deakin...I shall remedy this immediately by reading his work. I wish I'd known him. |
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Subject: RE: Folkies and their vehicles From: theleveller Date: 04 Mar 10 - 09:27 AM "You were indeed fortunate to have such a friend who, it appears died far too young." I am and he did, Jon. When we worked together in Covent Garden in the early 70s, amongst other things, he kept chicks and ducks in his office and was only just prevented from installing a pig in the garages at the back. When rebuilding his 15th century farmhouse in Suffolk (which he did completely single-handed), he destroyed his very rare Morgan Plus 4 when it broke in half whilst he was carrying bricks in it. Many more happy memories of Roger. Have you read 'Wildwood', the book he just managed to finish before his death. It's excellent. |
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Subject: RE: Folkies and their vehicles From: GUEST,Jon Dudley Date: 04 Mar 10 - 07:57 AM Not a folkie maybe but who cares - what a man! I've just read his obit in the Grauniad. As you say, a true eccentric of the very, very best kind. Just having a 2CV qualifies you without the rest of his incredible life. I love 'Waterlog. A frog's eye view'. Inspirational. You were indeed fortunate to have such a friend who, it appears died far too young. |
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Subject: RE: Folkies and their vehicles From: theleveller Date: 04 Mar 10 - 07:34 AM Not a folkie (although passionate about music), my late friend, Roger Deakin, whilst travelling round the country 'wild' swimming prior to writing his delightful book, 'Waterlog', had an ancient Citroen estate that, amongst other creature comforts, contained a library of his favourite books. When he slept in it at night he covered the whole car with an ex-military parachute. An amazing and wonderful man and a true and unpretentious eccentric. |
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Subject: RE: Folkies and their vehicles From: GUEST,Jon Dudley Date: 04 Mar 10 - 06:59 AM Are you sure you don't mean 'mattress', GSS? |
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Subject: RE: Folkies and their vehicles From: The Sandman Date: 04 Mar 10 - 06:43 AM I used to have a morris 100o van with an armchair in the back. |
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Subject: RE: Folkies and their vehicles From: GUEST,Upstreeter Date: 04 Mar 10 - 04:52 AM Don't be a spoilsport Joe...by their vehicles so shall ye judge them! I'm finding it much more interesting than some of the political machinations displayed in the main forum...and it does have relevance (hold on I'll work out what it is!). There's much to learn from the postings of some of the eminent respondees. Mr.Beer has deep experience of the sturdy Bedford van, likewise he understands the value of frequent oil changes - surprising how few people know that. Considering the amount of time spent in their cars, many itinerant musos develop all sorts of love/hate/inspirational views about them. It doesn't seem five minutes ago that we were all in what would now be termed 'classic' cars like Morris Minors.
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Subject: RE: Folkies and their vehicles From: Terry McDonald Date: 04 Mar 10 - 04:45 AM The trio that I was part of in the mid 60s used to travel to clubs all over southern England in my 100E Ford Prefect but, on rare occasions, we had to use one of the other singer's Bond Minicar three wheeler. We used it to travel Dorchester Folk Club one summer evening with the three of us plus my guitar squeezed into it. It had a 197cc engine and a top speed of about 35 mph which got us to Dorchester (a 25 mile drive) without any problems but coming back, in the dark, we found the limits to its 6v electrical system - virtually no headlights and the rear lights were a faint glimmer of read. Luckily the A35 was pretty empty in those days and no one plowed into us from behind. |
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Subject: RE: Folkies and their vehicles From: theleveller Date: 04 Mar 10 - 04:21 AM We have to have a vehicle that will accomodate all the instruments, a dog crate, child AND pull the Green Slime Caravan (plus do everyday duties of getting mrsleveller up and down the A1 and A19). The result is a very comfortable oldish Ford Mondeo estate. However, after getting stuck in the mud and punching a hole in the side of Green Slime Caravan at Hardraw, I went out and bought a Nissan X-Trail which will now take over caravan duty and which has come in very handy during the recent snow. |
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Subject: RE: Folkies and their vehicles From: GUEST,Phil B Date: 03 Mar 10 - 06:36 PM Mr Downes and I toured in Morris Traveller throughout the '70's. One of the best vehicles I ever had was a bedford HA van which refused to die. I sold it as a going concern with 175,000 miles on the clock on the original engine. The last but one SOH wagon is a VW sharan which is still being driven (I was in it yesterday!) with 200,000+ on the clock. Its not even using oil. The secret is regular servicing and constant regular oil changes. |
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Subject: RE: Folkies and their vehicles From: Joe Offer Date: 03 Mar 10 - 06:35 PM I know some cars hum right along, but I think I'm going to judge this to be a non-music thread.... |
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Subject: RE: Folkies and their vehicles From: Charmion Date: 03 Mar 10 - 06:32 PM In such company, I'm downright embarrassed to mention our very bourgeois Jetta diesel station wagon (estate car to you lot on t'other side of the Herring Pond), which accommodates an amazing quantity of bedding, instruments and associated gear -- and offers air-conditioning and leather seats. It's the first genuinely comfortable car I have ever driven, and I love it. |
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Subject: RE: Folkies and their vehicles From: Leadfingers Date: 03 Mar 10 - 06:20 PM Thats back to Burns Night 1970 , and I was on my back to Tengah after a party at Effsee's place ! AND I was sober ! You saw me at The Attic the night my CasaVac flight was delayed ! |
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Subject: RE: Folkies and their vehicles From: *#1 PEASANT* Date: 03 Mar 10 - 04:36 PM I had the bell of a sousaphone on the back of the truck glued in up there for years and an entire tuba in the center of the cap on top... |
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Subject: RE: Folkies and their vehicles From: fumblefingers Date: 03 Mar 10 - 04:24 PM I saw Leadfingers right after he and his motorcycle didn't get to the gig on time. It nearly killed him. When was that Terry? |
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Subject: RE: Folkies and their vehicles From: Howard Jones Date: 03 Mar 10 - 03:51 PM Hardly folk, but I have a vivid recollection of a photo in an old National Geographic of a VW Beetle with the bell of a sousaphone sticking out through the sunroof. |
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Subject: RE: Folkies and their vehicles From: Mrs Scarecrow Date: 03 Mar 10 - 03:47 PM Sadly I have just had to part with Roo my bright blue Renault Kangoo Camper van It's strange returning to anonymous motoring |
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Subject: RE: Folkies and their vehicles From: GUEST,kendall Date: 03 Mar 10 - 02:27 PM I love the Morris Minor |
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Subject: RE: Folkies and their vehicles From: Little Robyn Date: 03 Mar 10 - 01:46 PM I started (in the 60s) in a Morris Minor convertable - twilight turquoise, number CK5591. Then I grew up (or so I thought). Mainly sensible cars. But this morning I'm about to trade in my Nissan Prairie 7 seater for a Mazda Cabriolet soft top!!! Is it madness or a second childhood? Robyn |
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Subject: RE: Folkies and their vehicles From: glueman Date: 03 Mar 10 - 10:52 AM Our festival attendance has been in a succession of old Skoda estates going back to the rear engined jobbies. Before that Rovers, Nissans and various motorbikes including one of these which I'm extremely tempted to bid on. MZ Trophy 250 |
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Subject: RE: Folkies and their vehicles From: SteveMansfield Date: 03 Mar 10 - 10:46 AM Hungarian trio Makvirag, who were amply-proportioned gentlemen all, used to tour in a very battered old Lada. They were all multi-instrumentalists, and so instruments were crammed into every available square inch of internal space and the double-bass, in a canvas cover, was precariously lashed to the roofrack, overhanging both the front and the back of the car ... |
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Subject: RE: Folkies and their vehicles From: Leadfingers Date: 03 Mar 10 - 10:22 AM I gave up the BSA A10 with sidecar when I started doing clubs seriously ! Embarassing arriving in the full protective gear in bad weather to be asked " Did you know this is a FOLK Club?" But Ian Bruce still uses his solo beast I believe ! |
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Subject: RE: Folkies and their vehicles From: The Sandman Date: 03 Mar 10 - 10:14 AM The Singing Blacksmith, Walter Greaves[he with only one arm]used to cycle to bookings. |
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Subject: RE: Folkies and their vehicles From: Bonzo3legs Date: 03 Mar 10 - 10:10 AM Mmmmmmm I think we'll stick to our Nissan Qashqai. |
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Subject: RE: Folkies and their vehicles From: bubblyrat Date: 03 Mar 10 - 09:54 AM Yes Mike,I remember Brian (but not on his bike !) Wasn't he "The Fifth Spinner " ?? I always felt it detracted from their music,somehow ! "Upstreeter " Sorry, not like that any more !! Karen likes her home comforts,so nowadays it's a big German "Burstner" caravan with all mod cons, and a Ford Mondeo !! Tame,yes,but more practical for the over-sixties ! Still miss the 609 D ,though ; it was fabulous ! |
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Subject: RE: Folkies and their vehicles From: Will Fly Date: 03 Mar 10 - 09:44 AM Volvo 240GT Estate for me - 23 years old this year and great for gigging gear... Does anyone remember double bass player Brian Brocklehurst cycling around London in all weathers wearing a shirt, smoking a pipe, and with his bass strapped across his back? |
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Subject: RE: Folkies and their vehicles From: Dave MacKenzie Date: 03 Mar 10 - 09:31 AM About forty years ago, I was hitch-hiking back to Edinburgh from an Inverness Folk Festival, when I got picked up by 3/4 of Boys of the Lough in a Mini. Fortunately it was Robin, Cathal and Aly so they didn't have too much space dedicated to instruments, but I had my rucksack and guitar. Don't think I could do it now. A year or two preiously I left Sandy Bell's in a Mini with seven other people! |
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Subject: RE: Folkies and their vehicles From: GUEST,Upstreeter Date: 03 Mar 10 - 09:28 AM ...and of course Mr.Zimm and his Triumph motorcycle. That's if you'll allow him to be a 'folkie' for the purpose of the exercise. Leveller has used a fine selection of classics whilst bubblyrat seems to have entered new age travellerdom with those converted vans. |
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Subject: RE: Folkies and their vehicles From: Jack Campin Date: 03 Mar 10 - 09:00 AM Danny Kyle used to turn up to folk festivals in a horsedrawn vardo. |
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Subject: RE: Folkies and their vehicles From: theleveller Date: 03 Mar 10 - 08:47 AM Before I learnt to drive, I used to go to folk clubs with an older friend whose father owned a garage. We either went in a tiny 'frog-eye' Austin Healey Sprite (amazingly with two guitars, a banjo and an autoharp), an old VW Beetle that had a supercharger fitted (which constantly blew the head off the engine, filling the car with smoke) or a 2CV Citroen into which we once piled seven people plus instruments and, travelling along Marine Drive in Scarborough, got hit by a giant wave and almost dragged out to sea. Incredibly happy days! |
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Subject: RE: Folkies and their vehicles From: Howard Jones Date: 03 Mar 10 - 08:04 AM When I bought my first new car I could only afford something on the small side, and so I carried my guitar case around all the car dealers to check whether it would fit into the boot. I remember Simon Mayor and Hilary James, when they were in Spredthick, touring together with a third musician, various guitars, fiddles and a double bass, all squeezed into a Morris Traveller van. |
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Subject: RE: Folkies and their vehicles From: *#1 PEASANT* Date: 03 Mar 10 - 08:03 AM I drive nothing but artcars. All of them are equipped with reall brass horns that can be played while driving via hoses and mouthpieces. The truck is covered with bells and xylophones with percussion instruments as well as a few horns. http://mysite.verizon.net/cbladey/nartcars.html Hutman artcars I drive these daily. Much more fun than plain cars and I would never have one of those. Folkies should consider making artcars as it gets you a free space at most big arts events where they let you sell things and perform and sometimes give you money just to show up and have a good time. Conrad |
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Subject: RE: Folkies and their vehicles From: bubblyrat Date: 03 Mar 10 - 07:53 AM Well, I remember going to Exeter University a few years back,for "IVDIF" ,and parking quite close to a certain "caller", he of the black kilt & beard,who uses,or used,a safari-type landrover with a tent on the roof (so the lions can't get you !) ; the sub-zero temperature didn't seem to bother him ! For many years I lived in Dorset,and my then-partner and I used a variety of vehicles to get to folkie events, viz a black series 3 Landrover with a pink (well,she IS an artist !) roof ; a converted gas board /water board utility Renault Dodge truck,which we had fitted-out at a Poole boatyard ; A Mercedes 609 D 3 1/2 -ton van,previously a Dorset Education Authority Mobile Classroom, which we totally outfitted ourselves,including pine double-bed,wood panelling, and a "Faversham" solid-fuel stove ( bugger to park in Christchurch,though !) ; a former Post-Office Leyland Daf van with roll-up rear door and blue "poncho" extension ,which we camped in Holland in. I have noticed at Warwick the last couple of years,a chap who turns up with his wife & kids in a motorbike / sidecar / trailer combination which is very eye-catching indeed ! And we mustn't forget " Jan and her Van",must we ?? |
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Subject: RE: Folkies and their vehicles From: Richard Bridge Date: 03 Mar 10 - 07:52 AM I can't remember his name but there was a harpist who used a Rolls Royce because it was the only thing that had rear doors large enough to put the harp on the back seat. I have a number of 7 and 9 series Volvo estates which I love dearly. |
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Subject: RE: Folkies and their vehicles From: Dave MacKenzie Date: 03 Mar 10 - 06:51 AM That's why I didn't try! |
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Subject: RE: Folkies and their vehicles From: Mr Happy Date: 03 Mar 10 - 06:49 AM ..........mostly indescribable!! |
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Subject: RE: Folkies and their vehicles From: Dave MacKenzie Date: 03 Mar 10 - 06:41 AM In a future post, Mr Happy will describe some of the vehicles he has owned over the years. |
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Subject: RE: Folkies and their vehicles From: Nigel Parsons Date: 03 Mar 10 - 06:40 AM I'm just guessing here, but does Aine (mudcatter) have a bicycle? Nigel ;) |
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Subject: RE: Folkies and their vehicles From: Jack Blandiver Date: 03 Mar 10 - 06:20 AM Many folkies travel by camper-vans these days... |
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Subject: RE: Folkies and their vehicles From: Mr Happy Date: 03 Mar 10 - 06:15 AM .....& then there was Sean Cannon with his mobile curry van!! - Yummee! |
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Subject: Folkies and their vehicles From: GUEST,Upstreeter Date: 03 Mar 10 - 06:02 AM Following the rather sad correspondence about poor old Diz in another thread, posters however seem to have much in common with their amusing anecdotes about Diz and his eccentric vehicles. Which got me to wondering about folkies past and present and their modes of transport - eccentric or otherwise. To start you off I remember Peter Knight had a rather nice Norton Commando motorcycle back in the 70's and I believe Rod Stradling was once the part owner of a Vincent Comet sidecar outfit. Bob Lewis (the great traditional singer from Sussex) once had a Delage D8 and various 'Auntie' Rover saloons, and is a trained mechanical engineer. Gordon Hall perambulated about the place in a big Volvo estate and Bob Copper wrote wistfully of his pre-war Morris Major which took him on collecting jaunts all over Sussex and Hampshire. Roger Watson was a BMW motorcycle user and Michael Plunkett (all round nice person and fiddler with The Rakes) was using a truly ancient Land Rover. Peter Bellamy never drove and went everywhere by train or bus or in the latter days was driven. |
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